Social Media Marketing Agency Results What to Expect in the First 90 Days ftimg
July 21, 2025
By Claire Evan

Social Media Marketing Agency Results: What to Expect in the First 90 Days

Hiring a social media marketing agency is a smart move, but what can you realistically expect early on?

The first 90 days matter. This is when your agency lays the groundwork for long-term growth, brand awareness, and lead generation. But don’t expect viral content overnight. Results come in phases, and each one builds on the last.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what should happen during the first three months of your agency relationship.

Days 1–30: Foundation and Strategy

The first month is primarily focused on data collection, research, and setup. You won’t see leads pouring in just yet, but the right groundwork ensures that future efforts work.

What to Expect:
  • Onboarding and brand discovery
    • Your agency will dive into your goals, voice, products, competitors, and current digital footprint.

       

  • Audit of your existing social presence
    • They’ll evaluate your profiles, past content, performance analytics, and follower behavior.

       

  • Platform selection
    • You won’t need to be on every platform. The agency will focus on where your audience actually spends time.

       

  • Content strategy
    • Expect a tailored calendar with content themes, brand tone, post types, and engagement goals.

       

  • Asset creation
    • Your agency may start designing branded templates, ad creatives, and video content.
Metrics That Matter (Month 1):
  • Profile optimization completed
  • Publishing cadence established
  • Engagement benchmarks recorded
  • First content calendar approved

Days 31–60: Execution and Early Engagement

In month two, your content begins rolling out. You’ll start to see interaction, but the main goal is testing what works and collecting performance data.

What to Expect:
  • Posting begins consistently
    • Reels, carousels, stories, and static posts are launched based on the strategy.

       

  • Audience engagement increases
    • Comments, saves, DMs, and shares should start picking up, especially if CTAs are clear.
  • Ad testing starts
    • Expect small budget ad campaigns focused on reach, traffic, or engagement, not conversions (yet).
  • Influencer or UGC campaigns
    • If relevant, this is when your agency will begin outreach to creators or request user-generated content.
Metrics That Matter (Month 2):
  • Reach and impressions growth
  • Increase in follower count (modest but consistent)
  • Engagement rate improvement
  • First paid campaign data (CTR, CPC)

Days 61–90: Optimization and Lead Generation

This is when momentum starts building. The agency has real data to work with, and they begin to scale what’s working.

What to Expect:
  • Refinement of ad targeting
    • Lookalike audiences, retargeting, and split-testing enter the picture.

       

  • Better content performance
    • By now, the agency knows which content types and messages generate the most traction.

       

  • Lead generation campaigns
    • Depending on your goals, this could include lead magnets, sign-ups, sales, or booking funnels.

       

  • Reporting
    • Agencies typically deliver a 90-day report showing growth, wins, and opportunities ahead.

       

Metrics That Matter (Month 3):

 

  • Leads generated or sales influenced
  • Website traffic from social increases
  • Conversion events tracked (form fills, purchases)
  • Clear return on ad spend (ROAS)

What Not to Expect Too Soon

It’s just as important to manage your expectations during the first 90 days. Here’s what might not happen yet—and why that’s okay:

  • Massive follower growth: Real followers come from value, not volume. Slow and steady wins.
  • High ROI: The first campaigns are more about learning than scaling.
  • Viral content: Going viral can’t be guaranteed—and isn’t always useful if it doesn’t bring in the right audience.
  • Brand perfection: Refining voice, tone, and design takes real-time feedback and iteration.

What a Good Agency Communicates

Transparency and collaboration are key. A reliable agency will:

  • Explain what’s working and what isn’t
  • Provide content approvals before publishing
  • Be proactive about testing and adapting
  • Align every tactic with your business goals

If your agency goes dark, doesn’t show metrics, or makes excuses, raise the red flag.

How to Make the Most of the First 90 Days

Want better results, faster? Meet your agency halfway.

  • Approve content quickly to avoid delays
  • Share behind-the-scenes content from your team
  • Respond to DMs and comments to boost engagement
  • Give feedback on what content you love (or don’t)
  • Provide access to your CRM or analytics if you want leads tracked properly

This isn’t a one-way street. The more open and collaborative you are, the better your agency can perform.

When You Should Expect Real ROI

ROI depends on your offer, industry, and budget. But for most small to mid-sized businesses:

  • Brand awareness builds in 30–60 days
  • Lead generation becomes consistent by day 90–120
  • Sales and ROI become measurable around months 4–6

You’re planting seeds early on. Expect the harvest to take a little time.

Ready to Work with a Results-Driven Agency?

At FreshMove Media, we work with growing brands that want tangible, measurable outcomes, not just likes.

We specialize in:
  • Strategic content and paid campaigns
  • Local targeting for East Coast markets
  • Social-first funnels that connect to your sales goals

Let’s talk about what your first 90 days could look like. Reach out to our Richmond-based Social Media Team today!

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