SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
How To Be A Successful Social Media Marketing Consultant
By Grace Akinyi Oduor
In this cut throat world of consultancy , taking up the social media mantle can be extremely hard but it is still possible for you to succeed as a freelance social media consultant . With the right skills , unique service offerings , resources , networks , creativity , and passion , you can venture into social media marketing consultancy .
Here are some things you need to keep in mind to help you understand what it takes and hit the ground running .
Read , read , read
A social media marketing consultant handles everything to do with socials from developing the overall social media strategy , to managing the social media platforms , developing and designing content and visuals , engaging with communities , running ad campaigns , monitoring and analyzing performance .
In order for you to be well conversant with social media marketing , you have to take time to study and get the right skills . You can complete a diploma in digital marketing , complete online courses offered by Skillshare or Udemy , and also subscribe to and read blogs on Sprout Social , Buffer , and Hootsuite .
At the end of the day , you want to be knowledgeable on all matters to do with marketing on social media and also apply what you have learned on your assignments . To be more specific , you need to learn the basics on social media strategy development , social media audit , benefits of each platform , key features on platforms , content strategy , paid ad campaigns , analyzing metrics , social media tools , and influencer marketing .
You can also be updated on latest trends and techniques that you can share with new / existing clients as part of demonstrating your technical know-how . As we all know , there are new innovations being introduced every day so always check if there are any new features ( Marketplace , Reels , Shorts ) on all platforms and how you can leverage on them .
Build your presence online
It is true that social media accounts are now an extension of your resume . Most clients looking for freelance consultants always take time to review their social media accounts or pages first . You might want to invest time and effort in building and growing your own social media pages first before promising your
“ In order for you to be well conversant with social media marketing , you have to take time to study and get the right skills . At the end of the day , you want to be knowledgeable on all matters to do with marketing on social media and also apply what you have learned on your assignments .” clients results . You can also share your portfolio of work , significant innovations , and expert opinions on social media marketing , especially on B2B platforms such as LinkedIn .
Most international consultants are incorporating videos to promote their businesses . It might be time to put a face to the name and build trust and credibility . As you share your portfolio , remember to prepare a well-designed portfolio ( PDF or website ) with information on top brands you have worked with , successful campaigns backed by data , client testimonials , etc that you can share based on requests .
Social media is a great platform to sell your services too . Take time to publish content on groups such as Career Women Kenya and Africa Leading Ladies to get noticed by potential entrepreneurs . Another powerful way to promote your business is through blogging . With platforms such as Upwork , you can start applying for online jobs that match your knowledge and skills to gain hands-on experience .
Become a content creator and a graphic designer
As a consultant who will probably be given multiple assignments in various sectors , it is beneficial to develop and improve your skills in writing and content creation . The best thing to do is to review campaigns , content such as blogs , videos , newsletters done by similar organizations in the same industry to get a sense of what will be required . You can then develop out-of-the-box ideas that will make you stand out .
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