How to Become a Social Media Manager
Become a rising star in one of the hottest fields in marketing.
Before Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were created, no one knew how to become a social media manager. The title didn't exist.
Social media started in part with the creation of Facebook at Harvard University in 2004. Back then, it was an entertaining past-time for college students. Now, it's created numerous full-time jobs that are vital to the marketing strategies of most companies and organizations.
Social media marketing is a creative, dynamic field that requires professionals to adapt to the whims of social media and learn new platforms all while creating engaging content for a brand 's audience. Ready to put those posting skills to the test? Read on to find out how to become a social media manager.
What Is a Social Media Manager?
Social media managers promote companies and their services, products, and reputations by posting content that includes photos, videos, infographics, and more on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. You can work as a social media employee for a company or an agency or be a freelance social media manager who takes on multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
What Does a Social Media Manager Do?
Social media management isn't just posting pictures of the company softball team on Facebook and Instagram. When you learn how to become a social media manager, you'll create a social media marketing strategy for your brand with best practices for connecting with your audience that will guide the content and timing of your posts.
You'll also use social media management tools and software such as Hootsuite, Agorapulse, and Buffer that help you to post and measure the success of your social media accounts. You'll track common metrics that are important to your company's goals, such as how many views and likes a post receives, the number of people who click the links in your post, and how many people buy your product or service after they click your link. The number of people following your social media page is also important, along with how quickly your audience is growing.
A day in the life of a social media manager may include:
- Administering all company social media accounts and keeping them fresh with up-to-date content.
- Scheduling new posts using social media management tools.
- Working with writers, designers, and videographers to create content.
- Developing a social media calendar.
- Monitoring and reporting on social media results using analytics tools.
- Staying up to date with the latest social media trends, best practices, and technologies.
- Performing ongoing keyword research and monitoring position tracking.
- Recommending strategic improvements and working with the appropriate teams to implement them.
Check out this sample job ad for details on these social media manager responsibilities and many more.
How to Become a Social Media Manager
When you want to become a social media manager, you can choose how you want to approach your education. There are various college degree programs that will teach you the skills you need for this exciting job.
Can I Earn a Social Media Manager Degree?
Most entry-level jobs in social media management require a bachelor's degree. But currently, there are very few college degrees devoted entirely to how to become a social media manager. Most colleges and universities include social media management courses in traditional degree programs such as digital marketing, journalism, public relations, marketing communication, or digital media rather than in a social media manager degree program.
Education is the first step to launching your new career as a social media manager. Need a little help getting there? Take a look at these scholarships for students of advertising.
Social Media Manager Training
One of the best ways to gain hands-on experience that will help you land a job once you graduate is to complete a social media manager internship. While you probably already know how to post on Twitter and TikTok (and do it every day), strategic social media communication at a company is a bit different. An internship allows you to get real-world experience and learn from others who are well-versed in how social media operates within an organization.
Social Media Certification
While there's no universal governing body that awards social media manager certification, many of the social media tools offer certifications in social media strategy. Knowing how to create a strategy, how to monitor your content's performance, and how to use different tools will set you apart from other job applicants.
How Much Do Social Media Managers Make?
The median annual digital marketing manager salary is around $71,000, with a range of around $54,000 to $95,000. You can look up the average salary for social media managers in your location by using the Monster Salary Guide.
How to Find Social Media Manager Jobs
Before applying for any social media manager jobs, you'll want to put together your social media manager resume with your education and experience along with any social media management tools you 've used. A social media manager portfolio is also a great way to get an employer 's attention. If you haven 't worked in social media for an organization, demonstrate that you know how to become a social media manager by highlighting the best content on your personal social media accounts. But be sure it's appropriate first! Posting nothing but cat memes or pictures of spring break might not make the best impression on a hiring manager.
Show off your social media manager skills by creating accounts for your extracurricular activities, including your church group, sports team, or club. It's best to create a comprehensive portfolio to demonstrate that you're familiar with as many social media sites as possible, including secondary sites like Reddit, Snapchat, and Pinterest.
Once you've compiled your portfolio and written your social media manager cover letter and resume, you're ready to start applying to social media manager jobs at Monster.
The BLS identifies the following as the top five states and areas for social media manager jobs:
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See How Many Likes You Get as a Social Media Manager
When you've graduated with a degree in a program that includes how to become a social media manager, be sure to upload your resume for free on Monster. (Right after you've posted a clip of your graduation to Instagram stories.) Posting your resume will help you click with employers and recruiters so you can find the top jobs in social media.