How Best To Learn Social Media Marketing

Hi Guys

I am newbie to this forum (-this is my first ever post ), however I have been mooching around here for a while. Can I just say what a great resource this is for any wannabe or experienced internet marketer - I am always heartened by how friendly posters are on here, and how freely they give up their time to help, or give an opinion!

Well were to start? I have a few issues that I hope don't confuse matters, because I feel totally befuddled at the moment!

First off, I would really like to become a social media marketer, but don't know where to start. I am a qualified accountant by profession - no yawning allowed! , though am not actively practicing at the moment. I have set up some of my own affiliate marketing websites, with VERY moderate success, and I know a bit of html and wordpress. I have just set up an account on Elance stating that I will do any virtual assistant work (I mean anything - emailing, phoning, booking travel etc) and bookkeeping, and maintain any social media marketing if someone would train me in social media marketing first. Is this a realistic request or will they think I am a total nut-job? Basically is this a good way of becoming a social media intern? If not, can anyone suggest any other route. Obviously I am not expecting to learn something for nothing, I will work hard doing any routine stuff in return. Alternatively I would be prepared to pay for training - but getting a decent trainer with proven online results is not always easy, so if anyone knows any any decent social media trainer who currently makes money online each month I would be really grateful to get their details.

Secondly (and maybe this is more background, than of any relevance to the above), I have set up a couple of my own affiliate marketing websites, and had limited success. Taking each in turn, one ranks first page in google, but has made only a very small amount of money in commissions from amazon, and has only 25 visitors a day from google.

The other ranks on the first page of google and has around 300 visitors a day and makes very little from commission junction. :confused:

I have worked hard on both sites, and whilst I don't expect immediate results (as is always stressed on this forum), I have become a little disheartened with them...or maybe its with me I am disheartened with in that I don't know/believe in what I am doing, but I certainly feel I have lost my way with them.

Again, thinking of getting a mentor, but again when you read around it is difficult to know who to trust, and like with everyone else these days, money is tight, so I don't want to spend cash and realise my mentor is some charlatan, or someone who tells me what I know already!!

Would be grateful for any advice that could help me see the wood for the trees.

Many thanks in advance

Luckygirl67