You’re considering freelance work and people are telling you that social media is the place to be. But what is it really like to be a freelance social media content creator? Have you ever thought: -What skills do I need? -What tools are available? -Should I outsource my social media management?
Let me give you an insight into the life of an experienced freelance social media content creator. I also throw in some handy tips for getting started.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Gain insights into the daily life of a freelance social media content creator. |
| Understand the challenges and rewards of managing online presence for clients. |
| Learn about the creative strategies used to engage audiences and drive growth. |
| Discover how to balance client expectations, workloads, and deadlines effectively. |
| Get tips on building a personal brand and thriving in the dynamic digital landscape. |
You’ll Want A Specialty
While it’s always possible to create content for a wide range of people and businesses, you’ll have a much easier time finding work (and clients!) if you specialize in something. As long as it’s something you’re passionate about, there are almost endless opportunities to find your niche.
There can be benefits to working with multiple industries, I once wrote an article on how to make the best guacamole, which I did not think would be related to financial planning, but apparently, there was at least one client who felt that it was but having a specialty allows you to become known for your expertise and makes it much easier for clients to know whether or not they might want to hire you.
Some example specialties include:
- Food/Beverage
- Lifestyle And Wellness
- Writing Advice
- Travel Writing
Discover the ins and outs of being a freelance social media manager in our comprehensive guide. From strategy to engagement, learn how to excel in the dynamic world of social media management.
You’ll Need To Learn About Social Media Algorithms
Another thing you’ll need to learn about is social media algorithms. Each platform has its own algorithm and learning how they all work will help you optimize your content. Here’s an example: maybe on one platform the algorithm requires a certain amount of likes before a post gets picked up by the algorithm.
You could post three times in a day, but because the first two only get one like each, they don’t get picked up. On your third post, however, you finally got five likes within the first few minutes! Now your third post is getting picked up by that platform’s algorithm, and since it’s already doing well it can continue to do well.
But it doesn’t stop with just learning about algorithms you also have to know how to build an audience on each platform, which means posting consistently so that people become aware of you and create an emotional connection with them (and then take advantage of those connections using hashtags and other tools).
You Won’t Just Be Making Content For Companies
At first, I was like “OMG, I can make money off my blog and social media! I’m so glad I don’t have to work at a company anymore!” But then it hit me that there’s a lot of pressure to be making content for companies; you’re expected to whip out an article on the latest trending topic.
You could spend days researching, writing, and editing something only for it to get rejected because your content wasn’t up-to-date with what’s happening in the world.
I’ve found that working for myself allows me more freedom and control of my content. I can post whatever I want whenever I want without worrying about what will “go viral” or who will read it (although all good stuff does go viral regardless).
Most importantly though, I finally feel like my work matters — because every time someone shares one of my posts on their social media feed, whether they know it or not, they’re helping spread the word about what is important to me.
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You May Have To Make Some Tough Calls On What Kind Of Brands You’re Willing To Promote
You have a choice to make, and it’s not an easy one. The first decision you’ll have to make is a matter of personal preference.
How do these brands fit with your own values?
This isn’t just about representing yourself in the best light possible it’s about staying true to yourself and your own beliefs. Remember that once you’ve made the decision, you can always point back to what you said on your website when talking to other potential clients or followers. This can help them understand how you work and what they should expect from you.
It’s Very Important To Make Your Boundaries Clear Early On – And Stick To Them
When you’re first starting out as a freelancer, it can be hard to say no to a prospective client. This is especially true if you’re just starting out and are still building your portfolio—you’ll want to grab any opportunity that comes your way.
However, once you’ve been doing this for a bit, you need to get better at setting boundaries. After all, working as a freelancer means that people will only pay attention to the constraints YOU set for yourself. So if you don’t draw that line early on and stick with it, people will take advantage of you.
If someone asks about rates or timelines and pushes back against what you deem fair compensation or realistic deadlines, that’s not necessarily the best person to work with anyway and they’ll continue being difficult throughout the project otherwise, too.
As I mentioned earlier in this series, when I was just beginning my journey as a full-time content creator/strategist, I made one big mistake: I didn’t set firm boundaries with clients from the start.
You’ll Have To Be More Than Skilled At Creating Content When Building A Client Base
In order to build a client base, you have to be more than skilled at creating content. You need good communication skills, time management, and responsiveness to requests.
It’s also important to authentically cultivate an online presence on your primary social media channels, like Instagram or Facebook. When people are looking for someone to create content for them, they want proof that the person actually knows what they’re doing.
Having a curated account of your own will help showcase your skills and prove that you know how to optimize the platform, how often it should be updated, what kind of content does well with followers, etc. (This is also why it’s best not to make your personal account private.)
In addition to being able to create content effectively, there are other skills you’ll need in order for clients to come back for more work. Be creative—but not too original: one client wanted me to copy another brand’s Instagram aesthetic completely because they loved it so much!
Be patient and persistent when building relationships with new clients—for example, I had no idea that following up after pitching ideas would get me more jobs than I could’ve imagined. And when working with them (no matter what the rate) always maintain a positive attitude; this leads clients wanting more work from you! Finally, be flexible as projects develop; don’t just try and do exactly what they asked without adding any of your own personality into it.”
Ready to dive into the world of social media strategy? Learn how to kickstart your career as a freelance social media strategist even without prior experience. Our guide provides step-by-step insights into starting as a strategist.
You’ll Probably Need To Invest In Some Basic Equipment
Want to take the perfect Instagram photo? You might be able to do it with just your phone’s camera, but adding a few more items could definitely help you reach that next level of amazingness.
If you want to go all out, you can buy the best camera, lights, and microphone money can buy. However, if you’re starting off as a freelancer and don’t have the budget for it yet, there are plenty of affordable options for entry-level equipment.
A good phone or camera is an obvious first step you need something that takes good quality photos and videos. Depending on what type of content you create (pictures vs. videos), different kinds of cameras will be better suited for your projects than others.
For example, if your niche is taking pictures of food (like many influencers on Instagram), portrait or beauty bloggers tend to use DSLR cameras because they allow for interchangeable lenses which gives them more control over the depth-of-field (how much of the picture is in focus). On the other hand, travel bloggers tend to lean towards mirrorless cameras that are lighter so they don’t have to lug around heavy equipment while exploring new destinations.
However, if your niche is creating videos instead of photos, investing in a dedicated camcorder might be more worthwhile than buying a fancy camera since camcorders are specifically designed and optimized for video recording. In either case, though, most beginner photographers agree that a good tripod is essential because it offers stability when taking pictures and allows you to adjust what angle you want your shot at without having to hold anything up yourself!
No matter where you live though, good lighting will greatly enhance any photo or video shoot you wouldn’t do an indoor photoshoot without turning on some lights after all! So whether it’s using natural light from a window or strategically placing lamps indoors so there aren’t any unflattering shadows in your picture or video; lighting
Your Skills Will Be More Versatile Than You Might Think
In addition to being a good writer and video editor, you need to know the ins and outs of social media platforms in order to create content that not only performs well on those platforms but also fulfills your client’s purpose. Often, this means you have to be creative in order to get around limitations or bring something new to the platform. In some cases, you might even need a bit of coding knowledge.
You also need expert-level knowledge of whatever topic your client is trying to promote. For example, if you’re creating an Instagram marketing campaign for a coffee shop, you better know everything about coffee from how it’s grown and roasted, down to the types of coffees available and their various flavor profiles. The same goes for anything else out there — if there’s a product or service out there, someone has probably tried marketing it on social media.
And lastly, as any freelancer can attest including this freelance writer who’s been doing it since college networking is key. You have to be able to sell yourself as much as you must be able to sell your skillset (and products) in order for clients to take notice and sign with you instead of other options they’ve looked at before reaching out.
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Sometimes, Callbacks Won’t Come Right Away
As with any job, there are times when a client won’t respond right away, but you shouldn’t take that as a sign that they’re not interested. Sometimes they need a while to review applications before deciding who will move on in the hiring process; other times, they just get busy and forget to follow up with applicants.
You may even hear back from the contact weeks or months later asking you if you’re still available for work (a situation I recently found me in). This is why it’s important to keep your LinkedIn profile updated and your contact information current, so that clients can reach out when opportunities arise.
While it can be frustrating waiting for responses from employers especially when you need money it’s even more frustrating knowing that someone has reached out to you about a job and then losing touch with them because of outdated information.
Social Media Marketing Is A Rewarding Career, But It Requires Long Hours And Patience
Persistence is important in any career, but self-employed social media content creators need a little extra push to keep going. It can be tempting to give up after just one rejection or slow start, but it’s critical that aspiring content creators stick with it until they’ve built up their portfolio and client base.
In fact, even once you’re established as a social media content creator, you still need to remain persistent when it comes to finding new clients and negotiating contracts for your services.
For many people, freelancing as a social media content creator is an ideal career choice. If you’re willing to put in the work required of this profession, then the life of a freelance social media content creator could be just what you’re looking for.
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Final Thoughts
To sum up, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a freelance career for the last 2 years, and I’d encourage anyone with the ability to do so to try it out. Freedom is something you can’t even begin to put into words until you experience it firsthand. It’s not for everyone though; freelancers have to be self-motivating enough that they don’t need someone breathing down their neck all day.
They also have to be able to wear many different hats, because there’s no one else around who will help them do the other things they need to be done on a given day. In short, a freelance social media content creator has to love being independent and hate having deadlines… or at least have someone who is accustomed to taking charge of any deadlines they may impose on themselves, so they don’t get stressed out or overwhelmed.
Further Reading
Explore more resources on the topic of freelance social media content creation:
The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Freelance Social Media Manager Learn the ropes of freelancing in social media management with this comprehensive guide from Hootsuite. Discover strategies, tools, and tips for success.
Becoming a Successful Freelance Social Media Manager Sendible offers insights into building a successful freelance career as a social media manager. Uncover ways to stand out, manage clients, and boost your online presence.
A Career Guide: Social Media Content Creator Indeed provides valuable advice for individuals aspiring to become social media content creators. Explore job requirements, skills needed, and how to excel in this role.
People Also Ask
What’s It Like To Work As A Freelance Social Media Content Creator?
It depends. For some, they’re answering emails and doing meetings. For others, it’s picking up their kids or dog from the daycare. Others still, they’re working on their latest blog post or vlog.
Imagine this: you’re in your office, drinking a latte, and you’re just not feeling it. You look around for inspiration, but you don’t find it. Suddenly you jump out of your seat and tear into the streets your favorite kind of music is playing in your ears, nobody can stop you from being truly happy (except maybe the people who are in your way). The sun is shining because it knows that you’re going to have a great day!
For most other freelancers, though, that’s what their workday looks like: sitting at home with their family, getting ready for bed, thinking about the next big project for their clients. They do this because they love what they do and because freelancing gives them more flexibility in spending time with the people in their lives who mean the most to them.
What Is It Like To Be A Freelance Content Creator?
Being a freelance content creator is extremely rewarding. You get to make your own schedule, and you can choose not to work during days or hours that are inconvenient for you. On the other hand, you do need to devote a lot of your time to marketing yourself and finding new jobs.
You also have to make sure you aren’t overworking yourself, because if you are, you may start having problems with burnout. Lastly, being a freelancer can sometimes be lonely; while you don’t have coworkers, you also don’t have anyone to chat with during breaks or someone who sits near you with whom you can have a lunchtime conversation.
What Is A Freelance Social Media Content Creator?
A freelance social media content creator creates content for a variety of clients, which are primarily businesses, on social media platforms. This can include a wide range of things: writing product descriptions, creating posts that get attention and get traction, and posting pictures and videos that resonate with the client’s target audience.
What Kinds Of Business Will Hire A Freelance Social Media Content Creator?
All kinds of businesses! Some may not have time to create their own engaging content or they may focus on another aspect of their business and leave the marketing to someone else. Others may want to enhance their current marketing strategy by having someone else create content they know will appeal to their customer base.
What Kind Of Experience Do You Need To Become A Freelance Social Media Content Creator?
No experience is required. However, the ability to create interesting and engaging content for an audience is a crucial skill for this type of work.
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!
