Social media has become a key area in digital marketing because of its ability to reach and capture customers while learning more about their needs and desires. Consumer preferences may change constantly, but many core principles can set the foundation for a thriving career in social media management.
If you’ve ever wondered how to become a social media manager, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we will explore: why you should become a social media manager, skills needed for this role, and the responsibilities of a social media manager. So, let’s dive in!
Who is a Social Media Manager?
A social media manager is in charge of representing the social media channels of any digital marketing company as the brand’s voice. They help monitor audience engagement, develop campaigns, and create content strategies.
“Social media manager” is often used as an umbrella term for a social media marketing career path. However, it’s not the first step on the journey. Many professionals typically work as social media specialists, content creators, or coordinators before reaching a management role.
This role is often seen as the “voice of the company” because they serve as internal experts, providing organizations with the guidance needed to enhance their online presence. They are trusted with monitoring, executing, filtering, and measuring the social media presence of a product, brand, corporation, or even an individual.
Responsibilities of a Social Media Manager
The responsibilities of a social media manager are developing strategies to increase followers, creating and managing social media campaigns, producing content, reviewing analytics, and communicating with key stakeholders in a company.
If you’re interested in working as a social media manager, your responsibilities may include:
1. Strategizing Content and Campaigns
You’ll be responsible for planning and executing social media campaigns that align with a company’s marketing strategies. You need to generate ideas for evergreen content or repurpose user-generated content.
2. Posting and Monitoring Social Media Platforms
You may need to schedule posts and observe followers’ responses. You may also be responsible for posting and monitoring all social media platforms and responding to comments and messages from followers.
3. Increasing Followers and Driving Engagement
You’ll be responsible for boosting a company’s profile on all active social media platforms by utilizing social media tips and tricks to increase engagement including likes, comments, and shares received. You will be expected to develop both written and visual posts to achieve both.
4. Analyzing Data
You’ll have to spend time analyzing data on how a company’s posts and content are performing. This can include social listening or monitoring what social media users will say about a brand or competitors.
5. Reporting Metrics to Key Stakeholders
You’ll be expected to report your achievements or any issues that arise to your marketing team and even the company’s stakeholders. They might want to know how you grow followers, increase engagement, and develop creative content and campaigns, with other metrics.
6. Ensure Brand Consistency
You have to ensure the company has a consistent brand voice throughout all copies, editorials, and digital materials. All the brand materials you have worked on should represent the company.
How to Become a Social Media Manager?
Some professionals may find success as social media managers by building their social media manager portfolio which will help them make a name for themselves. Investing in education and gaining practical experience is the key to standing out from the competition and maximizing your chances of landing a social media manager position.
Below are a few steps that you can follow to become a social media manager:
1. Earn a Relevant Degree or Get Training
Having a degree in marketing, journalism, communications, or a related field can help you in creating a strong foundation for your career in social media management. For training, you could consider online courses that will teach you to build essential skills including communication, social media marketing (SMM), and strategic thinking.
2. Find an Internship
An internship is a perfect opportunity to get practical training and hands-on experience, where you will work on actual campaigns, learn about different social media platforms, and develop your understanding of brand voice and audience engagement.
3. Build a Strong Online Presence
A critical step to becoming a social media manager is establishing your online presence. You need to create and maintain professional social media accounts where you post and share your industry insights, create content, and show successful campaigns you set up for your clients.
4. Pursue Entry-level Positions
Start your career in a position where you assist and learn from a social media manager who can provide you with valuable experience in managing social media accounts, creating content, and analyzing performance metrics. To gain more experience you can start working as a social media associate, specialist, or content creator.
5. Obtain certificates to Stay Current
Continue your learning throughout your career by attending webinars, taking online courses, earning certificates, and following industry leaders on social media to stay updated. Ongoing professional development is necessary because social media is constantly evolving.
What Skills Do You Need To Become a Social Media Manager?
You need to improve your social media manager skills in the following areas if you want to excel in the social media field.
1. Management Skills
You should know how to manage a group of employees to help the brand reach its goal and complete initiatives.
2. Understanding of Social Media Platforms
You’ll need to have a thorough understanding of several social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Their strengths, weaknesses, and user demographics, among other characteristics to manage accounts successfully.
3. Writing
Good social media writing goes beyond solid grammar and spelling. It is important to improve your copywriting skills and develop compelling writing that fits into your brand’s story and engages your audiences.
4. Editing
Along with copywriting, you’ll need to review your team member’s work and ensure it’s grammatically correct and error-free. Improving your editing and proofreading skills can help you ensure that the content is correct.
5. An Eye for Design
Communicate about images, infographics, videos, and more with graphic designers, and other marketing managers. Creating a post and explaining the strategic reasons behind your choices to the business is essential.
6. Flexibility and Timeliness
There is a constant change in the world of social media. New trending hashtags, algorithms, and platform features often need social media managers to think fast and incorporate fresh ideas into their work. Staying ahead of the trends can help you react accordingly and maintain an organization’s brand.
7. Analytical Tools
You should know how to use analytical tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Buffer, and Publer that will help you to understand what messages resonate with consumers with the capacity to research.
Why Become a Social Media Manager?
Your reason for becoming a social media manager can differ depending on your professional goals and personal needs for fulfillment. Here are some other reasons why you should become a social media manager:
1. Create Authentic Connections
As a leader of a brand’s social presence, you have the potential to make the company feel more human and build real, meaningful connections with people. By sharing engaging stories and responding thoughtfully, you can create trust and loyalty. Your voice will shape how people see and connect with the brand every day.
2. Work in a Dynamic Field
The role of social media is evolving and expanding every day. What was once thought of as another marketing channel is now widely referred to as a platform for customer care, market research, and most importantly, direct sales. It’s evident that an effective SMM strategy for brand awareness has grown, traffic is driven and communities are built through social media.
3. Develop Transferable Skills
Becoming a manager also involves developing many transferable skills, including communication, adaptability, attention to detail, and problem-solving. Social media management roles serve as a launch pad toward marketing leadership positions like chief marketing officer and social media executive.
Become A Professional Social Media Manager with Kalpavriksha Academy!
At Kalpavriksha Academy, we offer specialized online digital marketing courses in India that cover the essentials of social media marketing. Our expert-led courses will teach you how to create engaging content, build a brand presence, analyze social media metrics, and leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for maximum impact. You will also learn about social media advertising, audience targeting, and the latest trends to grow and manage online communities effectively.
Enroll today and become a skilled social media manager with Kalpavriksha Academy!
FAQs
Q1. How long does it take to become a social media manager?
Becoming a social media manager can take several months to a few years, depending on your goals. It is possible to jump right in and start managing social media for small businesses that need help. But, it will take time to gain training and expertise if you want to work in a large company.
Q2. How much does a social media manager make in a year?
A social media manager typically earns between INR 3 Lakhs to INR 10 Lakhs per year. Entry-level managers may start earning around INR 2.5 – 4 Lakhs, while professionals with 5+ years of experience can earn INR 8 – 15 Lakhs or more.
Q3. What qualifications do I need to become a social media manager?
Specific qualifications like a degree in marketing, communications, or a related field can be beneficial. However, it is essential to focus on building skills such as content creation, community engagement, data analysis, and staying up-to-date with evolving social media trends.
