Congratulations on considering an exciting career path in the fast-growing field of social media management! As a small business consultant who has helped dozens of entrepreneurs build their social presence, I‘m thrilled to provide this comprehensive 10 step guide to help you succeed as a social media manager.
Step 1: Understand the Crucial Role and Varied Responsibilities
A social media manager plays a multifaceted, critical role spanning content creation, community management, data analysis and beyond. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing social strategies to build brand awareness, drive website traffic, boost engagement
- Creating compelling content across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
- Engaging in two-way conversations with audiences to humanize the brand
- Monitoring conversations and responding promptly to questions/feedback
- Analyzing metrics and optimizing based on actionable insights
- Collaborating across marketing, sales, customer service teams
As the public face and voice of a company, social media managers need to intimately understand their brand, resonate with their core audience and creatively engage them across platforms.
Step 2: Build Expertise through Formal Training
While a marketing or communications degree isn‘t mandatory, taking specialized social media and digital marketing courses can help you build expertise. Reputable certifications like HubSpot, Google Analytics, Meta Blueprint demonstrate your commitment. 73% of marketers say certifications give candidates a competitive edge.
Beyond core skills like content creation and data literacy, prioritize learning softer skills like empathy, adaptability and strategic thinking.
Step 3: Establish a Robust Personal Brand Online
The best social media managers have an impressive personal brand and social presence themselves.
- Set up profiles on key platforms, grow your followers
- Launch a website, blog or portfolio to exhibit work samples
- Actively comment on industry forums and publications
- Follow and connect with leaders in the space
- Find your niche voices and perspectives that excite your audience
Treat your personal brand as a case study to demonstrate your abilities first-hand.
Step 4: Gain Invaluable Hands-On Experience
While social media principles can be learned online, real-world experience is invaluable.
- Take up internships and volunteer opportunities to bolster your resume
- Offer to handle social channels for local businesses and non-profits
- Manage communities like Facebook groups to improve engagement
- Identify skill gaps and continue learning on the job
Hands-on experience, even unpaid, provides unparalled opportunities to experiment, make mistakes in lower-stakes environments and develop the strategic thinking that sets professionals apart.
Step 5: Master the Latest Social Media Management Tools
Stay updated with the latest social media management platforms and tools that leading professionals rely on.
For Scheduling and Content Management: Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social
For Design: Canva, Snapchat, Invideo
For Analytics: Google Analytics, Sprout Social Analytics, Twitter Analytics
For Listening and Monitoring: Buzzsumo, Social Searcher, Talkwalker
Leverage free trials, tutorials and online courses to gain hands-on practice with these tools.
Step 6: Stay Ahead of the Curve
Social media evolves at breakneck speed. Industry reports indicate platform algorithms change every 6-12 months on average.
- Read blogs, newsletters, books by experts
- Listen to podcasts like Social Media Marketing, Social Pros, Social Media Examiner
- Take online courses on Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning, Hootsuite Academy
- Follow thought leaders on social channels
Immerse yourself in the culture of continuous learning across both hard and soft skills.
Step 7: Develop Commercial Acumen
Beyond platform expertise and content skills, develop crucial business acumen to advance in your career.
- Learn fundamentals of marketing, sales funnels, website optimization
- Develop data analysis abilities – learn SQL, Excel, Google Analytics
- Understand KPIs and metrics tied to business goals like revenue, leads generated, cost per acquisitions
- Translate analytics into commercial insights and strategic recommendations
Commercial acumen makes you an invaluable asset driving actual ROI.
Step 8: Build Soft Skills
Hard skills will only get you so far. Survey data reveals most managers hire based on soft skills like:
- Communication: Convey complex data insights clearly to colleagues without technical backgrounds
- Creativity: Produce engaging content everyday across platforms and formats
- Collaboration: Partner seamlessly with cross-functional teams
- Time Management: Juggle multiple campaigns and platforms simultaneously
- Problem Solving: Troubleshoot issues like negative PR quickly and effectively
- Leadership: Influence colleagues and external partners positively
These sought-after abilities separate good managers from extraordinary ones.
Step 9: Develop a Specialty
Generalists have an advantage early in their career with transferrable skills. However, over time developing a niche helps you advance faster.
- Specializations like influencer marketing, paid ads, crisis management
- Industry experts in high-growth sectors like ecommerce, healthcare, finance
- Subject Matter Experts in gaming, parenting, fashion, etc
Choose specialized skills aligned with your strengths and interests. Become known as the expert in those fields to stand out.
Step 10: Continually Evaluate and Improve Performance
Even once in a manager role, the learning never stops.
- Set key metrics for each campaign tailored to goals
- Regularly review platform analytics to identify what content and engagement strategies deliver results
- A/B test different tactics and carefully evaluate effectiveness
- Ask for feedback from colleagues and senior leadership
- Have an improvement mindset, continuing to iterate and optimize
By continually evaluating performance and strategically improving, exceptional managers stand out from average ones.
Let Your Passion and Dedication Fuel Your Journey
I hope this complete 10 step guide has helped capture just how multifaceted, challenging yet hugely rewarding the role of a social media manager can be! It requires personal brand building, platform expertise, business acumen and soft skills combined. If you have the hunger for lifelong learning and the grit needed in such a dynamic field, an exciting career awaits. Let me know if you have any other questions arising on your journey to becoming a successful social media professional. I‘m always happy to help!
