Social media has become the staging ground for the biggest marketing opportunities in history.

Not only does half the world’s population use it, but did you know that 3/4 of them use social media to research purchases? With such opportunity comes fierce competition, so the stakes are higher too.

It’s not enough to leave social media management to an intern anymore and pay it no mind. Social media management has become a respected and lucrative field that rewards enterprising individuals with the chance to develop numerous skills while working on projects that make a difference.

What exactly do social media managers (SMMs) do, and what skills do you need to become one? Find out below.

What Does A Social Media Manager Do?

Social media managers create and coordinate a company’s online presence across the most popular social media channels. They ensure that the company’s branding and tone of voice remain consistent while expanding its social media presence.

SMMs at large companies with established social departments might oversee a team of people, each with specific skills that bring their posts to life. You’ll have diverse responsibilities and need a skillset to match if you’re the only person at the company that handles their social presence.

What Are Social Media Manager’s Responsibilities & Day-To-Day Tasks?

Companies differ widely in size, niche, and approach to their customer base, so no two SMM positions are the same. Even so, implementing and steering the company’s social marketing strategy is at the heart of their role.

SMMs do this by designing and curating a content plan in line with the brand and its marketing goals. They schedule when to post new content and monitor audience responses. SMMs are often the first to gauge whether a campaign or product is having the desired impact. They keep track of pertinent current events and can help mitigate marketing missteps in time.

Whatever else you have to do during the day, communication with the company’s followers is essential for growth and customer conversion. By interacting with them while projecting the company’s views & mission, SMMs build up their reputation and give character to what might otherwise be yet another faceless brand.

While definitely creative, the position of SMM is also an analytical one. You have to track new followers, video views, posts & comments, and other metrics that demonstrate the engagement your role builds. Higher-ups in the company can use these insights to improve their marketing strategies or develop new products that satisfy customers’ needs better.

While they don’t need a Comp Sci degree, SMMs need to be more tech-savvy than the average user they interact with. That means having a grasp of design & project management as well as communication & collaboration tools.

They also need to be familiar with secure cloud storage where they can keep and share project files at a moment’s notice while keeping it safe from unauthorized access, thanks to strong encryption.

What Skills Does A Social Media Manager Need?

Managing a company’s socials is a versatile and sometimes stressful job, especially if you’re juggling multiple clients with different needs.

• Communication is a skill you’ll rely on in any SMM position. It’s equally handy for remaining friendly yet professional when talking to followers or convincing your boss how pursuing a failing campaign isn’t a good idea.
• Whether you’re writing catchy tweets or long-form LinkedIn posts, your writing skills need to be up to snuff. Sometimes other team members will submit their content for approval.
• Strong editing skills will ensure that any published posts maintain the same style and are free from grammatical errors.
• Time management is another essential SMM skill to master. It involves the effective short- and long-term organization of your workdays so you can achieve peak productivity. This may involve post-scheduling, writing content at peak creative hours, or coordinating with teammates.
• Social is the most volatile form of media, and a single development can throw your strategy off track. Flexible SMMs who seize the moment and can change their plans do much better in this business. They’ll also have their finger on the pulse of the current events and be far less likely to react poorly in sudden situations.
• Apart from the above, you may need other talents. Videos are a popular content type, so knowing how to create and edit them is a plus. The same goes for creating design templates, infographics, photographs, and other forms of media that keep engagement high.

Conclusion

Social media management has evolved into a dynamic and respected field, offering individuals the chance to master a spectrum of skills while making a tangible difference.

So, whether you’re crafting a tweet, analyzing engagement data, or steering a brand through the ever-changing digital landscape, the role of an SMM is your ticket to shaping the future of marketing.