Tried managing a client's social media in-house vs. hiring a small agency

We ran our own social for a local cafe for 6 months, just posting daily specials. Hired a small agency in Denver last month and they started doing reels with customers and local trivia. Our engagement tripled in two weeks. The difference was they actually built a strategy instead of just posting ads. Has anyone else seen this big a jump from just changing the creative approach?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sam4d ago

@kaiblack nailed it with that "built a strategy" part. We ran our own feed for a bakery (same deal, just posting what we baked that day) and it was like shouting into the void. Hired a small shop that did behind-the-scenes of the baker shaping dough and quick clips of customers enjoying their croissants - engagement actually went up, but more importantly we saw regulars tagging their friends in the comments. It wasn't just about the views, it was about making people feel like they were part of something, you know?

kaiblack1mo ago

That "built a strategy" part is key. My buddy's shop saw the same thing with video.

cameronwood1mo ago

Hold on, engagement is a vanity metric. Tripling likes doesn't mean more coffee gets sold. A local cafe needs butts in seats, not views from people three states away. Those reels cost real money, and the agency fee probably eats the profit from any new customers they bring in. Posting the daily special straight up tells people what to buy when they walk in. That's the strategy that actually works.