If you’re ready to switch from full-time freelance writing to social media management, there are a few things you should know. In this post, we’ll review the basics of social media management as well as the skills and strategies that will make you successful in your new career.
We’ll talk about communication with clients, managing client expectations, and how to take a proactive approach to this business. If you want your transition to go smoothly, keep reading!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Transitioning from writing to social media management requires adapting skills. |
| Developing a social media team is crucial for successful management. |
| Mastering social media management takes time and effort, but it’s rewarding. |
| Exploring cost-effective strategies can help save money in the process. |
| In-house social media coordinators can provide unique advantages. |
| Social media management for startups and entrepreneurs involves tailored strategies. |
The Basics
Social media management is the use of social media and other online channels to promote a company or brand.
It includes posting content on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, responding to comments and questions on these sites.
Creating content for websites or newsletters based on audience interest, identifying new customers through social networks, monitoring competitor activity online to keep track of trends in your industry, and more.
Social media managers are hired by businesses of all sizes from large corporations with thousands of employees all over the world to small local companies with just one location (or no physical location at all!).
The benefits of hiring social media management include increased brand awareness and engagement with target audiences; lower costs compared to traditional advertising; improved customer service; opportunities for collaboration with influencers within your niche community;
Access to better data about how people interact with your products/services/brand; increased conversion rates for website traffic driven from social channels like Facebook ads or promoted tweets (or “promoted posts”).
These are all great reasons why companies need a dedicated staff person who will focus solely on growing their presence online through social media tactics!
Transitioning from freelance writing to social media management? Learn how to kick-start your journey by building an effective social media team to elevate your online presence.
Communication
As a freelancer, you’re your boss when it comes to your time and schedule. That’s not the case for social media managers. As a manager, your clients are going to expect you to be at certain times of the day and week.
You have deadlines that need to be met, and in some cases a lot of responsibility on your shoulders if things go wrong like an account getting suspended or hacked (which happened once).
The best way to manage expectations is by being clear about what you can offer them from the beginning:
Be clear about how much time per day/weekend/etc., you’ll have available for their project(s). Remember that this will probably change throughout the project as well!
Use plain language they understand (and so do other people who might read over what’s been written). This goes beyond just making sure anyone reading understands what was said.
It also includes being respectful with tone choice and keeping things professional yet friendly enough so as not to offend anyone involved in the conversation or project at hand (especially if there are multiple people involved).
Follow Up And Follow Through
You should follow up with clients after every call, meeting, or assignment. If you’re working on a project, you should follow up with that client when you reach the milestone of completing each project phase.
This helps create a sense of hierarchy in your client’s minds and makes it easier for them to understand what’s happening in their account. You don’t want them contacting you about where their website is at if they haven’t been assigned anything yet!
Developing A Plan Of Action
Now that you’ve gotten a handle on the overall idea of what to do, it’s time to put together a plan of action. This is how you’ll stay focused and on track as you work to achieve your goals.
The first thing to do is check in with yourself. Take stock of what skills you already have and which ones need development.
For example, if writing is your strongest suit but graphic design isn’t so great, then it would be wise for you to find some help with design work before beginning this new endeavor full-time even if that means hiring someone else who can better manage all aspects of social media management.
Once you’ve assessed yourself, talk with others who know your situation well your family members or closest friends might offer valuable insight into where strengths lie and where there may be room for improvement.
Be sure not only to take advantage of their advice but also to ask follow-up questions about specific topics so as not to leave things open-ended (“I want more traffic” vs “I need ideas for boosting traffic”).
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Have A Strategy Session
A strategy session is a meeting between the client and you, the writer. It’s a way for you to get a sense of what kind of work and deadlines the client has in mind for you. They’ll also give you an idea of their needs and how they want things written.
The frequency of these meetings depends on how often your client wants new content created it could be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly depending on their needs.
The duration should be as long as it takes for both parties to feel like they’re on the same page about what’s needed from them moving forward (usually about 30-60 minutes).
Help Them Decide What Success Looks Like
As a freelancer, you want to help your clients understand what success looks like. Success is different for each client depending on their goals and objectives. You can’t just tell them how many dollars they will make or how many people they’ll reach with their posts.
It’s not enough to explain the result of what they’re trying to achieve; you also have to show them that it’s possible by explaining how it could happen.
You should set up some kind of call before beginning any work so that both parties are on the same page about what needs to be done and why it matters.
Get Crystal Clear On Goals And Expectations
Once you have an idea of the scope of your project, it’s time to set some goals and expectations.
Establishing a plan of action: What do you want to accomplish? How will you achieve that? What resources are available to help you achieve these goals and what will they cost?
Setting deadlines: These should be realistic, but also challenging enough that they keep you moving forward without getting overwhelmed by the work at hand.
Setting budgets: How much money do I need per month or year to pay my bills/live comfortably while doing this new job/career switch?
Setting teams: Who is going to help me with this new career transition (i.e., social media management)? Where can I find them online or in person if needed?
And how long should I wait before hiring someone who already knows what he or she is doing (and has proven it) instead of spending all day learning from scratch like me!
Be Specific With Deliverables And Due Dates
Once you’ve chosen your freelance project and negotiated the scope of work, it’s time to get specific about what you’ll deliver and when. Make sure to set a clear timeline for the project and stick close to it.
If there are any changes in scope during development, add them as milestones on your schedule so that everyone knows what’s coming next. Additionally, make sure each milestone has a deadline date so that no one gets too far behind on their tasks.
When working remotely with freelancers like me, companies need to have someone responsible for coordinating our work together and ensure there is accountability in this role by setting up regular check-ins with us via phone calls or video calls (we use Zoom).
Transitioning your skills from freelance writing to social media? Delve into the comprehensive guide on how to master the art of social media management and create impactful online campaigns.
Manage Client Expectations
As a freelancer, it’s important to manage client expectations so that you don’t run into problems. Clients may have different ideas about the kinds of work they want to be done and what they need from you.
They may not know what to expect when working with someone who has never handled their type of project before, or they may have certain expectations based on past experiences with other freelancers.
They will likely want as much information as possible about the project and its timeline before signing a contract so they can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s worth hiring someone like you.
It’s up to you to provide clear estimates for how long each phase of the project will take (e.g., planning, research & writing), including any potential obstacles along the way (e.g., writer’s block).
Record The Discussion In An Email And Send It To Clients Quickly Afterwards
One of the best tools for recording a discussion is Google Docs, which you can use to record your audio and then share it with clients. You can also set up multiple people to listen in on the call and add comments or reactions.
This will help you remember what was discussed at a later time when you need it, but also makes it easy for clients (or assistants) who weren’t there live during each call. I do this all the time!
Be Organized And Timely With Ideas And Suggestions
Managing your time, tasks, and projects can be a challenge when you’re working on multiple things at once. To keep yourself organized and on top of things, try using one or more of these tools:
A spreadsheet (i.e., Excel) for listing all of the work that needs to get done and who’s responsible for doing it
A calendar (i.e., Google Calendar) for setting due dates on all tasks and keeping track of each person’s availability
A to-do list app (i.e., Todoist) where you can add all of the tasks from your spreadsheet into their columns so they’re easy to reference later when you’re working on something new
A task management app (i.e., Trello) if instead of having one giant list with everything in it at once, it makes more sense for you to be able to break up individual items into separate boards/lists
Considering the leap to social media management? Explore the advantages of bringing on board an in-house social media coordinator to streamline your content strategy and engagement.
Track Your Time, Progress, Goals, And Metrics In One Place
Time Tracking
Time tracking is important because it helps you to stay focused on your work and be more productive by keeping track of how much time you spend on any given task.
This will help you to manage your time wisely so that nothing slips through the cracks. Several apps can do this for you, but I prefer Toggl (free).
Project Management
This is a tool that allows users to keep track of their projects in one place. It has many features, including creating tasks; assigning them with due dates and reminders; keeping track of budgets or expenses associated with each project; having discussions within teams;
Tracking progress over time; and reporting back metrics such as the number completed versus budgeted hours spent per week or month, etc.
There are many different types available depending upon user needs such as Trello ($9-$99/month), Zoho Projects ($15/month), Basecamp ($79/month), Asana ($25/month)
Stepping into social media management as an entrepreneur? Uncover tailored insights and tactics for effective social media management for startups and entrepreneurs that drive growth and engagement.
Conclusion
I want to leave you with one final thought. While I was fortunate enough to be able to make the change from full-time freelance writing to social media management in a relatively short amount of time, it took me years of hard work and perseverance before I reached that point.
If you’re serious about wanting a career change but feel overwhelmed by the prospect of making such a big switch, try not to let that stop you.
Instead, take it one step at a time and remember that each step is building on your experience and skillset, bringing you closer and closer to achieving your goal.”
Further Reading
Expand your knowledge with these relevant articles:
Why I Chose Full-Time Freelance: A Personal Journey Discover the reasons behind the author’s decision to pursue a full-time freelance career and the insights gained from the experience.
From Zero to Social Media Manager: My Unconventional Path Learn how this individual became a successful social media manager despite lacking a marketing background, and find inspiration for your own journey.
Navigating the World of Freelance Social Media Management Dive into the intricacies of freelance social media management with this informative guide that covers key aspects of the field.
FAQs
How did the transition from full-time freelance writing to social media management impact you?
The transition brought about a fresh perspective and skillset, allowing me to engage with audiences in a more dynamic way.
What steps did you take to become a social media manager without a marketing degree?
My journey involved self-education, hands-on experience, and a strong drive to learn and adapt within the ever-evolving digital landscape.
How can freelance social media management offer flexibility and independence?
Freelance social media management empowers individuals to choose their projects, set their schedules, and work remotely, fostering a sense of control over their professional lives.
What strategies helped you succeed in the competitive realm of social media management?
By staying updated on industry trends, consistently refining my skills, and fostering genuine connections, I was able to stand out and provide exceptional value to clients.
How does effective time management play a role in freelance social media management?
Time management is essential for balancing multiple clients, campaigns, and tasks. Implementing efficient scheduling and prioritization techniques ensures optimal productivity and results.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
