How to become a social media manager in 2025
“Social media management is all the rage right now! If you’re debating becoming a social media manager, here’s what you need to know!”
What exactly is a social media manager & how do I become one?
If you’ve been wondering what a social media manager is and whether this career is worth pursuing in 2025, let me be the first to tell you: the timing has never been better, and you should definitely go for it!
Social media isn’t slowing down. The industry is only growing bigger and becoming more crucial to businesses around the globe. It’s a crucial way that businesses connect with their audience, which means nearly all companies are actively looking for people who can manage, grow, and monetize their online presence.
If you’re craving freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build your own career as a freelance social media manager, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the job and how to get started!
By the way, are you new to freelancing?
Download my free 30-page ebook to learn must-know freelancing tips.
More helpful resources for beginner social media managers:
Don’t start working with clients without a contract in place! Here’s a done-for-you freelance contract template you can use, so you’re always protected.
You can also read this other blog post to learn how to start freelancing with no experience.
Why 2025 Is the Perfect Year to Become a Social Media Manager
The demand for social media expertise has truly never been higher. Businesses across various industries, such as beauty, tech, retail, real estate, and more, need social media to succeed in today’s business landscape.
This means companies are investing hundreds to multiple thousands per month into their online presence…
and why is that good news for you? This means there are plenty of social media job opportunities out there, and companies have the budget to spend on you!
Social media management is a fantastic career choice, as once for those who are highly skilled, they’re easily able to bring in 6-figures, especially for those working within luxury or other high-caliber industries, like aesthetics, real estate, industrial, or medical-related companies.
Many freelancers report earning $3k to $7k per month once they establish a steady client base.
So trust me, girl, if you’re ready to leave the traditional 9-5 life and design your own, rewarding career, let 2025 be the year you become a social media manager! This job will give you the flexibility, creative freedom, and financial potential that 9-to-5’s simply cannot offer.
Save time by grabbing a free copy of my freelance contract template
This done-for-you template is easily customizable in google docs! (All you need is a free google account to access).
What Does a Social Media Manager Actually Do in 2025?
Being a social media manager is way more than just uploading posts to Instagram. It’s about strategy, creativity, trend spotting, and creating a measurable impact.
What a day to day as a socal media manager looks like:
On a daily basis, you might:
create content
Schedule posts
engage with followers
track analytics
present results to your clients
Edit videos
types of social media manager specialities
Many social media managers specialize in particular aspects or platforms in order to niche down and become an expert at one thing. For example, a social media manager could decide to focus on:
a particular platform, such as IG, TikTok, or LinkedIn
video editing for all platforms
graphic design only (no video editing)
strategy, audits, and content planning
Or even full-service management across multiple platforms
Social media managers have to stay updated
Trends are constantly shaping and changing the landscape of social media management, so it’s crucial that managers keep up to stay relevant. For instance, the introduction of AI tools has made content creation more efficient and easier to manage for creators and managers.
Video is another trend in the social media world, thanks to TikTok, and most social media managers offer video as part of their services.
Although this career is ever-changing and it will require you to stay up to date with popular trends and content formats, this is a career that will provide you with freedom and long-term growth.
Essential Skills Every Social Media Manager Needs
To thrive in this field, you’ll want to develop three core areas of skill: technical, strategic, and business.
Technical skills include mastering the major social media platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Facebook
Less prominent: Threads, X
(Instagram social media managers are very common, so if you don’t know what platform to focus on, I’d highly recommend going with IG).
It’s also recommended that you have design and editing knowledge (using tools like Capcut and Canva are perfect for this and are beginner-friendly).
Strategic and analytical skills are also important skills that ensure you’re able to understand analytics and measure account success.
These strategic skills you’ll need to know include content planning, branding/messaging, trend analysis, community management, and performance analysis.
(Meaning that you should be able to look at posts and analyze which ones are high-performing, and which are not making the mark).
And last but certainly not least, are Business skills! These are essential for keeping your freelance career long-lasting and successful.
Some of the business skills you’ll need to nail:
Clear client communication
effective time management
Goal setting
Financial management
pricing, positioning, and marketing
How to Get Started as a Freelance Social Media Manager
Step 1: Define your niche
There are mixed opinions about niching down, but honestly, niching down to one thing makes becoming an expert much easier.
If you’re not sure what to specialize in- think about topics/indsutries that interest you.
Trust me, Working within a niche you personally enjoy will make your work much easier and way more fun.
Some niche examples:
Beauty
Tech
lifestyle
Food
Step 2: Create clear service packages
Once you know what industry/niche you’d like to focus on, the next step is to create packages for your work.
Your packages could include content creation, strategy, account management, strategy, ads management, or a mix of everything.
P.s. Try to build a pricing model that reflects the value you deliver. Don’t undersell yourself because you don’t feel ready or experienced enough. Underselling will only lead to low-quality clients and resentment of your work.
Step 3: Build your portfolio
You truly don’t need years of experience to impress potential clients. All you need is an amazing portfolio!
One way to do this is to use your own social media account as a case study. Show how you’ve grown engagement, improved content quality, or boosted your own reach.
Important tip: When building your portfolio, focus on the client transformation. Share before-and-after stats, growth results, or engagement wins. (Clients love a good before and after!)
You can present these results in a simple PDF or portfolio website (I highly recommend using Squarespace because it’s so easy and they look professional).
Not sure what to put in your portfolio? You can use my done-for-you template, and you can read this blog post for a breakdown of everything you need to know.
Tools, resources, & next steps
If you want to succeed in 2025 as a new social media manager, having the right tools will make your systems way smoother and your work way easier.
With that in mind, Here are a few tools I recommend (as a social media manager myself!)
Canva
Notion or asana for planning and project management
Buffer, metricool, or Later for scheduling
AI tools like chatgpt for brainstorming content ideas
Metricool for creating detailed analytic reports
Moxie for client management and accounting (an absolute must!! Trust me!)
You can view more of my favorite freelancing tools here
I’d also recommend you to never stop learning! The social media management world is always changing, so you’ll have to stay updated.
You can do this by following social media experts, taking courses, listening to podcasts, and subscribing to industry blogs.
Your 30-Day Action Plan
If you’re serious about becoming a social media manager, now is the time to lock in!
Use this simple 30-day roadmap to follow over the next month and become a freelance social media manager in no time:
Week 1: Foundation + Niche
Choose your niche. Decide which industry you’ll serve and why
Validate demand by checking Instagram, LinkedIn, and job boards. Spot gaps you can fill
Define your offer and outcomes. Write a simple “I help [niche] achieve [result]” statement
Build your biz assets! Create a one-page portfolio or simple website with work samples, results, and your contact info
Week 2: Pricing + Prep
Set up profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, and Contra. Make sure your profiles are filled out (and use seo/keywords throughout your profile)
Draft cold pitch templates for email, LinkedIn DM, and Instagram DMs. These should be Short, personalized, and outcome-driven
Decide on your pricing. Create 2–3 packages that reflect value, not hours
Build a prospect list of 30–50 brands. Note down their contact info, activity, and what you’d improve
Week 3: Outreach + Applications
Warm up 10 priority prospects by engaging with their content before pitching
Start daily cold pitching. Aim for 10 personalized messages across different platforms each day
Apply to 10-30 freelance platform projects daily with tailored proposals (yes girl, I said 10-30)
Week 4: Follow-Ups + Closing
Follow up with non-responders at Day 3, Day 7, and Day 14 with polite nudges
Run discovery calls confidently. Ask your potential clients about their goals, bottlenecks, metrics, and timelines- and convince them that you’re the perfect fit for the job
Send customized proposals with clear scope, outcomes, and pricing
Onboard new clients with a contract and simple kickoff checklist
Don’t underestimate what you can accomplish in just a month!
By the end of 30 days, you’ll have a defined niche, an impressive portfolio, daily pitching habits, and at least one paid project in the works.
These small actions will create the foundation for your freelance social media manager career.
New to freelancing? This free ebook is your go-to guide! Learn how to find clients, set rates, and succeed with confidence. Packed with tips and expert advice—download now and start your freelance journey!
Final Thoughts
So, what exactly is a social media manager in 2025? It’s not just someone who posts online. It’s a strategist, a creator, and honestly, a brand partner who helps drives business growth.
Social media management is an amazing career choice that is both high in demand and high-paying. if you want to become a freelancer in 2025, being a social media manager could be your perfect choice!
So here’s your sign to start now, and in a year you could be running a thriving social media management business with clients you love and income that supports the life you’ve been dreaming of!
More resources for freelancers
Read this blog post how to become a freelancer on Upwork to learn how to find clients
read this blog post how to become a freelancer with no experience to learn all my best tips for starting to freelance from scratch.
Follow me on ig to stay updated and check out more helpful freelance content that will keep you informed and inspired!