Social Media Mastery - Should a Small Business Invest in Social Media Management? - Episode 13

Another week, another edition of SMM (Social Media Mastery)!

The past few days have been full of insightful conversations with potential clients, and one recurring topic kept coming up. It’s something that almost every small business owner asks me sooner or later:

“Is it worth me hiring an external social media manager?”

Now, this might surprise some people, especially since I run a social media agency, but my honest answer is no.

Let me explain why.

Why I Don’t Recommend It (At Least, Not Yet)

When you’re running a small business, your money is your lifeline. Every pound (or dollar) counts, and you’re often forced to make tough decisions about where to invest it, equipment, stock, rent, staff, ads, the list goes on.

So when I see small business owners considering spending £1,000+ per month on social media management, my advice is usually: don’t.

Not because social media isn’t worth the investment — it absolutely is — but because, at this stage, you can achieve great results by learning the basics yourself or using support-based help.

Social media management is incredibly powerful when done right, but early on, it’s often more cost-effective and beneficial to learn the skill in-house rather than outsource it completely.

Why You’re More Capable Than You Think

I’m a huge believer that most small business owners can do social media themselves, and save thousands in the process.

Yes, it takes time to learn, but think about it: you already understand your brand, your customers, and your voice better than anyone else ever could.

No agency or freelancer, no matter how talented, will know your business like you do.

That’s your biggest advantage.

Once you understand how to share that story online, through engaging visuals, storytelling, and consistency, you’re already halfway to building a brand people love.

So What’s the Solution?

If you’re a small business owner trying to grow your online presence, here are two realistic and effective paths forward.

1️⃣ Utilise an Employee You Already Have

Most small businesses already have someone on the team who “gets” social media - often a younger employee or someone naturally creative.

Give them the opportunity to help.

You don’t need to hand over total control, just guide them with your brand’s tone, target audience, and goals. Encourage them to create short videos, capture behind-the-scenes photos, or share customer stories.

If you’re hiring in the future (say, for a customer-facing role like a waiter, shop assistant, or receptionist), you could even include “social media support” in the job description.

It’s a small addition that can make a huge difference.

That way, you’re growing your online presence organically while keeping costs low, and building an internal skill that stays with your business long-term.

2️⃣ Use a Support Package Instead

This is exactly why I created the Social Media Support Package at PintSizedHumour.

Most social media management agencies will happily take your money each month, post a few generic graphics, and call it “growth.” But they rarely teach you why things work, or how to eventually do it yourself.

So when you stop paying, you’re left in the same position you started - no knowledge, no confidence, and no real progress.

A Support Package flips that on its head.

You still get expert guidance, content planning, and a personalised strategy, but instead of just paying for someone to do the work, you’re learning how to build and manage your brand’s online presence yourself.

It’s a collaborative process, one that saves you money while building a skill set that’ll benefit your business for years.

Why Knowledge Is the Best Investment You Can Make

I once heard Alex Hormozi say something on a podcast that stuck with me.

“This woman went on stage and was asked how much she makes. She said $50k. He then said to her, ‘Okay, so you’re costing yourself $950,000 every year you don’t know how to make $1 million.’”

That hit me hard — because it perfectly sums up the power of knowledge.

If you don’t know how to go viral, you won’t.
If you don’t understand why content performs, you’ll always rely on others to make it work.

And that’s fine for larger companies with big marketing budgets, but for small businesses, learning these skills yourself can be the difference between staying stuck and scaling fast.

So, Should Small Businesses Hire an Agency?

Here’s my honest take:

If you’re a small, local business with limited funds, focus first on learning the fundamentals. Use what you’ve got, your personality, your story, and your phone, and start creating.

Once you’ve built some traction, then consider investing in professional management to scale things further.

At PintSizedHumour, we do offer Social Media Management Services, but they’re designed for larger, multi-location companies that already have momentum and want to amplify it.

For everyone else, start with education, guidance, and consistency. The results will follow.

Final Thoughts

I’ll end with a quote I’ve been repeating to myself (and to my clients) a lot recently:

“The difference between stuck and scaling is often just what you don’t yet know.”

Don’t underestimate how much power there is in learning the fundamentals.

Start small, stay consistent, and invest in knowledge first - because that’s the one skill that will always keep paying you back.

- Jacob

For more daily Social Media Insight - press here.

To Boost your brand’s exposure with expert support - press here