How to Hire a Freelance Social Media Marketing Expert

Essential skills to request, key interview questions, and more

Ever thought about hiring a Freelance Social Media Marketing Expert to take your business to the next level and dominate the digital world?

In today’s climate, social media is one of the most powerful tools you can use to boost your brand awareness and reach a wider audience. With over 4 billion active users worldwide, social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter provide a cost-effective way to connect with potential customers and increase brand visibility.

According to a report by Hootsuite, in 2020, there were over 4.14 billion active social media users worldwide. This number is expected to increase to 4.41 billion by 2025.

But let's be real for a moment - hiring a social media expert can be a bit of a minefield. Who do you trust? Who do you believe? And most importantly, who do you hire to make your company look cooler than a cucumber in shades?

First and foremost, you'll want to look for someone who can turn your Instagram account from a ghost town into a bustling metropolis. Bonus points if they can make a picture of a stapler look like a work of art.

Next, you'll want to find someone who can navigate the treacherous waters of Twitter with ease. They should be able to craft the perfect tweet that makes your customers laugh, cry, and want to buy your product all at the same time. 

And last but not least, you'll want to find someone who can make TikTok videos that will have your grandma doing the Renegade in no time (if you don’t know what that is - you definitely need to hire a social media marketing expert!).

Follow the steps below, and you’ll be on your way to hiring the perfect freelance social media marketing expert for your business. 

Skills to look out for when hiring a Freelance Social Media Marketing Expert

• Experience and track record: 

Look for someone with a proven track record of success in managing social media marketing campaigns. This will provide you with the confidence that they have the necessary skills to deliver results for your brand. They should be able to show you examples of past campaigns that produced results - if not, why not? 

• Strong understanding of the platforms: 

A social media expert should have a deep understanding of the various social media platforms and how to use them effectively for marketing. This means they should be able to create content that is optimised for each platform and understand the algorithms that govern them.

• Strong analytical skills: 

The ability to analyse data and metrics is crucial for measuring the success of social media campaigns and making data-driven decisions. This skill will enable them to understand the performance of your campaigns and make adjustments to improve results.

• Strong communication skills: 

The expert should have excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to effectively communicate with different stakeholders. This is important to ensure that the messaging of your brand is consistent across all platforms. Social media is a noisy place. Find a specialist who aligns with your brand style and can really stand out from the crowd. Funny, insightful or controversial all works. 

• Creativity and flexibility:

Look for someone who is able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems. The social media landscape is constantly changing, and you want someone who can adapt to new challenges and trends.

• Knowledge of best practices and industry trends: 

A social media marketing expert should stay up-to-date on best practices and industry trends in social media marketing. This means they should be aware of new features, tools and platforms as they emerge, and be able to use them to your advantage.

• Strategic thinking: 

Lastly, a social media expert should be able to develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy that aligns with your overall business goals. They should be able to understand your target audience, your competitors and be able to create a plan that will help you achieve your objectives.

Questions to ask when you want to hire a Freelance Social Media Marketing Expert

• Can you provide examples of previous social media campaigns you have managed and the results you achieved? 

Get a clear idea of the social media marketing experts previous campaigns and skill set before you start working together. Try to evaluate whether their expertise matches what you require for your brand.  

• How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing? 

Check on their knowledge of the latest industry trends and best practices, and ensure that they will be able to adapt to new challenges and trends.

• How do you measure the success of a social media campaign?

Get an understanding of their analytical skills and how they measure the performance of their campaigns.

• Can you provide examples of how you have used social media to drive website traffic, generate leads or increase sales? 

Ask them for specific examples of how they have used social media to achieve specific business objectives.

• How do you handle negative comments or complaints on social media?

Dealing with tricky situations requires good communication skills. Get an understanding of how they handle challenging situations. 

• How do you create content that is optimised for different social media platforms? 

It’s crucial that they understand what you want out of various social media platforms. See how they go about creating tailored content for each one.

• How do you collaborate with other teams or stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging across all platforms? 

Again, communication is key. Make sure you understand how they work with other teams and stakeholders to ensure that your brand's messaging is consistent across all platforms.

• How do you integrate social media into a larger marketing strategy?

This question will help you understand how they think strategically and how they integrate social media into a larger marketing plan.

So, there you have it! Follow these tips and you'll be well on your way to hiring the ultimate social media marketing experts. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to film a TikTok video of us doing the dishes. It's gonna be a hit, trust us.

Photos: Jessyka Fernanda, Ayoub Banania, Luciana Lurasch