making money from social media management

Social media management is the process of helping businesses, brands, or individuals plan, create, and publish content across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Many small business owners simply don’t have the time to stay active online and that’s where you come in.
As a social media manager, you might create posts, write captions, reply to messages, engage with followers, and track analytics to help businesses grow their online presence.
It’s a flexible, creative side hustle that doesn’t require formal qualifications just consistency, good communication, and an understanding of what makes content engaging.

Pros of social media management

Work from anywhere with a flexible schedule.
High and growing demand: every business wants an online presence.
Can be learned free with time, practice, and online resources.
Recurring monthly clients create steady, predictable income.
Great introduction to digital marketing, branding, and content creation.

Cons of social media management

Can take time to land your first clients.
Social trends move fast and require you to stay up to date.
Clients may expect quick results, even when growth takes time.
Managing several accounts at once can be time-consuming.

How to Start

1. Choose Your Platforms

Start small. Focus on one or two platforms you understand well (e.g. Instagram and Facebook).
It’s better to specialise and build expertise than try to manage everything at once.

2. Learn the Basics

You can learn social media management for free through online tutorials and courses.
Recommended free resources:
Meta Blueprint for Facebook & Instagram
HubSpot Academy for social media fundamentals
These will teach you scheduling, insights, engagement strategies, and content planning.

3. Create a Portfolio

Show potential clients what you can do. You can build one by:
Using your own social media accounts
Creating mock content for fictional businesses
Designing sample posts, reels, or graphics
A simple, clean portfolio goes a long way.

4. Find Your First Clients

Start with:
Local small businesses
Tradespeople
Freelancers
Online creators
Cafés, salons, personal trainers, etc.
Or use freelancing platforms like:
Fiverr
PeoplePerHour
Upwork
Focus on building relationships and delivering value and referrals will naturally follow.

5. Use Scheduling Tools

These tools save time and help you stay organised:
Canva graphics, templates, videos (affiliate potential)
Metricool scheduling + analytics (affiliate potential)
Buffer multi-platform scheduling
Later great for Instagram planning
Most offer free plans, so you can start with zero cost.

6. Set Clear Expectations

Before you start working with a client, define:
Number of posts per week
Who handles graphics, captions, and replies
Content approval process
KPIs (reach, engagement, followers, clicks, etc.)
Clear boundaries = happy clients.

Recommended Sites & Apps

Here are some great tools and platforms to get started with:
Canva Create engaging graphics and videos
Metricool Analytics, scheduling, multi-platform posting
Buffer Easy post scheduling
Later Instagram-focused planning
Fiverr / Upwork / PeoplePerHour Find clients and build your portfolio
Many of these have free versions, making it ideal for beginners.

Rough Earning Potential

Beginner: £100–£300 per client/month (2–3 posts per week)
Intermediate: £400–£800 per client/month (full content management: posts, captions, engagement)
Expert/Agency Level: £1,000+ per client/month (including advanced analytics, ads, and strategy)
Your income grows with your skills, results, and reputation.
Start with one client, build confidence, then slowly scale.

Social media management is one of those rare side hustles where effort = results.
You don’t need qualifications, just creativity, consistency, and a good understanding of what people enjoy online.
If you love creating, communicating, and helping brands grow, this side hustle can easily turn into a long-term, steady income stream.

Disclaimer

The side hustle ideas shared on this page are for general information and inspiration only.
We have no affiliation with the platforms or companies mentioned, and results can vary.
Earning money online carries some risk. Income is never guaranteed, and success often depends on time, effort, and personal circumstances.
Always research each opportunity carefully before getting involved.