8 Ways to Make Scaling Your SMM Business Easier Than Ever

Time for quick reality check! Business growth does not = taking on more and more and more clients until you meltdown.

If you’re running a social media management business, there’s a ton of potential to grow and expand your reach, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of your freedom or mental health. Taking on more work without adapting only ever leads to one thing → the dreaded burnout.

So, how do you avoid it? You need to scale.

Scaling your business helps build strong foundations for a more sustainable, flexible, and lucrative career, plus it future-proofs it.

By scaling, you’ll avoid unnecessary overwhelm, build resilience, and successfully navigate any unexpected circumstances (lookin’ at you, 2020!).

If you’re ready to take things to the next level, check out some of the most effective (and my personal fave) ways to scale your social media management business.

Use workflow tools to optimize your processes

Streamlining your processes is honestly going to save you so much time.

All of the admin, emails, onboarding, and scheduling required to keep a small business going is freakin’ time-consuming (and so boring). But beyond that, it’s not directly income-generating.

The hours you spend on these in-between tasks take up precious time you could be spending on lucrative client work.

If you haven’t checked out the world of workflow tools yet, there are a few gems you absolutely *need* to know about!

For social media scheduling and management – Hootsuite or Buffer
To stay on top of deadlines – keep track of your projects in Trello and your calendar in Coschedule
And to keep everything streamlined and ticking along nicely – create some slick automations with Zapier

Want more? Check out my list of 9 must-have tools for SMMs here!

Build a strong brand

Ever heard the theory that a buyer has to see a product or service 7 times before they’re ready to commit to purchasing? Though that’s probably not an exact science, there’s some truth in it.

A recognizable brand (and consistent showing up) helps build trust and awareness with your audience — and you’ll need both if you want people to invest in what you offer.

Your unique brand name, color palette, font scheme and tone of voice all matter, but don’t forget about the backbone of building out a brand: your business values and mission.

The dedication you show to your “why” will make a much bigger impact than the logo you create!

Hire team members

Your business is your baby, but if you’re not willing to expand your team, it’ll remain just that: a baby. Don’t limit its growth, friend!

When you’re officially booked and turning away valuable business, it’s a major hint that it’s time to get other people involved in the day-to-day operations.

Bringing on new team members allows your biz to continue flourishing and thriving (with the bonus of extra talent sprinkled on top)!

Outsourcing or employing also means expanding your horizons, offering additional services and bringing fresh inspiration to the table. What’s not to love?!

Learn the art of saying NO

Turning down business may not seem like a straightforward way to grow, but saying yes to every project that comes your way is a straight road to burnout.

And burnout stops business growth in its tracks.

Saying no means you know what you want! Get crystal clear on your business vision, values and goals, and if something doesn’t align, it has to go.

Spending billable hours on jobs you don’t love and with clients that don’t feel right is not the way to move your business forward.

Streamline your client onboarding process

Onboarding new clients is one of the most time-consuming elements of managing a small business. All you crave is starting on the work itself, but there’s so much dang admin to wade through before you get there!

Refining your onboarding process (and automating where you can) not only saves a ton of time from the outset it’s also the key to a successful client relationship.

At this stage, you can start to set your boundaries, communicate everyone’s expectations and kickstart your working time together, but make sure you stick to the process you create.

Stand firm in your systems and processes even if/when the client suggests adopting their way of doing things. It’ll save you a LOT of headaches in the end, trust me.

Create digital products for your business

You’ve got so much expertise and knowledge to share, so why not monetize it?

Introducing a digital product suite is a wonderful way to create passive income streams and scale your business. (Extra cash without extra work. Sounds nice, right?)

Now, I won’t sugarcoat it – creating your initial digital product can be a big project to take on, but it’s so worth it.

To start, decide on the type of product that best suits your audience: templates, e-books, guides or workbooks.
Work with a designer (or get creative yourself!) to ensure your product is thoughtfully designed and beautifully on-brand.
Pop your product(s) on your website or marketplace, and you’re set!

You’ll get something fresh to market and generate interest + you’ll get a passive income boost to your annual revenue.

Diversify your income streams

Want to make scaling your social media management business easier than ever? Get creative with your income streams!

Developing an online course or workshop is another super fulfilling way to connect with your community, share your expert knowledge, and earn more money.

Other ideas for diversifying your income streams might include:

Group programs
community memberships
1:1 mentoring sessions
YouTube channel or podcast

The key is figuring out what gels with you and your people. What works for one person might not work for the next so just be sure whatever you build out includes market research (asking your audience what they want) and YOUR passion.

Raise your prices!

You know those inspirational posts about “knowing your worth” you just can’t seem to escape? Well, they exist for a reason!

Setting prices that reflect the value you offer is the number one way to scale your social media management business. It’ll help you take on more lucrative clients and naturally repel anyone who isn’t worth your valuable time.

Just make sure you’re raising prices in line with inflation and in line with how much you’re learning and growing. With each passing year, you gain more knowledge, experience and even more skill (and your rates need to align).

Check out my course, The Social Biz System, a 4-week program designed to help you scale successfully by developing your CEO mindset and showing you how to attract dream clients that respect (and value) your expertise!