With 500 million users on Facebook, 75 million Twitter accounts, and 66 million LinkedIn profiles, there’s no question that social media is here to stay.

Yet, while many understand the value of having a social media presence, keeping up with the pace of the virtual world (as in the real world!) can be a challenge. Updating profiles, commenting on posts, tweeting and adding others to your growing network can be time consuming and tedious.

As a busy executive how can you stay consistently connected to both worlds?

Here’s where a social media manager can help you be in two places at one time.

A social media manager is something to consider as a new member of your support team who can assist you in effectively navigating the social media world. Think of this individual as a virtual hybrid of an administrative assistant, tech support desk and marketing resource.  A good social media manager keeps you succinctly informed of relevant conversations and trends, checks your social media inboxes and lets you know key happenings among individuals in your online network.

Most importantly for business owners, a social media manager can also serve as your social media service representative ensuring that you’re staying engaged with your current and prospective customers.

It’s time to hire a social media manager when…

So, how do you know when it’s time to stop trying to do it yourself and hire a social media manager? Here are a few clues to look for:

• When everyone you know seems to have multiple social media sites and you don’t. If you’ve been meaning to set up your accounts and are reminded daily by the mention of Facebook during conversations, chances are that you’re lagging behind the social media curve. In instances such as these, a social media manager can help get you out of the dark ages by getting your social media accounts up and running quickly.

• You have accounts but forgot your login and passwords. It’s great that you have taken initiative to start these accounts but it doesn’t do much good if you rarely or never log in.  A poor social media presence is just as bad as not having presence at all. Checking in every now and then can be compared to showing up to the networking event in the wrong attire, without business cards or a clue as who’s who at the event. A social media manager can log in to your accounts for you, monitor status updates and make sure you’re present in the social media world and represented well.

• Your clients and colleagues call or text you to follow up on Facebook or LinkedIn messages they sent days ago. Although you may log in frequently, if you’re only able to respond or comment to a post here and there before something comes up, you may need back up.  Like regular email, things can pile up. If ignored, opportunities requiring follow up may be missed. A social media manager can make sure all of your bases are covered in an organized manner.

In closing, if you’re serious about getting what can be a hectic social media life in order, a social media manager is a must to help you manage your time wisely.  As with any worthwhile endeavor whether online or off, having the right players on your professional support team can ensure your continued success and growth.