How to Know If Your Social Media Manager Is Actually Working (And What to Do If They're Not)

Published on
August 26, 2026
Contributors
Jonathan Petrous
Owner & Creative
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Social Media Management
Analytics

You Hired Someone. You're Paying Them. And You're Not Sure If It's Working.

That uncertainty is more common than you'd think — and it's a problem that goes both ways. Sometimes the manager isn't delivering. Sometimes the client doesn't know what to measure. Sometimes both. Here's how to tell the difference, and what to do about it.

Start With Goals

Before you can measure whether your social media manager is doing a good job, you need to know what a good job looks like. Common social media goals for small businesses:

  • Brand awareness: more people in your market knowing you exist.
  • Engagement: building a community of followers who interact with your content.
  • Lead generation: driving inquiries, calls, form submissions, or website visits.
  • Reputation building: consistently positioning yourself as a trusted, credible business.

If you and your social media manager never defined your goal clearly, that's the first thing to fix.

The Metrics That Actually Matter

  • Reach: How many people are seeing your content?
  • Engagement rate: What percentage of people who see your content interact with it?
  • Follower growth: Are you building an audience over time?
  • Link clicks and website traffic: Is social media driving people to your website?
  • Direct messages and inquiries: Is social media generating real leads?

Signs Your Social Media Manager Isn't Performing

  • Posting has become inconsistent or stopped without explanation.
  • Content quality has declined — graphics look rushed, captions feel generic.
  • You have no idea what's happening with your accounts unless you check yourself.
  • You're not getting regular reporting or performance updates.
  • Engagement has been flat or declining for multiple months with no strategy shift.
  • They can't explain what they're doing or why.

How to Have the Conversation

If you're not satisfied, say so directly. Tell them what you're observing, what you expected, and what you need to see differently. Give them a chance to respond and adjust. If the conversation doesn't lead to improvement, it's okay to make a change. Your brand is too important to leave in the hands of someone who isn't delivering.

Managing the Transition

Before parting ways, make sure you have access to all accounts and assets. Your Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and any scheduling or analytics tools should have you as the primary owner. Never allow a vendor to be the sole administrator of any platform you depend on.

Looking for social media management that's accountable, strategic, and actually drives results? Schedule a free consultation at jpetrous.com | contact@jpetrous.com | 586-563-6634.

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