Social media has evolved from just connecting people to becoming one of the most powerful marketing tools in the world. Today, brands, small businesses, and even individuals need an online presence, and that’s where social media managers come in.

If you have a knack for storytelling, creating engaging content, and understanding trends, you can turn your skills into a profitable career. In this blog, we’ll explore how to make money as a social media manager and practical ways to grow your income.

Who is a Social Media Manager?

A Social Media Manager is trusted with monitoring, executing, filtering, and measuring the social media presence of a product, brand, corporation, or even individual. 

This role is often seen as the ‘voice of the company’ and may also be referred to as ‘Community Manager’ (although this title has become slightly outdated) or ‘Digital and Social Media Manager’. 

What Does a Social Media Manager Do?

Social media managers create and maintain brand promotions, company information, and marketing campaigns for their company across several social media networks. 

Social media managers work daily to produce new content, constantly innovating to push new ideas and formats and measuring how well those ideas perform.

They may report to a social media director (in larger organizations) or the head of content or brand and collaborate with other creative groups such as marketing and public relations. The role also requires collaboration with other departments such as the sales department to drive lead generation campaigns that convert into revenue. 

A key part of the role is to keep up with new digital marketing trends along with company and industry news.

An in-demand role, Social Media Manager positions typically require a bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or similar. According to Glassdoor, Social Media Managers earn an average salary of over $59,000 in the U.S.

Services You Can Offer as a Social Media Manager.

1. Offer Social Media Management Services

The most direct way to earn as a social media manager is by managing pages for clients. Many small businesses and startups don’t have the time or expertise to handle their social media accounts, they need someone like you to plan, post, and engage.

What you can do:

• Create and schedule content for brands.
• Respond to messages and comments.
• Track analytics and optimize performance.
• Run ad campaigns and report results.

Tip: Start with one or two clients, build case studies, and use testimonials to attract more.

2. Create Social Media Strategies for Businesses

Not every business wants you to post for them, some just need a strategy to guide their team. If you understand how to develop a content calendar, analyze audience insights, and set measurable goals, you can charge for strategy sessions or one-time consultations.

What to offer:

• 1:1 strategy calls
• Social media audits
• Content plan and calendar creation
• Competitor analysis and performance tracking

3. Run Paid Ads for Clients

Running paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok can be highly profitable. Many businesses are willing to spend on ads but lack the expertise to manage them effectively.

What you can charge for:

• Setting up and managing ad campaigns
• A/B testing creatives and audiences
• Reporting and analytics
• Conversion optimization

Bonus: Some social media managers charge a monthly retainer plus a percentage of ad spend.

4. Offer Content Creation Services

You do not have to limit yourself to strategy or management. If you enjoy designing graphics, filming short videos, or writing captions, you can make extra money offering content creation packages.

Examples:

• Product photoshoots
• Reels/TikTok videos
• Carousel designs
• Caption and hashtag writing

You can even collaborate with photographers, videographers, or graphic designers to offer complete content packages.

5. Teach or Create Digital Products

Once you have built experience, you can teach others what you know. Many successful social media managers make passive income through digital products like:

• Online courses
• eBooks and templates (e.g., content calendars, caption guides)
• Workshops and webinars

Platforms like Notion, or Canva make it easy to sell templates, while platforms like Selar or Thinkific help you host courses.

6. Become an Affiliate or Brand Partner

If you have built a strong online presence, brands may want to collaborate with you to promote their tools or services.

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn a commission whenever someone signs up through your referral link. You can also do brand collaborations with companies whose products align with your audience.

7. Manage Multiple Clients or Build a Small Agency

Once you have mastered your craft, you can scale by managing multiple clients or building a small team. Hire other freelancers for content creation, design, or community management, and take on more accounts.

At this stage, you become not just a freelancer but a social media agency owner, offering end-to-end marketing solutions to businesses.

8. Upsell Related Services

To increase your income per client, bundle your services with related offers like:

• Email marketing setup
• Blog writing and SEO content
• Influencer outreach
• Community management

Clients love convenience and if they trust your social media expertise, they’ll likely hire you for other marketing needs

Final Thoughts

Becoming a social media manager is one of the most flexible and rewarding ways to earn online. You can start small, grow your client base, and expand into other areas like content strategy, paid ads, or digital product creation.

The key is to position yourself as an expert, deliver consistent results, and continuously learn as platforms evolve. With dedication, your skills can open the door to a sustainable and scalable income stream.

At Dataleum, we are committed to equipping Africans with the skills that make them globally competitive. Our programs are designed to prepare you for opportunities anywhere in the world whether that’s in Silicon Valley, Lagos, or remote roles with global companies.

Enroll in a Dataleum program today and start building the career that travels with you.