Hello?
Hello.
What's up everyone.
And welcome back to my channel.
It's been a while since we've done a chill in chatty Q and a.
So let's hop in.
I asked y'all for questions on Instagram.
I haven't looked at these yet.
So these are gonna be kind of rapid fire.
Let's hop in
as a beginner, social media manager.
How do I find my client's target?
A.
Pain points.
Okay.
So I think it's important to have a conversation with your client.
I think your client should be giving you some of this information.
Now they might not have everything, but they should have some type of like a.
Customer avatar buyer persona, something to provide you with.
If they're not, you should be charging for doing that brand research.
In my opinion, you know, that's not really the role of a social media manager.
Of course, a social media manager needs to understand like how to understand
people and how to do research, but you shouldn't necessarily be doing
full brand strategy and only getting paid for social media management.
So they should be able to give you something.
And then I think, you know, if they.
I don't know, say our target audiences, women in their thirties who have one or
more children and live in the suburbs like that should give you a pretty good
amount of information to be able to start doing research yourself just by
Googling even better if it's, you know, a professional title or something like that.
Like I used to work in the staffing industry that is no
offense to anyone in staffing.
It's kind of like a boring and dry industry.
I definitely knew nothing about it, but I was living and breathing and.
Not eating, but almost eating, you know, the staffing industry,
you know, I was reading staffing, industry publications and looking at
conferences and, and things like that.
So you really have to kind of immerse yourself as well.
How do you generate and make sales as a social media manager?
Okay.
So I'm guessing you mean to get your own clients and if that's the case, inbound
marketing, I've talked a lot about, and that's really been my biggest thing, but
what I don't talk about a lot is pitching.
And I think we need to have that conversation when I first.
Went freelance, full time.
I was applying to things on Upwork, like every day, and we can have the
whole conversation about Upwork.
You know, a lot of people are like, oh, it doesn't work as well.
Whatever.
I went, where there were leads and that was freelancing platforms for me.
So I was pitching almost every day.
If not every day.
I was also like always raising my hand for speaking and education opportunities.
So I was speaking at co-working spaces in my area.
I was, you know, being like the go-to person for business owners in
my area to just answer questions for them and just make friends with them.
So I think that is a big part of it as well is just going out and
pitching and like shooting your shot.
For sure.
If you're not getting sales, it's great to build in Instagram.
It's great.
Create YouTube videos, all the things, but you have to eat first and you have
to like, have something, keeping your lights on before you can go all in
with like, I'm gonna post on Instagram every day for, you know, 50 times a
day, like focus on getting a client or two first to sustain yourself and then
start with some of the inbound stuff.
Any new tools or techniques you have been using that have been helpful?
I just found this tool and I don't know why.
I can't remember the name of it, cuz I just talked about it in my last blog.
But it is a testimonial tool.
It's really, really cool.
Basically it enables you to easily request testimonials from your clients
and also store them and also get like cool carousel and things like that.
So it is amazing.
I absolutely love it.
I will link it down in the description box.
If you wanna check it out.
Other than that though.
I I'm really old school.
People are always surprised by this.
They're like, what social media, you know, editor do you use and all this stuff and
layout, preview, where I'm like, honestly, like I use my computer for most things.
What are some programs list you can recommend for new social media managers?
So I've recommended HubSpot.
Inbound and HubSpot academy in general a lot before I think it's really great.
They have a ton of courses that are like tangentially related to
social media management, because here's the thing, like what even
is social media management anymore.
I mean, it's a lot of platforms.
It's a lot of different.
Disciplines that are related to it.
Like it touches web, it touches design, it touches SEO, it
touches analytics, you know?
So I think it's important to know a little bit about each of those things.
I'm not telling you to go out and become a graphic designer to become
an SEO specialist or whatever, but you should know enough to be able to speak.
About those topics, in my opinion, and HubSpot academy has courses about
like all those things, email ads, everything, and I'm pretty sure they're
all free, which is pretty amazing.
I really like their inbound course in particular.
And then for my courses, I think that the social media management
accelerator is really like the crem.
Derem like, if you are looking to just really hit the ground running,
that is probably the course for you.
It.
Much more, you know, immersive and involved than some of my other courses,
which are also nice if you're just looking for something quick to learn,
but if you wanna like really immerse yourself S M a is where it's at.
It's not currently open cuz we do do cohorts.
So I actually like do live teaching and live coaching and things like that.
In addition to the course material, it's not open at this exact moment, but
it will be opening up very, very soon.
So I'll leave a link in the description if you want to, um, get on like the
hand Razer list so I can let you know.
Soon as it's available.
What's the max you've charged for being a social media manager.
Um, like one client I would, Mmm.
Rates are so weird in this industry, by the way, cuz even still like
I've been doing this for a while.
I've been working with so many social media managers and like people
are hush hush about their rates.
But I would say the most that I've ever charged was probably like around three.
Three to 4k.
Like I know people like agencies and stuff, who've
charged 10,000, 12,000, 20,000.
Uh, and I've always been a small team and I've always worked with mostly startups.
So for just social media management, now I've had retainers, freelance retainers
that are higher than that, like double or more, but that was for video work.
This is something also a lot of people don't maybe know about
me is a lot of my freelancing.
Around video as well.
I do a lot of social first video, so I create video content.
They call it U GC content.
Now that's what the kids are calling it, but I've been doing this for a long time,
uh, before that was the name for it.
So a lot of my work involves that.
And for that, I actually find that it's a little easier for
me to charge higher rates.
So I've had contracts as big as like seven or eight K for video work.
When you select your niche, can your client's competition be your client too?
I think this is a touchy topic.
I, uh, touchy subject.
I, I don't know the answer.
I mean, well, the answer is, look at your contract.
Did you sign off?
Exclusivity.
Did you sign off on saying you are gonna be my only lawyer client?
You're gonna be my only restaurant client.
If so, then the answers, your question, but if you don't have that in your
contract, I think it really comes down to what feels right for you.
Is it ethical for you?
I personally have never worked with competing.
Brands like direct competitors.
So like I used to work with beauty products a lot.
Let's say that I worked with like, you know, a eyelash
company, a fake eyelash company.
I'm probably not gonna work with another fake eyelash company.
I might work with a mascara company or a company that sells eyeshadow or
maybe even a company that does sell lashes, but that's not like their main
thing that would probably feel okay for me, but I wouldn't work with like,
I don't know even what the cool brands are these days, but like RDA and.
Whatever something else, another competitor to that brand.
You know, I think there are industries where this is challenging though.
Like, let's say that you are a social media manager for
restaurants in your local area.
You know, isn't every restaurant technically in competition, more or less,
as long as they're within the same price point and food, you know, cuisine, style
of cuisine or whatever I'm interested.
If anybody watching has anything to say on that, please let me
know if you are in that situation.
I'd be curious to know social media management, beginners guide.
So I've talked about some of the like programs and stuff that I offer, but I
also do have a little freebie for you all.
I don't talk about it very much, but I actually just went through and updated it.
So it's clear, concise all the links work.
It looks a little prettier, so you can check out the link in
the description for that as well.
It's called the social media management starter kit.
It's just like a quick little mini ebook that kind of.
Gives you an overview of the steps that you should be taking if this is
a career that you're interested in.
So hopefully that helps for you tips for getting leads on social media as
a social media manager, I would say, make sure that you have an email list.
If nothing else, there are so many times when I'm just
like, I'm always just creeping.
Every time somebody follows me on Instagram or replies to an Instagram
story, I creep, I creep, I admit it.
I look at everybody's Instagrams and I go to your websites and
you know, I just I'm, I'm nosy.
Okay.
I'm nosy.
And a lot of times I'll see people who I'm like.
Oh, I really love their style or they're really nice.
Or for some reason I'm just really drawn to them, but I don't have
room on my team for them right now, or I don't have a need for like a
graphic design project, social media management project, whatever right now.
But I wanna keep them in my Rolodex if you will.
And you know, sometimes of course I can just follow on social media,
but as we know the algorithms, you know, they do what they want.
So I might not ever see you again if I just follow you on Instagram.
But if you have an email.
I'm gonna sign up for it so that when you have a promotion or when
you have something going on or you have an event or you have a cool
newsletter to share, you're gonna be top of mind for me again now.
So I think definitely just have a place for people to sign up on your
newsletter if they wanna hear from you, if now is not the right time.
And then I think also.
Just be where your clients are.
You know, we get so focused on where our peers are.
We get so focused on like what's the most fun to do and don't get me wrong.
I started doing this because I love social media, but at the end of the day, if
I'm trying to get clients, I'm gonna be.
Flexing my LinkedIn muscles, cuz that's where my clients are.
Your clients might be somewhere else, you know, but, uh,
that's where my clients are.
So I'm gonna go heavy on LinkedIn, even though I don't
necessarily love being on LinkedIn.
If I'm looking for clients, that's what I'm gonna be doing.
So go where your clients are.
Do you have a social media manager membership group?
I do.
I don't talk about it very much, but I've had one for.
A couple years now it's called the freelance Friday club.
I might change the name of it soon.
I'm not sure, but yes, that's my membership group that will also
be linked in the description.
If you're interested.
It's a lot of fun.
We do two masterminds every single month.
So we meet like on a zoom call and just chat about what's
going on in our businesses.
It's kind of like my way to like scratch my coaching itch if you will.
Cause I don't do one on one coaching anymore, so it's, it's fun.
And then there's a group forum where you can post.
Whenever you want, I check, check in on it, like every day, every other day
and make sure everyone's doing good.
We bring guests in.
Sometimes we haven't done that in a while, but I am ramping up to
get some more guests in there soon.
So yeah, I would love to have you in there and it's, it's a lot of fun.
Oh.
But it isn't just for social media managers.
I should mention that.
It's just for freelancers in general.
So we have designers in there.
We have coaches in there.
We have mostly social media managers, but we do have other people in
there as well, which I think is fun.
I think.
Is nice to have a good mix, any cool projects or collaborations
you can tease or talk about?
I feel like I've been talking a lot about myself, so I don't wanna
talk too much, but S M M a, the accelerator is gonna be opening soon.
We'll probably start class in the fall.
That means we'll probably start pre-selling in the next month or two.
So definitely stay tuned.
If that's something that you're open to.
And the thing that I'm really excited about.
So we've run this program three times now, and it's been identical, you know,
we've run the same curriculum every time.
This time, I'm going to pull the lever.
We're gonna go a little harder on this stuff that you all are asking
about, which is selling, marketing yourself, uh, getting clients.
So if that's something that you are interested in, uh, sign up
for the wait list, for sure.
And then I did mention guests.
I'm hoping to do some more collaborative things here in the future too, because
I just know so many smart people that know so many amazing things.
So I'm trying to figure out ways we, we have guest instructors.
Social media management accelerator and things like that.
But I, I want more, like, I want you to learn some amazing things from
some of my smart friends, so I'm trying to work on some cool things.
And I also, you know, I'm an introvert, but I've been just been in a season
of like really wanting to collaborate.
It's just been really making me happy, working with other people.
So.
. Yeah, hopefully there will be more collaborations in the future as well.
Okay.
These ones are all a little bit more on the like general business, less,
uh, social media management, or some of them are a little more personal.
So how do you go about recording podcasts with others?
Like guests?
I use stream yard.
Which is the tool that I use to live stream, and it does cost money.
It's like, I think it's $15 a month, but you can also, if you want a
free option, you can use zoom.
I use zoom for years and that's what I used a lot.
but I use stream yard now just cause I already have the tool
and it's pretty cool because you can like toggle in between who's.
Like the speaker view and stuff.
I don't know.
It's pretty cool.
And really user friendly.
What would you have done differently if you were starting your business now?
I think I would've niche down sooner because I spent a lot of time when I
was side hustling, working with clients who weren't really like my ideal
client, just working with clients.
Cause I felt like I should be doing it.
And they either ended up being a nightmare or like, I I'd never
really used them in my portfolio.
You know?
Like they weren't at all.
Any, you know, any type of client that I would want to really put in my portfolio.
So I would say that really being a little bit more picky, even
though I was just starting out.
And then another thing I wish I would've done is shot my shot, you know, a little
bit more like I did apply for things on Upwork a lot, but I have never been like
a big colder and whenever I do it, . I feel like I'm decently successful at it.
Like I have gotten some contracts that way I've gotten sponsors
that way of, you know, gotten like speaking gigs and stuff that way.
So I'm just really shy.
Like I am just naturally really shy and it's hard for me.
It doesn't come naturally for me.
And I think in those earlier days, like what would've happened if I
would've pitched to like my dream.
You know, like what would've happened.
If I would've pitched for a collaboration with a creator who I really admired
what would've happened today, you know, if I did that, I never do that.
And I'm just scared, you know?
And it's not that it's too late.
I don't wanna say like my career's over, you know, knock on wood.
Like hopefully hopefully still got plenty of years in me, but I
definitely don't feel that same.
you know, drive that I did when I was, you know, 23, 24, like I'm, I'm chill now.
Like I'm like, all right, let's just maintain stuff.
I'm not out here trying to like pitch to talk to Oprah or anything,
but what would've happened if I did that at 24, you know, I don't know.
I don't know.
Do you have any summer reading recommendations?
What am I even reading right now?
I've kind of fallen off of reading a little bit since the move I am.
Oh, I am reading a book right now.
Um, if you're interested in writing a book, I'm reading a book called
before and after the book deal.
It's really good because I am manifesting.
I'm trying out here, I'm working on it.
I'm working on getting a book deal.
That's my goal.
Hopefully by the end of 2022, that that's what we're gonna
put out into the universe.
I'm reading a book about it and it's really good.
Really easy read.
I do like it.
And then I'm also rereading rework.
Wow.
How many times can somebody with.
letter R speech impediment, say the letter R in a sentence that
was like acrobats for my mouth.
That was very hard rereading rework, which is, that was a hugely influential
book when it comes to like company culture and how you structure business
for a lot of people that I really admire.
So I did read it.
A while ago, but I'm rereading it once again, cause I'm really focusing on what
type of company do I really want to build?
What type of team do I really wanna build?
Company culture stuff is like really where my head's at right now.
So that one, and then for fun books, I've been reading just a
lot of short story collections.
So I'll put some up on the screen that I am either currently reading or like
thumbing through or recently read.
And then let's see.
What's the last question we're gonna answer.
How was the move.
Well, it's still kind of going, you know, but I'm mostly feeling good.
I will say the first two weeks were fun and exciting, but from a
business perspective, it was hard because I'm very much somebody who
I need to like have my environment.
You know, write in order to be creative in order to feel comfortable.
So I didn't work really for the first week I took off.
And then the second week I barely worked.
Like, I, it was just really hard for me.
So thank goodness for batching.
This is why I'm always preaching batching to you all because I recorded a ton of
videos before I moved out of my apartment.
So really this week, I think, or maybe last week's podcast was the
first that you've seen, like in this environment, as far as sit down videos.
Cause I'm finally at the point where.
I feel good about filming.
I mean, I still am figuring out my filming set up because I still feel
like my face looks really weird.
Every time I look at a video that I record in this space, like the lighting
is different and the angle is different.
So I don't like how my face looks.
I'm not looking for compliments.
I'm just being honest.
Um, so I'm still figuring some stuff out, but like, you can see me,
you can hear me like, okay, cool.
I can create content.
So that's good.
Yeah.
It's going well.
And I, I just feel very grateful and thankful that I was able to move and.
That I'm able to have space to like create and, and really build a life here.
It's kind of exciting.
It's also exciting to be in.
Not the city anymore.
You know, I've lived in the city for like seven years.
I don't know, drive me down dirt roads again.
Like, what is this?
It's kind of interesting and cool, but at the same time, I'm
still very close to cities and doing cool stuff if I want to too.
So thank you for asking.
I'm doing well.
All right.
How are you all doing?
Let me know in the comments, say hello.
I love hearing from you.
And if you have any questions for me for future Q and a, let's go
ahead and use this comment box as a thread to start asking for questions.
I hope you enjoyed.
I hope y'all are doing well, and I will see you in my next video.
Have a good one.
Bye.