Interstates, an electrical construction, automation, and engineering company, faced challenges aligning social media with its strategic goals. Complex collaboration workflows, fragmented tools, and the need to engage both clients and recruits made managing multiple platforms feel overwhelming for the company.
After switching from Sprout Social to Agorapulse, Interstates streamlined collaboration, reporting, and scheduling processes—cutting social media management time by 50%. Now using Agorapulse’s reporting features, Interstates also achieved significant growth across key platforms. Instagram engagement increased by 12% quarter-over-quarter and Facebook engagement surged by 400% month-over-month.
About Interstates
Interstates, headquartered in Northwest Iowa, specializes in designing, building, automating, and supporting industrial plants. The company focuses on serving large manufacturing operations, providing solutions ranging from cybersecurity to facility construction. Jordan Knight, digital specialist at Interstates, oversees the company’s website and social media strategy, ensuring these platforms drive awareness and engagement with potential clients and recruits.
The Challenge
Before using Agorapulse, Interstates struggled with a disjointed social media workflow. The company used Sprout Social, but the tool lacked key features for streamlined collaboration and content approval.
With limited internal resources and many external stakeholders involved, Interstates found it difficult to manage approvals, tailor content to individual platforms, and coordinate efficiently across teams.
Additionally, Interstates faced industry-specific challenges:
Confidentiality restrictions
Interstates’ content often required internal review to make sure that proprietary or safety-sensitive information was not disclosed.
Recruitment focus
Interstates’ goal was to engage clients and to attract talent through Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. However, the company had only recently launched its Instagram presence. So, Interstates needed to build momentum.
Complex reporting needs
The company’s social media performance needed to be communicated effectively to different internal teams. Each team had its own specific reporting requirements.
The Journey: Discovering Agorapulse
In early 2024, Interstates switched from Sprout Social to Agorapulse, seeking a platform that could better handle collaboration and customization.
Jordan, Interstates’ digital specialist, was impressed with Agorapulse’s ability to offer:
External collaboration tools
Agorapulse allowed Interstates to send drafts to non-licensed users for approval, simplifying content review.
Custom post grouping
Interstates’ team could schedule batches of posts and tweak them for individual platforms, reducing redundant effort.
Powerful reporting features
Agorapulse enabled custom labeling of posts by category, such as “automation” or “recruitment.” So, tracking and sharing performance data with relevant departments.
Transformation: Turning Social Media Chaos into Clarity
With Agorapulse, Interstates saw immediate improvements in both efficiency and outcomes:
50% time savings
The streamlined approval and scheduling processes saved hours each week.
“What used to take four hours for a set of posts can now be done in two,” Jordan said.
Increased engagement
Engagement on Facebook soared 400% month-over-month, driven by timely posts and strategic content adjustments.
Growth across platforms
Interstates achieved consistent quarter-over-quarter growth—3% on Facebook, 12% on Instagram, and nearly 3% on LinkedIn.
Smarter reporting
By using Agorapulse’s custom reporting tools, Jordan could demonstrate the impact of recruitment efforts. She could show HR how often culture-related posts appeared and how well they performed, providing critical insights without manually gathering data from each platform.
Agorapulse also facilitated cross-team alignment by sharing content calendars with other departments. This transparency helped team members engage with scheduled posts and align their outreach efforts, further boosting content reach and engagement.
Lessons Learned and Unexpected Benefits
- Transparency drives engagement.
Sharing the content calendar with non-marketing teams empowered them to engage proactively, increasing post visibility. - Custom reports provide strategic insights.
Agorapulse’s ability to tag posts and generate tailored reports allowed Jordan to respond to internal inquiries efficiently, strengthening cross-department collaboration. - Employee Advocacy potential
Interstates sees Agorapulse’s Advocacy tool as the next step in their strategy, with plans to engage employees in sharing company content during key events.
A Tip From Interstates
“Find a tool that supports your processes without adding complexity. For us, the external collaboration feature was a game-changer. It allowed us to involve stakeholders without needing extra licenses or complicated workflows.” – Jordan Knight, Digital Specialist, Interstates
Conclusion
Agorapulse is now an essential tool for Interstates. The tool streamlines Interstates’ social media strategy and makes day-to-day operations more manageable.
The social media management platform’s reporting and scheduling tools allow the team to stay ahead of their goals while continuously refining their approach. By transforming from fragmented workflows to a cohesive strategy, Interstates elevated its social media efforts. Social media is now more than an operational task—it’s a strategic asset. Moreover, Interstates can prove the value of social media to the business at large.
This story showcases the power of Agorapulse in aligning social media management with business objectives, providing clarity, efficiency, and measurable outcomes. Ready to write your own success story? Start your journey with Agorapulse today!
