8-Week Programme · Sep 2026 Intake
Social Media Management VA Build brands. Grow audiences.
Learn to create content strategies, design branded content, schedule across platforms, manage communities, and report on performance using practical workflows used by modern social media teams.
12 Modules
Portfolio-led
Canva · Meta Suite · Notion
R6 700
8
Weeks of structured
learning
learning
12
Hands-on
modules
modules
8
Portfolio
deliverables
deliverables
Sep
Next intake
2026
2026
What you will be able to do
Skills that get you hired
Every module is built around real social media work. By Week 8 you will have a client-ready portfolio, practical workflows, and the confidence to start applying for entry-level roles or onboarding your first clients.
Build content strategies
Create content pillars, 30-day posting schedules, and platform-specific plans aligned to business goals.
Master two core platforms
Understand Instagram and LinkedIn algorithms in depth, with an introduction to TikTok content formats.
Design branded visuals
Create posts, reel covers, and stories using Canva that maintain a consistent visual identity for clients.
Write converting copy
Write engaging captions using AIDA and PAS frameworks with strong hooks and platform-specific CTAs.
Track and report analytics
Read platform insights, track follower growth and engagement rates, and build monthly performance reports.
Package your services
Build tiered service packages, set competitive rates, and pitch to clients with a polished service menu.
Full Curriculum
8 weeks · 12 practical modules
Every module includes a Handbook, Practical task, and a Portfolio deliverable you keep. Click a week to explore the modules.
M1 · Week 1
Foundations of Social Media VA Work
- Understand the VA role in a social media team
- Define client expectations and deliverables
- Audit a real business social media page
M2 · Week 1
Audience Research & Content Pillars
- Research target audiences for a brand
- Build content pillars aligned to business goals
- Create a brand messaging sheet
M3 · Week 2
Content Planning & Calendar Building
- Build a 30-day posting schedule
- Plan platform-specific content formats
- Organise content in Notion or Google Sheets
M4 · Week 2
Copywriting for Social Media
- Write engaging captions with hooks
- Apply AIDA and PAS copywriting frameworks
- Craft platform-specific CTAs
M5 · Week 3
Visual Content Creation with Canva
- Design posts, reel covers, and stories
- Apply basic branding principles
- Build a mini brand kit for a mock client
M6 · Week 3
Scheduling & Content Workflows
- Schedule content across platforms efficiently
- Build a repeatable content delivery system
- Create a written SOP for a client handover
M7 · Week 4
Community Management
- Respond to comments and DMs professionally
- Handle negative feedback and complaints
- Build an engagement response guide
M8 · Week 4
Analytics & Performance Reporting
- Read and interpret platform insights
- Track follower growth and engagement rates
- Design a monthly report for a client
M9 · Week 5
Platform Deep-Dive: Instagram & LinkedIn
- Understand each platform's algorithm in depth
- Identify the right content format for each audience
- Benchmark and analyse competitor pages
M10 · Week 5
Intro to Paid Social (Boosted Posts)
- Understand boosted posts vs. full ad campaigns
- Set up a basic Meta boost with objective selection
- Read and interpret basic ad metrics
M11 · Week 6
Client Communication & Reporting
- Manage client expectations professionally
- Present performance results clearly
- Write a client update email and debrief
M12 · Week 6
Service Packaging & Pricing
- Build tiered service packages for different budgets
- Set rates with confidence based on market data
- Design a client-ready service menu in Canva
Week 7 · Portfolio Build
Assemble & Refine Your Portfolio
- Review and polish all 7 deliverables from Weeks 1–6
- Organise your work into a shareable portfolio folder
- Write a short bio and positioning statement
- Prepare your pitch for potential clients or employers
Week 8 · Capstone
Manage a Mock Client for 7 Days
- Run a real simulated client account from brief to report
- Create and schedule 5 posts across the week
- Write an end-of-week report with performance notes
- Present your full portfolio and pitch deck to a panel
Tools You Will Use
Six tools. Transferable skills.
You will not just hear about these tools — you will use them in practicals and include them in your portfolio. We focus on fewer tools done well, not a surface-level tour of twelve.
Tool Disclaimer: VA Academy trains on the skills and workflows behind the tools, not on one specific platform. Where a tool is referenced by name, an equivalent platform may be used depending on your cohort and client requirements. The skills you build are fully transferable across tools.
ChatGPT
AI Content Support
Meta Business Suite
Publishing & Ads
Canva
Design & Visuals
Metricool
Analytics & Scheduling
Notion
SOPs & Planning
Trello
Project Management
We focus on transferable workflows, not tool memorisation. Once you understand the skill, you can apply it in any equivalent platform a client uses.
Your Portfolio
8 assets. One complete portfolio.
Built progressively across 8 weeks. Every deliverable connects to your final capstone portfolio — so by Week 8 you have real work to show, not just a certificate.
Each deliverable is built during a module practical, refined in Week 7, and presented in your Week 8 capstone. You own everything you create.
Week 1
Social Media Audit Report
Full analysis of 2 business pages with recommendations
Week 1
Brand Messaging Sheet
Audience research and content pillars for a real brand
Week 2
30-Day Content Calendar
Full posting schedule built in Notion or Google Sheets
Week 2
Caption Bank
10 ready-to-use captions across 3 brand types
Week 3
Mini Brand Kit + 5 Posts
Branded visual identity with 5 designed posts in Canva
Week 4
Community Management SOP
Response guide for comments, DMs and negative feedback
Week 4
Monthly Analytics Report
Performance report designed as a PDF or Slides presentation
Week 8 · Capstone
Service Menu + Pitch Deck
Tiered packages, client proposal, and your complete portfolio presentation
Career Opportunities
Roles this programme prepares you to pursue
Social media VAs are in demand across coaching, e-commerce, hospitality, and professional services. These are estimated earnings based on remote market rates.
Social Media VA
Entry LevelManage content creation, scheduling, and engagement for small businesses, coaches, or personal brands.
R6 000 – R12 000 / mo$330 – $660 / mo
Per client retainer. Most graduates start with 1–2 clients.
Content Creator VA
Remote FreelanceProduce short-form video scripts, reels, and designed posts for multiple clients across niches.
R8 000 – R18 000 / mo$440 – $990 / mo
Per-deliverable or retainer. Volume increases earnings.
Community Manager
Remote FreelanceHandle DMs, comments, engagement campaigns, and online reputation for growing brands.
R5 000 – R10 000 / mo$275 – $550 / mo
Often paired with content services for higher retainers.
Social Media Manager
Mid LevelOversee full social strategy, content production, and reporting for brands with an active multi-platform presence.
R12 000 – R22 000 / mo$660 – $1 200 / mo
Often includes a performance or growth bonus.
Niche Social Media Specialist
SpecialistServe a specific niche (e-commerce, coaching, real estate) with deep expertise in that industry's audience.
R10 000 – R20 000 / mo$550 – $1 100 / mo
Specialists command higher rates than generalists.
Social Media Strategist
Advanced PathwayDevelop platform strategy, oversee content teams, manage paid campaigns, and report to marketing directors.
R20 000 – R40 000 / mo$1 100 – $2 200 / mo
Typically reached after 18–24 months of experience.
Most graduates begin with freelance support work, junior coordination roles, or managing 1–2 small business accounts. The strategist role is an advanced progression pathway beyond this programme.
Earnings are estimates based on remote market data and vary by client, experience, and negotiation. USD figures use an approximate exchange rate and will fluctuate. VA Academy does not guarantee specific income outcomes.
Investment
Course fees and payment options
A R1 500 registration deposit secures your seat and is deducted from your total course fee. Choose the payment plan that works for you.
Show prices in:
3 Payments
R2 400
per month x 3 payments
Total: R6 700
Total: R6 700
Deposit of R1 500 due on registration, deducted from total. Two remaining payments spread over the course.
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Pay Upfront
R6 030
once-off payment
Save 10% (R670)
Includes the R1 500 registration deposit. Full amount locks in your seat and your discount.
Deposit Only
R1 500
to secure your seat now
Balance of R5 200 due before Week 1 starts. Deposit is non-refundable but fully deducted from your total.
Registration deposit: The R1 500 deposit is deducted from your total course fee — it is not an additional charge. If paying upfront, the deposit is included in your single payment. All fees are quoted in South African Rand. USD figures are approximate conversions for reference only and may differ slightly at the time of payment.