Brand Collaboration 101: A Primer for Social Media Agencies

The first step for firms wishing to begin working with social media agencies is to discover and shortlist a few such organisations. The key is to check each social media agency’s credentials in terms of teamwork, assets, and know-how.

Nonetheless, both the brand and the agency benefit by coordinating some procedures. Each request for assistance from the former is accompanied by investigation and a determination of whether or not the latter can provide it. As soon as something is settled on, the real fun (the partnership) can begin.

Proven methods for fostering a strong relationship between your company and your clients

Ensure that “It’s a match!”

Companies often choose advertising firms based on the quality of their portfolios, the efficacy of the agencies’ communications and prior campaigns, and the success of the firms’ suggestions. Agencies, on the other hand, are becoming more selective, picking and choosing the businesses they wish to represent.

To avoid diluting your focus and slowing your social media agency’s growth, you may not want to take on every assignment that comes your way. Choose to deal with customers who are on the same page as you and can contribute effectively to the workflow.

If they fit your portfolio and your existing experience makes you feel comfortable saying “sure, we’ll work well together,” then you are given permission to collaborate with them.

Determine prerequisites and goals

If you want to form a successful collaboration with a company, you need to know what that brand wants from your social media presence. Even if your firm has the know-how to produce demonstrable results (in terms of PPC campaigns, for example), it may turn out that the brand’s expectations are excessively high in comparison to the agreed budget.

Find out what your potential client is looking for in a social media plan first.

If the bar has been set very high, it may take some time to determine what exactly the customer requires. But, first action of this kind is required.

For fear of repeating past mistakes (with prior agencies), some companies are exceedingly picky about the agency they work with now. In this situation, you must either reach an agreement with your potential client or decline the job.

Verify your materials again for accuracy.

Stop making impossible promises. Find out if you have what it takes to complete the task successfully. You shouldn’t take on responsibilities without first making sure they’re manageable, or counting on your ability to pick up the necessary skills as you go. It’s preferable to abandon a project altogether rather than sloppily complete it if you don’t have the time to give it the attention it deserves. Or else you risk having an unhappy customer, producing subpar results, or exhausting yourself by working late into the night to provide a subpar product.

Initiate measures

Establishing a protocol for reporting, stand-ups, status meetings, and points of contact prior to signing a contract is also important. Your customers need to know when you’re available to take their calls, who they can reach you through, and what happens if you have to work additional hours.

Make sure you’re on the same page with your clients by emphasising the fact that, even if you’ve only agreed to deliver reports once a month, you’re still available to participate in statutory calls once a week. That is, unless you enjoy fielding many emails and phone calls every day, often at inconvenient times like right before you leave for the day or right when you get at the office.

You should also decide on the best means of communication and cooperation. Using a social media management platform to create content schedules, distribute approvals, and discuss updates to social media posting is a great idea.

Inquire about the availability of resources

You’ve settled on a plan to collaborate. Great! Your new customer may have resources that might be useful for internal onboarding, so be sure to inquire about them. A content strategy may be developed with the use of presentations, brand books, images, or even some supplemental notes.
To take things even further, you may host a workshop where your customers can meet your staff, learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and offer suggestions on how to go forward.

Choose a target

Measurable goals and KPIs are important for both the agency and the customer. While working together, it’s helpful when both parties have a certain destination in mind. It’s important to set goals because they give you something to work for, something to measure progress against, and something to push you outside of your comfort zone.

Provide assistance

This is about more than just doing business together; it also involves building relationships and working together. Both parties need to be adaptable and flexible in order to survive in a dynamic environment (we are writing this during a worldwide epidemic, after all).

Consider making the necessary adjustments as you go rather than sending an extra bill if they arise.

Your turn

It’s not a simple task to find common ground between the goals of social media agencies and those of companies. There will be loyalty, success, and happiness for all parties involved when there is mutual understanding, effective communication, and established protocols.