How To Onboard Social Media Marketing Clients

Introduction.

When you start working with a new social media marketing client, it can feel like stepping into unknown territory.

Each business is different, and each client has unique needs, and making sure they get the best results is essential.

But how do you onboard them? What steps should you follow to ensure everything runs smoothly and your client feels confident that they made the right choice in hiring you?

Onboarding a social media marketing client is more than just signing a contract and jumping into the work. It’s about setting the right expectations, understanding their business goals, and establishing a solid plan for success.

It’s about building trust right from the start and making sure both sides are on the same page. So, let’s break down how to onboard social media marketing clients the right way—step by step.

How Do I Onboard Social Media Marketing Clients?

Step 1: Understanding Your Client’s Needs

Before you even think about creating a strategy or drafting a content calendar, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what your client needs.

Ask a lot of questions and get to the heart of their business. Here are a few things you need to know:

Business goals: What are they hoping to achieve with social media? Are they trying to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to their website, or grow their sales?
Target audience: Who are they trying to reach? This will help you choose the right platforms and create content that resonates with their audience.
Competitors: Who are their main competitors? It’s good to know what others in the same space are doing on social media, so you can find ways to stand out.
Previous efforts: Have they tried social media marketing before? If so, what’s worked and what hasn’t? Knowing their past experiences can help you avoid repeating mistakes and build on their successes.

Once you have all this information, you’ll be able to create a tailored strategy that aligns with their goals and speaks to their audience.

Step 2: Set Clear Expectations and Define Deliverables

Transparency is key when it comes to working with clients. You want to make sure both sides are on the same page from day one. Set expectations early by discussing things like:

Timeline: How long will it take to get results? Be realistic about what can be achieved and avoid making promises you can’t keep.
Services included: Make sure your client knows exactly what you’ll be doing for them. Are you handling just social media posts, or do you also include ads, influencer collaborations, or content creation?
Reporting and communication: How often will you check in with them? What kind of reports will you send, and how frequently? Establishing regular check-ins can help ensure that things stay on track.

By setting clear expectations, you avoid confusion later on and help the client feel more comfortable with the process.

Step 3: Build a Solid Social Media Strategy

Once you’ve gathered all the info and have set expectations, it’s time to craft a solid social media strategy.

The strategy should be comprehensive and flexible enough to adapt to changes, but also clear enough to show the client that you have a plan. Here are some components to include in your strategy:

Platform selection: Not all social platforms are created equal. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and your client may not need to be on all of them. Choose the ones that best suit their audience and goals.
Content plan: What kind of content will you create? Will it be a mix of images, videos, blog posts, or stories? Consider the type of content that best fits the platforms and resonates with the target audience.
Posting frequency: How often will you post? Consistency is key, but it’s also important not to overwhelm the audience. Finding the right balance is crucial.
Engagement plan: Social media isn’t just about posting content—it’s also about engaging with the audience. Plan how you will interact with followers, respond to comments, and keep the conversation going.

A solid strategy doesn’t just focus on short-term results but also long-term growth. Keep in mind that social media success often takes time, and patience is key.

Step 4: Create a Content Calendar

Content calendars are an essential tool when it comes to managing social media marketing for clients. It helps you stay organized and ensures that content is posted consistently. A content calendar should outline:

Post dates: When each piece of content will be published.
Content types: What kind of content will be posted? A blog link, a promotional post, a behind-the-scenes video?
Themes or campaigns: If your client is running a special promotion, holiday campaign, or event, make sure that’s reflected in the calendar.

This calendar helps you plan, avoid last-minute scrambling, and allows your client to see what you’re working on.

Step 5: Start Creating Content and Scheduling Posts

Now that you’ve planned everything out, it’s time to start creating content. Depending on what your client’s needs are, this could involve creating graphics, writing captions, shooting videos, or curating third-party content.

One tool that I recommend for scheduling social media posts is Hootsuite. It lets you schedule posts in advance across multiple platforms, saving you time and ensuring your content is posted consistently. Scheduling tools help you automate the posting process and ensure you never miss a post.

Step 6: Monitor, Analyze, and Adjust

Once the content starts going out and your client’s social media presence starts growing, it’s important to keep a close eye on performance. Look at analytics regularly to track:

Engagement: Are people liking, commenting, and sharing the content?
Traffic: Is there an increase in website traffic from social media posts?
Growth: Is the number of followers increasing, and is the audience becoming more relevant over time?

If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy. Social media is always evolving, and what works today might not work tomorrow. Keep tweaking your strategy and content based on performance and feedback.

Step 7: Regular Communication and Feedback

Once everything is up and running, it’s important to keep your client in the loop. Regular updates and communication can help strengthen your working relationship. If there’s any feedback, make sure to take it seriously and adjust where needed.

You should aim to build a partnership with your clients, not just a service provider relationship. This helps them feel involved in the process and more invested in the results.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to see results from social media marketing?

A: Social media marketing takes time. Generally, you should expect to see initial engagement and some growth within the first 3-6 months, but significant results in terms of traffic and conversions might take up to 6-12 months, depending on your strategy and the client’s goals.

Q: Should I only focus on big platforms like Facebook and Instagram?

A: Not necessarily! It depends on your client’s target audience. For example, if they’re a B2B business, LinkedIn may be more effective than Instagram. It’s important to tailor your platform choice to your client’s industry and audience.

Q: How do I stay organized with multiple clients?

A: Using tools like Trello for project management, Hootsuite for scheduling posts, and Google Sheets for tracking campaigns can help you stay organized. Staying on top of deadlines and creating templates for reports can save you time in the long run.