When to DIY Your Social Media (And When to Hand It All Over)
Featuring insights from Meghan of Westerly Creative Studio
You know you need to show up on social media. Your website needs a refresh. Your brand materials are somewhere in a folder from 2019. But between client work, operations, and trying to remember to eat lunch, marketing keeps sliding to the bottom of your to-do list.
Sound familiar? Most business owners find themselves at the same crossroads: knowing they need consistent social media presence but feeling overwhelmed by the options. Do you buy templates and DIY it? Hire someone to handle everything? Cross your fingers and hope for the best?
There's no universally "right" answer, only the right answer for your business right now. That's why I sat down with Meghan of Westerly Creative Studio, who helps businesses figure out exactly what level of creative support makes sense for their goals and budget.
The Two Paths (And What They Actually Look Like)
DIY Templates: You get pre-designed frameworks and visual consistency without needing design skills. But you still handle the strategy, copywriting, posting, community engagement, and figuring out what's working.
Full Creative Support: A professional handles strategy, content creation, posting, and optimization. You provide input and approval, but the day-to-day execution happens without you.
The question isn't which is "better." It's which fits your current reality.
The Expert Take: What Meghan Has Learned
Let’s turn to the experts - Meghan starts every client conversation the same way: "What do you want to achieve?" Because you can talk colors and platforms all day, but none of it matters without knowing your end goal.
She sees three main categories:
Action-oriented: You want people to sign up, visit your site, or buy something.
Growth-focused: You need followers for credibility, grants, or authority building.
Community maintenance: You want to stay visible and maintain relationships.
"For clients who want social media as their primary marketing strategy or need to convert viewers, I always recommend creative support," Meghan explains. "The landscape is competitive and requires industry knowledge that's constantly changing."
But not everyone has those goals or budget. "Templates are great for flexible posting, consistency, and speeding up content creation. Instead of starting from zero every time, the framework is already there."
Are You Actually Ready for Templates?
Here's where Meghan gets honest about who templates work for. It's not just about buying them, it's about using them consistently.
According to her expertise, the people who succeed with templates typically:
Have some design experience already
Know what they want to post and enjoy writing
View marketing as non-negotiable
Can batch content creation
"Being a successful marketer requires a mindset shift," she notes. "If content creation becomes part of how you think about your work throughout the day, everything gets easier."
You’re also a great fit for templates if you are comfortable implementing your strategy: “The people who have the highest success rate with templates have some design experience already. I always make sure to ask what program people feel most comfortable in, but if the answer is none, then creating the content is going to feel daunting even with the framework in place. For those with experience, the opposite usually happens! People become excited to show off their account for the first time.
They also have an idea of what they want to post about and are comfortable writing. I know that we often think of posts as being designed, but that’s only part of it. Those who have something to say and are looking for a vessel to say it in are the ones who truly put their templates to use and see the return on their accounts. On the flip side, if someone is struggling to know what to post in the first place, strategy would be more helpful than templates at that stage.”
Red Flags You're DIYing Too Long
Meghan has seen the warning signs: typos, off-brand colors, questionable stock photos. But the biggest red flag isn't visual quality. It's barely posting at all.
“I think the biggest red flag that someone is DIYing for too long is that they are barely posting. They show up when they want to sell something and their audience doesn’t see it because they rarely interact with the account or they don’t buy because trust hasn’t been fostered.
Usually the root of this is overwhelm from DIYing everything or not having the strategy to feel like posting is even worth it in the first place. Building a social media following takes time and if you’re not set up for the marathon, it’s going to be hard to keep pace.”
Other signs it's time for help:
Templates sitting unused in your downloads
Inconsistent posting or weeks of silence
No idea what's working
Followers but no engagement
The Decision Framework
Meghan's practical approach boils down to four questions:
Timeline: Do you need growth in a specific timeframe? If yes, hire professionals. If no, templates might work.
Bandwidth: Are you excited about creating content and have the time? If yes, templates. If no, get help.
Budget: Can you invest in a specialist? If yes, do it. If no, templates are a solid choice.
Goals: Do you have specific objectives? If yes, at least hire strategy support. If no, start with templates and evolve.
The Middle Ground
“Not everyone has those goals or resources though and that’s okay!” says Meghan of full-service marketing support. “Templates are a great alternative as they allow for flexible posting, ensure consistency, and speed up the content creation process. Instead of posting feeling like a daunting task where you have to start at square zero every time, the branding and structure is already set! All of this can alleviate burnout, which I believe is one of the primary reasons people stop utilizing their social media accounts.”
Here's what most people don't realize: you don't have to pick one approach forever. Many of Meghan's clients start with templates, then add monthly content support as they grow.
This hybrid approach gives you batched content with captions, monthly strategy calls, and flexibility to post spontaneously, all at a lower cost than full management.
The Bottom Line
There's no perfect choice, only the right choice for where you are now. Your needs will change, and that's normal.
The most important thing? Pick an approach that actually happens. A brilliant strategy sitting in your to-do list is worthless compared to simple, consistent posts that connect with your audience.
Whether you choose templates, full support, or something in between, the goal is the same: showing up authentically for the people who need what you offer.
Connect with Meghan
Meghan of Westerly Creative Studio works with nonprofits and small businesses to create visual content that actually works. She offers free Discovery Calls to help you figure out what makes sense for your situation.
Website: www.WesterlyCreative.Studio
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-e
Email: hello@westerlycreativestudio.com
