Social media plays a vital role in today’s world; every business, no matter how small or how big, needs it to reach out to audiences and let them know they exist. For this reason, the position of the social media manager is growing in importance and influence. If you’re creative, organised and a fan of all things digital, then you could be well placed to take on one of the newest, coolest and most lucrative jobs around right now: that of a social media manager. In this guide, we’ll take you through the basics of getting started with social media management, from skills-building to the role’s core responsibilities.
Foremost, it’s undeniable how social media has changed the face of marketing. Social media managers are in charge of creating content, engaging with fans, tracking metrics, and ensuring that everything the brand does online fits within a cohesive voice and set of brand goals. Creative, analytical and strategic thinkers will find ample opportunity to satisfy fans and clients alike with their knack for bringing content to life.
Build Your Foundation in Social Media Platforms and Content Creation
It’s a good idea to start with building core competencies with social media tools such as Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok, since each tends to speak to different audiences and has different features. You don’t have to become an expert with every platform, but you will want to become fairly familiar with the most widely used ones in order to move forward. Explore the types of content that perform well on each platform, as well as how companies use them to engage with their followers.
An essential aspect of the job is content creation. Though sometimes social media managers are hired to merely post pictures for a brand, mostly they’ll have to create graphics, write captions, and possibly even know how to edit videos. You can learn the basics of graphic design on Canva (a popular graphic design tool) and other similar media-centric websites, or even a simple video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro (or sometimes even from mobile apps, just find a video editing app, upload the raw footage and start editing). Other times, it can simply be a mobile app for editing pictures or captions. Learn how to use the tools available. Sometimes, creating a graphic, video or caption can increase the reach and boost engagement for a brand.
Master Social Media Strategy and Community Engagement
Alongside content-creation skills, it’s important to develop social media strategy skills. Social media managers should be able to plan and execute campaigns that support the wider goals of a brand, which might be to increase a following, facilitate engagement within a community, or drive traffic to a site. Start by setting goals and defining your target audience – your content choices and posting schedule should reflect this, and the KPIs you establish will be there to tell you how it’s going along the way – you’re looking at engagement rates, click-through rates and follower growth, among other things.
Another transferable skill is community management. A brand serving its audience cannot stick to a social media schedule, post regularly and expect to be successful – it is about nurturing the community with regular and timely response to comments, enquiries and complaints, and managing brand reputation day after day. Despite the fact that social media can and must be a wonderful tool for customer service and feedback with regards to the product, a social media manager is the first person to be on the receiving end of it all. The better you know your audience, their preferences and needs, the more effective your engagement will be.
Moving Ahead
As you progress in your career, staying on top of emerging trends will help you stay ahead of the curve with your content and strategy. Social media trends can shift rapidly, and familiarising yourself with new features or emerging platforms will help you stay ahead of your competitors. Follow leaders in social media, participate in webinars and even consider joining professional groups to stay connected with fellow social media managers. Social media management can often be fast-paced and requires an element of flexibility and agility. Remaining on top of trends can ensure that your strategies are both impactful and timely.
For someone who wants to take things more seriously manager, there are a range of formal courses and certifications that can add to your skill set. Coursera, Hootsuite Academy and HubSpot all have offer training courses on subjects such as social media strategy, analytics and content creation. Completing these courses can help you demonstrate how seriously you take social media when you apply for jobs, as well as develop your skills in areas such as analytics or paid advertising. Certifications aren’t always necessary, but can make you feel more confident and help you showcase your commitment to the industry.
Closing Remark
The end of the road for becoming a social media manager is complex and it is a combination of learning, practise and learning some more. The best remedy is to look for opportunities through internships or freelance work. The experience will help you bring theory to life and learning from projects will build up your portfolio and help showcase who you are to future employers. Every piece of work is another example of what you can do for your potential boss.
Social media management is a competitive and creative career – and a promising one, if you have a mind for strategy, can keep up with a field that’s constantly changing, and have the patience to keep learning new skills on the go. But it’s not out of reach – if you take the time to hone your craft, think strategically, and stay in the loop.
0 Comments