Social media has become a huge part of most people’s lives, with more and more of us using it every day. This has created a boom in social media roles, with many companies now hiring social media managers to help them grow their presence online. There are particular skills needed for the job and how they help companies reap the rewards of an effective social media profile. And there are reasons this role is likely to remain in demand for some time yet.
What Is A Social Media Manager?
The role of a social media manager is to create and maintain a company’s online presence on various social networks. This role is important because it helps shape how the public perceives the company and its brand.
The social media manager is responsible for;
- Creating and posting content.
- Monitoring and responding to comments and questions.
- Engaging with followers by commenting on their posts from time to time.
- Analyzing data to determine what content is most effective.
- Be up-to-date on the latest trends in social media and be able to adapt their strategy as needed.
The role is growing in importance as more companies realize the value of having an active social presence.
In addition to traditional marketing tasks, the social media manager must now also be prepared to deal with crises that may arise from negative customer interactions on social media.
As the public face of the company, the social media manager must be professional, courteous, and knowledgeable about the company’s products or services. They should also have good writing skills and be able to create content that is both informative and engaging.
The Skills Required To Be A Social Media Manager
Some certain skills and qualities require you to have to succeed in this role, although there’s no one set formula.
Communication Skills
First and foremost, you need to be a strong communicator. You will be responsible for managing communication between the company and its customers or clients. This means being able to effectively communicate the company’s message across various platforms.
Organizational Skills
You also need to be organized and have strong time management skills. Social media is a 24/7 job, which means you need to be able to juggle multiple tasks at once and stay on top of deadlines.
Photo/Video Editing Skills
You don’t have to be a professional designer, but you are expected to have a good designing sense to be able to edit your content in line with the company’s style.
As a general rule of thumb, being able to utilize multiple video/image editing software programs will show that you are adaptable and have a wider range of skills. If you're only familiar with one or two pieces of software, it may limit your job prospects.
Creative Skills
It is also important that you are creative and have an eye for detail. You will be responsible for creating content that is not only accurate but also engaging and visually appealing. Again, your creativity should be in line with your company’s style and policy.
For example, if you are working for a pharmaceutical company, your social post content should typically be formal, not humorous. (Unless the management allows you to be humorous.)
Understanding Marketing Trends
You need to have a good understanding of social media platforms and how they work. For example,
- Facebook for sharing news and updates,
- Twitter for offering quick snippets of information or engaging in conversations,
- Instagram for visual content,
- LinkedIn for networking and connecting with other professionals, etc.
Knowing which platform is best suited for what you want to achieve is the absolute basics. But you are also expected to keep up with the latest changes and updates to the various platforms, as they can often impact how you use them.
You should know how to use each platform to its fullest potential and be up-to-date on the latest trends in the social media world.
Is a Social Media Specialist Job Good For You?
As well as a lot of responsibilities you may carry, there are also a lot of perks with the job. Here are some of the benefits of being a social media manager:
You Get To Be Creative
A big part of being a social media manager is coming up with creative content ideas that will capture your audience’s attention. If you’re a creative person, this is the perfect role for you.
You Get To Work with a Wide Variety of People
As a social media manager, you’ll be working with different teams within your company (such as marketing, customer service, and product) to create cohesive campaigns. You’ll also be engaging with customers daily, so excellent communication skills are key.
You Get To Learn About Different Industries
Social media is used across all industries, so as a social media manager, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about new products and services in a variety of industries.
You Get To Keep Up With The Latest Trends
Social media is constantly changing, so you’ll always have the chance to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in digital marketing and social media. This can be a great way to develop your skills and stay ahead of the competition.
Overall, being a social media manager is a great opportunity for those who are creative, organized, and passionate about engaging with customers daily. The benefits that come along with this job make it an attractive career path for many people.
The Downside Of Being A Social Media Manager
The social media manager role may sound like “fun” for the creativity and interactivity, but there are some downsides to the job.
Results-Based
This is probably the most glaring downside. You’re not hired just to communicate with others. You’re hired to ultimately help increase the revenue of the company. So if you cannot drive responsive traffic through your social posts, it's pointless having you around for the company. It means;
- Increasing hundreds of thousands of followers means nothing if they’re not becoming the company’s customers. (You can have inactive or bot followers easily by using AI software.)
- Driving people to the company’s website through your posts means nothing if they’re not making purchases. (You are engaging with the wrong types of followers.)
Time Management
The amount of time it can take to manage all of the different platforms. This can be a full-time job in itself, and it can be difficult to find the time to do everything that is required. Plus, there’s constant pressure to be online and available.
Social media never sleeps, so you’re expected to be available at all hours of the day to respond to comments, messages, and posts. Because your company’s profiles become the priority, you may not have enough time for your personal social accounts. This can be stressful and lead to burnout.
Dealing With Trolls
With so much interaction with the public, there is bound to be some negative feedback from time to time. You’ll also be dealing with harsh criticisms and worse still, trolls. It's important not to take any of it personally and remember that not everyone will always be happy with what you post.
How To Become A Social Media Manager
Millions of people already use social networks to promote their businesses, which means to be hired as a social media manager, you’ll have to have solid skills and experience to prove in the first place.
You should have done the following, for example;
- Have posted 1,000 or more Instagram posts.
- You have Twitter posts with 1,000 or more likes.
- All your social posts have comments from your followers.
- You have sophisticated video posts to prove (TikTok, Instagram, etc.)
- You can prove how comfortable you are with using the necessary tools (auto-scheduler, video editor, etc.)
If you don’t think you are up to scratch yet, you can start learning the following while building good relationships with your followers on your personal accounts.
1. Get familiar with different social media platforms
Be familiar with all the different platforms out there such as TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, etc. That way, you can identify which ones will work best for your business and its goals. Take some time to learn about the features of each platform and how they can be used to reach and engage an audience.
2. Develop a strong understanding of content strategy
Content is key when it comes to social media marketing. As a social media manager, you’ll be responsible for creating and curating content that is relevant and engaging for your audience. So you must have a solid understanding of how to develop an effective content strategy. This includes knowing how to research keywords, write compelling copy, and create visuals that capture attention.
3. Build relationships with influencers
The use of influencers in marketing has gained increasing traction in recent years. As a social media manager, you’ll need to build relationships with influencers and leverage their reach to promote your brand. You should also be familiar with affiliate marketing and how to track the performance of these campaigns.
4. Learn digital analytics tools
Analytics are essential for understanding how well your campaigns are performing. To be an effective social media manager, you should learn how to use tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Audience Insights to track key metrics such as engagement, impressions, and website traffic. This will help you make data-driven decisions about your strategy moving forward.
5. Get certified in social media marketing
Getting certified in social media marketing is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and give yourself an edge in this competitive field. There are plenty of courses available online, so be sure to find one that fits your goals and budget.
Start Affiliate Marketing
What does affiliate marketing have to do with securing a social media manager position?
If you're looking to self-teach social media marketing, the best way is to have your own business. But as you know, you cannot build a business overnight. Whereas affiliate marketing business is one of the easiest to get started. So you may want to give it a try.
As an affiliate marketer, you promote other people's products and earn a commission on every sale you make. It's a great way to start your own business because it doesn't require a lot of money or time to get started. Plus, there are many affiliate programs out there that offer comprehensive training materials and support to help you succeed.
All you need is your own website or YouTube channel, either of which can be created for free. When you have built your business, promoting it on social media will become inevitable. So it will be a perfect opportunity to learn social media marketing.
When you become more experienced with social media marketing, fixed all your bad habits and have a strong online presence, you can apply for a job as a social media specialist. This way, you'll earn extra money and help businesses promote themselves effectively. You can also continue to run your affiliate business alongside your new job. This is a great way to earn additional income and create a win-win situation for yourself.
Why Social Media Manager Role Is In Demand: Conclusion
The social media manager role is in demand because it offers companies the opportunity to create and maintain a successful presence on various digital platforms. With the right knowledge, skills, and resources, social media managers are able to effectively engage with their audience and grow the company's brand awareness.
As the use of social media continues to increase, so does the need for organizations to have qualified professionals that understand how to leverage these tools for maximum impact. Companies looking for an edge should consider investing in a talented social media manager who can help them move forward into an ever-evolving online space.
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