How to Become a Social Media Manager

You may be surprised to find that an online presence isn’t the norm for every business. There are still plenty that have either delayed building a digital identity or are missing sales opportunities because they aren’t sure where to begin translating content into conversions. Contrary to what some may believe, managing a social media account isn’t always easy.

This is especially true when it belongs to a large business or corporation. To make things easier, they hire social media managers to boost engagement. If you’re hoping to pursue a career in social media management, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Here is what you need to know about becoming a social media manager.

What is a Social Media Manager?

A social media manager is someone who keeps tabs on a client’s social media account. Depending on the type of business, social media management takes place on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and/or Facebook. Some social media managers might run a company’s blog as well. Both B2B and B2C companies rely on SMMs to communicate with existing followers and other like-minded brands. Depending on the size of the audience, managing a social media account involves wearing a variety of hats throughout the day.

Here are a few of the most notable tasks involved with the job:

• Organizing and queuing upcoming posts
• Contributing to the growth of the brand
• Responding to social media engagements
• Consistently researching the latest trends
• Optimizing content design across all platforms
• Creating and maintaining an editorial calendar

While these are some of the general tasks you must perform, your client or employer may ask you to perform additional tasks as well.

Sharpen Your Skills and Mind

In order to get a job as a social media manager, or any job for that matter, you’re going to need the right education and skill set. Running someone else’s account is not just scrolling through the feed every hour or so. You need to know what you’re doing, what to look for, how to engage with your target audience, and how to create online strategies.

And while it’s true that a rich portfolio full of examples does make you a good candidate, going to college and earning a bachelor’s or master’s in marketing or communications can make you an even better one.

College will give you hands-on experience about what it means to be a social media manager. It will also help you learn in-demand skills without money worries. And there’s no better way to pay for it than by getting a student loan from a private lender. Private lenders are best known for giving their borrowers lower interest rates, so the responsibility of paying it back is easier to manage.

Choose a Niche

Because many online platforms are so broad, your best bet is choosing to specialize in a niche you enjoy. Consider what type of content you consume the most; whether it’s beauty or health and fitness, you can create a career centered around your passions and interests.