Social media might be a great way to stay in touch with your friends and family, but it’s also a booming industry that makes millions every year.
In fact, digital marketing is an integral part of every successful business’ marketing strategy. It’s also one of the easiest startups you can launch from the comfort of your home.
If you’ve always loved using Instagram and Facebook and want to build your own business, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to do to become a social media consultant.
A social media manager/consultant helps brands conceptualize their ideas and create a social media strategy.
In addition, you may choose to work alongside your clients and help them set up their accounts, create content and interact with their target audience.
Financing Your Startup
Setting up your consulting company doesn’t need to be expensive, especially when it’s in the digital marketing sector.
Since using social is free, the only thing you need to finance is your office space, a computer, a website and advertising.
If you’re unable to bootstrap your startup, you might want to consider getting a personal loan. You can work with a private lender who can tailor the loan terms to meet your needs without borrowing too much.
It’s always a good idea to only borrow what you need, not what you’d like to have in the bank. That way, you can keep the repayment amount low and still make a profit.
Master The Platforms
You should also know the ins and outs of any platform you suggest to your clients.
For instance, you may love posting on Instagram but if you can’t explain in detail how it works and how a brand can benefit from using it, you need to master it before marketing your services.
Even if you create excellent written content, if you are unsure of how to start a successful blog, that material will never reach the intended audience.
Build Your Own Brand
Even if you have a large following, they need to be engaged. Use your current online presence to connect with your audience.
Position yourself as an authority and offer free advice that helps others. In addition, you should create genuine conversations with others that have meaning.
Create Your Offerings
Everyone has something they excel at. So, if you’re a TikTok master, create offers that attract the right type of clients.
You don’t have to stick to a certain platform because you think it’s the right thing to do. It’s better to tailor your business around your strengths.
Determine Your Fee Schedule
When done correctly, you can make a lot of money as a consultant. In addition to marketing to the right people, you also need to price your services accordingly.
Research how much the same role would earn in house and offer your services at a comparable rate.
While it might seem better to offer lower rates at first, you don’t want to work for free. You can offer specials and discounts to new clients, and even implement referral programs to boost business.
Write a Business Plan
Just because you’re your own boss doesn’t mean you can just wing it. You need to write a business plan for your venture.
Think about your mission statement, your ideal client and where you see yourself in the future. Write down your goals, your marketing and financial strategy.
You also need to research your competition and create a detailed plan on how you can compete with them.
This should include their target audience, their offering, and which channels they use the most.
Choose Your Niche
You may want to offer your services to everyone; however, you need to choose a niche. If you’re passionate about food, look for clients in that industry.
Local restaurants who aren’t tech-savvy may want to increase their online presence. Since you live in the area, you can go and talk to them face to face and let them know how you can help.
The key is to build a true connection with clients, so they trust you.
Once you have a few smaller clients under your belt, you can use their analytics as proof to attract higher paying ones.
Focus on Quality
Having a lot of clients might look great on paper, but if you can’t produce quality results, it won’t do your business any good.
Even if it’s slow going, focus on the results, not the number of clients you have. Positive word of mouth travels fast, so happy clients will let others know how valuable you are.
Ella Marcotte
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