Social Media Scheduler

Schedule a small business's social posts for the week ahead.

What the work is

Plenty of small businesses know they should post regularly on social media, but they hate doing it themselves. As a scheduler you receive a folder of approved photos and captions, drop them into a scheduling tool like Buffer or Later, and set them to publish at sensible times across the week. You are not expected to be a strategist — you are the calm pair of hands that makes sure something actually goes out. This is one of the easiest beginner virtual-assistant niches to break into because the workload is predictable and the tools are free to learn.

Day-to-day responsibilities

• Drop approved content into the scheduler each week.
• Choose smart posting times based on the audience time zone.
• Resize images for each platform.
• Send a short Friday recap of what went out.

Tools you actually need

• Buffer or Later
• Canva
• Google Drive

How beginners get hired

The most reliable hiring channels for this role today are listed below. Sign up on one or two — not all of them at once — and complete each profile fully before applying. Half-finished profiles convert poorly even when your skills are real.

• Upwork
• PeoplePerHour
• Direct outreach to local businesses

Beginner tips that actually work

• Always preview each post on each platform before scheduling.
• Build a tiny weekly report template — clients love seeing the work.
• Keep a backup copy of every caption in Google Drive.

How and when you get paid

Weekly or monthly retainer via PayPal, Wise, or direct deposit. See our guide to remote payment methods for how each option works in your country, and how to avoid the verification delays that catch most beginners off guard.

Country-specific guides

Pay norms, popular hiring platforms, and payment routes vary a lot by country. Pick yours below for the version of this guide tailored to where you live.