Freelance manager on social media – A decade ago, social media was just an exciting way to connect with friends and family and to pass the time.
But now social media evolved, and a lot of brands on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. are brought out resources to get their brand message out there.
In addition to adverts – which is just a significant chunk of this expense – they also require people who are tech savvy and market savvy to manage their social media accounts and come up with campaigns that will best reach their target customers.
Now you are thinking what I’m thinking? Freelance social media managers are in high demand than ever!
Qualities of a freelance social media manager
Here’s is an inexhaustible list of things you need to have in order to excel as freelance social media manager.
1. Writing Skills:
While you don’t necessarily need to be a wordsmith, you do need to be able to type up a basic copy and write interesting posts with little or no error.
Since there will be no fact-checker or copy editor to look over your work before you hit the “send” button, screenshots allow posts on social media to almost live forever, you need to be able to create compelling content with no typos (something that can bedevil a business for years.)
One great advantage that comes with developing your writing skills is the added value of writing better social media marketing proposals, which in turn leads to awesome clients and handsome pay.
2. Community Management
Back before social media gained traction, forums, and chat rooms ruled. The service of chat moderators had to be employed to keep comments under control while answering questions and facilitating new discussions. The same concept also applies to social media today. A good social manager should be able to spot issues in the online community and address them – while complying with the rules of each social media platform.
3. Analytical Skills
Let me ask some funny questions. Can you read reports? Sounds dumb, right? Do you understand trends? Yes! Do you? As a social media manager, you must be able to tailor your strategies to what the brand has specified, as well as what the data shows. In addition to reading and understanding reports, you might be asked to pull data and create a forecast for the future.
4. Willingness to Learn
Technology changes frequently, almost daily – in social media. What once was a useful tool for Instagram last month or two may not even be in existence the next month. With all the changes in algorithm, it’s not enough to stick to a so-called tried-and-true method and not try to go beyond it.
To be among the best in this field, you have to always have your fingers on the pulse of “what’s next” you must be willing to embrace new skills to keep your company competitive and competent.
5. Able to keep secrets
As a social media manager more often than not, you will be entrusted with some of the most sensitive data a company has, including passphrase and marketing strategies not yet known to the public. Due to this, it’s imperative that you hold all the information to yourself.
You will be likely asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement of some sort before you begin, but – even if you don’t, you must be able to be trusted to keep company secrets under wraps. Please, ensure that you and your client sign a social media contract, for legal reasons, just in case.
6. Security Conscious
As a social media manager, you will be entrusted with so much proprietary information, it is important that your devices are iron-clad and not able to be breached by cyber terrorists. You should have the latest firewall and anti-virus tools installed, as well as carry out other basic security measures such as two-step authentication is critical here. Be sure to use the best practice with all of your processes to make sure your client’s data is never compromised!
7. Able to multi-task
Not everyone can juggle through all the duties of a freelance social media manager! In addition to campaign crafting, reporting, updates, customer service, and public relations, you’ll have to continually learn and handle your own taxes and accounting, too! I can assure you that not everyone has what it takes to do all these things. If you can keep your cool, and get everything done, will be successful in this business.
8. Ability to focus
Apart from being able to keep all the plates in the air is having the ability not to lose focus. There will be times when you’ll be carrying out mind-numbing tasks such as combing through thousands of comments, responding to an angry Twitter mob – these are all the typical things in social media manager’s day that require you to sit and focus for long a period of time. You need to be able to shut out everything else and get the task done, so as to make it as a social media manager.
9. Professionalism
With the right to your own opinion, as a social media manager, you will be held to a higher standard with how you use your social media accounts. As the hidden face of the company, no one may ever know that you are handling Brand XYZ’s Facebook page, but that’s no license to let your own Facebook account appear, inflammatory, crude or libelous.
Be sure you are using care when you post and make updates to social media. If you don’t have the self-control not to like, retweet, or reply to today’s political drama, you risk appearing unprofessional in your work life.
10. Creative
Most of the ad campaigns that went viral, were notable for their out-of-the-norm perspective on Life. Social media, with all its viral posts, memes and videos, has shown that creativity is valuable. If, as a social media manager, you can think outside the box, you are set to do very well in this industry.
