It’s 11 p.m. You opened one article after dinner. Now you’re fourteen tabs deep and can’t remember what you were looking for.
Sound familiar? (Because I sure can relate!)
My friend Li Vasquez-Noone knows that spiral well. But she did the smart thing and figured out how to get paid for it.
Her first social media gig started small, with just a few Facebook posts for a client she already had. Then she got another job. And then another client’s request turned into a retainer.
If you haven’t landed a writing client yet, look for her trick for getting your first one. It costs you barely an afternoon and earns you a testimonial you can use forever.
Here’s to landing that next client,
Mindy McHorse
Executive Editor, Barefoot Writer Magazine
How to Turn Information Overload into a Nice Paycheck
By Li Vasquez-Noone
I have a problem: information overload! I love to read online articles and blogs on all sorts of topics. The problem is, I spend too much time surfing the Internet when I could be working on paid writing projects.
I thought I would have to restrict my Internet use and focus on writing to increase my income. But then I found a way to turn my information overload into a nice extra paycheck.
How?
I became a Social Media Expert. This is a dream job for someone who likes to read online content, and it’s in high demand by businesses everywhere.
Why Businesses Need Social Media
Businesses are on social media because that’s where their customers are. YouTube and Facebook are the most popular platforms in the U.S., with 84% of American adults using YouTube and 71% using Facebook, according to Pew Research Center’s 2025 survey. And people aren’t just checking in once in a while. The average social media user now spends 18 hours and 36 minutes a week on social and video platforms, according to DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report.
It’s more than just big companies posting. Social media marketing tied with sales as the top outreach tactic for small business decision makers (52%) in Verizon’s 2025 State of Small Business report. But many owners can’t keep up. More than three-quarters say social media has helped their business, yet 56% find it hard to make it a priority, and 54% struggle to create enough content for multiple channels.
How to Profit as a Social Media Expert
Social Media Experts can offer many services to their clients. You can write status updates, post content, or set up the social media accounts for businesses. You might also represent your client online, responding to visitors on their social media pages.
Or, position yourself as a consultant who helps companies integrate social media into their marketing strategy. Even more projects could stem from that, like sales pages and emails that coordinate with the campaign.
How cool is that?
How to Find Social Media Clients
The easiest way is to offer your services to your existing clients. They probably already use social media, but often lack either the time or expertise to get a maximum return on their efforts.
If you’re just starting out in the writing profession, put out word to friends and family that you’re helping businesses with their social media. Or contact businesses in your area and offer to set up a Facebook page or Instagram account in exchange for a testimonial.
Finally, don’t forget to announce your social media services on your professional writing website or your LinkedIn profile.
I got my first social media project when I offered to write a few Facebook posts for a blogging client.
Another client asked for help with their accounts, which turned into a retainer agreement. And I wrote posts for a third client to go along with an email project.
Social media is an easy way to add value for my clients and make more money on each project.
It’s also a great excuse to read all the online articles I want (in the name of research, of course).
Writing posts and status updates doesn’t take much time, and it means I have steady checks coming in.
You can bet I’ll be offering more social media services to my clients now!
Streamline Your Work
It takes just a few minutes a day to manage social media if you make good use of your time. Here are a few tips to help you get everything done fast and still have time for the beach.
Plan content in advance with an Editorial Calendar.
Use scheduling software to post content. This allows you to create and upload all of your posts at one time.
Follow blogs and websites related to your client’s business, and set up Google Alerts related to your client’s services or products. It should only take a few minutes each day to check for new content, and you’ll always have fresh, relevant information to share.
Schedule when you’ll check social media accounts, and resist the urge to spend extra time on each platform.
Find clients in a familiar industry, like your writing niche, hobby, or special interest. Researching content to share is often fast and fun.
A Multi-Perk Writing Job
Overwhelmed businesses need help keeping up with constant changes and the new social media platforms that come out constantly. You’ll find many are happy to pay you to take care of it for them.
It’s the perfect job: easy work, good pay, and plenty of clients.
Becoming a Social Media Expert could be your ticket to the Barefoot Writer’s Life — especially if you’re looking for a way to get paid for all the time you spend reading online!
Editor’s Note: If you’d like the foundational training that opens doors to social media writing and more, check out The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter — I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to make a living writing.
Thanks Mindy.