Whether you’re looking to start a part-time job or change careers, working as a freelance social media manager can give you the freedom to continue working on projects you’re passionate about.
But it’s hard to know where to start and you may have more questions than answers about how to make money as a social media manager. Let’s take a look at what you need to get started.
A freelance social media manager is a social media expert hired by clients who want to outsource their social strategy and execution.
Typically, freelance social media managers work with multiple companies and clients at the same time.
Services commonly offered by freelance social media managers may include:
- Social media strategy
- Create and manage content calendars
- Content creation (photography, design)
- Content writing
- Scheduling and publishing posts
- Community management (interaction with subscribers, responses to private messages and comments)
- Analytics and reporting
If you want to go the freelance route, you need to develop entrepreneurial skills in addition to your social media management experience.
You may be great at delivering results for your clients, but you may end up in trouble if your business processes are not reliable.
Here are nine skills you need to hone if you want to be a successful social media manager.
Content writing
Social media has become more visible in recent years, but a good signature goes a long way in developing an engaged community.
Freelance social media managers need to be good at copywriting and editing, as the most effective social media posts are short, to the point, and witty.
Your social calendars shouldn’t look like this 👇
With our help, you can start creating a clear, concise plan. https://t.co/RfbnZqSJ8w pic.twitter.com/D2tagWGjTi
— Hootsuite 🦉 (@hootsuite) November 20, 2022
Content Creation
A freelance social media manager has many responsibilities and content creation is no exception. In many cases, you may be expected to create graphics, TikTok videos, or photos.
You also don’t need to be a Photoshop expert. Tools like Canva make it easy to design with templates tailored for social media posts.
Whether you’re recording videos for TikTok or taking photos for Instagram, you need a smartphone capable of capturing content and editing it for various social media platforms. Each platform has its own image and video characteristics, so make sure you create the right content.
Community Management
Many people interact with the brand’s social media pages. Based on private messages, comments, and reviews, you can expect a social media manager to respond to every message.
This is time consuming and many brands outsource this aspect of social media management. Good community management requires being organized and thorough (making sure customer service issues are not overlooked), respecting the tone of the brand’s voice, and genuinely engaging with the community.
Analysis and reporting
This is big. Social media provides a lot of data, and your customers will expect you to be able to collect and analyze it. You must be able to sort numbers to find useful information.
You will most likely need to provide a monthly report to show clients the results of your campaigns. (Psst, here’s a free social media report template.)
Your social reports should describe the results of your work, highlighting audience growth, engagement rates, reach, and direct sales/conversions, if applicable.
Presentation and sales
As part of your freelance business, you need to have the skills to market and sell your services to potential clients. This is probably a skill you don’t need in your corporate life as a social media manager, but it’s vital as a freelancer.
One of the hardest things about freelancing? Client projects may run out and you may not have new clients ready to take their place. To become successful in freelancing, you need to learn how to keep your eyes open to new opportunities.
Submitting and selling your services on social media will become more convenient the more you practice.
Customer Relationship Management
Improving customer relationships can help grow your business. After all, if your client enjoys working with you, then most likely they will continue to send you orders. They may even recommend you to others in their network or provide a review for your website.
Building and maintaining customer relationships is critical to a successful social media manager. While your current clients are important, you don’t want to neglect other relationships. You’ll want to keep an eye on your prospects and former clients and let them know if you have any availability.
Trends
Social media managers need to keep abreast of the latest trends. It can mean everything from memes to current events. Without this perspective, social media campaigns can look dated or irrelevant.
For example, Wendy’s used the 2022 FIFA World Cup time to promote a special prize for the winners of the USA vs England game. The winning country received free French fries in the Wendy’s app.
IT’S INCLUDED… free chips for England if we win. #Three Lions https://t.co/wcHFj3gjaU
— Wendy’s UK (@wendysuk) November 22, 2022
As the game ended in a draw, both countries received free fries (or chips for the English).
Nobody lost. SO EVERYONE WINS. Free fries with purchase in the Wendy’s app. pic.twitter.com/Wf19A9jLy2
— Wendy (@Wendys) November 25, 2022
we all need free chips after this #ENGUSA pic.twitter.com/wA8ybVJyqa
— Wendy’s UK (@wendysuk) November 25, 2022
Project management
Organization is another important skill for freelance social media managers. Not only do you need to manage content calendars, but you also need to keep an eye on your business. While you may have worked with project managers in the past, going freelance means doing the work yourself.
You will need a social media management workflow to ensure that resources are delivered on time and approved by your customers. You will also need a process for shipping and paying your bills.
Marketing and strategy
Understanding marketing strategies and how they will impact your social media campaigns is an indispensable skill. You may be responsible for creating a social media marketing strategy that aligns with the client’s business goals, and even if you don’t create a strategy, you’re likely to follow someone else’s.
Each social media post requires a thorough analysis of how it helps the client’s business grow. Strategic thinking turns a social media post into engaging content.
Step 1: Set up your business
Before you can work as a freelance social media manager, you need to consider what you need to do legally to set up a business.
This will vary depending on national and local laws, but may include:
- Decide what type of business you should register (for example, sole proprietorship or limited liability company).
- Registration of your business name (which must be unique); check trademark databases if you want to be able to register your brand in the future.
- Register for a tax number (not all freelancers need one, so be sure to check the criteria for your situation).
- Obtaining a business license (which usually needs to be renewed annually).
- Creation of a commercial bank account (optional, check with your accountant).
Along the way, you can consult with a tax professional to determine how much of your income you should put aside for taxes. They can also provide advice on what type of business best suits your needs.
You can also create corporate email and social media accounts (or at least reserve handles for your company name in case you decide to create one later). This will come in handy when you start promoting your business more publicly and need to build a brand.
Step 2: Create a portfolio
Once you have taken care of the legal aspects of freelancing, you should consider creating a portfolio to showcase your expertise.
There are several ways to showcase your professional portfolio. Some ideas include:
- Website creation
- Using Your LinkedIn Profile
- Create PDFs
- Using the Google Folder to Store Your Case Studies
If you have only worked in full-time corporate positions, you can use the projects and examples from these roles to build your portfolio. Just make sure you focus on the social media marketing strategies you have contributed to and the results you are responsible for.
Step 3: Rate Your Services
Evaluating your services is probably one of the most agonizing parts of being a freelancer, especially if you’re new and not sure what a fair price is. There are many aspects to consider including desired salary, business expenses, taxes and more.
We’ll discuss some indicative rates below, but you should consider contacting other freelance social media managers to see how much they charge for their services. Doing your own primary research can help you develop a competitive bid for your own social media services.
Step 4: Show yourself
Now comes the fun part: getting your first customers. No matter how talented you are as a social media manager, you need to make a name for yourself so clients know you’re available as a freelancer.
Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Network events. Networking is a great way to make yourself known and meet new people. If you have a specific niche, you can attend events where you can meet people from that industry. And don’t forget about your fellow freelancers. They can provide valuable information about working as a freelancer and even recommend you to their clients.
- LinkedIn. An optimized LinkedIn profile can help customers find you and learn about your services. You can add portfolio pieces to your profile and chat with peers on the platform.
- Groups in social networks. Many Slack and Facebook groups often have channels where members can share freelance work on social media. It’s also a great place to follow trends and connect with other freelancers.
- From mouth to mouth. Past and current clients can be a great source of referrals. After you’ve worked with a happy client, let them know that you’re open to referrals as they often know other friends/contacts like them.
- Content marketing. If you want to build a long-term, stable source of client recommendations, consider creating a newsletter, blog, or YouTube channel. Your content should cover topics that potential customers might be interested in (such as “social media tips for [your target industry]”) and include a CTA mentioning your freelance social networks.
Step 5: Develop Additional Skills
Developing relevant skills can make your resume stand out and get clients to hire you.
Here are some skills to work on:
- Influencer Marketing
- Paid social advertising
- Video filming
- Online reputation management
- Content repurposing
Evaluating your social media freelance work can be tricky because there are so many variables to consider. Your social media management rate should be based on your experience, value, business expenses, as well as your client’s budget and the amount of work required.
It also depends on what the client needs for social media. For example, a client may need an Instagram strategy, but may also request content creation, post scheduling, monthly analytics reports, and community management.
Before you give a potential client a quote, it’s good to know what they need.
Scheduling an introductory call can allow you to ask questions about the client’s business model, target customers, marketing budgets, KPIs, and any history of working with freelance social media managers to identify potential red flags. It also helps the client get to know you and make sure you are the right person for the job.
So, what are the ballpark estimates of how much a freelance social media manager charges? Here is the average wage in the US according to ZipRecruiter:
- Median annual salary: $52,613
- Average hourly rate: $25.29 per hour.
- Most salary range: $36,000 – $60,500.
- Highest paid (90th percentile): $84,500 per year.
Depending on the amount of work, you also need to decide if you will charge an hourly rate, a monthly fee, or another arrangement (i.e. % of revenue per lead generated).
Monthly upfront payments are best for long-term projects and will save you a lot of time that you would otherwise spend on time tracking.
Always update your resume
A resume is not always required by potential clients. A strong portfolio and references are usually sufficient. But sometimes they ask, so it’s good to have an updated resume. To get started, you can use our free social media manager resume templates.
Tip: You can also collect testimonials from past and current clients to boost your reputation. You can also create case studies to promote your experience.
Communicate with your clients
The best way to grow a sustainable business is to secure ongoing projects or upfront payments. Since social media is an ongoing need, your client probably wants you to manage it on a monthly basis. But this can only happen if they trust you. Part of that trust is communication.
As a freelance social media manager, you are responsible for effective communication. In case of any delays, be prompt and transparent. Creating an exceptional customer experience is the best way to retain current customers (and maybe even get a referral or two!).
Billing and tax information
Always sign written contracts with new clients, which should include preferred payment terms and late fees. The usual payment term is 30 days.
You might want to get an invoicing software to send professional invoices with due dates and automatic payment reminders. Some accounting software also includes invoicing along with expense tracking.
Don’t forget to set aside a percentage of your money for taxes. The amount of money you have to save will depend on your local laws, so it’s best to consult an accountant to determine your tax rate.
Use social media management tools to save time
Investing in tools can help you save time when dealing with social media.
A social media management tool like Hootsuite lets you schedule posts, create analytics reports, and respond to comments and private messages, all from one dashboard. And, as a bonus, you can ditch the spreadsheets, as you won’t need them for trending or extracting information.
Learn more about how Hootsuite can help you easily manage multiple customer social media accounts: