Real learning comes in the doing, but tools and resources can help most when you need it. While being an entrepreneur often means we’re wearing “all the hats,” there’s no need to take on more work (and guesswork) when there are plenty of resources available to help.
Still, not every resource or tool is created equally, which is why I’m sharing my personal favorites and the ones I use daily in my own business.
Here are some of the best resources to use as a freelance social media manager:
Pssstt: some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you sign up I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (and some of them will even save you some $$$!). I would never recommend these platforms and programs if I didn’t use them + believe in them wholeheartedly!
The Best Resources to Take Advantage of as a Freelance Social Media Manager
These may be my personal favorites and the tools and resources I recommend, but you don’t HAVE to use these exact resources. Test and compare different ones, follow a similar workflow but use a different platform—whatever works best for you and your social media management business.
Now, let’s get into it:
#1. Dubsado
I’m all about systems and boundaries, which can be enforced via systems. If you want systems, you don’t have to babysit. Dubsado is my #1 recommendation and what I use for my own business.
While it does take a minute to get used to (as with every platform), you can set up automation for when someone inquires, their onboarding, and even their offboarding.
Psst…if you’re curious, I have a full breakdown of my onboarding process you can follow for your own social media management clients here.
#2. Contract Club
Do. Not. Work. Without. A. Contract. Ever.
Contracts protect both you and your clients and ensure you get paid for the work you complete. While hiring a lawyer to draft a unique-to-you contract is potentially out of budget (at least, for the moment), you can find lawyer-drafted templates online.
I recommend (and use) the Contract Club®, which offers a one-time fee and forever access to their collection of contract templates for creative service providers—including social media managers.
#3. Content Calendar
The best client experience comes from an organized workflow, and while Dubsado has your back for client management, Airtable has it for content management. Technically, you can use whatever tool works best for you, but I love Airtable because of the different features and ability to easily welcome your clients in for feedback and review.
If you’re curious about what it looks like and how it works, you can steal my own Airtable content calendar I use for clients for FREE here.
#4. Site Series
Nothing beats a hands-on learning experience, but focus your energy on client work and platforms you actually want to be an expert in. Things like your website copy? Get help! I bought Sara from Between the Lines Copy’s website copy course and can’t recommend it enough.
(Although, when it came to my complete brand + web overhaul, I ended up just hiring her to do it for me because if there’s one thing I don’t have enough of, it’s time. But if you need to DIY your site like I did early on, you will save so much time and stress doing it with her guidance.)
She also just updated it, so if you want a website that’s more than “just fine,” Site Series™ is exactly what you need.
#5. Mentorship
Personally, I’m a big fan of mentorships—and not just because I’ve stepped into a mentorship role myself.
When I first started my business, I joined a mentorship program and it was invaluable. With the help, I was able to turn my idea for a business into reality by the end of my junior year of college.
It left me with two main lessons:
- There CAN be too many cooks in the kitchen, so don’t sign up for any and all mentorship programs available.
- You don’t have to do it all alone. Having someone’s outside point of view and experience can make a huge difference in when and how you achieve your goals.
Here’s to navigating entrepreneurship easier with the help of tools and resources that work for us. If you need support beyond what a good system or free tool can offer, apply for mentorship—I’d love to help!
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