A Side Job That Can Make You Six Figures: How to Master Social Media Marketing for Free

If you want to make six figures working from home, consider a career in social media marketing. According to LinkedIn, social media marketing is one of the hottest jobs in the U.S., fueled by the surge in online sales due to the coronavirus pandemic, writes CNBC.

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TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms have become important tools for companies to engage with customers and promote their products or brands. That’s why companies are looking to hire people who can help them use these platforms effectively.

Job search sites FlexJobs and Freelancer.com are seeing a boom in remote, hybrid, and freelance positions in social media marketing.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the job market for digital marketing specialists, including social media marketing, will grow 8% per year, creating nearly 2030 new jobs by 200.

On the subject: Free learning platforms where you can gain useful knowledge and experience that will help you in your job search

In-demand jobs that don't require a degree

While some marketing jobs require applicants to have a bachelor's degree, it is not a requirement for a successful career.

What's more important, says FlexJobs' lead career expert Tony Frana, is the technical skills you bring to the job. Social media marketing requires a deep understanding of SEO, data analysis, and how social media advertising works.

Hiring managers are looking for people who can shoot and edit videos, manage online communities, coordinate influencer partnerships, and develop relevant marketing campaigns to generate revenue, says Sebastian Ciseles, vice president of international at Freelancer.com.

According to FlexJobs and LinkedIn, the most in-demand roles in this field include influencer marketing managers, social media marketers, and content strategists.

Salaries vary based on experience, with entry-level positions paying around $50 per year at the minimum, and experienced strategists or managers earning over $000.

To get started with social media marketing, you can watch YouTube tutorials or take online courses to get certified in specific skills. LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, HubSpot, and Google offer digital marketing and e-commerce certifications.

Frana recommends creating an online portfolio that showcases any relevant projects or work you've done in the social media marketing space, including client testimonials.

This hands-on experience can be as valuable as a college degree, he says, as it will demonstrate a deep understanding of engagement strategies, content curation, and community management.

Turning a part-time job into income

According to Fiverr, a freelance marketplace, most social media marketing jobs are also remote, so social media marketers can work from anywhere in the world and set their own hours as long as they meet their project deadlines.

Fiverr has seen a steady demand for social media marketing services over the past six months, with searches for “social media content manager” up 493% on its platform from May to October. Searches for setting up, managing, and editing social media accounts have also increased sharply.

The more experienced you are, the higher you can set your rate: social media marketers on Freelancer.com charge up to $125 per hour.

Jennifer Shealy, a freelance digital and social media marketer in Vero Beach, Florida, rates her services on Fiverr at $85-$245.

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Digital marketing started as a side hustle for Sheely, who became a freelancer a few years ago after losing her job as a project administrator at a tile company.

The 46-year-old says building a loyal client list and diversifying her offerings (she designs websites, creates content for Instagram and writes SEO copy for YouTube) has helped her build a successful freelance career.

She has earned over $600 in sales since joining Fiverr in 000. In 2014, Sheely earned over $2023 freelancing on Fiverr.

Aside from the potential income, Shealy says one of the best parts of working in social media marketing is the flexibility, not just in your schedule but in your creative freedom.

“It’s a job that you can do from home or on the road when you travel,” she said. “If you like creativity, analytical work, and constantly learning new things, it’s a great field. We definitely need more people in digital marketing because even I can’t keep up with the demand.”

Free Social Media Marketing Courses

There is a Coursera website dozens of free social media marketing courses. Some of them were created by famous universities, some were developed by Meta - its specialists know exactly how social networks work.

On Coursera, you can choose the language of the course, including Russian and English, the level (from beginner to advanced), and customize the course using several other filters.

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