There’s by no means been a greater time to turn out to be a social media supervisor.
The typical social media person spends 2.5 hours a day scrolling, liking and commenting. That’s the equal of 5 weeks a 12 months!
All that display screen time presents tens of millions of potential probabilities for individuals to find new manufacturers, merchandise, and companies.
That’s why social media is certainly one of 2023’s most vital advertising and marketing channels. To get in on the motion, manufacturers have to dream up stunning content material, and construct thriving communities round their model.
However they will’t do it alone. That’s why there’s a lot alternative on the market for expert social media managers!
In case you love getting artistic and connecting with others on-line, your abilities are in excessive demand.
At the moment, we’ll clarify how you can turn out to be a social media supervisor in 2023. Hold studying for actionable ideas, a step-by-step information, and trade recommendation from certainly one of Hootsuite’s in-house consultants.
Bonus: Customise our free, professionally designed resume templates to land your dream social media job immediately. Obtain them now.
A social media supervisor is an individual who handles a model’s presence on social media.
Who is your model, on social? What do they share (and never share)? How do they work together with prospects and their broader neighborhood?
Social media managers are in command of planning, creating, and publishing content material that’s true to that model id. They’ll additionally analyze and report on its efficiency, and sustain with their neighborhood by feedback and DMs.
Does that sound like an enormous job? It’s!
Social media managers have quite a lot of duty, as a result of they’re driving an extremely vital advertising and marketing channel.
Many shoppers use social media to analysis purchases, and uncover new manufacturers. For online-only companies, social media might be their solely manner of attending to know a model!
That’s why social media isn’t internship territory anymore.
“The most important change I’ve seen is the shift from entry stage jobs, to really having a seat on the desk,” says Trish Riswick, Social Media Specialist at Hootsuite. “Firms notice the significance of social, and that the social staff, particularly, is aware of so much. I believe that’s an actual testomony to the place social is heading in 2023 and onward.”
What does a social media supervisor do?
Social media supervisor is a dynamic and difficult position. As you create, publish, and report on content material, you’ll be switching between many various duties. Sometimes, these embrace:
- Artistic copywriting
- Graphic design
- Capturing and enhancing video
- Pictures and photograph enhancing
- Content material planning
- Content material technique, usually in cooperation with the bigger advertising and marketing division
- Group administration
- Analyzing and reporting on content material efficiency
All in a day’s work 🥱
Shout out to all of the social media managers juggling so many hats whereas holding their social channels afloat. You are all of the true MVPs 🌟 pic.twitter.com/7jtsbgkbhK
— Hootsuite 🦉 (@hootsuite) December 8, 2022
This may appear to be an enormous (and probably intimidating) record. However you don’t should be an professional in any respect of this stuff to start out working as a social media supervisor.
Smartphone photograph and video is greater than sufficient for lots of social media content material. And due to instruments like Canva, graphic design and photograph enhancing are extra accessible than ever.
Bigger corporations may also have a staff for managing social, moderately than only one individual. That might imply you’d be working with different individuals, whose abilities complement yours.
Plus, a willingness to study is likely one of the most precious abilities a social media supervisor can have! So if there’s something you’re not comfy with simply but, it’s okay to study as you go.
Social media is at all times altering. So precisely what you have to do as a social media supervisor will change with time, too.
However there are some big-picture abilities that underpin the extra particular, tactical ones we simply described.
Flexibility
To succeed as a social media supervisor, you have to be able to continue learning, experimenting, and adjusting as you go.
“This job modifications actually day-to-day, and second by second,” says Trish. Whether or not the present pattern is carousels, video, or one thing else solely (hiya, Metaverse), it’s a must to maintain creating wonderful content material.
Which means staying updated and studying new abilities when it’s a must to, as a result of social media platforms and their options are at all times altering.
You additionally should be prepared to regulate your content material plan on a dime. “One thing might occur in your market or in your neighborhood that simply utterly modifications the course that you just’re entering into,” Trish continues. “Otherwise you may get suggestions out of your viewers, and notice that what you thought was working truly isn’t. You simply must roll with the punches and alter it up!”
Communication
Like we talked about, social media is usually the entrance strains of communication with prospects. You’re being trusted to share vital model messages. It’s essential to try this with confidence and readability — whereas holding individuals entertained and engaged.
That’s why copywriting abilities, and powerful communication usually, is an evergreen talent for social media managers.
“It’s essential to ensure that your factors are crystal clear, and your viewers isn’t deciphering them in any manner they’re not presupposed to,” Trish explains. “If individuals aren’t partaking with or reacting to your copy, it means your communication might be not the place it must be.”
Content material curation
As a social media supervisor, you gained’t create each single social media submit from scratch.
Due to instruments like Canva, precise content material creation is simpler than ever. You’ll even be repurposing content material created by different individuals, like trending memes and user-generated content material (UGC).
It’s essential to mix all these completely different components into a robust, cohesive social media presence that’s true to your employer’s model. That’s why, whereas your technical abilities do matter, it’s probably much more vital to have a eager aesthetic eye.
Independence
Whether or not or not you’re engaged on a staff, you’ll should be motivated and self-directed to thrive as a social media supervisor. You’ll be making many vital selections day by day, as you create and publish content material that can be seen by a whole lot or hundreds of individuals.
“You actually need to belief your self,” says Trish. “That may be scary, but it surely’s what you have to make it on this trade. It’s essential to have the arrogance to imagine in your self and imagine in your skills to make actually cool issues occur.”
There’s nobody, single solution to construct a profession in social media — and no two social media supervisor jobs are precisely alike.
You may need to work freelance, or as an in-house worker. One firm is perhaps all about long-form LinkedIn content material, whereas one other may emphasize viral video.
“In social media, now you can see your profession trajectory a bit extra clearly,” shares Trish. “That’s wonderful, as a result of I believe quite a lot of us began off in positions the place we didn’t actually know the place we might go subsequent, and now we do.”
However listed here are the essential steps to touchdown your first social media supervisor job — wherever you’re ranging from, and no matter a dream job appears to be like like for you.
1. Brush up in your social media data
You’re already a social media lover. However to be a social media skilled, you really want to have your finger on the heart beat.
As you’re trying to find your first position or consumer, immerse your self within the social media panorama.
What model’s presence are you impressed by? What tendencies or content material varieties do you critically love? Is there a specific area of interest, or kind of product, you may image your self working in?
In case you like, you may actually study in a extra formal manner, too. There are such a lot of methods to coach your self about social media — from free YouTube channels to reasonably priced on-line programs.
In case you’re undecided the place to start out, we’ve received you lined.
2. Get expertise
The great thing about social media is that it’s an inherently democratic place. Anybody can leap in and begin experimenting, wherever you’re at in your journey.
You may select to handle different accounts to construct up expertise. In case your buddy makes artistic textiles or attractive ceramics, why not staff up and assist them promote their work? Or, go searching for internships and co-ops, or attempt buying and selling your companies for merchandise from small enterprise house owners.
You may also use your personal presence as a studying instrument. Constructing a meme account or area of interest TikTok presence helps you study what it takes to get views — and later, it may show to purchasers that you already know your stuff.
3. Create a portfolio
As you gather expertise, showcase it in a portfolio to share with purchasers and potential employers.
You may embrace social media work you’ve completed for purchasers, in earlier jobs, or for your self. You may even create ‘spec work’ (a.okay.a. unpaid, uncommissioned work completed to indicate off your skills) for manufacturers you admire.
There are a lot of methods to create a portfolio, they usually don’t must be sophisticated. You can also make a standalone web site, use a service like Gondola, and even compile samples right into a downloadable PDF. You may even arrange a social media account, like an Instagram web page, to showcase your samples!
Right here’s how New York-based company social fly exhibits off their consumer work:
Supply: socialflyny.com
4. Replace your resume
In artistic industries, your portfolio does quite a lot of the heavy lifting. However purchasers will nonetheless ask for a resume, and yours must sparkle.
Your purpose is to face out from the group, so have enjoyable and get artistic with the design (simply ensure that it’s nonetheless simply readable).
Strive together with a ‘Profile’ or ‘About Me’ part on the high of your resume to summarize what makes you particular. You may also resolve to incorporate solely related work expertise, moderately than a laundry record of each job you’ve ever had.
5. Community, community, community
Whether or not you’re a freelancer or in-house social media supervisor, you’ll have to put your self on the market to seek out purchasers and potential employers.
In 2023, networking doesn’t simply imply displaying as much as occasions with a drink in hand (although you may actually try this, too). The very best place to community as a social media supervisor is… on social media!
LinkedIn could be a unbelievable place to attach with potential employers, and search for openings at corporations you like. Relying in your area of interest, Instagram and Fb may also be place to seek out purchasers, particularly when you’re focusing on small companies.
Past discovering work, networking helps you join with trade friends, so you may continue learning, discover mutual assist, and get impressed.
It’s an vital query — however there’s nobody easy reply. Like many different jobs, what you’ll earn as a social media supervisor relies on numerous components.
As a social media supervisor, your wage or pay can be affected by:
- Your geographic location
- How superior you’re in your profession
- Whether or not you’re a freelancer or in-house worker
- The scale of the corporate you’re employed for, and what trade they’re in
The common pay for an in-house social media supervisor in the US is about $50,000 per 12 months, usually with advantages like medical health insurance and 401k plans. Most positions fall between $40,000 and $65,000 yearly.
In case you’re simply beginning out, it’s best to anticipate to earn across the decrease finish of that vary. As you acquire expertise, you’ll earn extra! Large corporations may pay much more — probably over $100,000 per 12 months for senior positions.
As a freelancer, pay could be a little extra sophisticated. You may need to invoice purchasers hourly, or on a flat month-to-month retainer mannequin.
You’ll probably need to base your charges on how a lot expertise you’ve gotten, so long as they will cowl your overhead prices.
Listed here are some typical freelance social media supervisor charges for 2023:
- Junior (0-2 years): $25-$35/hour
- Mid-level (3-4 years): $45-$85/hour
- Senior (5-8 years): $90-$120/hour
- Skilled (10+ years): $125-$250/hour
Unsure the place to start out with creating your social media supervisor resume? Make it straightforward with our free, downloadable resume templates!
Bonus: Customise our free, professionally designed resume templates to land your dream social media job immediately. Obtain them now.
You need to use these templates to replace your present resume, or construct a brand new one from scratch. You may also use them as a place to begin to tweak and alter to your wants!
Construct your personal model
Nothing exhibits that you already know social media higher than your personal thriving presence!
Constructing your personal social media model is a good way to seek out purchasers and job affords, community with different professionals, and place your self as an professional.
On her account, designer and freelancer Rachel How makes use of a constant visible fashion and retains all her content material on-topic.
In case you run different profitable accounts in numerous niches, like vegan cooking or canine movies, it’s best to speak about them, and share what you’ve discovered alongside the best way. However the principle focus ought to be you, as a social media skilled.
Sustain with social tendencies
To be an important social media supervisor, you have to keep conscious of tendencies giant and small, from this week’s trending audio to entire new platforms that rise in recognition.
For instance, we predict small companies are going to start out tapping into the ability of creators like by no means earlier than!
You need to by no means be a senseless pattern zombie. However it’s best to know what’s present, and have enjoyable with it in a manner that feels genuine and on-brand.
Perceive enterprise metrics
It’s one factor to know what good social media content material appears to be like like. However for a profitable social media supervisor, it’s much more vital to grasp why you’re creating it within the first place, and the way it matches in along with your total social media advertising and marketing technique.
What enterprise targets and outcomes are you attempting to realize, and what social media ways will you employ to realize them? How will you measure success?
Some examples might embrace:
- Boosting model consciousness with natural content material
- Changing followers into prospects with social commerce
- Constructing an e mail record by selling lead-gated belongings
- Reaching your audience with social advertisements
Be open-minded
The correct social media job for you won’t be precisely what you’d anticipate. For instance, when you’ve labored in finance or vogue till now, don’t assume that your first social media supervisor job additionally must be in that space.
Equally, don’t be afraid to take roles that really feel “entry stage,” and even internships — particularly when you’re pivoting into social from one other profession path the place you have been extra established!
After all, it’s best to select to work with corporations whose services or products you’ll take pleasure in speaking about all day. However don’t be terrified of alternatives that really feel a bit of surprising.
Tailor your job functions
Even when you have a good looking, all-star resume, it’s best to nonetheless change it up a bit for each job you apply to.
This shouldn’t should be quite a lot of minor tweaks. For instance, ensure that the talents you’ve listed match what’s within the job description (so long as you even have these abilities, in fact).
At all times apply with a novel cowl letter, too. Strive to attract a private connection between you and the corporate. What do you like about their model? Why do you need to symbolize them on social media?
Use social media administration instruments
As a social media supervisor, you’re leaping between many various sorts of duties. Use social media administration instruments to make your life simpler.
- Make content material creation simpler with apps like Canva for design, and Hemingway or Grammarly for writing
- Mission-management instruments Asana and Trello streamline your total processes and make communication with colleagues simpler
- Freelancers can keep on high of enterprise operations with instruments like Wave, Freshbooks, and Harlow
- Strive Hootsuite to handle all of your social media in a single place. Plan and schedule posts to each account you handle inside one calendar, and get real-time knowledge to trace the way it’s performing. You may even observe trade tendencies, monitor your rivals, and keep on high of what persons are saying about your model.
Right here’s what it could appear to be to trace your Fb posts’ engagement in Hootsuite:
Strive without spending a dime
By no means cease studying
To achieve this thrilling — and difficult — area, you have to be a devoted lifelong learner.
The excellent news is that social media is not in its infancy, and also you don’t must determine it out alone any extra.
Hootsuite Academy affords a wide range of certification programs, from foundational to superior. There are additionally loads of sources on-line that will help you get comfy with rising abilities, like social promoting.
Hootsuite makes your life as a social media supervisor simpler. Handle your social channels, gather real-time knowledge, and interact along with your viewers multi functional place — so that you keep organized, ready, and impressed.
Do it higher with Hootsuite, the all-in-one social media instrument. Keep up to the mark, develop, and beat the competitors.
