Social media freelancers develop social media strategies for companies and manage social media accounts; including creating content, handling promotions, engaging with customers, and growing audiences, among other tasks. This is a recent job that originated along with social media channels and their growth. Statista stated that over 3.6 billion people used social media in 2020 globally and they expect this number to reach around 4.41 billion in 2025. Thus, social media is and will continue to be a significant aspect of companies’ marketing and branding strategies. Social media freelancing is popular among digital nomads and people who wish to have a flexible schedule, since these jobs can be done online from anywhere.
How to be a freelance social media manager Â
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Become a social media expert
To begin social media freelancing, you’ll need to master social media. Start with creating and growing your social media accounts and developing a social media strategy for yourself. You can showcase results from your social media accounts to potential clients.
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Continuously learn and refresh your skills
While you can take courses about social media and strategies, your clients will generally focus on the potential results you can deliver than your educational background. Social media is constantly evolving with platforms updating their algorithms and users changing their preferences, among other factors. Therefore, routine learning and staying up to date with platforms is a must for a lucrative career in social media freelancing. Follow other freelance social media managers on the respective platforms and learn from them. How do they operate their social media channels and what results have they achieved? Consider following courses from others who’ve generated results already.
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Choose a niche
Instead of focusing on all social media channels or all types of clients, you can narrow it down by client industry, social media platform, or the services you offer, for example. Some social media freelancers master one platform such as Instagram and specialize in it. Larger companies for instance, will have the budgets to hire different social media experts for different platforms. You can also be a freelance social media consultant, primarily focusing on social media strategy, instead of routine work such as content creation.
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Structure your services and fees
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Grow your portfolio
If you don’t have a portfolio yet, consider volunteering for charity organizations or working on social media channels of any friends and family, in your niche area. Remember, you need to show results. Saying “you increased someone’s Instagram engagement by x% and their follower count by a certain number within a specific period” stands out vs a generic statement about your Instagram capabilities. Develop a website or blog with your portfolio. You can also use a portfolio platform or a social media site such as Pinterest to showcase your work.
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Network
Work to grow your network with other freelance social media managers as well as potential clients and brands. Follow them and routinely engage with their content. Fellow social media freelancers may pass on jobs to you if they know your work.
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Be consistent
Consistency is key to grow your social media accounts, as well as the business. You’ll need to post routinely, network regularly, as well as hustle for work. You can develop a content calendar that covers what and when you are going to post, to help with the process. Similarly, you can create a database to keep track of potential clients, pitches, or contacts in general. As you grow your portfolio and network, you’ll find more opportunities.
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Be a business owner
As a freelance social media consultant or manager, you are not an employee but a business owner, regardless of whether you have incorporated a company. Similar to getting started with any other business, make a business plan, a marketing plan, and organize any financial, legal, and tax matters, and other requirements such as insurances. Organizing the admin aspects early on will help you focus on growing your social media freelancing business.
Social media manager rates
Zip Recruiter reported the average freelance social media marketing manager salary in the United States at $50,834 a year, as of May 14, 2021. The rates can vary widely, however, depending on factors such as the type of service, your expertise, geographic location, and the client. Let’s look at a few different examples: Zip Recruiter also reported the average Instagram manager salary in the United States at $56,747, as of May 14, 2021, with earnings as much as $124,500 in the top end. The digital marketing solutions provider, WebFX, states that most companies spend around $4,000 – $7,000 per month on average for social media management. WebFx also states that their social media services cost between $1,200 – $2,750 a month. The first page of People Per Hour freelancers sorted by relevance for “social media” show hourly rates ranging from $10 to over $175. Ensure you research the market rates for your service or niche based on all applicable factors, and price your services fairly. You don’t have to be the cheapest, and remember to revise your prices periodically, especially as your demand increases.
How to Find Freelance Social Media JobsÂ
If you are a freelance social media manager in the United States, consider Mediabristo. In addition to jobs aimed at media and content professionals, they offer resources including online courses and resume writing services. You can consider the social media courses to enhance your skills.Â
Hubstaff Talent offers many opportunities for freelancers worldwide including in social media. You can create a profile and connect with potential clients looking for freelance social media managers. The platform may be competitive, however.
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LinkedIn
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Facebook Groups
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Other social media platforms
Don’t forget social media platforms in general when it comes to searching for work as a freelance social media consultant or manager. Some companies tweet job opportunities, for example. By growing your presence on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, your network will expand, and people will find you.
Benefits of becoming a freelance social media manager – Why would you become one?
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Lifestyle and location flexibility
If you are a current or aspiring digital nomad or someone interested in a flexible lifestyle, then social media freelancing could be ideal. You can work from anywhere in the world and decide how you like to work while incorporating other daily commitments into your schedule.
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Ability to choose clients and projects
You can choose your clients and projects unless you are desperate for money and must deal with something you don’t like. You wouldn’t usually have such freedom as an employee.
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A high income potential
Social media freelancers don’t have an income cap like many employees, and you can grow your business at a pace you are comfortable with.
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Potential for expansion
As you embark on your social media freelancing journey, we hope the above information will help you in becoming a freelance social media consultant or manager.
Remember to also focus on your overall wellbeing because social media can become an addiction to anyone in general. Social media freelancers, especially, are required to spend large amounts of time on these platforms and you may also feel the need to keep checking these accounts during your leisure. Don’t forget to have regular breaks and work-life balance, even if you are doing something pleasurable for work.