17 Social Media Consultant Success Stories [2024]
Social media has become popular due to its ability to link businesses to their target customers. Social media consultants are professionals who help their clients improve, optimize and grow their social media presence.
Becoming a social media consultant comes with work flexibility and higher earning potential, but it also takes time and work commitment to grow the business.
To become a social media consultant, you must first become adept at using social media platforms and industry tools. Take online or offline courses like content marketing, public relations, and communication skills. Social media experts can choose a general practice or opt to focus on a niche.
In this list, you'll find real-world social media consultant success stories and very profitable examples of starting a social media consultant that makes money.
1. Qnary ($6.6M/year)
Bant Breen, the Founder of Qnary, came up with the idea for his business while working as the CEO of a paid search and social media agency. He noticed that there were no tools available to help individual executives optimize their online presence, so he set out to create a platform specifically tailored to their needs. Since its launch in 2012, Qnary has grown to have thousands of clients and offices in New York, Barcelona, and Sydney.
How much money it makes: $6.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.2M
How many people on the team: 25
Qnary founder Bant Breen built and grew the executive reputation management and talent branding solutions company, now with thousands of clients globally, with a monthly revenue of $550k by developing a tech-enabled solution that optimizes an executive’s online presence, generates thought-leadership content, and grows followers and engagement.
2. MeetEdgar ($4M/year)
Laura Roeder, the founder of MeetEdgar, came up with the idea for her social media automation tool after realizing the burden of managing social media accounts and creating new content across multiple platforms. With her background in teaching social media marketing and her own online course business, she saw the need for a tool that could handle the grunt work of social media management. By validating the idea through her course, she decided to create MeetEdgar and launched the software in 2014.
How much money it makes: $4M/year
How many people on the team: 11
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
3. SevenAtoms Marketing Inc ($3.3M/year)
Andy Beohar left his tech job in 2014 to start SevenAtoms Marketing with just his savings, aiming to transform small businesses through ROI-focused advertising. Today, SevenAtoms generates $275K monthly recurring revenue and boasts a 90% client retention rate.
How much money it makes: $3.3M/year
How many people on the team: 0
This case study article dives into the journey of SevenAtoms Marketing, a bootstrapped startup that has grown into a successful business generating a recurring monthly revenue of $275K, specializing in ROI-focused paid search advertising and content marketing for SaaS, e-commerce, and Technology sectors.
4. Inquivix ($1.2M/year)
keep coming back for more. Additionally, we provide exceptional customer service and personalized strategies tailored to each client's specific needs, which sets us apart from our competitors. Our 10X-ed annual revenue growth and our strong reputation in the industry also attract new customers to our agency.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 15
Inquivix is a leading digital marketing agency in Asia with regional hubs in multiple countries, generating $1.2M in annual revenue by helping clients enter the Korean market through social media and content creation, backed by extensive research, data analysis, and SEO strategies.
5. PageTraffic ($1.2M/year)
Navneet Kaushal, the founder & CEO of PageTraffic, came up with the idea for his SEO agency after experiencing the impact of the internet during his MBA studies. He tested SEO strategies on his own website and saw it rank in the top ten within months. With a passion for digital marketing and a desire to help businesses succeed, Navneet launched PageTraffic in 2002 and has since grown it into a successful agency with a strong online presence and a global client base.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 80
Navneet Kaushal, founder & CEO of PageTraffic, shares how he started an SEO agency in India in 2002, which now generates over $1.2 million in annual revenue and attracts clients globally.
6. ModumUp ($996K/year)
Olga Bondareva, the founder of ModumUp, came up with the idea for her social selling agency after realizing the high demand for managing personal profiles on social media for business goals. With her background in social media marketing and Microsoft digital marketing, she saw the opportunity to help clients attract new customers, partners, and employees through the development of their profiles on social media. Since launching, Bondareva has focused on growing the brand through her own personal social media presence, speaking at events and conferences, and promoting case studies to attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $996K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 44
Meet Olga Bondareva, founder of ModumUp, a social selling agency with an ARR of $1M and 30+ b2b clients, specializing in managing personal social media profiles to generate leads, offering consulting, employee advocacy, and training services.
7. Three Girls Media, Inc. ($600K/year)
Erika Taylor Montgomery, founder of Three Girls Media, came up with the idea for her marketing and PR agency after leaving her career in broadcasting and politics. Recognizing the need for work-life balance and wanting more control over her schedule, she decided to launch her own business. With just a $3,000 loan, Erika started Three Girls Media, which has since grown to a team of 10 and grosses about $550,000 annually.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 10
A marketing and public relations agency founded by Erika Taylor Montgomery, Three Girls Media grosses about $550,000 annually and is a team of 11 who offer a range of services including social media management, digital marketing, email marketing, media relations, and website design and build.
8. Advertisemint ($600K/year)
Brian, the founder of AdvertiseMint, came up with the idea for the business after seeing the launch of Facebook's advertising platform. He realized the enormous potential it had in the world of advertising and decided to specialize in Facebook ads, becoming a leader in the industry. Through hard work and determination, AdvertiseMint has grown to manage close to $100 million in digital media buys for clients such as Coca-Cola and Viacom, making it the number one Facebook advertising agency on Google.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How many people on the team: 10
This case study is about how the founder of AdvertiseMint, a Facebook advertising agency, started the company with just one employee and has since grown it to 25 employees, managing close to $100 million in digital media buys for clients such as Coca-Cola and Viacom.
9. Conversion Perk ($540K/year)
Devjeet’s journey began during the Great Recession when he couldn't land a traditional tech internship, leading him to discover digital marketing. With just ₹2.5 lakh (USD 3,500) and a vision to make digital marketing the main focus, he founded Conversion Perk in 2018, now generating many times the initial investment and recognized as one of India's top PPC Management Agencies.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 26
This case study article showcases the journey of Devjeet, the founder of Conversion Perk, a digital marketing agency. With an initial investment of just ₹2.5L, the company has achieved impressive milestones, becoming partners with industry leaders like Google and Amazon and generating a monthly revenue that is many-fold more than the initial investment. The article also highlights their strategies for customer attraction and retention, including mastering the digital landscape, focusing on SEO, utilizing platforms like Upwork, and employing personalized email marketing campaigns.
10. Paper Box SEO ($336K/year)
Russell Michelson, the founder of Paper Box SEO, originally began as a freelance web designer. However, after clients consistently asked him for help with driving traffic to their websites, he transitioned into the world of SEO. Through teaching himself about digital marketing and experimenting with different methods, he developed a passion for SEO and eventually started his own boutique SEO agency, Paper Box SEO. Today, the company brings in $20k/month in revenue and focuses solely on providing comprehensive SEO services to small to medium-sized businesses.
How much money it makes: $336K/year
How many people on the team: 2
This case study describes the journey of Russell Michelson who, after leaving his corporate job, turned his WordPress skills into a thriving boutique SEO agency earning $20k/month, thanks to client referrals and Upwork.
11. Power Move Marketing ($264K/year)
Hailey Brooke McFadden, a former college volleyball player and sideline reporter, started Power Move Marketing after realizing the lack of professional marketing services offered to e-commerce businesses. With a focus on empowering women and providing excellent customer service, PMM has quickly grown, making $22,075 per month and projected to make nearly $300,000 in its first year. By prioritizing employee satisfaction and creating a positive company culture, McFadden has found success and aims to grow PMM into a marketing powerhouse with over 100 employees.
How much money it makes: $264K/year
How much did it cost to start: $400
How many people on the team: 2
Power Move Marketing is an innovative digital marketing company founded by Hailey Brooke McFadden, which has achieved an impressive monthly income of $22,075 and is projected to make almost $300,000 in its first year, by offering a one-stop-shop for e-commerce businesses looking for a marketing powerhouse with a female positive culture.
12. Social Media Manager Society ($240K/year)
In her previous career as a social media manager, Amanda Shepherd developed a strong reputation in her niche and realized there was a gap in the market for aspiring social media managers who needed guidance on starting their own businesses. After conducting extensive market research, Amanda created the Social Media Manager Society, offering a program that teaches women how to run successful social media businesses. In just one year, she made nearly $100,000 while working an average of four hours per day, and continues to attract new students to her program.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 1
A social media manager turned entrepreneur created a program that has brought in almost $100,000 in one year, designed to teach women how to run successful social media businesses in less than 30 days.
13. Good Chance ($240K/year)
to my old office to pick out a few things I forgot, and I treated myself to - you guessed it - a venti Starbucks iced coffee. I posted on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn that Good Chance Creative was starting to take on clients. I used some of the photos I had taken previously as examples of my work. I sent text messages to friends whose businesses I thought could benefit from my services. And then I waited. Not for long, though! I received my first client inquiry within a couple of hours. It was a friend of a friend who had a small online boutique. She loved my photos and wanted to hire me for product photography and social media management. From there, it was a domino effect. Word spread, referrals came in, and I started to build my client list. It was a slow and steady process in the beginning, but I was grateful for each and every client who trusted me with their social media presence. As the years went by, I continued to refine and expand my services, and here I am today, running a successful full-service social media creative agency.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows Kelsey Chance and her creative agency, Good Chance Creative, which specializes in social media content creation, and in just 3 years she has grown her one-woman business to make $20,000 in monthly revenue through a niche in small in-house marketing teams and start-ups managing their social content, with key services including lifestyle brand photography, social media account management, copywriting, and eCommerce strategy consulting.
14. Prime Marketing Experts ($108K/year)
Michael Krieger, the founder of Prime Marketing Experts, was inspired to start his business after developing a passion for marketing and website building through his involvement with a healthcare nonprofit organization. Recognizing the demand for digital marketing and website development services, he rebranded his business and focused on providing high-quality SEO and web development services. Today, the company has experienced significant growth and continues to attract and retain customers through referrals, networking, and a strong social media presence.
How much money it makes: $108K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 2
Prime Marketing Experts is a successful digital marketing agency that offers a wide variety of digital marketing solutions and has grown their business to $100k per year through referrals, building customer relationships, and expanding their focus with sales consulting services.
15. Pete Codes ($14.4K/year)
Pete focused on promoting his website on platforms like Product Hunt and Hacker News to attract a large number of visitors. He also prioritized charging customers for newsletter ads and sponsored articles early on to test demand. Overall, his strategy of gaining exposure and monetizing the website quickly helped him attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $14.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $40
How many people on the team: 1
No CS Degree founder monetizes website interviewing self-taught web developers earning an average monthly revenue of $1,100, with email marketing and sponsored articles from coding boot camps, and plans to grow the site through job board and online course resources.
16. Neuwly ($1.2K/year)
Steve Christensen came up with the idea for Neuwly Live after realizing the power of connecting people through knowledge and inspiration. The initial concept of a bucket list tracker evolved into a platform for discovering and sharing experiences. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they pivoted to a virtual approach, launching a marketplace of knowledge and ideas.
How much money it makes: $1.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 0
Neuwly Live is a marketplace of knowledge and ideas that allows people to learn and advance together using live video, which has gained over 300 downloads in just one month.
17. BT Neil Consulting ($1.2K/year)
Cornelia "Miss Co" Malloy came up with the idea for her online consulting business, BT Neil Consulting, after reflecting on her desire to have her own business and her skills in creating documents and navigating the internet. Her experience working in a long-term care facility as the Director of Social Services also inspired her to focus on providing resources on long-term care placement in a nursing facility. Despite not yet making significant profits, Cornelia remains consistent and is using social media and affiliate marketing to build awareness for her business.
How much money it makes: $1.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
BT Neil Consulting founder, Cornelia "Miss Co" Malloy, shares how she started her online consulting business and the struggles she faced when trying to build awareness and gain customers while highlighting the importance of consistency and not giving up.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
