Get paid to manage social media accounts for others

A man monitors posts on a facebook account. While some people still think it is the best way to keep connected with friends and family, a new breed of entrepreneurs have turned to grow multi-billion businesses. PHOTO BY GODFREY LUGAAJU

What you need to know:

  • Individuals and companies are looking for people who can engage audiences on various social media networks. There lies an opportunity for earning some money by managing their socials media accounts, Dorothy Nakaweesi writes.

Are you looking for a job within your profession but have failed to secure one?
Before you blame anybody, what have you done about it?
You then keep on ranting on the social spaces about your predicament.

Well, stop the rants. Instead, use the time on those social media platforms to offer small businesses or managers of companies to manage their pages.
Many of these businesses and individuals don’t know how to market themselves. Those who would, have many other things competing for their time. If you put your social media skills to use, you can manage their social media accounts and earn some money in return
This article shows you how you can start managing social media accounts for businesses as a side gig or full-time formal job.

Know-how
Mr Isaac Isabirye graduated six years ago but failed to get a white collar job in the corporate world.
After three years of combing Kampala streets for a job, with no success, Isabirye was very active on social media which he believed would take away his sadness.
“One day, a friend on social media working with one of the corporate companies asked me to tweet about the event they had. After the event, the friend paid him Shs250,000,” he shares.

That opportunity opened up other opportunities and that is how he started earning a salary.
His only capital is a smart phone loaded with data. Isabirye is now managing five accounts at a place of his convenience.
Sharing his experience with Prosper Magazine, Isabirye said he manages five social media accounts of which one pays him a monthly salary of Shs400,000. While the rest pay him per event or activation and with this, he walks away with about Shs100,000.

“Some of the clients use my services three times in a month and this means I will be assured of about Shs300,000,” Isabirye shares.
He shares that on average, his monthly turnover is Shs1.6 million and he is able to do his work at his place of convenience.

Capital
Many small companies are looking for people who can effectively manage their social media accounts which they use as a marketing tool. For this kind of investment, one needs about Shs300,000.
Isabirye says that with this capital, one can buy a fairly good smart-phone, register the simcard and buy some data of about Shs2,000 (400MBs) to kick-start you into the business.
Once all this is in place, download the Twitter and Facebook apps and with a good ram of about 2GBs, you can be able to manage five and more accounts like Isabirye did.

Advice
Mr Newton Buteraba, the chief executive officer House of Wealth, says this is a very lucrative business to start especially if you have public relations skills.
He says before you start, learn more about being a social media consultant through online tutorials.
Mr Buteraba says you should understand what your clients want to communicate.
Be specific on your charges per post. Have a product catalogue for all your clients.
A good camera would be an added advantage.

Tips
Set up a social media account.
Develop marketing strategies based on clients’ goals.
Post graphics and text on behalf of the client.
Share current trends and news relevant to the client’s business.