You can work from any place that has an Internet connection, pick and choose your clients, and take more control of your time and income.
However, the best part about freelancing is that it enables you to become a better social media manager.
Here's what I mean.
A Wider Lens
When you work for a single company, you're limited by seeing social media and all it entails through the lens of that company. Even if it's the coolest company in the world, your view of social media only goes as far as that company's social media presence and performance.
As a freelancer, you're exposed to all types of companies and organizations - each of which operates in different industries, with different types of customers, and different social media needs and opportunities. By simultaneously working with a diverse set of clients, you'll be able to acquire a diverse set of experiences, which will help you grow as a social media professional.
More Control of Your Professional Destiny
For people who work for a bigger company, they're usually limited to specific roles and responsibilities.
You might be the world's best social media manager, but do you really want to be a social media manager for the rest of your career, or, do you eventually want to grow into a strategist, consultant, coach and speaker?
Of course, there is such thing as a promotion, but the problem with promotions is that they're usually out of our control. We have to wait for someone else to leave or get promoted, or for our boss to wake up on the right side of the bed.
As a freelancer, you're the sole decider of your destiny, which means you can grow into a strategist, consultant, coach and speaker whenever you're ready and able to do so.
Plus, as you grow into each of these positions, your income will (ideally) also grow with you.
The Ability to Pick and Choose Your Work
As you develop your freelance business, you'll get the opportunity to pick and choose your clients - every freelancer's dream.
In other words, you can choose to exclusively work with companies and organizations in which you have a vested interest - outside of the fact that they help to pay your bills. You can also carve out a niche of certain industries, or certain sectors within an industry.
However you slice and dice it, we do our best work when we're most passionate about the work we're doing.
Main image via Pixabay