How To Become A Social Media Expert And Generate More Income

Social media has undeniably changed the way we do things. From the style of clothes we wear to the people we elect in office, there’s no question that social media’s influence has never been this big.

This is especially true with the way we do business. Today, it’s highly unlikely to find a company that doesn’t have a social media presence.

You know this for sure because you wouldn’t be working on social media if you didn’t. As good as that may sound, however, it still won’t hold a candle to the kind of opportunities and benefits you can gain from becoming a social media expert.

What Is A Social Media Expert?

As a freelance social media marketer, your daily tasks probably involve liking and sharing posts or replying to comments. While these may be part of the job description, a social media expert does more.

This is because a social media expert needs to have creative skills such as content marketing, copywriting, multimedia, and creative design, among others.

Above all, a social media expert needs to have a clear understanding of how data works because this will help him or her keep track of progress and identify what works and what doesn’t.

At the end of the day, social media marketing is more of experimental science. It’s a never-ending case of trial and error because social media continues to evolve and it does at a really fast pace.

What this means is that for you to become a social media expert, you need to know how to track data, improvise strategies, and be creative with implementation.

How To Become A Social Media Expert

Now that we’ve established what a social media expert is, the next step is to understand what it takes to become one.

While you may already know some of the basics, one of the first, and perhaps more crucial steps, is to upgrade the knowledge you already possess.

Professional Training

Let’s be honest, there’s no better way to learn but through old-school, classroom-type learning with an industry expert as your instructor.

This is what separates getting trained by a professional training institute which, luckily, there’s an abundance of. Not only will you get the knowledge you need but you will also learn from your instructor’s practical experience.

From identifying your audience to measuring results, learning from an experienced social media expert is a huge advantage.

Online Courses

Signing up for an online course is another effective way of upgrading your knowledge and skills.

The good news is, like professional classroom-style training, there are hundreds of online courses you can subscribe to, all offering a more comprehensive and detailed curriculum that can benefit you in more ways than one.

Just make sure to pick an online course from reputable companies which means doing in-depth research not just on the company that offers the courses but the instructors as well.

Industry Experience

It’s been said that experience is the best teacher and that can’t be any more true when it comes to social media marketing.

While the knowledge you gained certainly helps, putting the skills you learned into action is still the best way to hone them.

If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably done some freelance work doing social media marketing or management, which is good. To make it better, try your hand on varying niches instead of focusing on one.

This will help enhance your creativity in terms of coming up with strategies for industries you barely know anything about which will make you an effective social media expert.

Get Better on Essential Skills

As mentioned, becoming a social media expert requires more than just liking, commenting, and sharing. It requires specific skills that will allow you to identify the right strategies and approach in making the company you represent kill it in social media.

Communication

There’s no doubt that communication is an essential skill if you’re going to become a social media expert. Keep in mind that as a social media expert, you are the voice of the brand and anything you say (and how you say it), will reflect on the brand you represent.

In social media, communication goes beyond writing though. The use of emojis, the tone, the personality, all of these plays a factor in the success (or failure) of the approach you’ve chosen.

Do you refer to yourself as “me” or “we”?

Are you going to be more bubbly or will you be very formal?

All of these will matter and they’re not going to fit every brand or industry you represent which is why it’s crucial to have this skill if you’re going to become a social media expert.

Writing

Writing is another skill a social media expert needs to have primarily because this is how you’ll get your message across on social media.

The best social media experts are great copywriters and excellent conversationalists. These are people who create attention-grabbing copy that elicits emotion from the audience.

These are people who know how to tailor their writing for different audiences and platforms. Above all, these are people who know how to write engaging content.

Creativity

It’s safe to say that when it comes to social media marketing, creativity is part of the job. This is especially true since as a social media expert, you’d be working with brands belonging to different industries and niches.

As a social media expert, you’d want to develop content that is exciting and buzz-worthy but as mentioned, every brand requires a different approach and strategy.

Creativity is crucial when it comes to social media management particularly because, in a saturated social media space, differentiation can be a game-changer.

• Are you taking enough risks when it comes to the campaigns you run?
• Is your content visually appealing enough?
• Do the images, links, and formatting of the copy work cohesively with one another?
• Does the brand voice fit the product or service you are promoting?

These are some of the questions whose answers depend on how creative you are as a social media expert.

Do take note, however, that there are countless ways to make your creativity work for you on social media. Sometimes, it doesn’t even have to involve any of the questions mentioned.

Sense of humor and sarcasm can also work. You just need to know how to use them without compromising the brand’s voice and reputation.

Agility

The social media landscape moves at a very fast pace.

Something that’s trending today may no longer be as popular tomorrow or next week which is why a social media expert should also possess agility.

What does this mean?

This means you have to be able to quickly react and adjust to these new trends. You need to be able to quickly pivot should an opportunity or crisis present itself.

All of this being said, you have to be updated on the latest trends. You need to always be ready to perform experiments, implement new tactics, or shake the entire strategy up if needed so the brand you represent can remain competitive.

Data Analysis

Last but not least, you need to know how to properly read and interpret data. You need to understand what the numbers say and what type of action is required to address those numbers if they aren’t meeting your goals.

This is crucial because these numbers will dictate the direction you’ll need to take when it comes to the strategies you create.

• Is your audience dominated by males or females?
• Which age group consumes your content most?
• What time of the day is your audience up for engagement?
• Is the engagement better when you post videos compared to images?

Clearly understanding what the consequences these numbers lead to will allow you to craft a better, more suitable social media strategy that will attract better engagement from your audience.

How To Market Yourself As A Social Media Expert

There are several ways to market yourself as a freelance social media expert or specialist. One effective way to do this is by having your own blog where you can showcase your knowledge of social media management for people to see.

The good thing about having a blog is you don’t need to tell people about what you do outright because the blog posts you write will do it for you.

Another effective way to let people know about your social media expertise is by promoting yourself over social media. Create a Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn page then show people some of your best work.

Email marketing is also a good option. Using a newsletter campaign, you can showcase your skills by sharing some tips or links to some of your best work.

Lastly, going back to the basics through good-ole word of mouth always works.

Final Thoughts

Anyone can become a social media marketer but not everyone can become a social media expert. While knowing the basics can make a difference, becoming an expert puts you on a whole new level in terms of the trust and confidence you’d get from clients.

If you’re a social media marketer who’s looking to take your freelancing career to a whole new level, take your first step towards becoming a social media expert by following the tips provided in this blog post.