"We handle your social media" sounds simple. For a business owner it is often unclear what that means in practice: who makes the content, who replies to comments, who runs the ads, and what you get at the end of the month.
Here is a plain look at what a social media agency actually does, and what to expect.
The core work, step by step
1. Understand the business
A good start is a conversation, not a template. What do you sell, who buys it, what do customers ask, what makes you different, and what does a good month look like for you?
2. Plan the content
The agency decides what to post and why: a mix of reels, photos, carousels and stories, built around your products, your customers and the calendar (festivals, weddings, seasons). This is usually a monthly plan you approve before anything goes live.
3. Create the content
This is the part people see:
- Design: posts, carousels, festival creatives
- Video: shooting and editing reels
- Writing: captions and scripts, in Marathi, Hindi or English as your customers prefer
Shoots and video production are sometimes priced separately from the monthly fee, so ask.
4. Publish and manage
Posting at the right times, adding locations and hashtags, replying to comments and messages, and keeping the profile tidy: bio, highlights, pinned posts and contact buttons.
5. Run ads (when it makes sense)
Paid ads put your best content in front of the right people: by area, age and interest. The ad budget is paid to the platform, separate from the agency fee. Read Boosting a post versus running an ad to understand the difference.
6. Report and improve
Each month the agency should show what worked, what did not, and what changes next. The numbers that matter are enquiries, calls, messages and sales, not only followers. More on this in Followers are not customers.
What a social media agency does not do
- It cannot guarantee sales or a number of followers.
- It cannot make a weak product or slow service look good for long.
- It cannot work well without your input: access to your place, your products and quick approvals.
Honest agencies say this at the start.
What is usually included, and what often costs extra
- Usually included: content plan, designs and captions, posting and page management, a monthly report.
- Often extra: professional shoots, video production and editing, the ad budget (paid to the platform), and websites, print or hoardings.
Always get the list of inclusions in writing.
How to tell if it is working
Ask yourself after two or three months:
- Are more people messaging, calling or visiting?
- Do customers mention seeing your posts?
- Does the page look like your business?
- Do you understand the monthly report?
- Is the team easy to reach?
If the answer is no to most of these, talk to your agency. If nothing changes, look at the questions to ask when choosing an agency.
Frequently asked questions
How long before I see results?
Page quality and engagement can improve within weeks. Steady enquiries usually take a few months of consistent work.
Do I need to be on every platform?
No. Start with where your customers are, usually Instagram and Google for local businesses, and add others later.
Is social media enough on its own?
For many local businesses it is a strong start. A simple website and a Google profile make the results last longer. See Does a small business still need a website?.
Work with us
Albatross Social is a Kolhapur agency working with brands across Maharashtra and Goa. See what we do for social media and our work, or start a conversation.
मराठीत थोडक्यात
सोशल मीडिया एजन्सी तुमचा व्यवसाय समजून घेते, कंटेंटचं नियोजन करते, डिझाईन आणि रील्स बनवते, पोस्ट आणि कमेंट्स सांभाळते, गरज असल्यास जाहिराती चालवते आणि महिन्याला रिपोर्ट देते. काय समाविष्ट आहे आणि काय वेगळं आहे ते लिखित घ्या.