When Slam Media Lab was founded just a few years ago, we were right where you are now. Stuck, filled with big dreams of getting to start a social media marketing business, and getting lost under the weight of a thousand and one questions. After all, having a dream is one thing. Getting started? That’s the real challenge.
The good news? We have something you don’t have at this moment: experience. After years of working in digital marketing, we’ve built up a host of hard-won knowledge and insider tips that have allowed us to grow into a full-service marketing business. We’re here today to share that knowledge with you!
Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or have taken a few steps towards realizing your dreams, we are here to help. We’ve compiled our best tips, tricks, and advice on how to start a social media marketing business. Today, we’ll cover:
- What social media marketing is
- Different types of social media marketing
- A guide on how to start your own social media marketing business
Keep reading for simple, actionable steps that will have your new business up and running in no time flat!
Why Start A Social Media Business?
It’s pretty much impossible to escape social media these days. It’s everywhere, from your morning commute to your night time scroll through the apps (Yes, we do it, too). Whether you’re a casual user, or chronically online, there’s no denying that social media has fundamentally changed the landscape of our lives. And that includes the marketing industry.
More and more, businesses are recognizing the power of social media to advertise to potential clients, build engagement, and spread the word about their services. But understanding a product inside and out doesn’t always translate to crafting a viral TikTok or SEO-optimized blog post. With limited resources, businesses can’t always spend time that’s needed to stay on top of trends and the ever-changing algorithm.
That’s where you come in. You’re smart, social-media savvy, and want to help other people find their target audience. But why start a social media business? Here are just a few of the benefits of starting your own business:
- You Get To Do The Work You Love: When you start a business, you are in control. You get to decide what you specialize in, what your days will look like, and directly see the impact your work has on other people. This can increase your overall job satisfaction and mental well-being.
- Work In A Growing Industry: A cursory scroll through LinkedIn will tell you that social media marketing is an in-demand industry with tons of job potential. Businesses need people who understand social media, and they need them now.
- Unlimited Earning Potential - When you work for a standard employer, you know exactly what to expect from paycheck to paycheck. And while there’s certainly security in that, it can be frustrating to feel like your finances are capped at a certain amount. When running your own business, you open yourself up to earning more than you ever thought was possible.
- Work With Clients That You Love - Calling the shots is one of the best parts of starting your own business. Here at Slam, one of our favorite things about running our business is the incredible people we get to work with. When you open your own social media marketing agency, you have the potential to work with your favorite brands and companies. Have specific values? There’s nothing better than finding clients who share those with you, and helping their business soar!
You can see Slam's social media case study with LTX Quest. LTX Connect’s LTX Quest is the largest professional gathering of Latinx professionals in the US. Valuing collaboration over competition, LTX Quest is on a mission to provide more connection opportunities for Latinx professionals in media, entertainment, advocacy, and technology sectors. Through our marketing push in 2021, LTX Quest attracted over 5,000 attendees.
Understanding Social Media Marketing
It’s hard to remember, but there was a time when social media didn’t exist at all. In the grand scheme of the advertising industry, social media is a relatively new tool. And these days? Social media is shifting and evolving faster than ever.
When it comes to social media marketing in business, there are tons of different ways to approach it. Here are a few of the most popular:
- Content marketing
- Influencer marketing
- Video marketing
- Paid ads marketing
- Social media management
Still have a few questions? You’re in the right place. We’re breaking down each marketing style for you.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a broad way of saying that your business? It does it all. Content marketing agencies take a generalist approach to marketing, designed to provide clients with results from a variety of sources.
Content marketing can refer to any of the following:
- Writing SEO-optimized blog posts
- Creating short or long form video
- Crafting social media captions
- Photography
- Podcast scripting and/or production
As you dive into learning how to start your own social media management business, it can be tempting to brand yourself as a content marketing agency, and offer a wide range of services. While this allows you to pitch yourself to a range of clients with differing needs, it also requires a diverse skill set. As you’re starting out, we always recommend that you pick one or two services that you excel at, to start with.
Influencer Marketing
We’re living in the age of influencers. Working with them can be a powerful tool to increase a business’ reach.
Influencers are social media users who have built a large following off of creating and sharing content. They often partner with brands for a fee, promoting products and services to their audience. Because users have developed interest and trust in the influencer, this method of marketing a product can feel more organic than traditional ads.
Influencer marketing involves fostering relationships between a company and an influencer. If you’re great with people, and always have your eyes peeled for the latest trends, influencer marketing can be a great way to create a lucrative marketing business. Want to learn how to start an influencer marketing agency? We’ve got the inside scoop for you.
Video Marketing
Move over, Hollywood! These days, even the smallest startups are harnessing the power of video content to spread the word about their business. Video is often more engaging than written marketing materials, and can be consumed in both long and short form.
Video marketing requires a thorough knowledge of videography, video editing, and social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It can also be useful to have a graphic designer or animator on your team, to help you produce a wide range of content.
Paid Ads Marketing/PPC
Paid ads are used by almost every major business out there, but they can feel confusing and overwhelming for beginners. That’s why so many businesses turn to a marketing agency that specializes in this unique advertising strategy.
At its core, paid ads aren’t that different from the commercials you grew up watching on TV. Companies pay for ad space, which is then promoted across various platforms. The only difference? It’s all online! Paid ads can consist of a wide range of materials, from a link to a website at the top of your Google results, to a banner on a website. Most of these use a pay-per-click model (PPC) that has a business pay each time their link is clicked on.
If you’re new to the world of Google ads, we’ve put together a guide on how to start a Google ads agency for you!
Social Media Management
A truly effective social media strategy doesn’t just use content creation. It also involves managing the content. This can include:
- Posting content at optimal times of day
- Developing social media strategy
- Managing partnerships
- Replying to comments in the brand’s voice
A good social media manager will have a strong understanding of the brand, the tone they want to use, and algorithms on various platforms. Want to know how to start a social media marketing agency? We’ve got the facts you need!
How To Start Your Own Social Media Business: 8 Steps for Aspiring Marketers
Ready to learn how to start a SMMA agency? We’ve compiled everything you need to take to set yourself up with a solid foundation. After all, the key to success is planning!
We’ll take you through the process, step-by-step, covering:
- How to find your “why”
- Choosing a niche
- Picking the pricing model that’s right for you
- How to design a professional website
- Tips for cleaning up your social media
- Programs for optimizing your workflow
- A guide to pitching clients
- How to build your team
Get Clear On Your “Why”
There are lots of reasons to start your own business, social media or not. From time freedom, to financial goals, everyone goes into business with their own goals in mind. But, do you know yours?
We always recommend that new business owners spend some time getting to know their personal “why.” This will help you as you are faced with decision after decision, and ensure that you create a business that is aligned with your initial vision. Not sure where to start? Ask yourself the following:
- What inspired me to start my own business?
- What value do I want to bring to my customers?
- What problems do I see in my chosen industry? What solutions can I provide?
- What do I want my work life to feel like?
- What kind of people do I want to work with?
Choose Your Niche
You’re probably tired of hearing it. Choosing a niche is one of the most-repeated pieces of advice in the marketing world. But there are plenty of good reasons as to why your business needs to niche. Think about it like this; if you broke your leg, would you rather be seen by a generalist doctor? Or a doctor who specializes in orthopedics?
Businesses feel the same way. They are looking for a marketing agency that understands their industry and their consumer base. Picking a niche early on will allow you to become an expert in your subject area and stand out from the sea of other agencies around you.
Determine Your Pricing
Too many marketers jump headfirst into pitching clients without having a solid understanding of their pricing model. Why is this so important? Well, first and foremost, your business is your livelihood. Under-pricing yourself devalues your time and makes it harder to create a sustainable work/life balance.
There are two main pricing models that you can offer to clients: hourly and project-based. Hourly pricing often seems like the fairest way to price your services, but it can have some downsides. After all, the longer you work in your niche, the faster you’ll get. Charging by the hour can end up making you lose money in the long run, as you get better and better at your craft.
We recommend a project based pricing model that charges a flat rate for the work that you do. It usually ends up being clearer for the clients, and allows you to work at a comfortable pace.
Create A Strong Website
Your website is your digital calling card. It tells potential clients who you are and what you care about, while also being a showcase for your work. Creating a well-designed website is crucial for growing your business and attracting customers.
Ideally, your website should contain the following:
- An easy to navigate homepage that clearly defines your brand.
- A list of the services you offer
- An “About” page, where the client can get to know you
- A portfolio of past work
- A contact form
Sound overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be! Working with a professional website designer can help increase sales, and create a website that feels wholly customized for your brand. We’ve written all about how to choose a web design agency on our blog!
Make Sure Your Social Media Is Up To Par
If you are opening a social media marketing agency, your personal social media accounts aren’t just a way to promote your brand…they are a portfolio of your work! Before reaching out to potential clients, it’s hugely important to make sure that your social media accounts are looking their best.
Want to keep it simple? Learn more about how to start a business on social media, and how it can be your biggest tool for attracting clients.
Optimize Your Workflow
We get it. You’re excited to get started. But before hitting “send” on your cold pitches, make sure that you are set up for success. The best way to do this? Making sure that you have a solid process and workflow.
Not only will this help you clearly communicate with clients about expectations, but a standardized workflow will allow you to minimize stress for yourself. At Slam Media Lab, we use some of the top apps on the market to help businesses run like clockwork. Some popular programs include:
- Buffer - Buffer is a great tool to help manage your social media. It allows you to schedule out posts, and create a clear content strategy.
- Google Analytics - Google Analytics is a basic but powerful tool that measures your website’s performance.
- Ahrefs - Want to step up your SEO game? Ahrefs will allow you to research for high-ranking keywords in your industry.
- SocialPilot - SocialPilot is another social media scheduling tool. In addition to scheduling, it also offers analytics and performance tracking.
- Notion - Notion is a great all-in-one tool for team management and organization. You can create documents, Wikis, and store information in a program that is easily accessible by everyone on your team.
- Monday - A popular project management software, Monday can be used to assign tasks to team members.
- Asana - Asana is similar to Monday, in that it allows you to assign, track, and monitor your team’s workflow.
Pitch Your Clients!
Now the real work begins! It’s time to find your clients. Pitching brands within your niche is a great way to make connections and find work. Intimidated by the cold pitching process? Here are our best tips:
✅Do:
- Have a pitch template that you can customize for each client
- Send out pitches regularly
- Follow up after a few weeks
- Focus on what you can offer clients
- Link to your portfolio and/or website
❌Don’t:
- Spend hours individualizing each pitch
- Focus too much on your own story
- Use a generic subject line
- Use bland, uninspired language
Building Your Team
Your business may start small, but the ultimate goal is growth. And with growth, comes the opportunity to hire employees!
This is an exciting time in any CEO’s journey, but shouldn’t be taken lightly. Before hiring employees ask yourself the following:
- Where could I use the most support?
- Am I financially able to support another team member?
- What benefits am I able to offer?
- How will I train them in?
- What size team am I hoping to create?
- Do I have the capacity to take on management duties, as well as my own workload?
Be sure to take your time and find teammates who share the same vision and attitude that you do. After all, your team is essential to the growth and success of your marketing agency!
The Future of Social Media Marketing Agencies
Learning how to start a social media marketing business can be hugely exciting! But we also get that it comes with a lot of uncertainties and questions.
No one knows what the future holds, but one thing seems clear: social media is here to stay. With more and more users creating accounts on social media apps every year, the demand for skilled marketing professionals is only going to grow. Starting your business now can help you develop a solid portfolio that can lead to bigger and better projects down the road.
Learn How To Start a Social Media Business With Slam Media Lab
Our team at Slam Media Lab is here to support you through every step of this exciting journey. We’re passionate about helping other businesses thrive. That’s why we created our course on How To Start an Agency. We dive deep on all the topics touched on in this blog post and more.
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