Social Media Marketing Service: Key Points Before Hiring

By Michael AustinEditor-in-Chief

Updated Oct 2, 2026Published Nov 3, 20218 min read

Note (October 2026): Earlier versions of this article called buying Twitter followers a good idea and pointed readers to a fake-follower seller’s video. Buying fake followers is deceptive, and the U.S. FTC now prohibits buying or selling fake indicators of social media influence for commercial purposes.

Before hiring a social media marketing service, check five things: clear goals and measurable KPIs, experience on the platforms your customers use, a content and posting plan, regular reporting on real results, and that your business keeps ownership of its accounts. Reject any provider that sells followers or likes, which the U.S. FTC treats as illegal deception.

In the present day, the social media is a key part of online marketing but more of the new business owners are unsure how to use social media effectively when they launch. Many online business owners now run successfully with the support of effective social media because it can reach customers at low cost, although only organic posting is free; paid ads, tools and professional help all cost money.

Points to Consider Before Hiring a Social Media Marketing Service

Social platforms change their feed and ranking algorithms from time to time, so a good social media marketing service keeps up with those changes and adjusts its content to help increase the site rank as well as grow product sales.

Easy To Promote The Business:

A social media marketing service can cover blog content, photos, video and posting across several social networks. Running those channels in-house takes a lot of staff time, which is why many companies hand some or all of the work to a social media marketing company.

Next, choose the platforms where your customers actually spend time. Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and similar networks are key examples of a social media platform. Twitter was rebranded as X on July 23, 2023. A good service explains which of these platforms fit your audience instead of posting everywhere.

Many companies hire a professional service to manage social media, which works well when the provider builds a real audience. Buying fake twitter followers is not a good idea: under the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, in effect since October 21, 2024, selling or buying fake indicators of social media influence, such as followers generated by a bot or hijacked account, is prohibited when the buyer knew or should have known they were fake and uses them for a commercial purpose.

Social media is a challenging space for marketers who are used to traditional media and other forms of online selling. Effective social media marketing is more than making a polished facebook page and a few videos; it needs a plan, regular posting and steady support.

On a Facebook Page, include all the necessary business information so it is easier for business people increase the sale. Video is also an effective method in social media marketing , although results usually build gradually through consistent posting rather than arriving on the same day.

For getting quick success in social media do not buy fake followers or likes; do not even consider it. Devumi is a warning example: in October 2019 the FTC announced a settlement with Devumi’s owner and CEO over the sale of fake followers, subscribers, views and likes, including more than 58,000 orders for fake Twitter followers, with a $2.5 million judgment of which $250,000 was due immediately and the rest suspended.

Make use of the different kits:

Publishing effective content is one of the simplest ways to promote a business. Offers and promotions shared on social media can also give followers a reason to buy.

Whatever the main target is, the methods should be current and tied to measurable goals such as reach, engagement, website traffic and sales. A good service also gives clear guidance on effective social media marketing.

Some agencies also offer a social marketing success kit that helps a client plan campaigns, and some also provide an inbound marketing success kit, which can make it easier to promote the business. 😀 😀

What Does a Social Media Marketing Service Do?

A social media marketing service is an agency or freelancer that plans and runs a business’s presence on social networks. The work usually falls into six areas:

• Strategy: setting goals, choosing platforms and defining the target audience.
• Content: writing posts, designing images and producing short videos.
• Publishing: scheduling posts on a regular calendar.
• Community management: replying to comments and messages.
• Paid social: setting up and optimizing ad campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Reporting: measuring reach, engagement, clicks and conversions against the agreed goals.

Not every provider offers all six. Ask for a written scope that lists exactly which tasks are included before you compare prices.

Which Social Media Platforms Should a Service Focus On?

A social media marketing service should focus on the platforms your customers already use. Pew Research Center’s survey of U.S. adults conducted February 5 to June 18, 2025 shows how widely the largest platforms are used:

Usage varies sharply by age. In the same Pew survey, 80% of adults aged 18 to 29 said they use Instagram, compared with 19% of adults aged 65 and older. A provider that recommends the same platforms to every client is not tailoring its strategy. For business-to-business companies, see how B2B social media content differs from B2C.

Checklist: Points to Consider Before Hiring

1. Goals and KPIs: agree on measurable targets such as website visits, leads or sales, not only follower counts.
2. Relevant experience: ask for examples of work in your industry and on your main platforms.
3. Content plan: request a sample monthly calendar showing post types and frequency.
4. Reporting: confirm how often you receive reports and which metrics they include.
5. Account ownership: your business should own its pages, ad accounts and passwords; the agency should get access through the platform’s own role or partner settings.
6. Ad budget versus fees: check whether the quoted price includes ad spend or only management fees.
7. Contract terms: look for a clear notice period and what happens to content and data when the contract ends.
8. Compliance: the provider should follow FTC disclosure rules for paid partnerships and never buy followers, likes or reviews.

For a broader comparison of agencies, read what to consider when looking for a social media agency and these tips to find the best digital marketing company.

Red Flags When Choosing a Social Media Marketing Service

What U.S. Law Says About Fake Followers and Paid Posts

The FTC announced its final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials on August 14, 2024, and the Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule took effect on October 21, 2024. The rule lets the FTC seek civil penalties against knowing violators. It prohibits selling or buying fake indicators of social media influence, such as followers or views generated by a bot or a hijacked account, when the buyer knew or should have known they were fake and uses them to misrepresent influence for a commercial purpose.

The Devumi case shows the risk. On October 21, 2019, the FTC announced that Devumi’s owner and CEO had settled charges that the company sold fake followers, subscribers, views and likes on platforms including Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. The FTC said the company filled more than 58,000 orders for fake Twitter followers.

Disclosure rules apply to paid content too. According to the FTC’s guidance for social media influencers, anyone with a material connection to a brand, such as being paid or receiving free or discounted products, must disclose it with the endorsement itself, using clear terms such as “ad” or “sponsored” rather than vague tags like “sp” or “collab”. In videos, the disclosure belongs in the video itself, not only in the description.

How to Hire a Social Media Marketing Service: Step by Step

1. Write down your goal, audience and monthly budget, including any ad spend.
2. Review how your competitors use social media; this guide to analyzing competitors’ digital marketing strategies explains how.
3. Shortlist three or four providers and ask each for a written proposal with scope, KPIs and pricing.
4. Check their own social profiles and case studies for real engagement, not just large follower counts.
5. Agree a trial period with clear targets and monthly reporting.
6. Give access through platform roles instead of sharing personal passwords.
7. Review results against the KPIs at the end of the trial before signing a longer contract.

Real engagement, such as comments and replies, matters more than raw numbers. These strategies to encourage authentic comments on Instagram show what genuine growth looks like.

Written byMichael AustinEditor-in-Chief

Michael Austin is the Editor-in-Chief of Justwebworld and manages the platform’s editorial direction, content strategy, and digital publishing operations. With a strong interest in online media and modern publishing, he focuses on creating informative, engaging, and easy-to-understand content across multiple categories. Under his leadership, Justwebworld continues to grow as a trusted multi-niche digital publication covering technology, business, lifestyle, automotive, sports, travel, and trending internet topics for readers worldwide.

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