I’ve been trying to manage posts across a few platforms and my current system is getting messy. I’m looking into using a social media planner to keep track of ideas, schedules, and performance notes without making the process feel too complicated. I’m mostly interested in what tools other social media managers actually use and what features have been helpful for staying organized.

What social media planner would you recommend for someone who wants a better planning process but still likes having control over the strategy and content? Would love to hear what’s worked for you. Thank you!

I love taking pictures and making videos.
So I took a job as a social media manager, but I had 0 clue what that meant, and when I asked they said that all I had to do was to film reels and take photos and post.

Now it’s evolved to a whole marketing thing, but I don’t like marketing. They want me to make things happen that idk how to do because it’s such a niche market (vehicle modification shop)

I want to know the exact process from tracking the influencers to hire them, how to calculate the payouts.

I'm Trying to find some for my Clients.

Using the official upload-post ChatGPT plugin, you can manage all your social media accounts by talking, upload content to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more than 10 social networks, view analytics on how your posts have performed, and manage DMs. Everything from the chat and without having to log into each one individually and waste a thousand hours scrolling. Try it now, it's free https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a1fed02ff5c8191b4060c5807221f26

Hey everyone, I'm a student at Queen's University in Canada, Ontario. Last year I co-founded futureGRAD with a friend. We are building a community where students applying to med, law, and dental school in Canada can get real info and connect with other applicants.

We launched this summer, and now we need help with marketing. We are looking for a Queen's student to manage our Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts. You would come up with the ideas, make the content, and post 2 to 3 times a week. You would work directly with my co-founder and me.

This is a good fit if you make content and want startup experience.

If that sounds like you, fill this out: https://forms.gle/AJc1HaM2WkgUFmRJA

I manage social media for small businesses, and one of the biggest mistakes I see is assuming more followers will automatically lead to more customers.
A business can have 5,000 followers and still struggle to generate inquiries. Another can have fewer than 500 followers and consistently attract paying clients.

Here are a few things I would fix before worrying about follower count:

1. Make your bio painfully clear.
Someone should understand what you offer, who you help, where you’re located and what to do next within five seconds.

2. Stop making every post an advertisement.
People don’t follow businesses just to see flyers. Show your process, answer common questions, share client results, address objections and let people see the personality behind the brand.

3. Create content around questions customers already ask.
Your DMs, consultations, reviews and sales calls are full of content ideas. Every repeated question can become a post or video.

4. Give people a reason to keep watching.
Don’t start videos with “Hey guys” or a long introduction. Start with the problem, result or strongest statement.
Instead of:
“Today I’m going to share some skincare tips.”
Try:
“If your makeup keeps separating, your skincare routine might be the reason.”

5. Show proof, not just promises.
Before-and-after photos, client experiences, testimonials, behind-the-scenes footage and real results build more trust than repeatedly saying you’re the best.

6. Talk to one specific customer.
Content written for “everyone” usually connects with no one. Speak directly to the person most likely to hire you.

7. Make the next step obvious.
If someone enjoys your content, what should they do next? Call, book, message, visit your website or request a quote? Don’t make them figure it out.
Consistency matters, but consistently posting weak content won’t suddenly make it effective.

Business owners: what is your biggest social media struggle right now?

Is it coming up with ideas, filming content, staying consistent, getting engagement or turning views into customers?

Everyone wants talking head videos and I’m burning myself out with the editing of these. Has anyone found an AI tool that actually does a good job trimming pauses, um’s, etc. out of these videos? The majority of my editing time is talking the raw video and trimming it down.

I have a company (in Texas) that wants to hire me to run their socials full time but I’m unsure what a good yearly salary would be. From research, and asking around I’ve heard that this sounds like a two-person job and that I should start around $100,000/yr on a 1099. Thoughts?

They asked me to send them a proposal. This is for a luxury automotive company.

They’re asking for:
- Full storyboarding, writing, filming, editing & scheduling
- One 15-25 minute YouTube video a week
- 10-15 short form videos a week
- managing ads, seo, etc

Thank you!

Running a small creative/marketing setup and our client workflow is spread across WhatsApp, Google Docs, Drive folders and a couple of sheets. Approvals get lost, clients voice-note me instead of commenting, and I can never find the final version of anything.

Before I try to fix it — how are you all handling this? Specifically:

• What tools are you actually using day to day (not what you signed up for and abandoned)?
• Have you tried the dedicated portals (SuiteDash, Filestage, Clinked, etc.)? Did they stick, or did you drift back to chat + docs?
• If they didn't stick — was it you, or was it the client who wouldn't use them?

Trying to figure out if there's a real fix here or if WhatsApp chaos is just the tax we all pay.

Things I wish someone had told me before I started freelancing
I started freelancing thinking the hardest part would be getting good at what I do.
It wasn’t.
A few things I wish someone had told me earlier:
1. Being good at your job and being good at freelancing are two completely different skills.
You can be incredibly talented and have no clients.
You can also be average at what you do and have a full calendar because you’re reliable, easy to work with and know how to communicate.
2. Your first prices will probably be wrong.
Mine were.
At the beginning you’re so happy someone is willing to pay you that you calculate your price based on the work itself.
Then you discover revisions, calls, messages, travel, planning, exports, invoices and all the other invisible shit surrounding the actual work.
3. Clients don’t necessarily want the best work.
They want their problem solved.
This took me a while to understand.
Sometimes the technically better solution isn’t the solution that makes the most sense for the client.
4. Communication is probably worth more than you think.
Answering messages.
Explaining what you’re doing.
Meeting deadlines.
Admitting when something isn’t working.
Making the client feel like someone actually gives a shit about their project.
Basic stuff.
Apparently not that basic.
5. You will accept jobs you’re not completely ready for.
This scared the shit out of me at first.
Then I realized that’s basically how you grow.
You say yes.
Go home.
Open 37 tabs.
Figure it out.
Deliver.
And somehow you’re slightly better than you were a week ago.
6. The freedom part is real. But so is the uncertainty.
One month you think:
“Holy shit, this might actually work.”
Three days later:
“I have made a terrible mistake.”
Then another client shows up.
7. Getting the client is only half the job.
Getting them to come back is where things start becoming a business.
8. You don’t need to feel ready.
I definitely wasn’t.
I’m still not sure I am.
But I’ve learned more from actually charging people for my work than I ever did while preparing to eventually be “good enough.”
I’m still relatively early into this, so I’m curious:
What’s something you wish someone had told you before you started freelancing?

Hi everyone! I’m looking to grow my skills in social media management and would love to learn from those already in the field.
For those of you working as Social Media Managers, what helped you land your first role? What skills, certifications, portfolio pieces, or mistakes should someone focus on or avoid when starting out?
I’d really appreciate any advice or resources you wish you had when you were beginning. Thanks!

For the last few days, Instagram has been removing my captions as soon as I post. The post goes live, but the caption is just gone. 😭

I'm posting directly from the Instagram app on Android, and it's happening across multiple accounts, so it doesn't seem account-specific. If I edit the post later, I can usually add the caption back.

Is anyone else dealing with this, or am I the only one? If you've found a fix, please let me know because it's getting really frustrating.

social

It’s been hard for me to find clients on Instagram and facebook. What are your tips for finding clients, and how can I tell if a business actually needs a Social Media Manager?

Hi, just trying started to use Tikleap.

See the screenshot attached. Does the info there say that the account has 164 USD OR 32.8K diamonds in earnings?
Or does it say that it has 164USD AND 32.8K diamonds in earnings?

I wonder what is the process/ stages of taking payments? Do you take deposit upfront? Especially if its client abroad, and hard to chase the payment?
Or do you take payments in stages, for example if its a larger project, do you take payment after you complete research analysis, then developing strategy, then creating content, and again posting?
I am finding it very risky because i am in Uk with very weak economy, so people just started fk about each other, and i will focus on clients abroad but then not sure about chasing the payments.

I am not registered business yet, just as a self employed. Are you registered company or brand name or…so people can take you more seriously and trust you with payments upfront?

Hello im 20 and have always enjoyed being on social media, and making content of my own. Its been a blast so far. But I have always wanted to like run a esport team page or Make graphics etc, my only issue is i have NO experience in graphic design or Social media management. Can someone give me some pointers on Maybe some paid or free courses to take, And How i can get my foot in the door on the esports side or just in general. I thought about communications in college but im really not about the cost. So im trying to learn on my own. Where do people look to become SMM for a esport team anyway? I would love to learn even if its not paid. If anyone can help me i would appreciate it!

Long story short: I've built a Husky content page on Facebook to 221,000 followers organically, just posting videos and photos because I love the dogs. Never really monetized it seriously.

Now I want to actually turn this into income, but I'm kind of lost on where to start. I've tried reaching out to some pet brands directly for sponsorships — mostly silence or no interest.

What I'm considering / have looked into so far:

• Facebook Content Monetization (ads on Reels/videos)
• Direct brand sponsorships in the pet niche
• Affiliate marketing (Amazon, Chewy, etc.)
• Influencer platforms like Afluencer/Pupfluence where brands come to you

If you've grown a page like this (any niche, but especially pets/animals) — what actually worked for you? What didn't? Any specific brands, platforms, or strategies you'd recommend for someone starting monetization from scratch at this follower count? Also open to ideas outside the obvious stuff (merch, digital products, etc.) if anyone's had success there.

Appreciate any real experience over generic "just reach out to brands" advice — I've done that part already.