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Why You Shouldn't Hire a General VA for Social Media
Social Flax
When you’re deciding where to get help for your business, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a Virtual Assistant (VA) and a Social Media Manager (SMM).
A lot of business owners assume that these roles overlap, but in reality, each requires a different skill set, level of expertise, and approach. And because of that, their rates should reflect those differences.
Let’s break down why hiring a VA to manage your social media could cost you more than it saves and why investing in a skilled Social Media Manager is a smarter choice.
What does a Virtual Assistant Do?
A Virtual Assistant is a multi-tasker, typically focused on administrative tasks like data entry, client follow-ups, managing emails, and other routine business needs. They are often generalists and excel in organizing, managing, and executing routine tasks.
They’re your right-hand person, making sure day-to-day tasks are handled so you can focus on larger goals.
While VAs can be incredibly valuable, their expertise lies in organization and administrative work—not necessarily in marketing, creative, content creation, social media marketing, or social media growth
On the other hand, a Social Media Manager is a marketing expert who lives and breathes social media strategy. They do more than just post content—they dive deep into your brand’s goals, analyze your target audience, and craft campaigns that drive engagement and growth. Some of the things they handle include:
Social media strategy development
Content creation and curation
Engagement with followers
Analytics tracking and reporting
Paid ad campaigns (like Facebook and Instagram Ads)
Social media management requires marketing knowledge, a creative mindset, and the ability to analyze data to tweak strategies for optimal performance.
Disadvantages of Hiring the Wrong Person to Do Your Social Media
While some Virtual Assistants might say they can "do social media," it's important to realize that managing social platforms effectively is more than just posting updates or responding to comments. Social Media Marketing is about growth, engagement, and strategy. Virtual Assistants are great at handling operational tasks but may still lack the marketing expertise needed to make a meaningful impact and connect with the right audience.
Hiring a VA to manage your social media can:
Lead to missed opportunities for growth due to lack of strategy
Result in inconsistent branding or messaging
Wasted-resources on ineffective tactics
Create frustration when expected results are not met
Social Media Managers specialize in this space, keeping up with algorithm changes, trends, and best practices. Their job is to grow your presence, drive leads and ultimately, help your business scale on the digital space.
What is a Social Media Manager?
Why You Need to Invest in Experience
Hiring a Virtual Assistant to handle your social media might save you a few bucks in the short term, but it often leads to wasted time and money.
Without a solid strategy, you risk missing out on the full potential of your social media presence.
Because of the distinct skills required, General VA and Social Media Manager rates should never be the same. A VA might excel at admin tasks but lacks the marketing expertise, analytical skills, and industry know-how of an SMM. You’re paying for more than just task execution when you hire a Social Media Manager—you’re paying for strategy, experience, and the ability to help your business grow through digital channels.
If you want to grow your business the right way, having both a Virtual Assistant and a Social Media Manager on your team is the best combination. Let the VA handle the day-to-day admin, and let a skilled SMM focus on building your online presence.
If you’re unsure who you need or how to balance these roles, I’d love to help you make the right decision. Book a call with me and let’s chat about how to strategically support your business with the right mix of expertise.