Small businesses can’t afford to ignore social media from Instagram reels to TikTok trends, customer attention is increasingly captured online. Yet, many brand especially in industries like food & beverage, CPG or hospitality struggle to decide whether to manage social media in-house or partner with a social media agency or a freelancer.

The real challenge that leaves brand owners wondering whether they should post and manage everything themselves or hire professionals is restricted budgets, time constraints and the rapid rate of change in algorithms and content formats.

In this blog, we will help you assess the pros and cons to better understand whether which works better, is it DIY, freelancers or hiring a social media agency.

Exploring Your Social Media Management Options

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY): The Do It Yourself method is all about taking a hands-on approach in managing social media. DIY means keeping things simple and in-house, whether you’re creating content yourself as a small business owner or hiring someone specifically for marketing.
• Hiring Freelancers: Often called “content creators,” freelancers manage your social media accounts on their own. They bring a personal touch to your brand while working independently, without adding to your payroll costs.
• Partnering with a Social Media Agency: A Social Media Agency is made up of dedicated experts from account managers, marketing strategists, content designers and copywriters. According to a Quora user, working with a social media agency can be a smart move for businesses aiming for long-term growth and consistency.

Pros and Cons of Each Social Media Management Approach

Every social media management strategy has its pros and cons of its own. To assist you in determining which is most appropriate for your brand, let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of each.

DIY Social Media

Pros

• Budget-Friendly: Choosing to DIY means there are no external hiring or management costs which makes it cost-effective.
• Complete Oversight: You have complete control over the content without having to wait for approvals or changes.
• Personalized Branding: It’s easy to show your unique touch when you’re managing things yourself.

Cons

• Time-Consuming: Social media management can take a lot of time particularly if you have no social media management experience.
• Requires Continuous Learning: It needs time and work to stay up to date with evolving platform algorithms and trends.
• Possible Inconsistency: Posting may become erratic in the absence of a committed team or strategy.
• Lack of Clear Strategy: A lot of people who attempt DIY lack the knowledge and expertise necessary to create a successful business marketing plan.

Freelancer

Pros

• Expertise On Demand: Freelancers often have specialized expertise in social media.
• Works Around Your Needs: Freelancers are more adaptable to specific needs or changes in content and trends.
• Time Efficiency: A freelancer delegates the responsibility of social media management which frees up your time.

Cons

• Different Skill Sets: Freelance content creators may excel in visuals but lack knowledge in social media strategy and captioning.
• Resource Limitation: Content creators will only have access to their own skills and resources, whereas agencies have access to a team’s experience.
• Higher Cost: Although less expensive than an agency, it is still a continuous cost for your organization.
• Dependability Issues: Concerns about reliability, including a single point of failure.  What if there is an emergency or they become ill, and you rely on a single person to manage what should be a very successful portion of your company’s marketing efforts?

Social Media Agency

Pros

• Wide-Ranging Expertise: Agencies offer diverse experience in digital marketing and social media.
• Consistent And Dependable: Teamwork ensures consistency and reliability, even when individual members are unavailable.
• Comprehensive Strategy: An agency has a broad understanding of how social media ties into a larger marketing strategy and has worked in other marketing sectors.
• All-In-One Service: Paid advertising, professional content production, website construction, SEO and other digital services can all be combined into one package.
• Scalable Growth Potential: Want to promote your brand on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, and LinkedIn all at once? With access to a large team of people, you will not overburden a single social media account manager.
• Clear Focus On ROI: Agencies are experts in digital marketing and understand the importance of ROI for businesses. Content creators may define ‘success’ as followers or views, whereas an agency understands that your business’s success is dependent on results.

Cons

• Costly: Agencies are generally the most expensive option (but possibly worth it for the value you obtain).
• Onboarding process: Working with a social media management business can be more challenging at first than doing it yourself or with a single freelancer, because you have a full team of people who need to get to know you.

Choosing The Right Social Media Solution For Your Brand

If you’re considering the DIY route, keep in mind it’s more than just posting photos or tweets. You’ll need to understand algorithms, track performance and learn engagement strategies. This takes time and consistent effort.

Hiring a freelance content creator can help, but it still requires your involvement. You’ll need to communicate often, give feedback and manage schedules to make sure their work matches your brand’s goals.

Partnering with a Social Media Agency for Small Business gives you access to a full team of experts from strategists, designers and content creators who will handle everything for you. While it costs more, an agency usually delivers consistent posting, stronger results and less stress for business owners.

In the end, the right choice depends on how much time, budget, and personal involvement you want. The key is finding a balance that supports your business growth and long-term success.

Struggling to Keep Up with the Ever-Changing Social Media World?

Social media evolves quickly with new platforms appearing, algorithms shifting and consumer preferences changing. Small businesses must not only create content but also ensure that it adheres to current trends and platform guidelines.

Managing this on your own or with a freelancer can be tough. Every time algorithms change or a new feature rolls out, you need to adjust your strategy to stay relevant.

A Social Media Agency has the advantage of research teams, tools and expertise to stay ahead of these changes. They make sure your brand is always aligned with the latest updates and opportunities.

Keeping up isn’t just about staying current but it’s about using these changes to grow your business and avoid getting lost in the digital noise.

Which Social Media Management Option Delivers the Best Results?

Each option has value, but results depend on scalability and consistency:

• DIY: Low cost and authentic, but growth is limited.
• Freelancers: Creative and flexible, but often lack a long-term strategy.
• Social Media Agency for Small Business: Structured campaigns, ad optimization and measurable ROI. Brands like Spindrift and Mid-Day Squares grew from niche to mainstream with agency support.

For lasting growth, a Social Media Agency for Small Business is often the best path in delivering strategy, consistency and results.

👉 MAVRK Studio helps F&B, CPG, and hospitality brands turn social media into a profit-driving asset. Ready to grow? Contact us today.