How to Become a Social Media Strategist

Crafting a result-oriented social media strategy requires skill, creative thinking, and experience, among other skills. This is why a social media strategist is in high demand. The job involves creating, evaluating, and tweaking social media content to help a brand achieve its marketing goals cost-effectively. In this blog post, we’ll tell you how to become a social media strategist. By the end, you’ll have a step-by-step plan to start your career on the right foot. Let’s dive in. 

Who is a Social Media Strategist

A social media strategist helps brands start and grow their social media accounts by creating, editing, and publishing content. Their major job is to come up with effective growth and content strategies, helping the brand reach its goals cost-effectively. They don’t only strategize and create content but also monitor its performance and make tweaks to their strategy accordingly. 

There are essentially two kinds of social media strategists. Some work as freelancers and offer their services to clients all over the world. The price of their services depends on the experience and skills of the strategist. The second type of social media strategist works in-house for companies or agencies and gets a monthly paycheck. 

What Does a Social Media Strategist Do

what does a social media strategist do

A social media strategist maintains a brand’s presence on social media. The role involves coming up with a content strategy that aligns with the brand’s marketing goals and values. Strategists may also create, publish, and analyze the content. In most of the cases, this is the responsibility of the social media content creator. Typically, a strategist handles the following aspects of social media marketing:

  • Strategizing and executing social media campaigns 
  • Establish effective communication channels with relevant teams 
  • Developing content strategies for different platforms
  • Identifying and measuring key performance indicators
  • Keeping in touch with online trends
  • Documenting wins and losses
  • And maybe more

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How to Become a Social Media Strategist

Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a social media strategist. 

Build Your Foundations 

Some employers require a professional degree in a relevant subject such as marketing, communications, and PR. However, this is not the case when you’re pursuing this career from a freelance perspective. Most clients will just look at your skills, portfolio, and experience before hiring you for a project. Nevertheless, it’s always a plus to have a relevant degree from a reputable organization at your back. Alternatively, you can enroll in online courses and learn all the basics on your own. You can spice up your CV by taking certifications from reputable organizations like HubSpot and Google. 

Work as an Intern

work as an intern

More than 66.4% of interns land a full-time job after the completion of their internship. Besides, you’re unlikely to land a full-time job with a reliable brand or company with zero experience. For exposure and experience, you can work as an intern, remotely or in-house. Working as an intern allows you to build your network, which increases your chances of getting a full-time offer. 

Build Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is essentially a combination of your projects and experiences. A company considering you for the role will likely ask for your portfolio before moving forward with the hiring process. What you can do is document every little success and content piece in a file. Alternatively, you can add all your details to your website. Make it easy for a potential employer or client to check your portfolio by adding a link to it in your CV, cover letter, social media, or any relevant place.

Related: How to Be a Social Media Content Creator

Network

A powerful way to find clients and employers for a social media strategist position is by networking in niche communities. Join Facebook and LinkedIn groups and participate in the conversations. Showcase your talent, skill, and experience with value posts and insightful comments. You can also join job boards and freelance platforms to increase your chances of getting hired. 

Skills Needed to Be a Social Media Strategist

Familiarity with Social Platforms

Every social media platform will be different in terms of the audience, advertising tools, content type, and relevance to your business. Understanding the type of content that performs best on a platform helps you drive engagement and conversions for brands. 

Client Management

When you’re working as a freelance social media strategist, you need to constantly be in touch with clients and make sure they’re satisfied with their investments. Effective communication skills come in handy here. Keeping your tech team in the loop and maintaining a clear communication channel is a skill you need in an in-house job. 

Graphic Design

Social media strategists work with graphic designers to create eye-catching and engaging designs for the target audience. Understanding graphic design helps you keep everything in line with the brand’s colors and theme. 

Copywriting

The ability to write good copy helps social media strategists hook, engage, and convert the audience. For instance, they can use storytelling to create stroll-stoping Facebook ads.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Social Media Manager 

How to Become a Social Media Strategist: FAQs

Let’s address some frequently asked questions about becoming a social media strategist. 

What Do You Need to Become a Social Media Strategist?

Most social media strategist jobs require a relevant degree and some experience. For freelance jobs, you just have to showcase your ability to help a potential client grow on social media. 

What is the Job of a Social Media Strategist?

A social media strategist is responsible for creating and executing social media marketing strategies. They create, publish, and manage content on different social platforms. 

What is the Difference Between a Social Media Strategist and a Social Media Manager?

Social media managers take care of day-to-day marketing tasks, like responding to customer queries and making sure they’re satisfied. Social media strategists, on the other hand, have a more creative job of creating and executing growth strategies. 

Conclusion

To become a social media strategist, all you need is a relevant degree, some experience, and the right skills. Getting a freelance or remote job isn’t as tricky. The barrier to entry is lower as clients mostly look at your skill level, portfolio, and communication skills before hiring. 

What Does a Community Manager Do

Brands need to build their reputation as original, credible, and relatable. Social media is revolutionizing the way brands and individuals connect. Today, every brand can have a well-knit online community of customers as well as prospects. 

But, creating a community is one thing; managing it effectively for building and maintaining a positive reputation is another. This is where a community manager comes in. According to data, a community manager can improve the performance of a branded community by 12%. In this article, we’ll talk about the role of a community manager in customer-brand relationships. Let’s dive in.

What is a Community Manager?

A community manager acts as a bridge between a brand and its audience. They help businesses build their presence through content creation, engagement, and customer support. The role involves building trust around a brand, which leads to improved performance. The hard and soft skills needed to be a community manager include:

  • Communication 
  • Ability to develop content strategies
  • Public relations
  • Event management

What Does a Community Manager Do?

Build and Maintain a Community 

A community manager is responsible for building and maintaining a community for a brand. They’re responsible for shaping the public perception of the brand they work with. The role entails interacting with a brand’s audience on all important platforms. Plus, since every platform is different in terms of culture, rules, and active audience, community managers need to ensure a consistent tone and voice throughout. 

Manage Public Relations

Building and maintaining relationships is another key aspect of a community manager’s job. The ability to handle a PR mistake or blunder separates an average community manager from a great one. To effectively manage PR, a community manager has to establish a communication channel with the legal, PR, and other relevant teams within the organization. 

Create Strategies

Successful community managers consistently come up with new ideas and aren’t afraid to experiment with them. Their focus is more on the long-term goal than short-term gains. 

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Track Results

In addition to acting as a liaison between the consumers and the brand, community managers also track engagement across all platforms. Since they’re on the front end engaging with the community, community managers can help the back-end teams make more informed decisions. When you track consumer-brand engagement, you get to understand what strategies work and what don’t. This lets you focus on community-building tactics that can actually move the needle for the brand. 

Delight the Community 

The role of a community manager can be tough. It involves identifying problems, finding solutions, and addressing negative feedback. Some days can demand a lot of patience and resilience from you. In addition to that, you’re responsible for making sure everyone within the community is happy and has a positive impression of your brand. 

Community Manager Vs Social Media Manager

community manager vs social media manger

Social media managers and community managers both work to achieve the social media marketing goals of a brand. However, the tasks they’re responsible for taking care of are different. Community managers mediate the relationship between a brand and its audience. They answer questions, review comments, and solve issues to maintain a harmonious community.

Social media managers, on the other hand, have a broader role of creating and executing social media marketing plans. They create, curate, and analyze content and advertisements to help brands move in the right direction. 

Important Skills for Community Managers

Communication 

As a community manager, you’ll have a lot of interaction with the audience. Being good at expressing yourself and your brand is crucial. Beyond communicating with the community, you also have to stay in touch with your internal team and keep them in the loop about everything happening in the community. 

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Problem-Solving

As a community manager, you may have to resolve conflicts. Not all community members will be happy all the time. You’ll have to address their concerns or any requests on time. This is where your problem-solving skills will come in handy. 

Moderation

A social media post, page, or group can attract a lot of spammers if you don’t moderate it effectively. This is why brands hire moderators to make sure every comment is relevant and non-spammy. The job of a community manager is to enforce the guidelines and policies of the page or group. 

Analytical Skills

The best way to know if you’re moving in the right direction or not is by putting your strategies under the microscope. This means looking at the results your efforts have generated and coming up with a plan accordingly. Having analytical skills helps community managers shape their strategies for maximum output. Here are the metrics you should track to gauge your performance as a community manager:

  • Engagement rate
  • Response time
  • Conversions
  • Community size growth
  • Overall audience satisfaction

What Does a Community Manager Do: FAQs

what does a community manager do faqs

Let’s talk about some frequently asked questions about community management. 

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Community Manager?

Effective community management requires a set of soft and hard skills. You need to be good at communication, problem-solving, strategy-making, analytics, and moderation. 

Is a Community Manager a Good Job?

A community management job can be a great one if you enjoy interacting with people online. It’s also growing in demand as brands realize the importance of community building and social media growth. 

What is the Function of Community Management?

Community management involves maintaining a harmonious community for a brand’s customers. It also includes creating an effective communication channel within the organization. 

Related: How to Prepare for a Social Media Interview

Conclusion 

A community manager has a range of responsibilities. They create and maintain a harmonious community for effective brand-customer interactions. In addition, they manage public relations and make sure no PR mistake leads to irreparable damage to the company’s image or reputation. Creating strategies for community growth and improving communications within the community is another important aspect of the role. Not only that but community managers also need to make sure their efforts are producing positive results by tracking different metrics like the engagement rate, community growth, and more. Important skills a community manager needs to polish for best results are:

  • Effective communication 
  • Moderation
  • Problem-solving
  • Analytics

How to Be a Social Media Content Creator

A social media content creator is someone who creates and shares content on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for other brands. The role involves promoting other brands’ products by creating engaging and converting social media content. 

However, it can be tough to stand out and get noticed as a newbie in this saturated market. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to be a social media content creator. Let’s get started. 

Who Is a Social Media Content Creator?

Social media content creators create text, images, graphics, videos, short-form posts, and any type of content that you can publish on a social media platform. 

The goal of this content is to hook, engage, and convert a target audience on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. The content you produce as a creator isn’t random; it’s targeted, which is only possible when you have your target audience in mind. The goal can be to generate more conversions, get more clicks, or build a bigger following. 

Social Media Manager vs. Social Media Content Creator

social media content creation

A social media content creator plans, creates, and publishes content. They need to stay updated with the latest trends and create a strategy accordingly. Whereas, social media managers have a wider range of duties. They may be responsible for strategy formation, ad management, analytics, and even content creation. To be a social media content creator, you need to be good at coming up with engaging content all the time. 

Platforms for Social Media Content Creation

In order to become a successful social media content creator, you need to learn about the most popular platforms out there. 

Instagram

Statista predicts that there will be about 1.44 billion monthly active users on Instagram by 2025. Instagram is inarguably the biggest image-based social media platform. If you have a knack for producing engaging visual content, it’s perfect for you. 

In addition, Instagram Reels introduced in 2021 to compete with TikTok are gaining a lot of popularity as well. Creating these Reels is easier than long-from videos. Plus, since they’re short, it’s easier for a marketer to grab a user’s attention with them. 

YouTube

Unlike TikTok and Instagram/Facebook Reels, YouTube is focused on long-form video content. Videos on YouTube are educational in nature, which makes this platform perfect for detailed reviews, informational content, and personal experiences. Plus, it’s a search engine, so businesses that want to get long-term traffic are your ideal clients.

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Twitter

Twitter has a different vibe than other social platforms, the character limits for Tweets being its stand-out difference. There’s a cap of 280 characters on each Tweet, so you need to be super concise to convey a message. You can add more Tweets as comments and create detailed Threads. Twitter also supports videos, images, and external links. 

Facebook 

Launched in 2004, Facebook is one of the oldest social media platforms out there. This makes it a perfect place to reach a millennial audience. Plus, it’s a versatile platform, allowing you to post all kinds of content types:

  • Short and long posts 
  • Short and long videos
  • Live videos

Moreover, it has a massive active audience, more than any other social platform. Plus, the advertising tools it offers make it ideal for small businesses to reach their audience. As a content creator, you’ll be responsible for creating written posts, Stories, and Reels. 

Tools for Social Media Content Creators

Learning the tools of the trade can help you get a social media content creator job quickly. Here are the top tools you can leverage as a social media content creator. 

Canva

canva

Canva is an all-in-one, beginner-friendly graphic design software. Thanks to its pre-made graphic templates and a simple drag-and-drop designer, Canva lets you create professional graphics without any experience. It has a generous free plan, which is enough for most use cases. Canva’s paid plans aren’t expensive either.  

Trello

Trello, a project management platform, is perfect for organizing your workflows. You can also invite other members of your team to collaborate on projects easily. Trello lets you easily visualize your content plan with simple boards. 

Grammarly

Grammarly is a must-have for every content creator. It pinpoints spelling, typos, and grammatical mistakes, allowing you to keep your content error-free. Grammarly’s free plan is more than enough for most content creators. 

Buzzsumo

Buzzsumo helps you stay on top of social trends by allowing you to monitor relevant keywords. It’s basically a social listening tool that helps you create fresh and in-demand content for your target audience. 

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a chatbot that can help you with content ideation, topic learning, outlines, and more. For instance, you can use it to come up with a content plan for the next month. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s address some frequently asked questions about becoming a social media content creator.  

How Much Do Content Creators on Social Media Make?

According to ZipRecruiter, a typical social media content creator makes $57,977 per year and $28 per hour. The income also depends on the company you’re working with, your exact role, and your prior experience. 

What Does a Content Creator on Social Media Do?

A social media content creator is usually responsible for creating engaging content on topics that resonate with the brand’s target audience. They may also be responsible for strategy formulation, content scheduling/publishing, and other micro roles. 

How Do I Become a Content Creator with No Experience?

Start by learning the skill of content creation for social media audiences. Get familiar with the most popular social platforms and how their algorithms work. Use networking on platforms like LinkedIn to get noticed and land clients. 

Wrapping Up

To become a successful social media content creator, you don’t need a degree or years of experience. Everything you need is at your fingertips. Start by learning the basics of social media content marketing and get familiar with different platforms. Tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and Buzzsumo can save you a lot of time and help you create engaging content. 

If you want to sell your services, get registered on different freelancing platforms or job sites. One of the best ways to attract potential clients to your services is by networking on LinkedIn. 

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How to Become a Freelance Social Media Manager

Every business wants to attract social media traffic to its products or services. But, everyone can’t afford to execute social media marketing strategies on their own. The process is just too time-consuming. 

Instead, small businesses hire someone who can effectively manage day-to-day marketing tasks and help them grow. As a freelance social media manager, you work remotely for the brand that hires you. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to become a freelance social media manager. Let’s dive in. 

What Does a Social Media Manager Do

If you’re thinking of becoming a social media manager, it’s crucial to understand what your responsibilities will be. The job requires a variety of tasks from you since you’ll be managing a brand’s social media presence. It may include one or more of the following:

  • Creating a social media marketing strategy
  • Writing content
  • Handling customer queries
  • Managing ads
  • Analyze the performance
  • Stay on top of trends
  • And more

When you’re a freelance social media manager, you also need to manage client acquisition and communication. As you can see, you need a handful of skills if you want to be an effective social media manager. Let’s break each skill down a little. 

Skills Required to Be a Freelance Social Media Manager

become a freelance social media manager

Communication 

Communication is one of the most important skills you need as a social media marketer and a freelancer. You’ll need good communication skills to reach out and close new clients. Plus, as a social media manager, you’ll be required to understand your audience and provide satisfactory answers. 

Copywriting

From writing ads to engaging with prospects, copywriting is everywhere in social media marketing. You’ll have to write a lot of persuasive content to attract, engage, and convert your client’s audience. 

Creativity 

Sometimes, your client won’t offer a lot of help with developing a strategy. You may even have to create ad creatives for them from scratch. To manage all that effectively, you will need to be creative. 

Graphic Design Knowledge

As mentioned above, you may have to create ad graphics and social media posts without the client’s help. You don’t need to be a graphic design expert though. Tools like Canva have ready-made templates you can reuse as your own. Some graphic design sense is all you need to pick engaging graphics. 

Client Acquisition and Management

Freelance social media managers have to hunt for clients and manage their communication effectively. One of the major reasons why many aspiring freelancers quit is because they find client acquisition too hard. 

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How to Become a Freelance Social Media Manager

 

Take Social Media Marketing Courses

Start by taking some social media marketing courses from reputable organizations. There are thousands of courses to learn from. You just need to understand the basics and learn the ins and outs of the platforms you want to work on. For instance, you can start by learning Facebook ads management and expand your knowledge later to other platforms.

Pick Your Platform/sbecoming a freelance social media manager

Before you can start reaching out to potential clients, it’s important to understand which platforms you want to focus on. Defining a platform helps you get your first client relatively easily. Your target platform will also depend on the target audience of your potential client. For instance, if you want to work with B2B companies, LinkedIn would be the perfect place for client hunting. 

Learn to Create Social Media Strategies

As a freelance social media manager, you’ll mostly need to identify the best path for your client. When it comes to spending their marketing budget, you may have to take the driving seat. 

Identify Your Target Clients

One of the best things about freelance jobs is that you get to choose who you work with. Identifying your target clients also makes your reach out much more effective. You’ll know their pain points or desires, which makes it easy for you to grab their attention. 

Pick Your Services

There are plenty of services you can offer as a social media manager, but there’s a limit to how much you can manage effectively. Identify your strengths and stick with them. For instance, if you’re good at strategy building, offer ad management services. If you can write good copy, offer copywriting services. 

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Set Your Prices

At first, you might have to keep your prices a bit low to get your foot in the door. The social media marketing industry is overcrowded, so you will have to do something unique to stand out and get noticed. As you get more experience, you can start charging more. Your charges will, however, depend on several other factors, including your location, platforms, and services. 

Finding Your First Client

finding your first client as a freelance social media manager

At this point, you should have a good understanding of social media marketing. So, why not use it to get your first freelance client? Start by networking on social platforms where your target client hangs out. Position yourself as someone who can help others reach their marketing goals. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about becoming a freelance social media manager. 

How Do I Start Freelance Social Media Management?

Start by taking some courses on reputable platforms like Google Digital Garage and Hubspot Academy. Implement what you learn on your own social profiles to get clients. Learn communication and use networking to land clients consistently. 

How Much Can I Make as a Freelance Social Media Manager?

Your earnings as a freelance social media manager depend on your services, platforms, and types of clients. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a freelance social media marketing manager is $64,845 per year. 

How Do I Pitch Myself as a Freelance Social Media Manager?

Start by introducing yourself and your social media marketing expertise. Tell them how investing in your services will help them grow on social media and why you’re the right fit for the task. 

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Conclusion

This was all about how to become a freelance social media manager. To be a successful social media manager, you need a range of skills, including copywriting, understanding of graphic design, strategy building, analyzing the data, and more. 

Therefore, you should start by taking a detailed course on the subject. Then, narrow your expertise down to a certain area, for instance, Facebook ads. Start networking on social platforms your target clients are spending time on. Offer your services at a competitive rate in the beginning to get your first client as soon as possible. 

Skills Needed to be a Social Media Manager

Social media is the go-to place for businesses of all sizes to reach their audience and build brand awareness. According to Statista, a whopping 91% of businesses use social media for marketing. The demand for skillful social media managers is growing, as is the competition. To stand out, you need to have a unique set of skills. In this guide, we’ll talk about what they are and how you can polish them, and improve your chances of getting a job. Let’s dive in. 

Skills Needed to Be a Social Media Manager

Strengthen Your Basics

Start by working on your basic marketing knowledge and skills. Online courses from reputable organizations such as HubSpot, Google, and even Coursera can help you build a strong foundation. In addition, polish your communication skills by interacting with customers and prospects online. 

Understand the Platforms

One of the first things you should do to spice up the “Skills” section of your resume is to learn the intricacies of popular social media platforms. This goes beyond mere understanding of how to manage a profile. You will need to learn how each platform’s algorithm and advertising tools work. Plus, understand what type of audience hangs out on it. 

For instance, LinkedIn hosts professionals representing companies and businesses worldwide. On the other hand, Pinterest is more focused on people who like to consume visual content. This is where understanding who your target audience is will come in handy. 

Mastering Social Media Marketing Tools

Tools like Buffer and Later make social media marketing a lot easier and more effective than it otherwise would be. Using a social media tool enables you to automate most of your marketing aspects. For instance, you can schedule a month’s worth of content in one sitting. This lets you work on your own time and take on more clients. In addition to that, platforms like Buffer help you move in the right direction by providing you with insightful data. In addition, learn the marketing tools of the platform to understand your reach, engagement, and conversion rate. New tools are constantly hitting the market. To ensure you’re not investing your time in workflows that can be automated, keep learning about new tools and automation strategies. 

Communication Skills

Effective communication is key to attracting prospects and turning them into regular customers. You simply can’t be a good marketer without good communication skills. It includes everything from understanding your target audience and delivering what they want. For instance, a Twitter Tweet or an Instagram caption can only work if you know how to communicate your message concisely. In addition to that, you need good verbal communication skills to work in teams and collaborate on projects within an organization. 

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Strategic Thinking

Creating engaging content is an important part of the job. However, as a social media manager, you have to think beyond creating engaging content. You need to have the ability to devise content strategies that align with a business’s goals. First, understand the goals of every brand you work with. Then, devise content strategies that can help that business achieve those goals.

The key to developing a strategic mindset is focusing on the long-term picture. Keep an eye on market trends and explore new marketing opportunities to help businesses stay ahead of their competition. A strategic approach also demands that you keep an eye on your key performance indicators (KPIs) and be willing to make the necessary changes when needed. 

Compelling Writing Skills

Copywriting is probably the most important skill to polish as a social media manager. The profession demands copywriting in every aspect from writing a post caption to creating a powerful call to action. As a social media writer, you need to capture the attention as well as build engagement. And that’s not possible without to-the-point and exciting content. Plus, your grammar and spelling should be top-notch. Thanks to tools like Grammarly, keeping your writings error-free is easy and free. In addition, when you’re managing multiple platforms for the same brand, developing a consistent brand voice is important.

Understanding Analytics and Data Interpretation 

A successful social media manager isn’t just good at writing captivating headlines, engaging posts, and actionable CTAs. They’re also well-versed in interpreting data and making informed marketing decisions. Your knowledge of different analytics tools, including the native platform ones, will help you track your KPIs. As soon as you have the data, it’s time to interpret it and make better-informed marketing decisions. For instance, one of the most important KPIs would be your traffic sources. By knowing your best-performing platforms, you’re able to focus more on what’s working. 

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Skills Needed to Be a Social Media Manager: FAQs

Let’s discuss some frequently asked questions about the skills needed to be a social media manager. What are the Requirements to Be a Social Media Manager? When hiring a social media manager, brands generally look at their education, experience, knowledge of social media tools, analytical skills, strategic thinking, and writing skills. 

What Makes an Excellent Social Media Manager?

A social media manager needs to be good at communication, customer service, creative writing, strategic thinking, and marketing. 

What are the Basics of Social Media Management?

Social media marketing involves understanding the needs of your audience and creating content to promote a business. The goal is to drive high-quality traffic to landing or sales pages. 

How Do I Sell Myself as a Social Media Manager?

You can sell yourself as a social media manager by networking in niche online communities. Other ways to market yourself include blogging, paid ads, and videos. 

Conclusion 

An overwhelming majority of businesses around the world use social media platforms to promote their products. This is why there’s a growing demand for professional social media marketers. But, although the demand may be high, it’s not easy to stand out among so many candidates. The right course of action would be to polish the skills needed to be a social media manager. 

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Types of Social Media Jobs – A Comprehensive Guide

The number of social media job titles out there can really make it hard to tell them apart sometimes. For instance, how do you draw a link between a social media manager and a community manager? 

Let’s make your life easier by exploring 8 of the most important social media roles you may have to perform as a professional. This article also covers the roles and responsibilities of each job. Let’s get started. 

Types of Social Media Jobs

Social Media Intern

According to Indeed, the average salary of a social media intern is $15.27. Although being a social media marketing intern might not pay well, it can help you get your foot in the door. The job involves working under the guidance of a manager. As an intern, you execute basic social media marketing tasks like writing content, scheduling posts, and doing research. 

Social Media Manager

Probably the most common type of social media job is a social media manager. Social media managers are typically responsible for creating and implementing a social media marketing strategy. Their goals can range from increasing brand awareness to driving more traffic to generate more sales.

In small organizations and businesses, everything from content strategy to tracking results may fall under their job title. However, for medium-to-large businesses, the exact responsibilities of a social media manager may vary depending on the size and demands of that business. In essence, you may be required to wear several hats at one time as a social media manager. 

Community Manager

Community management is often confused with social media management, but both roles are different. However, the roles do overlap sometimes. This is why small businesses don’t have a dedicated community manager; their social media manager takes care of everything. However, in larger organizations, community managers engage and communicate with social media followers and fans. 

Social Media Strategist

As the name suggests, a social media strategist creates and executes social marketing strategies. In small businesses, the role is typically handled by a social media manager. In larger companies, strategists and managers work hand-in-hand to craft and implement these strategies. They may also perform audits to identify any loopholes in the strategy and make chances for better future outcomes. Analyzing the performance of social media content and reporting it to the seniors is another possible role of these professionals. 

Content Strategist

social media content strategist

A content strategist is different than a social media strategist. As the name suggests, the role involves creating content strategies to attract, engage, and convert the target audience. As a content strategist, you also have to make sure the brand voice and image remain the same across all platforms.  Content strategists also build brand loyalty, build relationships with existing audiences, and acquire new customers. All with the power of organic social media content. Their tasks involve:

  • Editing and updating content
  • Monitoring campaigns
  • Analyzing data for decision-making

Other responsibilities of a content strategist include conducting audits, coming up with new content ideas, finding keywords for SEO, managing budgets, and staying up to date with trends. 

Social Media Specialist

In theory, the tasks of a social media specialist are more specialized in nature. However, some duties may overlap with those of a social media manager or a social media strategist. Moreover, social media specialists are more concerned with the implementation of the strategies. They also work with industry influencers to make business connections and spread the word around. As a specialist, you may also be asked to create and schedule social media content with an automation tool. 

Brand Manager

As the name suggests, brand managers control how their brand is perceived by the public. It is a relatively higher-level position that entails working with researchers, advertisers, and content creators to make sure everything is in line with the brand’s image, voice, and values. As a brand manager, you work with copywriters and graphic designers and make sure all branding assets are consistent with the brand’s overall voice. 

Social Media Analyst

A social media analyst is responsible for monitoring and analyzing a brand’s campaigns. They analyze what’s working and what isn’t, helping the brand make informed marketing decisions. The role typically involves:

  • Understanding audience needs
  • Identifying best-performing posts/ads
  • Researching competitors

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Types of Social Media Jobs: FAQs

frequently asked questions about types of social media jobs

What is a Social Media Professional Called?

The title of a social media professional varies depending on the role, job level, and the organization you work for. The most popular social media job titles are social media manager, analyst, strategist, and specialist. 

What Type of Job is Social Media Marketing?

A social media marketing job involves promoting a brand’s products or services to its social media audience. To achieve their marketing goals, brands hire social media managers, strategists, analysts, community managers, and more. 

Is Working in Social Media a Good Career?

Yes, working in social media can be a rewarding career, especially when you consider the long-term picture. Brands of all sizes need social media professionals to grow their businesses on social media. 

What is the Highest Salary in Social Media?

Your salary as a social media professional can vary depending on the size, nature, and industry of the organization. Your exact role, responsibilities, and experience level also have a part to play. Top-paying job titles include social media manager, community manager, and brand manager. 

Conclusion: Social Media Job Types

Over half of the world’s population spends time on social media platforms, which is why over 30 Million businesses use it to promote their products and services. These businesses need a range of marketing professionals to manage accounts and achieve their marketing goals. Some of the most common social media job titles include social media:

  • Interns
  • Managers
  • Strategists
  • Content strategists
  • Specialists
  • Community managers
  • Brand managers
  • Analysts

The social media marketing industry is continuously evolving, so it’s important to keep yourself up to date and polish your skills accordingly. The most important skills you’ll need to be an effective social media professional are communication, analysis, creativity, strategy development, and teamwork. 

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What is the Job of a Social Media Manager

In recent years, social media has become a part of our lives. Over half of Earth’s population uses it to interact and consume content, making it a great place to promote anything. Professionals, business owners, and organizations leverage social media for growth. However, they don’t have the time and energy to manage everything themselves, which is where a social media manager comes in. 

In this article, We’ll talk about the role of a social media manager in detail. By the end, you’ll know the jobs they do to help businesses grow cost-effectively. Let’s get started.

What Does a Social Media Manager Do

Like any manager, a typical social media manager is responsible for tackling a variety of tasks, ranging from conducting research to staying up to date on the latest trends. 

Perform Research

One of the first jobs of a social media manager is to understand your industry, audience, competitors, and growth opportunities. The data and information they collect help them craft impactful strategies 

Design and Execute Strategies

The most important part of a social media manager’s job is to plan and execute strategies to achieve specific goals. The goal can be anything from broadening a brand’s reach to driving more traffic to getting more sales. The execution of these strategies involves content creation, scheduling, ad optimization, and more.

Create, Edit, and Publish Content

Organic content is the soul of every social media marketing campaign. It’s what helps you build a loyal following, attract leads, and sell stuff down the line. Social media managers are responsible for creating and publishing content on different platforms. If they’re working with a copywriter, their job is to make the necessary edits before the content goes live. One challenge social media managers face while creating content is adapting or repurposing it for different platforms. 

Collaborate with the Team

collaborate with teams

Social media managers work hand-in-hand with copywriters, graphic designers, and marketing teams. This synergy allows for consistent brand messaging and strategy. 

Communicate with Followers

Social media managers are also responsible for interacting with followers and customers. This includes replying to comments, inbox messages, and responding to feedback. The two-way communication ensures your followers don’t feel left out and feel important. 

Analyse and Track Performance

Social media managers use data to identify potential growth opportunities as well as loopholes. They use social media analytics tools to help businesses move in the right direction. Popular analytics tools include:

  • Sprout Social 
  • Hootsuite
  • Buffer 

Stay Up to Date with Trends

Social media managers also have to keep themselves up to date on the latest changes in the industry. This includes algorithm changes, new features, and emerging social media marketing trends. 

How to Become a Social Media Manager

what is the job of a social media manager..

Understand Different Platforms

To become a social media manager, you need to have a deep understanding of popular platforms. Thankfully, exploring a platform is all you need to understand its dynamics. The most important thing is to identify the type of audience each platform hosts. For instance, LinkedIn is an ideal place for professionals to network and find job opportunities. 

Learn the Skill

Consider enrolling in courses and getting certifications in social media marketing. This ensures you have your basics covered before going for practical experience. 

Build Your Presence

As you gain more knowledge, start implementing it on your own social media profiles and pages. Consistently publish content, analyze the results, and focus on what works. This will also help attract potential clients to your social profiles. 

Gain Practical Experience

It’s hard to find work when you’re a beginner. Consider working for a non-profit organization for the sake of portfolio building. Record your successes so that you can show them to potential employers in the future. 

Find a Job 

One of the best ways to get a job is to network with potential employers on social media platforms. LinkedIn is inarguably at the top of the list when it comes to job hunting. Join relevant groups, post regularly, and engage under other people’s posts to gain exposure. You can use LinkedIn’s search bar to find relevant job opportunities. Also, sign up for LinkedIn job alerts to get updates on new opportunities. 

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What is the Job of a Social Media Manager: FAQs

What Skills Does a Social Media Manager Have?

A social media manager needs to be good at communication skills. Other important skills include content creation, graphic design, proficiency with data analytics tools, and project management. 

Is Social Media Manager a Good Job?

Yes, social media management is a good job because it’s not only lucrative but offers long-term growth. The growing demand for good social media managers makes this profession attractive. 

How Do I Become a Social Media Manager?

To become a social media manager, learn the basics, gain some practical experience, build a portfolio, and network with potential employers/clients. 

What is a Social Media Manager’s Salary?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average base salary of a social media manager is $64,375/year. However, the exact salary may depend on the industry and one’s experience. 

Conclusion: Job of a Social Media Manager

A social media manager is an all-in-one resource for an organization. They take care of content creation, post-scheduling, analytics, and more. The exact job of a social media manager depends on the organization’s needs. Generally, they’re responsible for keeping a brand’s social media pages active. 

To become a social media manager, you don’t need a degree, although a certification from a reputable organization can boost your profile. Alternatively, go for an online course and learn the basics first. Then, offer your services at competitive rates to get your foot in the door, or work with a non-profit. Next, build your portfolio and start networking with professionals on LinkedIn. Keep your profile optimized and apply for relevant job openings as they pop up. 

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How to Write a Resume for a Social Media Job

Your chances of getting hired as a social media professional largely depend on how you write your resume. While browsing social media resumes, recruiters look for very specific information. And to get that information, they skim through the content. 

This is exactly why you need to keep your resume to the point and relevant. In this blog post, we’ll help you craft a resume that stands out, grabs the attention of potential recruiters, and makes you a strong candidate. So, if you’re an aspiring social media marketer, this blog post is for you. Let’s dive in. 

Understand Social Media Jobs

Before we talk about writing a perfect resume for a social media job, let’s take a quick look at the most prominent social media positions or roles.

Social Media Manager

Social media managers handle everything from devising a content strategy to analyzing what works and what doesn’t. As a social media manager, your role would be to strategize, execute, and measure social media campaigns. 

Social Media Content Specialist

Content is the backbone of every social media campaign. As a content specialist, your job is to create captivating and engaging content, be it the written word,  images, or videos. You’ll also have to make sure the content aligns with the brand’s voice.

Social Media Analyst

Analysts help businesses make sure their social media campaigns are moving in the right direction. The job necessitates knowledge of analytics tools and the ability to report data in an easy-to-understand way. 

Writing an Effective Social Media Job Resume

how to write a resume for a social media job ...

Now that you understand different roles, let’s talk about how you craft a perfect resume for each one of them. 

Tailor the Resume to the Job

According to data, around 63% of employers prefer resumes personalized to the role. Yet, one of the most common mistakes applicants make is that they don’t customize their resumes enough. Understand the requirements of the job and add relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences. 

Structure Your Resume

The structure of a resume decides how easy it is for the reader to quickly go through the important parts. So, it’s important to strike a balance between what the recruiter is expecting and making it unique from other applicants. 

Try to incorporate your unique style and aesthetics to stand out from the competition while also maintaining a consistent structure. 

Include Relevant Links

Most hiring managers will want to look at your social profiles to make sure you’re the right fit for the job and company. Add relevant social profiles to the “Contact” section of your resume. 

This helps the recruiter know your personality and see if you’re a good cultural fit. Also, don’t forget to optimize your social profiles with the right information. 

Highlight Relevant Skills

This might sound obvious, but many social media job applicants add irrelevant skills to their resume, which can harm your chances of getting hired. Keep in mind the role you’re applying for while writing the skills section of your resume. 

For instance, if you’re applying for a social media analyst job, recruiters won’t have a lot of interest in your content creation skills. However, whatever social media job you’re applying for, showing good interpersonal and communication skills can pay off. Some interpersonal skills that can spruce up your resume include:

  • Creative thinking
  • Attention to detail 
  • Leadership
  • Passion
  • Relationship building

Add Your Prior Successes

show your successes

This might be the most important section of your social media job resume. Sometimes, showcasing your past successes is all you need to impress a potential recruiter. Use the following statistics or data as proof that you can help the company grow on social media:

  • User-engagement statistics
  • Click-through rate
  • Conversion rate
  • Bounce rate
  • Follower growth rate

This can especially help you if you’re trying to land a social media analyst job. 

Proofread Everything

Before sending out your resume, don’t forget to revise it for spelling, grammar, and linguistic mistakes. An error, no matter how small, shows that you don’t give heed to attention to detail, an important skill for every social media job. Thankfully, identifying errors in any written text is super easy with free tools like Grammarly. 

How to Write a Resume for a Social Media Job: FAQs

Let’s now briefly answer some questions you might have as an aspiring social media professional. 

What Should I Put in My Social Media Resume?

Your social media job resume should include your contact information, educational qualifications, work experience, past projects, relevant certifications, and skills. However, the exact information depends on what role you’re applying for. 

How to Write a Resume for a Social Media Job With No Experience?

If you’re new to the industry, focus on your educational background, skills, and personal projects. For instance, you can create and grow your own page and showcase its results as a personal project. 

What is a Professional Summary for a Social Media Job?

A professional summary helps you demonstrate why you’re the right fit for the job. In it, you can add all the relevant information like your experiences, certifications, and past projects. Importantly, a resume summary needs to be as brief as possible. 

What Skills Do You Need to Work in Social Media?

The skills you need to be a social media professional depend on the role. For instance, social media managers need to strategize and execute marketing strategies effectively. A social media analyst, on the other hand, needs to be good at data analytics. 

Conclusion: How to Write a Resume for Social Media Jobs

When writing a social media job resume, it’s important to keep in mind the specific role. Plus, know that most employers will just skim your resume, so it’s important to have a proper structure. 

The most common job positions you’ll encounter are social media manager, content creator, and analyst. Tailor your resume to the specific job or role by including relevant skills and experiences. Here’s a quick recap of how to write a resume for a social media job and stand out:
Structure your resume

  • Include relevant links 
  • Highlight relevant skills
  • Add your successes
  • Proofread it thoroughly 

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How Can Social Media Affect Job Opportunities

Social media can have a significant impact on your job search. In this globally connected world, employers don’t only look at your resume and cover letter to understand who you are. 

Therefore, it’s important to keep your social media professional and optimized for hiring managers. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the effects social media can have on job opportunities. We’ll also tell you how you can make sure your social presence plays a positive role in your job search. 

Let’s dive in. 

Why Do Employers Check Social Media

According to research, 67% of employers use social media to research their candidates. There are a number of reasons why hiring managers and employers look at your social media before making a hiring decision. 

Professionalism

One of the first things a hiring manager or potential client looks at is your professionalism. Your resume and cover letter do play their part, but your social interactions do tell a lot as well. Maintaining professionalism during online communications can improve your chances of getting hired. 

Trust and Security 

Employees can often access sensitive organizational information. This is why companies look for people they can trust and rely on. To make sure you’re not a security risk, they look into your social media profiles and presence. 

Reputation Management 

Online reputation is another important factor companies look at before hiring an employee. This is because the reputation of employees often reflects the reputation of the organization. Therefore, hiring managers may look at your social media to make sure you haven’t been in any scandal in the past. 

Verification 

Strangely enough, most job seekers aren’t completely honest about their skills and experience in their resumes. The information mismatch can be easily noticed by going through their social media profiles. Smart hiring managers know this and use social media to verify any information a job seeker includes in their resume or cover letter. 

How Can Social Media Help With Job Search
how does social media affect job search

Here’s how you can use social media to improve your chances of getting hired. 

Professional Networking 

Networking is inarguably one of the best ways to get noticed by potential employers or clients. 

Social media platforms like LinkedIn let you build professional and long-lasting connections.

To improve the probably of getting noticed, make sure to:

  • Use a professional headshot
  • Optimize your profile for specific keywords or skill 
  • Interact with others’ content
  • Publish helpful content

Showcasing Skills and Expertise

Job seekers can also use social media to showcase their skills in a variety of ways. 

For instance, you can write LinkedIn articles on topics you’re good at. 

Plus, you can share any projects you’ve successfully completed in the past. 

Job Listings

Interestingly, many companies prefer social media over job posting platforms to hire employees. 

What you can do is join relevant groups in your industry and actively participate in discussions. 

Online Presence

A social media presence is becoming a normal part of everyday life. Not having any presence may be considered a negative sign by some hiring managers. 

Cultural Fit

A lot of companies out there value their culture, so they hunt for employees who can fit their work environment. 

Your social profiles are a perfect place for any potential employer to gauge your cultural preferences. 

Researching Tool

social media as a research tool

You can use social media as a research tool to find new opportunities in your industry. For instance, you can use LinkedIn’s search bar to find new and current job postings. Another way to use social media as a research tool is by studying a company before appearing for an interview or assessment. Here are a few more tips on optimizing your social profiles for the target employer:

  • Delete anything you don’t want them to see
  • Remove irrelevant tags
  • Optimize your LinkedIn profile
  • Keep your employment status up to date

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What to Avoid on Social Media While Hunting for a Job

Post Nothing

Your social media presence attracts prospects and builds your credibility. If you post nothing, some people may consider it a little suspicious. 

Make Spelling Mistakes

Double-check your spelling or use a tool like Grammarly to keep your posts error-free. This will help you appear professional and authoritative. 

Post Irrelevant Content

Be careful what you post online, especially if you’re trying to attract potential employers with your content. Stay away from the type of content that could paint you in a negative way. 

How Can Social Media Affect Job Opportunities: FAQs

How Can Social Media Affect Your Job?

Social media can affect your job in several ways. Employers can now learn more about you before starting the hiring process. As a candidate, you can also research new job opportunities and improve your chances of getting hired by the right employer. 

How Social Media Has Changed the Job Market?

Social media has changed the job market by making it easier for employers to research potential candidates. Platforms like LinkedIn have made hiring the right people. 

How Does Social Media Attract Job Candidates?

Employers can use social media to attract job candidates by being active on the right platforms. For instance, they can create job posts with detailed requirements on LinkedIn to attract the right candidates. 

Why Social Media is Important for Employers?

Social media can help employers gauge the credibility and authenticity of potential candidates. These platforms almost always have a little more information about people than their resumes. 

Conclusion: Social Media’s Effects on Job Opportunities 

Social media can affect job opportunities in a variety of ways. A resume doesn’t always have everything an employer needs to hire someone. Most hiring managers look at your social profiles before considering you for the job. 

This is why it’s crucial to keep your profiles relevant and professional. If you’re a job seeker, use social media as a research tool. For instance, use LinkedIn’s advanced filter to find potential employers in your industry. Moreover, while creating social media content, be professional and write on relevant topics. Apply the tips discussed in this article to improve your chances of getting hired by the right people. 

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How to Get a Social Media Job Without Experience

Are you a social media enthusiast who wants to convert your passion into a profession, but don’t have any experience? You’re not alone. While it can be tricky to land a social media job without experience, it’s achievable with the right strategies. 

In this post, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of finding and getting a social media job as a complete newbie. Let’s dive in. 

How to Get a Social Media Job Without Experience

Data shows that over 60% of the world’s population actively uses social media. Businesses that have a sizeable target audience on social media need skillful professionals. But, when it comes to getting a job with no experience, there are a few things you can do to get your first job and gain practical experience. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process.

Choose a Service 

First things first. Select a niche within the broader social media market. There are tons of services you can offer as a social media professional. 

But, choosing a specialty helps you get into the industry easily and quickly.  Plus, it enables you to excel in your career faster than people with no specific niche. Here’s a list of popular social media marketing services you can offer:

  • Content strategist
  • Content Creator
  • Analytics expert
  • Ad manager
  • Influencer relationship manager
  • Ad copywriter
  • And maybe more

Learn the Basics

learn the basics of social media marketing
YouTube could be a great free option to get started. Google and HubSpot have detailed free courses you take advantage of. However, as you get more familiar with the basics, consider taking a professional step-by-step course on websites like Coursera and Udemy. 

Learn the Tools

Social media tools can save you time and automate most of your social media content. They also give you access to metrics that can help you tailor your strategy in the right direction. 

Smart businesses use tools like Later and Hootsuite for efficiency and quick growth. Learning popular social media tools can help you attract businesses that use these tools. 

Build a Strong Online Presence

Once you have a basic understanding of social media marketing and the services you want to offer, it’s time to get the word out. Your social media profiles are an ideal starting point. Optimize them for your ideal client. This means including the right keywords, setting a professional headshot, and sharing relevant content. 

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Gain Some Experience

Getting relevant experience can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. To get your foot in the door, consider working as an intern. Many non-profit companies can’t afford to hire an expert. You can offer your services for free and hone your craft until you’re ready for a full-time job. 

Build a Portfolio

As you start gaining some experience, compile your best work into a file or folder. This would serve as your portfolio. Your portfolio showcases your social media marketing skills and any results you’ve generated for other businesses. Mention results whenever possible. For instance, you can mention how a post you created generated 10k views in two months. 

Network and Connect

One of the fastest ways to get your first social media job is by networking with professionals within the industry. Start by joining relevant social media groups and communities. Try to answer questions with whatever knowledge you have. This will build your authority and reputation in the industry, which can attract potential clients and recruiters to your profile page. 

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Consider Freelancing

consider freelance social media marketing

A full-time social media job may not always be the perfect option. When you’re starting out, consider offering your services as a freelance. Build your portfolio on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Collect positive client testimonials and use them as credibility-builders in your job applications later. 

Getting started as a freelance can be tough because of the higher competition. You can side-step that landmine by picking a smaller topic or niche within your main skill. For instance, if you’re a designer, offer social media post design services. Once you start getting freelance tasks, apply to relevant full-time social media positions. 

Stay Updated

When you have no experience, every little opportunity is worth considering. In addition to actively applying to job postings, stay updated on the latest trends in social media marketing. 

How to Get a Social Media Job Without Experience: FAQs

How Do I Get My First Social Media Job?

To get your first social media job, consider gaining some hands-on experience by working for free or non-profit organizations. Build your portfolio, offer freelance services, and set a competitive rate to get your foot in the door. 

Can I Do Social Media Marketing With No Experience?

Yes, you can be a social media professional without any experience. However, gaining some quality experience can help you get good at your craft and land a lucrative full-time job. One of the best ways to get some experience is by offering freelance services. 

Can I Work as a Social Media Marketer Without a Degree?

Yes, you can work as a social media marketer without holding any degree. In fact, it’d be safe to say that a majority of marketers out there don’t have professional degrees. They’re just good at their craft. 

How to Start Freelance Social Media Marketing With No Experience?

Start by finding one-off projects on social media groups. Offer freelance services at a lower rate just to get some practical experience. Plus, freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork don’t require you to have any experience to get started as a service provider. 

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Is Social Media Career Worth It?

A career in social media marketing is totally worth it. Every business needs customers, and customers are spending their time on social media. As a social media marketer, you have an opportunity to work with all sizes and kinds of brands. 

Conclusion: Getting a Social Media Job Without Experience

The fact of the matter is that you don’t need to have any experience to be a good social media marketer. However, you need to gain some practical skills and build a portfolio to get your foot in the door. 

Start by practicing your own social media accounts. Learn the basics with reliable online courses. Try to get an internship to implement what you learn and build a portfolio. You can also work with non-profit organizations to get your foot in the door.