Are you considering a career as a freelance social media manager? If so, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, as a freelance social media manager, you will be responsible for creating and managing social media accounts for your clients. It is important to be able to work independently and be organized in order to succeed as a freelance social media manager.
Additionally, good writing and communication skills are a must, as you will be responsible for creating content for your clients’ social media accounts. If you have a strong understanding of social media and are able to work independently, then a career as a freelance social media manager may be a good fit for you.
Here are some of the benefits.
Is Being a Freelance Social Media Manager Worth It?
Pros
There are several benefits to being a freelance social media manager. First, you can set your own hours and work from home.
Additionally, you can choose which clients you work with and how many hours you work each week. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of being a freelance social media manager.
Also, you can often earn a higher hourly rate than you would as a salaried employee.
Cons
The downside of being a freelance social media manager is that you are not guaranteed a steady income. Your income will vary depending on the number of clients you have and how much work they require.
Additionally, you may have to deal with difficult clients or those who are not happy with your work. This is made even worse by the fact that some clients who are interested in understanding their return on investment for your services might be dissapointed by how hard it is to calculate.
However, if you are good at what you do and have happy clients, then a career as a freelance social media manager can be very rewarding.
How To become a freelance social media manager
1. Start by updating and managing your own social media profiles
In order to become a freelance social media manager, it is important to start by managing your own social media platforms. This will give you a good understanding of how social media works and how to effectively manage a social media account. You’ll be able to see what works on each platform and learn the nuances of each platform as time goes on.
Once you feel confident in your ability to manage your own social media, you can begin to branch out to other aspects of learning the skillset.
2. Consider taking some social media management courses
If you’re considering becoming a freelance social media manager, the first thing you should do is consider taking some social media management courses. These courses will give you a professional perspective of what it takes to help businesses grow through your social media management efforts. You will also be able to get a deeper dive into the strategies that these experts have already learned through trial an error.
When looking for good courses, keep an eye out for courses that offer a certificate of completion and that are reasonably priced so you aren’t in debt at the beginning of your freelancing journey. After a course or two, you’ll be ready to work with others.
3. Start offering your social media management services to friends and family first
An easy way to get experience with social media management before you’re ready to start offering it to businessses is by starting with friends and families. At this stage, you can even do it for free to build your portfolio.
This strategy will give you the opportunity to develop an understanding of what it takes to manage a social media account for real, without as much at stake. You’ll create content, manage responses, analyze progress, and learn client communication skills. Through your work, you’ll showcase your creativity, organization skills and knowledge of social media platforms.
4. Once you have some clients, begin pitching your services to businesses in your community.
Now that you’ve got more experience through your courses and working with friends and family, it’s time to expand and start working with established businesses. One of the best ways to do this is start by small businesses in your local community.
You need to get in front of potential clients in person to make this work. Spend time in downtown areas, near business districts and fringe neighborhoods you find interesting. Post flyers on local businesses’ doors, send out mass emails to local business owners or post messages on local community message boards. Whatever you need to do to get attention.
Proficiency with social media and an interest in the culture of the places you wish to work can only help you succeed in this business. Rather than approaching potential clients with a sales pitch, develop relationships by helping them out with small social media tasks first. This will build trust and hopefully lead to paid work
5. Build up a strong social media portfolio
As a freelance social media manager, one of the most important things you can do is build up a strong social media portfolio yourself. You should showcase this online and make it publicly available for anyone to see. This will help you land clients and show them the value you can bring to their business.
When putting together your portfolio, be sure to include a mix of both small and large businesses, as well as a variety of industries. This will show that you have the ability to adapt your strategies to different types of companies.
Within your portfolio, highlight any social media campaigns you’ve run that have been particularly successful. This could include increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to a website, or generating leads.
6. Stay up to date with the latest social media platforms and trends
As a freelance social media manager, it is important to stay up to date with the latest social media platforms and trends. This will allow you to better serve your clients and help them achieve their goals. To do this, make sure to regularly check social media news sites and follow industry leaders on social media.
Additionally, attend social media conferences and networking events to stay connected with the latest developments in the field. By staying up to date, you can ensure that you are providing the best possible service to your clients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are looking for a career in social media management, then there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to be able to work independently and be organized.
Additionally, good writing and communication skills are essential, as you will be responsible for creating content for your clients’ social media accounts. Finally, it is also important to have a strong understanding of social media.
If you have all of these qualities, then a career as a freelance social media manager may be the right fit for you.
