A 6 Step Guide To Starting A Social Media Management Business In The UK

Social media is huge in the UK and businesses are using it to market their services and reach customers. Platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram are extremely effective marketing tools when used correctly. However, it’s easier said than done!

This is where a good social media manager can make a lot of difference. The requirement for social media management services is on the rise as more and more companies realise that leveraging social media to attract customers is big business.

Our 6 step guide to social media management will take you through the processes and challenges of setting up your own social media management side hustle in the UK.

What Is Social Media Management?

At a high level, social media management entails creating, managing and posting content and adverts across multiple social media platforms. A social media manager is the invisible voice behind a company's online visibility.

Task required of a social media manager can include:

• Engaging with customers and followers

• Creating and managing strategies for social media

• Creating and running advertising campaigns

• Utilising tools to measure metrics and adjusting them accordingly

• Generating performance reports for customers

Social Media Management Skills

There’s no rules that say you need special qualifications to perform as a social media manager. However, you won’t be able to carry out your role without these essential skills:

• Creating content - graphic design, video editing and writing skills are vital.

• Analysis - it’s imperative that you understand the algorithms used in social media, the trends and strategies so you can optimise strategies from the metrics.

• Communication - you need good communication skills so that you can build strong relationships with your customers.

• Time management - if you have more than one client, you should ensure you manage your time effectively to ensure all your customers get what they are paying for.

Whilst certifications aren’t a must, it can only benefit you to obtain qualifications. They will enhance your knowledge and show to customers that you’re the real deal. Consider studying the following:

• Facebook Blueprint - there are a few Facebook certifications to choose from.

• HubSpot Social Media Marketing Certification (FREE).

• Google Ads Certification.

• CIM Social Media Certification - globally recognised.

8 Steps To Setting Up Your Social Media Marketing Business

1. Business Registration

Before you can begin selling your services, you must register your business with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You can operate in one of two ways:

• Sole Trader - easier to set up but you’ll be liable.

• Limited Company - you’ll have business protection from liability but there’s more required to set the business up.

Set yourself or your business up for tax submission (Self-Assessment, Income Tax, National Insurance).

Choose a Business Name - you can check at Companies House to see if your chosen business name is available. Also remember to register an available domain name for your website.

Business Insurance - you’ll need to get insurance for protection against any possible liabilities. Make sure you look into the best type of insurance cover for your business. You could consider:

• Public Liability Insurance: protects you for claims from customers and members of the public for property damage or injury. Worth considering if you deal with customers on a face to face basis.

• Professional Indemnity Insurance: protects your business from claims as a result of mistakes that cause financial losses to customers.

2. Decide On Your Services And Target Market

You may decide to offer everything to your customers but specialising in certain aspects can make you a more attractive proposition.

If you decide you want to provide a niche offering, you could consider:

• Specific Industries - target specific business industries such as sport, real estate, fashion etc.

• Specific Platforms - specialise in linkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

• Specific Services - social advert management, content creation, graphics creation etc.

Services

You can offer one service package or create your own tier of services such as:

• Level 1 Package: schedule content and posts.

• Level 2 Package: content creation and standard analytics.

• Level 3 Package: total social media management including paid-for adverts, strategies and reports.

3. What To Charge For Social Media Management In The UK

There’s no set prices for social media management services and they will vary according to your location, experiences and services.

Some common pricing structures in the UK are:

Rates

• Starter Level: £25 to £50 per hour

• Intermediate Level: £50 to £100 per hour

• Experienced Level: £100 to £200 per hour

Ongoing Services

• Small Company: £300 to £800 per month

• Medium Company: £800 to £2,000 per month

• Large Companies: £2,000 to £5,000 per month

Project Fees

Occasionally, there may be project based work such as a product launch. You could charge a one-off project fee for that.

4. Implement a Business Plan

Any new business needs a good business plan to ensure they can set goals and secure any funds that might be needed. Make sure your business plan includes:

• Executive Summary: this provides an overview of your business concept.

• Service Packages: pricing strategy, types of social media management packages.

• Marketing: detail your plan for acquiring new customers.

• Financial Forecasts: these should include cash-flow projections, initial costs, ongoing expenses and projected revenue.

• Funding Plan: how much money you need to start, do you have savings to use, and the sources for any borrowing you may need.

5. Marketing A Social Media Management Business

Whilst all the steps involved in starting a social media management business are important, getting the marketing right is huge. If you don’t market your business well, potential customers will never find you.

• Create a good website with your contact details and the services you offer.

• Include any customer feedback on your website and social media pages.

• Be sure to create a top of the range social media profile across all social media platforms. After all, that’s your line of work.

• Keep customer databases so you can communicate promotions.

• Create a Google Business profile.

• Be sure to apply SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) techniques to your website to increase your visibility.

• Sign up to freelance job sites such as Fiverr and Upwork.

6. Contracts

You need to make sure your contracts for customers are fair but also watertight. Be sure they outline:

• Terms of payment

• The deliverables expected of you and any date deadlines

• Any confidentiality clauses required

• Termination clauses

Why Run A Social Media Management Company In The UK?

Besides a love of using social media, there are other reasons that you might consider running your own social media management business.

Upward Market Demand

• Approximately 84% of the UK population - that’s 57 million people - engage in the use of social media. This offers huge potential for anybody looking to provide social media management services. The demand for these services is higher than ever.

Starting Costs are low

• The overheads for starting a social media management business are pretty low. If you set up from home, you’ll just need a laptop, a good internet connection and any related software.

Flexibility

• You can operate a social media management business from anywhere in the world, meaning you’re not restricted to UK customers only.

Scalability

• You can make the business as big or small as you want to. Begin on your own and expand to a full agency with employees.

Conclusion

Launching your own social media management company in the UK offers incredible potential. Combine the low costs with the ever increasing demand for online marketing and you could be on to a winner.

By focusing your skills on specific specialised areas and creating a good marketing strategy, you could have the potential to grow your social media management business.

Continued success and growth will require adaptability and creativity. You’ll also need to keep up-to-date with markets by monitoring trends and refining strategies.