Social Media Manager vs. Agency: Which One Does Your Brand Need?

When your business is ready to hire social media help, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is:

Do we need an in-house social media manager, or should we hire a social media agency?

Both can help you grow your online presence, build community, and generate revenue through strategic content. But the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and internal capacity.

Here’s a breakdown to help you decide what’s best for your brand:

What Does A Social Media Manager Do?

A social media manager is a dedicated professional—usually in-house—responsible for planning, creating, scheduling, and analyzing content across your platforms. They’re immersed in your brand daily and can collaborate closely with other departments like marketing, sales, and customer service.

Pros of Hiring a Social Media Manager:

• Deep understanding of your brand voice and audience

• Quick response time to trends, messages, and feedback

• Easier internal collaboration with leadership and teams

• Strong brand consistency across content

  
  

Ideal for: Small-to-medium businesses with consistent content needs and internal resources to support design, copywriting, and paid ads (or one person who wears many hats!).

What Does a Social Media Agency Do?

A social media agency is a team of experts you hire to develop and execute a strategy across platforms. Agencies often include strategists, content creators, copywriters, designers, and ad specialists, giving you access to an entire crew with specialized skills.

Pros of Hiring a Social Media Agency

• Access to a full team with diverse expertise

• Scalable support for strategy, content creation, and ads

• High-level insights and trend forecasting

• No need to manage another employee

  
  

Ideal for: Brands that want to grow fast, manage multiple platforms, launch campaigns, or fill skill gaps without expanding their team.

Social Media Manager vs. Agency: How to Decide

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What’s your budget?

   - A full-time manager’s salary ranges from $50K - $90K+ annually.

   - Agencies may offer monthly packages starting at $2K - $10K+, depending on scope.

   
   

2. What are your content needs?

   - Do you just need someone to post regularly? A manager could be enough.

   - Do you need video editing, graphic design, analytics, and paid ads? An agency might be more efficient.

   
   

3. How fast do you want to scale?

   - Agencies can ramp up content quickly with ready-to-go teams.

   - A solo manager may need more time (or additional freelance help) to build momentum.

   
   

4. Do you have internal support?

   - If you already have a marketing team or freelance creatives, a manager could thrive.

   - If you’re starting from scratch, an agency can take the lead.

The Best of Both Worlds?

Some brands start with an agency to build systems and strategy, then transition to an in-house manager to maintain and grow. Others hire a manager but use an agency for campaigns, ads, or creative support.

You don’t have to choose just one! You just need the right mix for your goals, resources, and growth stage.

Need Help Deciding?

At Media À La Carte, we help brands clarify what kind of social media support they need—and offer flexible options to meet you where you are. Whether you’re looking to scale fast or lay the groundwork for long-term growth, we’ve got the strategy and creative muscle to make it happen.

Reach out to schedule a free discovery call! Let’s find your best-fit social media solution.