The short answer
A social media audit is a one-time review of your channels, with a written breakdown and recommendations you can put to work.
Jen Newcombe, a co-founder of The App Chicks, calls her version "an honest look at your social media, and a clear plan for what to do next." It looks at strategy and substance. She says, "I don't calculate views or engagement rates."
What Jen reviews
She goes through your channels the way a new customer would. She notes what's working, what's missing and what's holding you back. The review covers:
- Profiles, bios and links on each channel.
- Brand voice, and how it carries across platforms.
- Visuals, from your grid to covers and thumbnails.
- Video, including hooks, pacing and on-camera presence.
- Content mix and the themes you return to.
- What's missing that your audience is looking for.
Across all of that, the audit covers what's missing, what's wrong, what needs to change and what to add.
What you receive
You get a written breakdown of what Jen found. It comes with recommendations, in the order she'd tackle them.
You can put them to work on your own or with your team. Nothing in the audit requires you to hire her afterward.
What it doesn't include
The audit is not a numbers report. Jen says it looks at strategy and substance, so it doesn't calculate views or engagement rates.
It is also not ongoing work. The audit is a one-time project.
Why get an outside view
Jen says it's hard to see what everyone else sees when you're inside your brand every day. She has reviewed brands since 2007.
She says she's known for telling clients what they might not want to hear but probably need to. Her line: "I'll be kind, and I'll be honest."
What happens after
The audit works on its own. Some teams take the plan and run with it. Others add content coaching, or hand the plan to full social media management.
Jen says every option is on the table, and none is required.
What it costs
An audit is a one-time project, quoted after a complimentary Insight Call. Jen doesn't publish a set price for it.
For context, she says a one-time audit, coaching session or strategy consultation will generally cost less than hiring someone to manage multiple platforms every month.
A client's words
Terri, of the Santa Monica History Museum, shared this about her first consultation with Jen. "We learned so much from our initial consultation that it was a clear no-brainer to work with Jen." The museum is a small organization that needed only basic assistance.
Who this isn't for
If you want someone to post for you, an audit alone won't do that. It gives you the plan, not the posting. Jen offers management as a separate service.
If you don't want honest feedback, choose someone else. Her audit is built on it.
Keep reading
- Do I need a social media manager, or should I keep doing it myself?
- Can I learn to create my own social media content?
- How much does social media management cost?
- Source: Jen's page, Social Media Audit
Book with Jen
An audit starts with a 15-minute Complimentary Insight Call so Jen understands your goals and where things feel stuck.