The answer is all in the numbers: as of last count, there are about 800 million users on Facebook and 200 million over Twitter. With the sheer number of people actively using social networking sites, it's no wonder that companies are scrambling to get their share of the social media pie.
It's not as easy as posting an ad or posting status messages, though.
Take for example the blunder made by the social media guys of Microsoft during the aftermath of Amy Winehouse's death. Microsoft sent out a tweet encouraging fans to commemorate the singer by purchasing her last album over at Zune (Microsoft's digital marketplace). Thousands and thousands of Twitter users lashed out at Microsoft, calling Microsoft a "failure at social media" and describing the company as "utterly tasteless."
There is an art to social media management. It's less about making a direct sale and is really more about creating a persona behind the brand that's personable and relatable-much like your average friend over Facebook or follower over Twitter. And brands are beginning to realize the need for an expert. In fact, Kathy O'Reilly, director of social media relations for job recruitment site Monster, reveals that social media related jobs has dramatically increased by as much as 75%. She says that around 155 positions are available a month, up from an average of 88 a month a year ago.
Clearly, there's a space for social media workers and this is where YOU and your expertise can come in. So how can you earn from social media? Here are some tips that you can follow:
Be your own brand. How can you promise to deliver thousands of followers for a band when you only have a handful of friends over Facebook? How will companies believe the claim that you can craft viral and shareable content when you barely post over Twitter or Instagram?
You have to remember that one of the first things that companies do when hiring social media workers is to go online and look for them over at Facebook. Yes, you will have to walk the talk and be your own brand. It's best to already point potential employers into the right direction by already listing your social networks, blogs and other online affiliations in your resume or cover letter.
Social media that works hand-in-hand with your personal interests (ie. organizing marathons online, blogging about travel destinations, reviewing music, etc.) is also a good way to highlight your social media skills and your personality.
Continue learning! One surefire way to have an edge over competition is to continuously invest in learning. Enrolling in online courses or in-person training from qualified professionals gives you a tangible achievement to add to your resume. MediaBistro's online classes or HubSpot's Inbound Marketing University as well as a host of podcasts or online seminars is a good place to start.
Tell people what you've done and show them the numbers! If you want to be seen as a legitimate social media practitioner, you have to have the numbers to show for it. Everything is quantifiable in the online sphere and you have to show potential employers that you have (and still can!) make these numbers work for you.
When applying for a position make sure that you quantify impact of previous successes - phrases such as "increased Twitter traffic by 100% in three months;" "increased engagement from an average of 25 comments per post to 76 over a three-month period;" "facilitated a user engagement promotion that led to an increase in quarterly revenues" and the like would distinguish you as a social media strategist rather than just an enthusiast.
Name your price. Social media consulting can start from a couple of dollars and can go up to several hundreds of dollars. And the first trick to getting this done?You have to name your price.
A lot of people have the skills; but they don't get paid for it; the reason being they don't put a price tag on their services. Look around you, check out your peers and competition, determine the services you will offer and then name your price. Just remember that it's important to find that balance between your actual skills/experience and the price tag that you put on them.