A Solopreneur’s Guide to Hiring a Social Media Manager

You’re ready for help — but you’re not ready to hand over the keys.

If the thought of outsourcing your social media and hiring a social medial manager gives you a mix of relief and anxiety, you’re not alone.

As solopreneurs and small business owners, our brand is personal. We’ve built it brick by brick. So when it comes to letting someone else write our captions, choose our colors, or post on our behalf — yeah, it’s a big deal.

I’ve hired for social media a couple of times. And here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: clarity trumps control. When you’re clear about what you want, you don’t need to micromanage. You can lead with trust — not frustration.

Let’s talk about what that clarity looks like and how to get there.

First, Know What You Want — Really

Hiring help is a great idea only if you know what “help” actually means to you.

Before you even hop on a discovery call, ask yourself:

• What parts of social media do I want to hand off — strategy, content, design, scheduling, engagement?
• How involved do I want to be in the creation process?
• Do I care about things like visual grid layout, branded graphics, or captions in my exact voice?
• Am I looking for someone to take my ideas and run with them — or someone to come up with the ideas too?

There’s no right answer here. But knowing YOUR answer is everything.

Use Tools Like ChatGPT to Prep Before You Hire

Even if you’re planning to outsource your content creation, it’s still worth taking the time to define your voice, values, and style.

Personally, I use ChatGPT to:

• Clarify my brand voice
• Draft caption and blog ideas
• Create reusable content outlines I can hand off

You can think of it as your first “drafting partner” — whether you’re creating the content yourself or preparing handoff materials for a contractor. Either way, you’re not starting from scratch.

If you haven’t gotten the hang of ChatGPT yet, check out my FREE Resource, How to Build your AI Content Hub. It will walk you through the process of getting content that actually sounds like you.

Consider Canva + Metricool for a Systematized Workflow

If you’re still doing it yourself (or prepping for a VA), tools like Canva’s Bulk Create and Metricool’s AutoList feature can seriously cut down your workload.

• Canva’s bulk feature works best for consistent formats (think: quotes, tips, etc.)
• Metricool lets you rotate evergreen content without constantly re-uploading
• You can even connect Canva directly to Metricool to streamline design and scheduling

I use Metricool myself, and it’s been a game-changer for scheduling, repurposing, and keeping my content organized. If you’re ready to simplify your social — especially for Pinterest, Instagram, or evergreen content — it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Want to hand this off later? Great. But having your system in place first will make onboarding someone easier — and keep you from starting over.

Not All Social Media Support Is the Same

Some social media managers are strategy-focused. Others are designers or caption writers. Some post natively inside apps, while others prefer using schedulers like Metricool.

This is why you need to ask the right questions upfront:

• Do you create content or need me to?
• Can you work inside my Canva and scheduling tools?
• What kind of feedback process do you have?
• How do you handle my brand voice and visual identity?

You’ll quickly find out if their process matches yours — or if it’s time to keep looking.

The Bottom Line: Clarity Before Delegation

Hiring support doesn’t mean giving up your vision. It means getting so clear on what you want that someone else can bring it to life — without constant hand-holding.

Whether you’re outsourcing to free up time, get more consistent, or stop dreading your content calendar, the process starts with you.

Know what you want. Document your process. Use tools that keep you efficient. That’s how you protect your brand AND get the help you need.

I know that hiring support — especially for something as personal as your content — is a big step. And it’s not one-size-fits-all.

That’s why clarity matters so much. The more intentional you are on the front end, the easier it is to find the right kind of help — and avoid the frustration of mismatched expectations later.

If this blog gave you something to think about, I’d love to hear what resonated.
Leave a comment below or send me a DM. I read every message.

And if you’re ready to talk through what content support might look like in your business — or just need help clarifying your next step — let’s chat.

👉 Book a free Discovery Call

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

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Deb Mitzel is Your 17hats Guide—an experienced Small Business Operations Consultant and Coach, as well as a 17hats Implementation Specialist. With a passion for empowering small business owners, Deb specializes in helping clients reclaim their time so they can focus on building businesses that support their personal and professional dreams. Deb believes in creating an Integrated Life—a harmony where your business and personal life work together to serve you best. She knows that with the right systems, strategies, and a little guidance, you can build a business that is a blessing, not a burden. If you’re ready to simplify your processes and maximize your impact with 17hats or other tailored strategies, Deb offers a Free Discovery Call to explore how she can help. Click below to schedule your call and take the first step toward turning your vision into reality.

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