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Businesses understand the value of having a strong online presence in this digital era. This has paved the way for one of the fastest-growing remote job opportunities—managing social media accounts. As a social media manager, you can help businesses grow their brands, engage with customers, and increase sales, all while earning a living online. This blog post will explore what managing social media accounts entails, how you can get started, which platforms and tools are crucial for success, and get inspiration from professionals who have thrived in this career.
The Role of a Social Media Manager
Social media managers are responsible for creating, scheduling, and analyzing content across various social media platforms. This role includes interacting with followers, crafting visually appealing posts, running ads, monitoring performance metrics, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends.
Social media is no longer just a platform for connecting with friends; it’s become a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Brands, small businesses, and influencers rely on social media managers to drive their online engagement and sales. With billions of active users across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, the demand for skilled social media managers has skyrocketed.
Getting Started: How to Become a Social Media Manager
1. Develop Your Social Media Skills
Before diving into social media management as a career, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with various platforms and the content styles they require. Each social media platform has unique features and algorithms that determine how your content is displayed to the audience. Understanding how these platforms work will give you the upper hand in effectively managing accounts.
Platforms to Get Familiar With:
- Instagram: Focus on visuals—photos, videos, and Stories. Instagram is about aesthetics and authentic engagement.
- Facebook: Great for longer posts, videos, and building community groups.
- Twitter: Best for real-time updates, engagement, and customer service.
- LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B marketing, professional networking, and company updates.
- TikTok: Popular for short-form video content, targeting a younger audience with creative and viral trends.
Tip: Take advantage of free online courses offered by platforms such as Facebook’s Blueprint, Google’s Digital Garage, or HubSpot Academy. These will help you sharpen your social media skills.
Click here to sign up for the ‘Rethink Social Media’ FREE Webinar.
“Content is fire. Social media is gasoline.” – Jay Baer, founder of Convince & Convert.
2. Build a Portfolio and Personal Brand
Before you land clients, you need to demonstrate your skills. Start by building your own social media presence. Showcase your skills through a personal blog, YouTube channel, or Instagram profile. Use these platforms as an experimental ground where you can demonstrate how well you can manage an account, engage with an audience, and grow followers.
Once you’re comfortable, consider managing the social media pages of local businesses, friends, or non-profit organizations. These experiences will provide you with real-world examples for your portfolio, which is crucial when pitching to paying clients.
Portfolio must-haves:
- Case studies showcasing account growth or successful campaigns.
- Visual examples of posts you’ve created.
- Data-driven results, such as follower growth, engagement rates, and leads generated.
“Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.” – Jason Hartman, entrepreneur and marketing consultant.
Social Media Platforms: Where to Focus Your Efforts
Not all social media platforms are created equal. Your choice of platforms will depend on your clients’ target audience and business goals. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular platforms and when to use them:
1. Instagram: The Visual Powerhouse
Instagram has become a visual-centric platform that allows brands to tell their story through high-quality images, videos, and Stories. It’s an excellent platform for businesses in industries like fashion, beauty, food, and travel. Instagram Stories, IGTV, and Reels have created new ways to engage with audiences through short, engaging content.
- Best For: Visually-driven businesses, e-commerce, influencers, small businesses.
- Tools to Use: Canva (graphic design), Later (scheduling), Instagram Insights (analytics).
Tip: Use Instagram’s business profile features to run ads, track analytics, and schedule posts.
2. Facebook: The Community Builder
Facebook is the largest social media platform, and its strength lies in its diverse features. Businesses can create brand pages, run targeted ad campaigns, manage groups, and communicate with customers through Messenger.
- Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, community building, customer service, lead generation.
- Tools to Use: Facebook Ads Manager, Buffer (scheduling), Facebook Creator Studio.
Tip: Leverage Facebook Groups for building a community around a brand and keeping customers engaged in meaningful conversations.
3. LinkedIn: The Professional Network
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for B2B businesses, personal branding, and professional networking. It’s great for creating long-form content, company updates, and connecting with industry leaders.
- Best For: B2B marketing, networking, thought leadership.
- Tools to Use: Hootsuite (scheduling), LinkedIn Analytics, Canva (visual content creation).
Tip: LinkedIn is excellent for personal branding. Create articles, posts, and engagement with professionals to build a reputation as an expert in your field.
4. TikTok: The Viral Sensation
TikTok is popular among younger audiences and is perfect for brands that are looking to reach Gen Z consumers through short, engaging, and viral video content. While it may seem informal, many brands have successfully used TikTok to drive brand awareness and sales.
- Best For: Brands targeting a younger demographic, influencers, entertainment, creative businesses.
- Tools to Use: TikTok Analytics, InShot (video editing), Hootsuite (scheduling).
“TikTok has fundamentally changed the landscape of social media. It’s a space for creativity, authenticity, and storytelling like never before.” – Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and digital marketing expert.
Essential Tools for Social Media Managers
Managing social media accounts involves juggling multiple tasks like scheduling posts, tracking performance metrics, and managing interactions. Luckily, there are tools to make this process more efficient.
Click here to get a FREE Social Media Checklist to keep you on track.
Here are some essential tools for social media managers:
1. Scheduling Tools
Scheduling tools help automate the posting process, allowing you to plan content weeks in advance. Popular options include:
- Hootsuite: Great for managing multiple platforms from a single dashboard.
- Buffer: An easy-to-use platform for scheduling posts and analyzing social media performance.
- Later: Especially popular for Instagram scheduling, allowing for visually planned content.
2. Graphic Design Tools
Creating eye-catching graphics is crucial to maintaining engagement. Here are some popular tools to make this process easier:
- Canva: A beginner-friendly design tool offering pre-made templates for Instagram, Facebook, and more.
- Adobe Spark: A more professional tool for creating visuals and social graphics.
3. Analytics Tools
Tracking the performance of your posts is crucial to determining success. Many social media platforms provide built-in analytics, but there are also third-party tools to gain more in-depth insights:
- Google Analytics: Track social media traffic to your website.
- Sprout Social: A premium analytics tool that provides detailed performance metrics.
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” – W. Edwards Deming, statistician and management consultant.
How to Find Clients and Start Earning Money
1. Freelance Platforms
Freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are great places to start offering your social media management services. Many businesses turn to these platforms to find experts to manage their social media profiles on a contract basis.
2. Cold Outreach and Networking
Sometimes, the best way to land clients is through direct outreach. Look for small businesses or influencers who could benefit from improved social media management. Send a personalized email or message explaining how you can help grow their online presence.
Networking is also key. Attend online marketing events, webinars, and connect with other digital marketing professionals on LinkedIn.
3. Social Media Marketing Agencies
If freelancing isn’t your cup of tea, consider applying to work with a social media marketing agency. These agencies handle social media management for multiple clients and typically hire managers to manage client accounts. This route provides more job security than freelancing.
Managing Social Media Accounts as a Path to Earning Money Online
Managing social media accounts is an ever-evolving and exciting way to earn money online. With the right skills, tools, and platforms, you can help brands build their online presence while growing your own income. Whether you’re freelancing or working with an agency, the demand for social media managers is only expected to grow as businesses increasingly rely on social media to reach their audiences.
Remember, successful social media managers are not only creative but also data-driven. Continuously learning, experimenting with new platforms, and adapting to the latest trends will keep you ahead of your competitors.
You may also be interested in reading this blog post: https://onlineautumn.com/rethink-social-media-with-paul-omahony-a-review/
Click here to get a FREE Social Media Checklist to keep you on track.
