In recent years, social media has caused significant changes in the world, particularly in the way users buy and sell products and services. As a result, many businesses have adjusted their strategies to improve their brands. The emergence of social media has also led to the creation of new job opportunities, including the highly competitive position of a social media manager.
To become a social media manager, you typically need to have relevant qualifications and experience. In this blog, we will delve into the responsibilities and required skills for this role, and also discuss the level of experience necessary to enter this field.
What does a social media manager do?
A social media manager is usually responsible for monitoring, filtering, and managing the social media platforms of a business, product, or brand in the marketing or communication department.
Social media managers should work fast, respond to customers’ needs, and share related data when accessible. People interested in creating a story for a brand, creating a community, and accomplishing business goals are the best applicants for the social media manager role.
Here are some of the primary responsibilities of social media managers:
Monitor social media platforms and strategy
Social media managers should use the available data and their instincts to monitor social media platforms. They should keep these platforms active for more exposure to gain some data from users and evaluate them. They also should organize social media audits regularly.
Content creation
Social media managers have a primary role in creating content for a brand or business. They can do copywriting, recording, and editing videos. But their main goal is way bigger than just uploading photos and videos.
Gain followers
Social media managers need to attract followers to influence their clients or customers. So whether on LinkedIn or Twitter, social media managers should impress users and gain their trust to grow followers.
Data analysis
Social media managers should analyze the data they gain from users constantly. Accomplishing social media goals depends on customers’ engagement rate towards their content. Then, based on the gathered data, they must evaluate the company or brand’s performance.
Community management
One social media manager’s responsibility is managing a brand’s community. Their main goal is to create a community of loyal customers so that they always feel satisfied and welcome as community members. This method could be as simple as posting a pleasant or friendly comment for a user.
The salary of a social media manager
On average, a social media manager’s salary is $44,741 per year. Therefore, a social media manager’s salary could be between $14,000 and $105,000 annually. Many factors can impact the salary of each social media manager, such as the level of experience, educational degree, and even geographical location.
What skills should social media managers have?
A social media manager’s job is challenging, but it is a fun job at the same time. A social media manager should have excellent analytic skills and enough creativity. If you are thinking about becoming a social media manager, there are some skills you should have (or at least be open to developing).
Communication: Communication skills are vital for social media managers as they should be able to respond to customers’ needs and demands, post creative content with users and engage them in an exciting discussion.
Writing skills: Social media managers should prepare content for social media platforms from Instagram to Twitter, TikTok, or LinkedIn. They should be able to write descriptions and titles for YouTube videos.
Graphic design: Social media managers should have enough skills in creating visual content, as it is essential for engaging the audience and promoting the brand.
Leadership: In big companies, social media managers should supervise other team members, such as graphic designers and developers. And effectively monitoring them needs strong leadership skills.
Research skills: Social media managers should be current regarding the most recent trends in social media and the digital world. These skills help you apply the best strategy and stay caught up on all opportunities.
Tech savvy: Social media managers should be familiar with social media algorithms and be able to use the most recent software and tools.
Creating a community: Social media managers should have the necessary skills to develop a loyal and exciting community for customers and potential clients.
Analysis: a social media manager should be able to evaluate different social media platforms, do enough research based on the gathered data, and choose the best strategy.
How to become a social media manager with no experience
If you’re interested in becoming a social media manager but lack relevant experience, don’t worry – there are still opportunities available to you.
Follow the steps below to learn how to kickstart your journey toward becoming a social media manager, even if you have no prior experience.
Earn a college degree
You can earn a college degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in communication, business, marketing, or even journalism, to start your career in social media management.
Create your online community
Make a profile or account on all important social media platforms. Then, you can use these profiles for practice to be a master in making and keeping an online community by engaging your audience before doing it for other people.
Take courses to improve your skills
Remember that this is a skill-based field and it doesn’t matter how intelligent you are to become successful. So you have to constantly improve your skills to outperform others and get higher positions at better companies.
Many free social media courses are available online that can help you improve your social media skills. But, if you want to reach a management position in social media, we suggest you take paid social media courses to gain broader knowledge.
Manage social media for small businesses voluntarily
If you want to upgrade your resume with some high-level background experience, consider working for small or nonprofit businesses voluntarily. Because these companies don’t usually have the budget for hiring a social media manager, you can use this opportunity to make a resume.
Apply for internship or entry-level jobs
You should gain experience in jobs related to social media; therefore, you can apply for an internship or entry-level position in the social media field and gain some experience in marketing and managing social media accounts. These jobs will allow you to improve your skills and prepare for this career’s next step.
Final thoughts
Social media managers have many roles and responsibilities, such as content creation, interacting with customers and influencers, and keeping track of people’s ideas and comments about a brand or business.
Social media managers need the necessary skills to handle these roles and responsibilities, such as research, time management, writing skills, graphic designing, and communication. It is not impossible to become a social media manager without any experience; you have to improve your knowledge, develop the required skill and continue learning.
The more you learn, the more you become an expert in running different marketing campaigns, and when you are prepared, you can start working as a social media manager. You can even start working as a freelancer social media manager or create your agency.
Guest author: Tom Siani is an online marketing expert with more than 8 years of experience in this digital industry. He is collaborating with some well-known brands in order to generate traffic, create sales funnels, and increase online sales. He has also written a considerable number of articles about social media marketing, brand marketing, blogging, search visibility, etc.
The post From Likes to Leads: How to Become a Social Media Manager appeared first on Jeffbullas’s Blog.
