Do You Have What It Takes to Run a Social Media Management Business?

Social media marketing is a must for all businesses. Big or small, they need to have an online presence that's smart, useful for their communities, and engaging! And while many companies have dedicated marketing staff to handle posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more -- many are too time or cash-strapped to do it themselves.

That's where you can come in. See if you have what it takes to become a freelance social media manager.

Are You Qualified?

Do you have good people skills? Are you efficient, organized, and able to communicate effectively? Most virtual assistants, bloggers, and people making a living online are already great candidates for this type of work.  Social media managers must have an excellent command of the English language, an eye for detail, and an understanding of what people what to see and read.

You do not have to have a degree to be a social media manager for most businesses. You do, however, need to have demonstrated your social media skills in some way. If you have a blog or business that's already using social well, it can be your portfolio for proving your effectiveness!

Are you savvy?

Social media managers must be tech-friendly, willing to embrace the use of new services, and able to adapt at constant change in the online marketing world. If it takes you months to master Pinterest, it may not be for you. If you can read a quick article or ebook and implement best practices right away, however, social media management may be your thing!

Can You Market Yourself?

Not only do you have to be able to allow your clients to shine, you must be able to market your own business, too. Since client contracts rarely last forever, you'll need to keep making connections for new business all the time.  Being able to reach out to and secure new clients is crucial to keeping your work constant and your bills paid.

Are You Willing to Invest?

Many of the tools you will use to manage social come with a price.  Here are some of the more common expenses you will incur in your business:

• social media management and scheduling software ($25-50/month)
• stock photos and graphics subscriptions ($49-150/year)
• anti-virus software ($30-75/year)
• professional email fees ($7-75/month)
• tools to increase engagement and following on twitter, instagram, and other platforms
• courses and conference events to improve skills
• website hosting
• billing and invoice service
• tax preparation ($150)
• misc. other tools and services ($110-20/yr)

Are you ready to start your journey to managing a social media business?