🤳🏼 Side Hustle #5: Social Media Management

Hootsuite

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Discover how Hootsuite's Instagram hashtag research assistant can boost your engagement and reach. Learn about its features, benefits, pricing, and more.

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Sprout Social

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A suite for managing social media is called Sprout Social. It's a mobile and web application divided into several features to manage your mailbox, mentions, social media calendar, and analytics. The application is compatible with Instagram business accounts, Twitter, Facebook pages, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn for basic social media. You can also link accounts from Google Business, Google Analytics, Tripadvisor, and Glassdoor when you connect a profile.

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Buffer

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Generated social media posts and brainstormed ideas.

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In today's hyper-connected world, over 4.5 billion people are active on social media. Businesses that fail to engage on these platforms miss out on many potential customers. That’s why social media management has quickly become one of the most in-demand side hustles in 2024.

If you’re skilled in content creation, managing online communities, and staying on top of social trends, social media management could be the perfect way for you to earn extra income. With businesses eager to build their brand presence online, you might potentially make between $500 and $2,000 a month by helping them navigate the digital landscape.

Better yet, managing several social media accounts, automating content generation, and managing audience interactions has never been simpler thanks to AI solutions. So whether you're just starting or looking to scale, this side hustle offers immense growth opportunities.

Let’s dive into how you can get started as a social media manager, find clients, and use the best tools to streamline your work.

Why Start a Social Media Management Side Hustle?

For companies trying to establish their online presence, interact with consumers, and develop their brand, social media management has become an essential service. A report from Social Media Today shows that 90% of small businesses experience increased visibility by being active on social media.

Here’s why social media management is a great side hustle:

Benefits of Social Media Management:

1. High demand: With businesses of all sizes turning to social platforms, there’s no shortage of clients looking for help managing their social media presence.
2. Flexible work: You can work remotely and set your own hours, making this a perfect side hustle for someone with other commitments.
3. Steady income potential: Earn anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per month depending on the number of clients and your pricing model.

Whether you're managing accounts for small local businesses or large online retailers, the demand for your services is only going to increase.

Who Needs Social Media Management Services?

Social media management is a versatile service, and potential clients come from all sorts of industries. By identifying the businesses that rely heavily on social media, you can better target your marketing efforts.

Here are a few types of businesses that commonly need social media managers, along with real-world examples of how they benefit:

Small Local Businesses

Local businesses often need to engage with their community and attract customers through platforms like Facebook and Instagram. However, many lack the time or expertise to manage these accounts effectively.

Example: A local coffee shop increased its foot traffic by 25% after outsourcing its social media management. By focusing on Instagram stories showcasing daily specials and customer shout-outs, they engaged more with their audience and grew their local presence.

Online Retailers

Social networking is a major tool used by e-commerce companies to promote their items and increase website traffic. A well-curated Instagram feed or a series of engaging TikTok videos can significantly increase their sales and brand visibility.

Example: A small online clothing retailer saw a 30% increase in sales after introducing regular Instagram reels showcasing new arrivals. The reels were optimized with trending hashtags and targeted the brand's ideal audience, boosting both engagement and revenue.

Startups and Entrepreneurs

Startups are usually laser-focused on developing their products and growing their businesses, leaving little time for social media management. A committed social media manager can assist in increasing their online visibility and establishing connections with new clients.

Example: A tech startup hired a social media manager to handle its LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, which led to a 40% increase in investor inquiries and a noticeable uptick in product awareness in just six months.

Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profits need to build strong communities to drive donations and support their causes. Managing their social media accounts is crucial for spreading awareness, fundraising, and engaging supporters.

Example: Within three months of launching a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram, a nonprofit organization that rescues animals raised $15,000 in donations. The social media manager created impactful content, shared success stories, and used targeted ads to reach potential donors.

How to Generate Leads for Your Social Media Management Service

Getting clients for your social media management side hustle doesn’t have to be complicated. A few calculated actions will help you develop a consistent client. Here’s how to do it:

Market Your Expertise

Start by creating a professional online presence. Showcase your portfolio, post about the results you’ve achieved for clients, and share tips on social media strategies. If you need help building a standout portfolio, check out our post on How to Build an Impressive Freelance Portfolio.

Networking

Attend local business events, join online forums, or participate in social media marketing groups. Building relationships and word-of-mouth referrals are great ways to generate leads. For more tips, read our guide on Networking Strategies for Freelancers.

Content Creation

Write blog posts or produce videos that showcase your expertise in social media management. This content can help attract businesses that need your skills. Learn how to build engaging content that converts with our Ultimate Guide to Content Marketing.

LinkedIn Strategy

Leverage LinkedIn to connect with potential clients. Send personalized messages explaining how you can help enhance their social media presence. Need tips on optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Head over to our LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Freelancers guide.

Direct Outreach

Identify businesses that need social media management help and reach out directly with a persuasive pitch. Follow up to turn those leads into paying clients. Not sure how to pitch? Check out our Perfect Pitching Guide for Freelancers for tips on writing compelling outreach emails.

Pro Tip: Offer a free initial consultation or a social media audit to demonstrate the value you can provide. This can help build trust and secure new clients.

How to Deliver Exceptional Social Media Management Services

Delivering high-quality social media management requires a mix of creativity, strategy, and the right tools. Here's how you can consistently provide excellent results for your clients:

Step 1: Understand the Client's Goals

Before creating content or posting, it's essential to know the client's business objectives, target audience, and preferred social media platforms.

Key Questions to Ask:

1. What are your business goals on social media?
2. Who is your target audience, and what platforms do they use?
3. What kind of content resonates with your audience?

Step 2: Develop a Social Media Strategy

Once you understand your client’s goals, it’s time to craft a tailored social media strategy. A content calendar that specifies what to post, when to post, and audience engagement strategies should be part of this.

How to Build a Strong Content Calendar:

1. Content types: Mix up content formats such as videos, polls, images, and blog posts.
2. Frequency: Considering the frequency of posting on each platform based on engagement rates and best practices..
3. Engagement: Schedule regular times for responding to comments and engaging with followers.

Step 3: Utilize AI Tools for Efficiency

Although managing social media can take a lot of effort, AI solutions can help you automate processes like creating content, planning posts, and answering questions from followers.

AI Tools to Consider:

1. Buffer for scheduling posts.
2. Hootsuite for monitoring multiple platforms.
3. MeetEdgar for automating content sharing.

Step 4: Monitor and Adjust Performance

To ensure success, track the performance of your social media posts and engagement tactics. Keep an eye on key metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and follower growth.

Metrics to Track:

1. Engagement rate: Track likes, comments, shares, and direct messages.
2. Follower growth: Monitor how quickly your client’s audience is growing.
3. Content performance: Identify which content types resonate most with the audience and adjust accordingly.

Step 5: Provide Regular Reports

Clients appreciate transparency, so provide them with detailed reports of their social media performance. Regular reporting also helps you make data-driven adjustments to your strategy.

What to Include in Your Reports:

1. Key metrics: Provide stats on engagement, growth, and reach.
2. Content highlights: Showcase top-performing posts and explain why they worked.
3. Actionable insights: Recommend next steps for improving performance based on the data.

Tip: While AI tools can handle many tasks, always maintain a personal touch in your interactions with followers. The secret to developing a powerful online presence is authentic interaction.

Best AI Tools for Social Media Management

To manage multiple clients efficiently and maintain consistent posting schedules, you’ll need to rely on some of the best AI tools in the industry. Here are a few top picks:

1. Buffer

1. Key Feature: Allows you to schedule posts, track performance, and manage engagement across multiple social media platforms.
2. Starting Price: $6 per month.
3. Free Version: Available with limited features.

2. Hootsuite

1. Key Feature: A comprehensive social media management tool that supports scheduling, tracking conversations, and generating performance reports.
2. Starting Price: $19 per month.
3. Free Version: Available with limited features.

3. Sprout Social

1. Key Feature: Offers scheduling, analytics, and social listening tools, along with a range of collaboration features.
2. Starting Price: $249 per month for the Standard plan.
3. Free Trial: Available.

4. Agorapulse

1. Key Feature: An easy-to-use tool with features like social inbox, content scheduling, and detailed reporting.
2. Starting Price: $99 per month for the Pro plan.
3. Free Trial: Available.

5. MeetEdgar

1. Key Feature: Enables you to plan posts, manage content across several social networks, and automate the creation of material.
2. Starting Price: $29.99 per month.
3. Free Trial: Available.

How Much Can You Earn as a Social Media Manager?

As a social media manager, your earnings will base on the number of clients you manage, the complexity of their needs, and your experience level. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for freelance social media managers is around $52,000 per year, but as a side hustle, you can earn anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per month.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect based on your skill level:

1. Beginners

If you’re just starting out, you’ll likely work with small businesses or startups that need help managing their social media profiles. In this case, you can expect to earn around $500 - $1,000 per month, managing accounts like Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Example: A social media manager handling Instagram and Facebook for a local restaurant may charge around $500 per month, posting twice a week and handling customer engagement.

2. Intermediate

With more experience, you can start working with larger clients or managing multiple platforms. At this stage, you can charge between $1,000 and $2,000 per month. You might manage a content calendar, schedule posts, run ads, and create analytics reports.

Example: Managing the social media presence of a small e-commerce business across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest can bring in about $1,500 per month, especially if the client requires consistent posting and engagement tracking.

3. Advanced

Experienced social media managers working with large companies or managing multiple clients can make $2,000+ per month. At this level, you might handle social media strategy, ads management, influencer collaborations, and detailed performance reports across multiple platforms.

Example: A social media manager for a tech company handling Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and influencer partnerships might earn upwards of $3,000 per month, especially if they are also running paid ad campaigns.

Factors That Influence Your Earnings:

1. Client type: Large businesses or clients with higher marketing budgets will pay more for comprehensive social media management.
2. Niche expertise: Specializing in a particular niche, such as e-commerce, hospitality, or health and wellness, can command higher rates.
3. Service offerings: Offering additional services like paid social ads, social media audits, or influencer partnerships can increase your earnings.

Pro Tip: Many social media managers also create packages, offering tiered pricing depending on the level of service, from basic posting schedules to full-scale social media strategies, which can significantly boost your income.

Conclusion

Social media management is lucrative side job for anyone with a knack for content creation, community building, and understanding the digital landscape. With the help of AI tools, you can efficiently manage multiple clients, grow their online presence, and build a profitable business.

Take Action Now: Whether you're a beginner or an experienced marketer, the opportunities in social media management are endless. Start by creating a portfolio, using AI tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to streamline your workflow, and begin connecting with potential clients on LinkedIn. Your next success story is just a post away!