A Social Media Marketing Agency, or SMMA for short, specializes in advertising, content marketing and lead generation on social media platforms on behalf of their client’s businesses. This can include handling social media accounts and interacting with followers on behalf of clients as well as creating and running ads on social media platforms.

Furthermore, most SMMAs will offer other services such as funnel creation, content development, email marketing, and other business objectives such as copywriting or content writing to maximize the effectiveness of their client’s objectives.

The SMMA industry has undergone an evolution over the years, with most services of a social media marketing agency falling under the umbrella of a Digital Marketing Agency’s social media campaign. A majority of agencies offer a range of services to their clients or they may specialize in a niche-specific service such as solely operating Facebook & Instagram advertising.

A new agency will tend to focus its outreach towards local businesses, and as the agency gains traction, it will begin to shift its attention towards larger clients both nationally and globally.

Simply put the responsibility of an SMMA is to function within the client’s infrastructure, for example, social media accounts, email responders, websites, etc. to drive more sales or brand awareness while for the most part operating remotely.

Is SMMA the same as a Digital Marketing Agency?

Digital marketing comprises all types of marketing conducted on digital platforms, both offline and online. Meanwhile, social media marketing is a subset of digital marketing that is exclusively online, leveraging social media websites, channels, and forums.

The Best Industries for Social Media Marketing Services?

Almost all industries can benefit from social media marketing services or other forms of digital marketing if there is minimal need for a social media presence. Below I have listed the 18 best industries for SMMA/Digital Marketing Services.

Automotive

The automotive industry covers a few key niches that an SMMA can help businesses leverage their reach on social media. The types of service that can be offered range from – Lead Generation, SEO, and Video Creation.

• Auto Dealers
• Auto Electrics
• Auto Repairs (Including mechanics)
• Car Detailing
• Car & Motorcycle Financing
• Car Rentals
• Limousine Rentals
• Motorcycle Dealers
• Window Tinting

Construction & Home Services

The construction industry can be a lucrative option if you find the right client. The types of service that can be offered range from – Lead Generation, Branding, and Paid Advertising.

E-commerce

Over the last 15 years, the world of online shopping has exploded. Almost every industry that sells products couldn’t hold out against the momentum gained year in and year out from online sales. One only needs to look at the rise of Amazon to see the direction the world was headed. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Paid Ads, Email Marketing, Copywriting and Web Design.

• Automotive
• Baby’s & Kids
• Homeware & Garden
• Home Beauty
• Home Improvement
• Kitchen & Dining
• Luggage & Travel
• Pet Supplies
• Sports Equipment
• Stationary & Office Products
• Video Games

Education

The education sector can be a great place for an SMMA to gain retainer clients. As childcare centres and schools consistently need to present themselves as the best option for parents to send their children. The types of services that can be offered range from – Branding, Paid Ads, Email Marketing, Graphic Design work & video content.

• Early Childhood Centres
• International Study Centres
• Private Tutors
• Private Schools
• Vocational Centres

Events

Events require their customers to have knowledge of when and where the event is taking place. As a former event manager, I have seen firsthand how important social media has become to various areas of the event industry. The types of service that can be offered range from – Content Creation (including videos), Social Media Management, Graphic Design & Web Design.

• Art Exhibitions
• Charities
• Club Nights
• Community Events
• Conferences
• Event Venues
• Food Festivals
• Music Festivals
• Music Tours
• Pop Up Events
• Product Launches
• Trade Shows
• Weddings

Clothing & Fashion

One industry that will never die is the clothing industry. With every generation, there are countless people the world over who want to become the next YSL, Nike or Supreme. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Content Writing, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Lead Generation, SEO & Web Development.

• Accessories Brands
• Clothing Brands
• Modelling Agencies
• Online and Retail Stores
• Public Relation Agencies
• Shoe Brands

Financial

The financial industry is another lucrative niche for SMMA agencies to offer their service. The types of service that can be offered range from – Content Writing, Copywriting, Lead Generation, SEO & Web Development.

FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)

You may not have heard the term FMCG but I am 100% certain you have seen the products. Think everything is the supermarket or convenience store, products like toothpaste, soda drinks and the list goes on. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Content Writing, Copywriting, Graphic Design, SEO & Web Development.

• Beverages (including alcohol, coffee & tea)
• Food Packaging
• Household Goods
• Pharmaceuticals
• Toiletries Packaging

Beauty, Health, Medical & Wellness

Without a doubt health and beauty would be one of the first clients SMMA agency owners can work with. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Email Marketing, Lead Generation, and SEO.

Insurance

The insurance industry across all sectors would be one of the biggest buyers of leads. Having worked in cold call sales in a previous life the campaign was for 1 client who was a health insurance comparison broker. They required a minimum of 800 leads per day from the office I worked in. Hopefully, that gives you an idea of how large the industry is and how an SMMA offer their services. The types of service that can be offered range from – Copywriting, Lead Generation, Sales Funnel and Data Management.

• Business Insurance
• Car Insurance
• Contents Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Income Protection Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Personal Liability Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Property Insurance
• Travel Insurance

Legal

From personal experience when it comes to pitching law firms. They will fall into one of two categories. 1. Love the idea to promote their firm 2. Couldn’t care less about marketing, I also found this was fully dependent on which area of the law they practised in. The types of service that can be offered range from – Lead Generation, Web Development.

• Administrative & Governmental Law Attorneys
• Adoption Attorneys
• Appeals Attorneys
• Arbitration & Mediation Services Attorneys
• Asbestos Diseases Attorneys
• Bankruptcy
• Business Formation
• Divorce Lawyers
• Estate Attorneys
• Estate Planning
• Lawyers
• Personal Injury

Pets

When your next free ask a person you know who has a pet, how important that animal is to them. I am sure most will state their pet is just as important to them as their own children. The pet industry is a niche where people are willing to spend their money on their furry friends. The types of service that can be offered range from – Copywriting, Email Marketing, Paid Ads and SEO.

• Pet Groomers
• Pet Toys
• Veterinarian Clinic

Real Estate

The real estate industry has been intertwined with SMMA providers from the moment organic reach died and it went to paid ads. The types of service that can be offered range from – Content Creation (including videos), Lead Generation, and Web Development.

• Foreclosure/Short Sale
• Home Appraisers
• Home Inspectors
• Mortgage Brokers
• Movers
• Real Estate Investors
• Realtors

Solar

One industry solely focused on accumulating as many leads as possible and always watch for large amounts of spam from people wanting quotes but not wanting to give their details. The types of service that can be offered range from – Lead Generation.

• Solar Installation

Tech/SAAS

The tech boom has seen an evolution and ecosystem be born centred solely on being online and becoming as productive as one can possibly be. Both tech and saas companies tend to want to work fast past and achieve their objectives asap. When it comes to their marketing this is where you can assist. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Lead Generation, SEO & Web Design.

•  
• CRM
• Marketing
• VPNs

Travel & Hospitality

The travel & Hospitality industry took a little hiatus whilst the world took some time out due to the spicy flu. Since everything has opened back up the amount of people travelling has been insane. The types of service that can be offered range from – Branding, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Lead Generation, SEO & Web Design.

• Bars
• Cafe’s
• Larger Chain Hotels – Once you have an established agency
• Resorts
• Restaurants
• Small Non-Chain Hotels
• Timeshares
• Tour Operators
• Travel Agents

How to Launch a Social Media Marketing Agency

To launch an SMMA new agency owners have to consider these key points. Before they go out and start pitching a business owner. This is a basic overview of the steps needed to set up your SMMA agency and get those ideas flowing. If you want a more in-depth guide on how to set up your social media marketing agency check out my article.

Get Ready –

1. Get yourself a good computer it will help you be more efficient.
2. What is the name of your business?
3. Set up your business legalities i.e. registering the business, and setting up bank accounts.
4. Which service do you offer to your clients?
5. Which industry or niche will your business service?

Get Set –

1. Now it’s time to create a business email and social pages (note – focus on one social media platform and learn it inside and out).
2. A website is not essential at the beginning but it is vital to growing your business. It is so easy to create a drag-and-drop website these days. Both Squarespace and Wix can help in this department. If you are a little more skilled then I would recommend WordPress.
3. Research other agencies to get a feel for them, and how they present themselves to the world. Look at their clients, are they in the industry you can offer your services to?
4. In our game, great business starts with great content creation. If you start SMMA to make quick cash you’re in for a rude awakening. Yes, the money can be life-changing but you gotta hustle. As a new agency owner, it’s your job to make sure the work keeps flowing in.
5. With certain services, you can offer a free exchange of work for testimonials with smaller clients in your niche. A great place to source people is in Facebook groups related to your industry.

Go –

1. Will you focus on local business or online business (note most businesses are contacted regularly by people trying to pitch them)? It is key you find the right decision-maker within the business and make sure you stand out. Follow the link here to learn how to write an email proposal.
2. I know you want to bring in money as quickly as possible but the first thing you need to focus on is to deliver quality for your first clients. Nothing speaks louder than getting results for your clients and if you can do this you are already ahead of 95% of the competition.
3. If you are using freelancers to complete work for services you offer. Make sure you vet them properly, remember this is your reputation and you do not want to work with people who are unprofessional, cannot care less about the task at hand or meet deadlines. Too often agency owners look for cheap options from Fiverr or Upwork and get burnt! Don’t let this be you.
4. Continue to collect your testimonials, master the services you offer, build out your website and socials and build upon the clients you attract. Rinse and repeat!

FAQs

Is Running an SMMA Hard?

When it comes to starting your own SMMA (social media marketing agency) from the ground up. It’s essentially a numbers game where the more effort you put into contacting business owners the more opportunity you create for yourself to succeed and eventually that success will come.

The key for you is, to be honest with yourself and consistently evaluate your progress as well as being transparent regarding the number of businesses you’ve reached out to. As a rule of thumb for every 100 businesses you contact, you should receive 10 sales calls. Sales statics state from 10 sales calls the average conversion rate is 3 new clients. Thus resulting in a smoother operation for your SMMA business.

Is Social Media Management the same as Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is geared toward the development and implementation of marketing strategies on social media primarily utilizing the network’s advertising functions. On the other hand, social media management is centred around a more long-term approach and utilization of social media in other words content marketing.

Many agencies adopt a marketing strategy by merging social media management and social media marketing. As their only focus is to help companies maintain uniform brand standards across different platforms, while also building customer loyalty and most importantly bringing in more sales.

What is the Most Profitable Niche in Digital Marketing?

Email Marketing is by far the most lucrative service an SMMA/Digital Marketing Agency can offer outcomes. As a matter of fact, it can be compared to that goose who lays golden eggs. In this light, it is an essential tool for businesses that desire to enhance their profits.

The sheer number of businesses who misuse email marketing is mind-boggling generally due to poor division. Consequently, their email list receives irrelevant emails, causing low open rates, dissatisfaction among customers, and decreased sales.

Several of the most sought-after services in the email marketing realm comprise of lead segmentation, expansion of email lists, email campaigns, sales funnels, and email automation.

Which Course Should I Take for Digital Marketing?

The easiest way to develop your marketing chops is to be guided with a helping hand. There is only one course I would personally recommend for anyone wanting to set up their own SMMA/Digital Agency. The course is offered by Affluent Academy run by Jordan Platten and his team.

I myself have gone through the Affluent Academy and I am still a part of Affluent Academy as it comes with a lifetime membership. Without going too in-depth I can attest, for the price point, you get everything you need to learn to build a business that brings consistent revenue month in and month out. I would say it is more than just a course I would liken it to an education hub with how it’s structured and the ongoing support offered.

Advice for New Agency Owners

Here are a few snippets of advice I can offer to anyone wanting to establish an SMMA/Social Media Marketing Agency. It’s crucial to present yourself online in a manner that is sophisticated, professional, and representative of your expertise. This is a key factor in acquiring a stable and recurring clientele, as well as sustaining a steady cash flow.

Always check out other agencies to see what your competition is doing. You want to have a good grasp of what is happening in the industry at any given time. If you want to scale your agency beyond 6 figures you will need to recruit talent. This will allow you to work on growing the agency.

Even if your agency only offers paid ads as a service. Present your company in the best possible light. Use a professional for graphic design work, especially on your own website.

I mentioned this earlier in the article, do not discount the power of quality work. Your number one aim is to deliver your clients the best possible outcome from the service you offer. The better you become, the more knowledge you possess, the higher the prices you can charge.

Final Thoughts on SMMA/Digital Marketing Agencies

If you are a person who is wanting to build their own company and looking for a lower barrier of entry in terms of start-up capital needed. Then starting an SMMA/Social Media Marketing Agency can be the vehicle you have been looking for. Whilst you can make very good money relatively quickly, you do need to master your craft and deliver for your clients.

Continually test to see what works, watch and take note of your data build upon the feedback your client’s customers give. Become a valuable asset to your client and their wins are your wins. Remember to manage their expectations and be clear on the details of the services your agency is offering to them.