How to Become a Social Media Manager
Is your dream job being a social media manager? Lucky for you, we’ve got all the info you need to become the best social media manager in the biz.
Posted last year
Written by
Mackenzie TaylorPosted last year
Oh, so you want to become a social media manager? You sure? Youāve thought about this? Have you checked out @workinsocialtheysaidās Instagram account yet? Yes? Okay, then letās get into it. Social media management isnāt as easy as some people like to think it is. Yes, it is a lot of scrolling around online looking for the latest social media trends and posting āsilly little videos and imagesā but there is SO much more that goes into it. And no, itās not a typical 9-5 job.
You need to have a lot of skills to create engaging social media content that makes people want to follow you and to get you the loyal customers you want (and need!) to be successful at your job. If youāre wanting to get your foot in the door and have absolutely no idea where to start, weāve got you. Hereās everything you need to know about being a successful social media manager.
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What do social media managers do? š¤Ø
Sweet, now that you know what one is. What do they do exactly? Weāre so glad you asked because itās a lot. Like, a lot, a lot.
They create and maintain brand promotions, copy info, and marketing campaigns, and generally keep online and social media presence up-to-date so people know who or what TF your brand, business, or WHO you are online.
Social media managers work daily to create new and improved content, jump on trends to hopefully make content go viral, build marketing strategies for new launches or products, and analyze and measure how these things performed after the fact.
Some overall examples of some tasks a social media manager might perform are:
- Create new and original content for multiple platforms: This is a big one and knowing how to manage your workflow as a social media manager is ESSENTIAL. Click here to see all of our tips and tricks on how to create as much content as you can and still be on top of it all.
- Monitor social analytics: Because social media managers are the ones that create the campaigns and run them across social channels, they need to make sure whatās working and what isnāt working. The way they do this? By monitoring social media analytics. Learn more about what metrics to track here. You can also track all your metrics with Flick! Start your FREE 7-day trial.
- Measure and prove ROI: One of the biggest things for social media managers to do for their job is to track ROI (return on investment). If youāre creating ads and investing a lot of time and money into launches, you need to know if itās actually working for you or not.
- Engage with your audience: One of the most important things a social media manager can do is speak with your followers! You grow a community by talking with your community! Start responding, DMing, and liking their comments!
- Schedule social media posts: Saving time for yourself is key to being a good social media manager and the best way to do that is by scheduling your content in advance. You can start scheduling your content with Flickās scheduler today! Start your free 7-day free trial.
And these tasks are only scratching the surface. Taking an online social media course will be one of the best things you can do as a social media manager. If youāre looking for a social media manager course, click here to see a list of our favorites. We also recommend taking our FREE Instagram captions course to help you step up your Instagram game.
Skills you need to be a social media manager
A social media manager is a jack of all trades and we break down all of this over in our blog here. But if youāre going to be a social media manager, youāre going to be wearing quite a few hats, and here are the top skills youāll need to get started:
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CreativityšØ
This is a big one, people. Any social media manager worth their salt will reliably produce creative content to separate your brand from the others. They will be able to develop inventive campaigns, generate engaging content, and turn something average into something remarkable.
Proactivityšāāļø
A successful social media manager is a go-getter. They do not sit around and wait for success to come to them, but they go out and create it themselves. They stay on top of social media and marketing trends, keeping your brand one step ahead of the competition. The industry may be ever-changing, but a good social media manager is capable of changing with it.
Copywritingāļø
While social media managing may not appear to be a writing job, copy is at its core. Social media managers should be able to write effective, engaging copy that communicates brand values and matches brand aesthetics. They should be able to use words to captivate an audience while simultaneously delivering an important message.
Flick Tip: Looking for help with your copywriting skills when it comes to writing the perfect Instagram captions? Check out our FREE Instagram Caption Course. Plus, youāll get access to our FREE 30-days of captions template.
Communicationš¤³
Social media managers should have strong communication skills both on and off the screen. In order to connect with your audience and best promote your brand, your social media manager needs to be as good of a listener as they are a writer or a speaker. They need to interact appropriately with followers, master your brandās voice, and apply it to your social media presence.
Leadershipš«”
In a role with so many different responsibilities, social media managers must work on leadership development and be unafraid to take the lead. They should be able to manage team members, communicate ideas, spearhead projects and initiatives, and make positive contributions to the brand and its culture.
Organizationš
Between managing calendars, developing strategies, coordinating collaborations, scheduling posts, launching campaigns, and working with other team members, social media managers must be organized and focused. This is a job with a lot of moving pieces, so the right person for the role needs to manage that effectively and efficiently.
DesignšØāšØ
Social media management is almost equal parts writing and design, so a social media manager needs to have a keen eye. They should be able to produce graphics and visual content that align with the brandās aesthetic and attract customers while also serving marketing initiatives.
Analyticsš
While the job description seems mostly creative, there is an intense analytic piece that requires social media managers to cross the line from the creative brain to the logical one. Theyāll need to audit accounts, analyze data, optimize time and money, and use these conclusions to inform future strategies.
Flick Tip: Sign up for a free 7-day trial with Flick and youāll get access to all of your social media analytics! Plus, youāll get an analytics report sent straight to your inbox each week.
Flexibilityš§āāļø
Social media is an industry that is changing every day, and a good social media manager needs to be comfortable keeping up. They should be able to adapt their strategies to fit a flexible market without losing sight of the brand goals. They should also be able to respond quickly and efficiently to any issues that arise, offering creative solutions to new problems.
Customer Serviceš©āš»
Your social media manager will be regularly interacting with customers, so it is critical they are able to do so effectively. This requires a friendly, engaging demeanor that will serve your customers and promote loyalty to your brand. These conversational skills will work wonders for maintaining your audience.
So ā¦ do you have what it takes? Remember, part of being a social media manager is a constant willingness to learn and grow, so donāt be afraid to brush up on your skills as you embrace this career path!
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