How to Find and Hire a Social Media Manager in 2025

Finding the right social media manager can transform your business. The wrong one wastes months and thousands of dollars. This guide shows you exactly how to find, evaluate, and hire someone who'll actually grow your social presence.

Do You Actually Need a Social Media Manager?

Before searching, confirm you need one.

Signs you're ready to hire:

• Spending 10+ hours weekly on social media
• Inconsistent posting (going weeks between posts)
• Engagement declining despite effort
• Missing opportunities on trending content
• Social media feels like a burden, not an asset
• Ready to invest $500+ monthly

You might NOT need one if:

• Under $100K annual revenue
• Less than 1,000 followers total
• Not sure what you want from social media
• Budget under $300/month
• Business model doesn't benefit from social (rare)

Types of Social Media Help

Full-Time Employee

Best for:

• Companies with 50+ employees
• Social media is core to business model
• Need immediate response capability
• Budget for $45,000-$80,000+ annually

Pros:

• Dedicated focus on your brand
• Deep company knowledge
• Immediate availability
• Full control over output

Cons:

• Highest cost option
• Benefits and overhead
• Training investment
• Limited skill range

Part-Time Employee

Best for:

• Small businesses with growing needs
• Budget of $20,000-$40,000 annually
• Predictable workload

Pros:

• Lower cost than full-time
• Consistent availability
• Builds company knowledge
• More control than freelancer

Cons:

• Split attention
• May leave for full-time opportunity
• Limited hours for urgent needs

Freelance Social Media Manager

Best for:

• Small to mid-size businesses
• Budget of $500-$3,000/month
• Need flexibility

Pros:

• Cost-effective
• Flexible engagement
• Often specialized expertise
• Easy to scale up or down

Cons:

• May have multiple clients
• Less availability for emergencies
• Higher turnover risk

Learn what freelancers typically charge in our Social Media Management Pricing Guide.

Social Media Agency

Best for:

• Established businesses
• Budget of $2,500-$10,000+/month
• Multiple platforms needed
• Want strategic partnership

Pros:

• Team of specialists
• Broader skill set
• Process and reliability
• Strategic guidance

Cons:

• Highest cost
• Less personal attention
• May feel distant from brand
• Account manager changes

Considering an agency? See our guide on Outsourcing Social Media Marketing.

Where to Find Social Media Managers

Job Boards

LinkedIn Jobs

• Best for: Full-time and contract roles
• Quality: High (professionals actively looking)
• Cost: Free to post, paid for promotion

Indeed

• Best for: Entry to mid-level roles
• Quality: Mixed (high volume)
• Cost: Free to post, pay for visibility

Glassdoor

• Best for: Full-time roles
• Quality: Good (job seekers research companies)
• Cost: Paid listings

Freelance Platforms

Upwork

• Best for: Project-based and ongoing freelance
• Quality: Varies widely (filter carefully)
• Cost: Platform takes 5-20% from freelancer

Fiverr

• Best for: Specific tasks (graphics, captions)
• Quality: Varies (check reviews)
• Cost: Service fee added to purchase

Contra

• Best for: Quality freelancers, no fees
• Quality: Higher (curated)
• Cost: Free for clients

Specialized Sources

Social Media Examiner Job Board

• Industry-specific candidates
• Higher quality for social specialists

Facebook Groups

• "Social Media Managers" groups
• Local business groups
• Industry-specific communities

Twitter/LinkedIn

• Post "we're hiring" content
• Search hashtags (#SocialMediaManager, #SMM)
• Your followers may know someone

Personal Network

Don't overlook:

• Current employees' connections
• Customers who create great content
• People engaging with your posts
• Referrals from other business owners

Pro tip: The best hires often come from referrals. Ask every business owner you know who manages their social media.

What to Look for in a Social Media Manager

Essential Skills

Platform expertise:

• Deep knowledge of platforms you use
• Understanding of algorithms and best practices
• Experience with platform-specific features
• Ability to adapt to platform changes

Content creation:

• Writing (captions, stories, tweets)
• Basic graphic design (Canva minimum)
• Video editing (increasingly important)
• Photography basics

Strategy and analytics:

• Can set and track KPIs
• Understands audience targeting
• Data-driven decision making
• Competitive analysis ability

Communication:

• Quick, professional responses
• Brand voice adaptation
• Client/stakeholder updates
• Crisis communication basics

Red Flags to Avoid

Portfolio red flags:

• No examples of previous work
• Only personal accounts, no business experience
• Inconsistent posting in their own history
• Can't explain strategy behind their work

Communication red flags:

• Slow response times during hiring process
• Poor grammar and spelling
• Vague answers to specific questions
• Overpromising results ("I'll 10x your followers")

Experience red flags:

• No experience in your industry or adjacent
• Can't name specific tools they use
• Unfamiliar with current platform features
• No understanding of paid social

Attitude red flags:

• Dismissive of your current efforts
• Unwilling to learn your brand voice
• Resistant to feedback
• More interested in creative freedom than results

The Hiring Process

Step 1: Define the Role

Create clear job requirements:

Role: Social Media Manager (Freelance/Part-time/Full-time)

Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok

Responsibilities:
- Create and schedule X posts per week per platform
- Respond to comments and DMs within X hours
- Monthly analytics reporting
- Content calendar management
- [Paid ads management if needed]

Requirements:
- X years of experience
- Portfolio of previous work
- Proficiency in [specific tools]
- Industry experience preferred

Compensation: $X per month / $X per hour / $X salary

Step 2: Screen Applications

Initial filter criteria:

• Portfolio attached? (No = reject)
• Relevant experience evident?
• Professional communication?
• Reasonable compensation expectations?

Quick portfolio review:

• Do their accounts show growth?
• Is content quality consistent?
• Do they demonstrate range?
• Can you see strategic thinking?

Step 3: Initial Interview (30 minutes)

Questions to ask:

Experience questions:

• "Walk me through a social media campaign you're proud of."
• "What platforms do you specialize in and why?"
• "How do you stay updated on platform changes?"

Strategy questions:

• "If you looked at our current social media, what would you change first?"
• "How do you decide what content to post and when?"
• "How do you measure success on social media?"

Process questions:

• "Walk me through your typical week managing a client's accounts."
• "What tools do you use daily?"
• "How do you handle negative comments or a PR issue?"

Fit questions:

• "Why are you interested in working with us?"
• "What type of client relationship works best for you?"
• "How do you prefer to receive feedback?"

Step 4: Skills Assessment

Option A: Paid trial project

• Give them one week of access
• Pay fair rate for trial ($200-$500)
• Evaluate quality and communication
• Best predictor of actual performance

Option B: Strategy presentation

• Provide brand guidelines and goals
• Ask for 30-day content strategy
• Evaluate strategic thinking
• Pay for their time ($100-$200)

Option C: Content creation test

• Provide brand assets
• Request 5 sample posts
• Evaluate voice match and creativity
• Pay for samples created

Step 5: Reference Check

Questions for references:

• "How was communication during the engagement?"
• "Did they meet deadlines consistently?"
• "Were there any issues and how were they handled?"
• "Would you hire them again?"
• "What could they improve?"

Step 6: Make the Offer

Include in your offer:

• Scope of work (detailed)
• Compensation structure
• Payment terms and schedule
• Contract length
• Termination terms
• Confidentiality expectations
• Content ownership
• Tool access and accounts

Compensation Guide 2025

Freelancer Rates

Full-Time Salaries

Factors affecting rates:

• Geographic location
• Industry complexity
• Platform requirements
• Paid ads management
• Content creation depth
• Reporting requirements

Onboarding Your New Social Media Manager

Week 1: Foundation

Day 1-2: Access and accounts

• Provide all platform logins
• Add to management tools
• Share brand guidelines
• Provide content assets

Day 3-5: Knowledge transfer

• Review current strategy
• Discuss audience personas
• Share competitive landscape
• Align on goals and KPIs

Week 2: Shadowing and Training

Activities:

• Review past content performance
• Discuss brand voice nuances
• Walk through approval process
• Introduce key stakeholders

Week 3-4: Supervised Launch

Approach:

• They create, you review everything
• Provide detailed feedback
• Let them adjust and improve
• Gradually reduce oversight

Month 2+: Independent Management

Check-in structure:

• Weekly brief sync (15 min)
• Monthly performance review (30-60 min)
• Quarterly strategy session (1-2 hours)

Managing the Relationship

Communication Best Practices

Set expectations early:

• Response time requirements
• Preferred communication channel
• Meeting cadence
• Emergency contact protocol

Feedback framework:

• Be specific ("Change the CTA" not "Make it better")
• Focus on outcomes, not preferences
• Provide context for feedback
• Balance positive and constructive

Performance Tracking

Monthly metrics to review:

• Engagement rate by platform
• Follower growth
• Reach and impressions
• Click-through rates
• Conversions (if trackable)
• Response time on DMs/comments

Red flags in performance:

• Declining engagement over 3+ months
• Missed posting schedule
• Slow response to comments/DMs
• No strategic recommendations
• Resistance to feedback

When to Part Ways

Signs it's not working:

• Consistent missed deadlines
• Quality declining over time
• Poor communication despite feedback
• No improvement in metrics
• Cultural or values misalignment

How to end professionally:

• Provide clear, specific feedback
• Give reasonable notice (30 days typical)
• Document transition needs
• Transfer all accounts and assets
• Pay for all completed work

DIY Until You're Ready

If you're not quite ready to hire, you can still improve your social media:

Use tools to save time:

• SocialRails for scheduling and management
• Social Media Content Calendar for planning
• Caption Generators for content ideas

Learn the fundamentals:

• Small Business Social Media Tips
• Social Media Strategy Template
• Best Times to Post on Facebook

Start with specific help:

• Hire for content creation only
• Get strategy consultation first
• Use agencies for specific campaigns

Checklist: Finding Your Social Media Manager

Before you search:

• Define budget (monthly/hourly)
• List platforms needed
• Clarify responsibilities
• Set expectations for hours/availability

During the search:

• Post on 3+ platforms
• Review 10+ portfolios
• Interview 3-5 candidates
• Check references for top choice

Before hiring:

• Complete paid trial or assessment
• Verify references
• Prepare clear contract
• Set up accounts and access

After hiring:

• Complete structured onboarding
• Establish communication rhythm
• Set 30/60/90 day milestones
• Schedule first performance review

Summary

Finding the right social media manager requires:

1. Clarity on what you need
2. Searching in the right places
3. Evaluating skills, not just personality
4. Testing before committing
5. Proper onboarding and management

The best social media managers are partners in your growth, not just task executors. Invest time in finding the right fit, and you'll build a social presence that actually drives business results.

Related Resources

• Social Media Management Pricing Guide - Understand what to pay
• Virtual Assistant Social Media Manager Guide - Cost-effective VA option
• Social Media Screening Tools - Background check candidates
• Outsourcing Social Media Marketing - Agency vs freelancer vs in-house
• Community Manager vs Social Media Manager - Understand the difference
• How to Be a Freelance Social Media Manager - What freelancers offer
• Social Media Recruiting Tools - Use social to find candidates

Free Hiring Tools:

• Social Media Pricing Packages Template - Create packages for freelancers
• Freelance Rate Calculator - Estimate fair rates