There’s by no means been a greater time to change into 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 thousands and thousands of potential possibilities for folks to find new manufacturers, merchandise, and providers.
That’s why social media is one among 2023’s most vital advertising channels. To get in on the motion, manufacturers must dream up stunning content material, and construct thriving communities round their model.
However they’ll’t do it alone. That’s why there’s a lot alternative on the market for expert social media managers!
In the event you love getting artistic and connecting with others on-line, your abilities are in excessive demand.
Right this moment, we’ll clarify how one can change into a social media supervisor in 2023. Maintain studying for actionable ideas, a step-by-step information, and trade recommendation from one among Hootsuite’s in-house specialists.
Bonus: Customise our free, professionally designed resume templates to land your dream social media job at this time. 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 group?
Social media managers are in command of planning, creating, and publishing content material that’s true to that model identification. They’ll additionally analyze and report on its efficiency, and sustain with their group by feedback and DMs.
Does that sound like a giant job? It’s!
Social media managers have a variety of duty, as a result of they’re driving an extremely vital advertising channel.
Many shoppers use social media to analysis purchases, and uncover new manufacturers. For online-only companies, social media might be their solely means of attending to know a model!
That’s why social media isn’t internship territory anymore.
“The largest change I’ve seen is the shift from entry degree jobs, to truly having a seat on the desk,” says Trish Riswick, Social Media Specialist at Hootsuite. “Firms notice the significance of social, and that the social crew, particularly, is aware of lots. I feel 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. Usually, these embrace:
- Artistic copywriting
- Graphic design
- Taking pictures and modifying video
- Pictures and picture modifying
- Content material planning
- Content material technique, typically in cooperation with the bigger advertising 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 retaining 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 these items to begin working as a social media supervisor.
Smartphone picture and video is greater than ample for lots of social media content material. And because of instruments like Canva, graphic design and picture modifying are extra accessible than ever.
Bigger firms may also have a crew for managing social, fairly than only one individual. That might imply you’d be working with different folks, whose abilities complement yours.
Plus, a willingness to be taught 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 be taught as you go.
Social media is all the time altering. So precisely what you might want 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 might want to be able to continue to learn, experimenting, and adjusting as you go.
“This job adjustments actually daily, and second by second,” says Trish. Whether or not the present pattern is carousels, video, or one thing else solely (good day, Metaverse), you must hold creating superb content material.
Meaning staying updated and studying new abilities when you must, as a result of social media platforms and their options are all the time altering.
You additionally should be prepared to regulate your content material plan on a dime. “One thing may occur in your market or in your group that simply fully adjustments the route that you simply’re stepping into,” Trish continues. “Otherwise you may get suggestions out of your viewers, and notice that what you thought was working really isn’t. You simply need to 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 worthwhile to do this with confidence and readability — whereas retaining folks entertained and engaged.
That’s why copywriting abilities, and robust communication typically, is an evergreen talent for social media managers.
“It’s worthwhile to ensure that your factors are crystal clear, and your viewers isn’t decoding them in any means they’re not presupposed to,” Trish explains. “If folks aren’t participating 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 received’t create each single social media publish from scratch.
Due to instruments like Canva, precise content material creation is less complicated than ever. You’ll even be repurposing content material created by different folks, like trending memes and user-generated content material (UGC).
It’s worthwhile to mix all these totally 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 crew, you’ll should be motivated and self-directed to thrive as a social media supervisor. You’ll be making many vital selections on daily basis, as you create and publish content material that might be seen by a whole bunch or hundreds of individuals.
“You really want to belief your self,” says Trish. “That may be scary, nevertheless it’s what you might want to make it on this trade. It’s worthwhile to have the arrogance to imagine in your self and imagine in your skills to make actually cool issues occur.”
There’s nobody, single option to construct a profession in social media — and no two social media supervisor jobs are precisely alike.
You may wish to work freelance, or as an in-house worker. One firm may be 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 superb, as a result of I feel a variety 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 below are the essential steps to touchdown your first social media supervisor job — wherever you’re ranging from, and no matter a dream job appears 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 shopper, immerse your self within the social media panorama.
What model’s presence are you impressed by? What traits or content material varieties do you significantly love? Is there a selected area of interest, or sort of product, you may image your self working in?
In the event you like, you may actually be taught in a extra formal means, too. There are such a lot of methods to coach your self about social media — from free YouTube channels to inexpensive on-line programs.
In the event you’re undecided the place to begin, we’ve acquired you lined.
2. Get expertise
The fantastic thing about social media is that it’s an inherently democratic place. Anybody can bounce 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 good friend makes artistic textiles or attractive ceramics, why not crew up and assist them promote their work? Or, go searching for internships and co-ops, or attempt buying and selling your providers for merchandise from small enterprise homeowners.
It’s also possible to use your personal presence as a studying instrument. Constructing a meme account or area of interest TikTok presence helps you be taught what it takes to get views — and later, it may possibly show to purchasers that you recognize your stuff.
3. Create a portfolio
As you accumulate expertise, showcase it in a portfolio to share with purchasers and potential employers.
You’ll be able to embrace social media work you’ve finished for purchasers, in earlier jobs, or for your self. You’ll be able to even create ‘spec work’ (a.okay.a. unpaid, uncommissioned work finished to indicate off your skills) for manufacturers you admire.
There are various methods to create a portfolio, and so they don’t need to 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 could possibly 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 shopper work:
Supply: socialflyny.com
4. Replace your resume
In artistic industries, your portfolio does a variety of the heavy lifting. However purchasers will nonetheless ask for a resume, and yours must sparkle.
Your purpose is to face out from the gang, so have enjoyable and get artistic with the design (simply ensure that it’s nonetheless simply readable).
Attempt together with a ‘Profile’ or ‘About Me’ part on the high of your resume to summarize what makes you particular. It’s also possible to determine to incorporate solely related work expertise, fairly 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 must put your self on the market to search 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 do this, too). One of the best place to community as a social media supervisor is… on social media!
LinkedIn generally is a improbable place to attach with potential employers, and search for openings at firms you like. Relying in your area of interest, Instagram and Fb may also be a superb place to search out purchasers, particularly in case you’re concentrating on small companies.
Past discovering work, networking helps you join with trade friends, so you may continue to learn, discover mutual help, 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 is dependent upon various elements.
As a social media supervisor, your wage or pay might 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 america is about $50,000 per 12 months, typically with advantages like medical insurance and 401k plans. Most positions fall between $40,000 and $65,000 yearly.
In the event you’re simply beginning out, you must anticipate to earn across the decrease finish of that vary. As you acquire expertise, you’ll earn extra! Huge firms may pay much more — probably over $100,000 per 12 months for senior positions.
As a freelancer, pay generally is a little extra sophisticated. You may wish to invoice purchasers hourly, or on a flat month-to-month retainer mannequin.
You’ll doubtless wish to base your charges on how a lot expertise you’ve gotten, so long as they’ll cowl your overhead prices.
Listed below 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
- Knowledgeable (10+ years): $125-$250/hour
Unsure the place to begin with creating your social media supervisor resume? Make it simple with our free, downloadable resume templates!
Bonus: Customise our free, professionally designed resume templates to land your dream social media job at this time. Obtain them now.
You need to use these templates to replace your present resume, or construct a brand new one from scratch. It’s also possible to use them as a place to begin to tweak and regulate to your wants!
Construct your personal model
Nothing exhibits that you recognize social media higher than your personal thriving presence!
Constructing your personal social media model is a good way to search out purchasers and job provides, 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 the event you run different profitable accounts in several niches, like vegan cooking or canine movies, you must discuss them, and share what you’ve realized alongside the best way. However the primary focus ought to be you, as a social media skilled.
Sustain with social traits
To be a terrific social media supervisor, you might want to keep conscious of traits giant and small, from this week’s trending audio to entire new platforms that rise in reputation.
For instance, we predict small companies are going to begin tapping into the facility of creators like by no means earlier than!
It’s best to by no means be a senseless pattern zombie. However you must know what’s present, and have enjoyable with it in a means that feels genuine and on-brand.
Perceive enterprise metrics
It’s one factor to know what good social media content material appears 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 technique.
What enterprise objectives and outcomes are you making an attempt to realize, and what social media ways will you utilize to realize them? How will you measure success?
Some examples may 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 target market with social advertisements
Be open-minded
The precise social media job for you won’t be precisely what you’d anticipate. For instance, in case you’ve labored in finance or style 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 degree,” and even internships — particularly in case you’re pivoting into social from one other profession path the place you have been extra established!
In fact, you must select to work with firms whose services or products you’ll take pleasure in speaking about all day. However don’t be frightened of alternatives that really feel a little bit surprising.
Tailor your job functions
Even you probably have a lovely, all-star resume, you must 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 abilities you’ve listed match what’s within the job description (so long as you even have these abilities, after all).
All the time apply with a novel cowl letter, too. Attempt to attract a private connection between you and the corporate. What do you like about their model? Why do you wish to characterize 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
- Challenge-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
- Attempt 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’ll be able to even monitor trade traits, monitor your opponents, and keep on high of what individuals are saying about your model.
Right here’s what it could appear to be to trace your Fb posts’ engagement in Hootsuite:
By no means cease studying
To achieve this thrilling — and difficult — subject, you might want to be a devoted lifelong learner.
The excellent news is that social media is now not in its infancy, and also you don’t need to determine it out alone any extra.
Hootsuite Academy provides a wide range of certification programs, from foundational to superior. There are additionally loads of assets on-line that can assist you get comfy with rising abilities, like social promoting.
Hootsuite makes your life as a social media supervisor simpler. Handle your social channels, accumulate real-time knowledge, and have interaction 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.
