If you want a change in career, being in social media marketing may be a good idea. Social media is required for most to grow, and platforms are confusing these days. By being a marketer, you can help businesses to grow their presence.
But how do you start your own social media marketing business? This post will help you learn. Also, learn how you can boost your engagement by clicking this link.
Do I Need a Degree?
No, you do not need a degree. However, some experience in marketing doesn’t hurt. You can find online courses that can give you certifications if you want to provide yourself with some proof that you’re skilled. With that said most clients aren’t going to be swayed too much without a degree if you have a great portfolio or can prove your experience.
First, Know Who You Are And What You’re Good At
The first step with anything social-media related is to find a niche. You can’t say, “I’m a social media marketer.” What social media apps do you serve? What types of businesses do you work with? For example, you may thrive in marketing beauty-related businesses.
It’s better to have a niche than to describe yourself as a broad social media marketer. For one, you won’t stand out. For another, this makes you seem like someone who is a jack-of-all-trades rather than someone who has talent in specific fields.
If you’re unsure, you may not have enough experience in this field just yet. You may need to spend some time figuring out what you’re good at regarding social media and what your weaknesses are.
Determine Your Exact Services You Will Offer
Besides knowing your niche, it’s also important to figure out what services you can offer.
Some newcomers start with social media management as their main service, but even then, this service has many nuances. Will you be responsible for creating posts? Do you measure metrics and then report them to your client? Are you responsible for answering comments and messages?
Furthermore, are you going to help them create ads for their company?
There are so many services, so knowing what you can offer can help you stand out. You may offer packages, for example, which bundle a handful of your services.
Figure Out How Much You’ll Charge
How much you should charge depends on many factors. How many services you cover, how much experience you have, and where you live should all factor into your price, and this can be tricky.
On the one hand, you should know your worth. However, if you’re inexperienced and want to stand out, you may charge a little less. The average monthly rate for social media services is between $1500 and $3,000, but as mentioned, this depends on many factors.
This can also depend on the services agreed to. If someone just needs you to do a quick audit for your company, this can cost a lot less than if they want you to cover the whole nine yards.
You may have a way to strike a balance between value and not selling yourself short. For example, you may offer discounts for new clients or a smaller package so that clients can test your services.
Determine Your Hours and Your Workplace
The good part about owning your own business is that you make the hours. You can work whenever you want to. And since social media is a 24/7 orderal, you can have a flexible schedule. On the other hand, you should work hard so that you can attract a diverse array of clients. Also, should you answer emergency messages? On the one hand, having boundaries is smart. On the other, being as loyal to the clients as possible may help your company at the end of the day.
Also, where are you going to work? Because social media marketing is something people can do from home, many decide to do it in their own office or even in their bedroom! As long as you have decent internet and a good computer, the startup costs for your business may be next to nothing.
However, if you have larger ambitions, you may want a brick-and-mortar location. But for many, this will be something that’s further down the road.
Create a Plan for Business
You’ll also need a business plan. This may include a mission statement or a solid website. You’ll also need to think about how you’ll market yourself to your customers. Since you’re a social media marketer, you should set a good example by trying to do as much of the work as possible. We’re not saying you can’t hire helpers, but if you hire a marketer to market yourself as a marketer, you can see why this could be a bad look.
Pitch to Potential Clients
Find clients within your niche who may need a little help growing their business, and present your services to them. How can you find clients? Besides looking online and cold messaging them, you can look at your current network.
You may have associates who need your services or know someone who does. You may also attend conferences, as these can be full of people who will need your help.
Another way you can find clients is to look at freelance websites. Sites like Upwork are full of people in search of marketers to grow their brands. You can search by niche and budget, too.
Do Your Best!
Once you’ve found a handful of clients, do the best you can. Answer messages ASAP, update your clients constantly, and do good work that you’ll be proud of. Most importantly of all, grow! If you make a mistake, learn from it. Also, keep reading books and articles about social media, as you never know when the next algorithm change is coming.
With that said, we hope this article helped you on your journey. Now, make a company that will help others! Good luck.