Social Media Management and Content Creation
What it involves: Managing a client’s social media profiles (like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook) by creating and posting content, responding to comments/messages, and growing the audience. Many businesses and influencers hire freelance social media managers to keep their online presence active and engaging.
Why you can do it on a phone: Social media platforms are literally designed for mobile use. All major apps (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X) have robust mobile apps that often get new features before desktop versions. You can create posts, edit images or videos with mobile apps, and interact with followers in real-time, all from your phone. In fact, some content (like Instagram Stories, TikTok videos) is often easier to create on a phone due to the mobile-only editing tools and camera integration.
Tools: Apps like Canva or Adobe Express let you design professional graphics or quick videos on your phone. There are mobile video editors like InShot or CapCut for TikTok/Reels editing. Scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite have mobile apps so you can queue posts. Analytics apps (native ones like Instagram Insights or third-party like Later) help you track performance on your phone.
Earnings: Freelance social media managers commonly charge monthly fees. Depending on client size and your experience, this can range from $300 to $1000+ per month per platform. While beginners might start on the lower end (or hourly $15–$30/hr), experienced social media freelancers command high rates, especially if they’re driving growth. Example: A freelance social media assistant can earn around $26/hour on average, and top strategists even more.
Tips to succeed: Demonstrate your understanding of mobile trends (e.g., you know how to leverage TikTok’s latest features or Instagram’s Reels). Often, being a heavy smartphone user is an advantage because you’re familiar with how content is consumed on phones. Keep up with platform changes (subscribe to social media news blogs). Use your own social profiles as a portfolio: growing a small personal or parody account into a popular page using just your phone can be proof of your skills.