what is it like to work as a social media manager?
As a social media manager, you oversee the company's social media marketing team to increase traffic and engage customers. Depending on the size of the company, you may work with a large or small marketing team to manage social media campaigns. Your primary responsibility is to develop strategies for the company's social media platforms and supervise the execution of marketing activities. You also monitor the performance of each social media channel through analytics to understand engagement rates.
what does a social media manager do?
A social media manager can work for a single employer within the internal marketing department and oversee all of the company's social media marketing efforts. When working for one employer, they focus on that company's brand offerings and use their social media marketing expertise to boost sales and enhance customer engagement with the brand. They report on their results to marketing managers and executive teams.
Social media managers working at marketing consulting firms oversee the social media marketing efforts for multiple clients. In such cases, they evaluate social media marketing strategies and assist their clients in developing new methods to engage their target audiences. When working with several clients, they take on roles as idea generators and supervisors. However, at smaller companies, they often implement the ideas generated by the team themselves.
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average salary of a social media manager.
Our salary calculator allows you to explore pay ranges and see how much a beginner or experienced social media manager earns.
Most social media managers start their careers in junior or assistant roles, where they learn the ins and outs of the profession. As they develop their skills, they can move into mid-level leadership positions, and eventually advance to senior roles, which come with a corresponding increase in salary.
Want to know how much a social media manager earns? check out our salary calculator!
salary calculatorhow can you earn more as a social media manager?
A social media manager's compensation package depends on the organization they work for. Working at an agency or consulting firm typically offers different salaries compared to being part of an in-house marketing team within a company. If you work for a large agency handling major projects, your salary could be higher. Conversely, working in an internal marketing department might increase your earnings due to the complexity of the tasks involved.
The success of social media campaign activities can also impact your pay. Most employers provide a base salary for social media managers and often rely on performance metrics when reviewing compensation packages and benefits.
types of social media manager roles.
A social media manager works across various social media platforms or may specialize in specific ones. Some areas of specialization include:
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Social media platforms: They can specialize in networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, which connect people and businesses online. These platforms enhance a company's social awareness, brand recognition, and lead generation.
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Media sharing networks: social media managers oversee content shared on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube. The audiovisual and video content posted on these platforms also generate leads and build brand awareness, encouraging content sharing.
- Forums: As a social media manager, you participate in discussion forums and moderate them to enhance your online presence and visibility. Since forums are used for sharing and discovering various types of information, active participation helps improve your company's credibility.
working as a social media manager.
As a social media manager, creativity and a keen aesthetic sense are essential to capture the audience's attention with compelling images and visuals. The role also relies on careful planning to maximize the potential of each social media platform. Discover the daily responsibilities and career opportunities of a social media manager.
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responsibilities of a social media manager
The responsibilities of a social media manager include, among other things:
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Conducting social media audits: this involves monitoring the company's social media pages and regularly evaluating their performance. For example, ensuring that the brand identity and displayed names are consistent across all channels so that customers can find the brand easily everywhere. Additionally, it compares the recent performance of each social media platform with past results and competitors. A social media audit helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
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Designing and developing a social media strategy: after conducting an audit, it sets clear goals and develops strategies to achieve them. For example, creating engaging content to boost engagement across various platforms. Alternatively, launching new campaigns or contests to generate buzz around a product or brand.
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Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs): as a social media manager, you identify key metrics to monitor the growth and performance of your social media channels. For example, if your goal is to increase the number of followers across all platforms, you can ensure continuous audience growth through activities like contests and giveaways, where participants are required to subscribe or follow the page to participate.
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Content strategy: participates in brainstorming social media campaigns and content ideas. Responsible for aligning content and social media posts with the company's marketing strategies and objectives. Also develops ideas for evergreen content and oversees the creation of visual materials, such as graphics and images.
- Reporting social media metrics to stakeholders: communicate the social media strategy to clients or company leadership. Additionally, document the company's successes and challenges in achieving goals, such as increasing engagement and growing the follower base.
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work environment
A social media manager works across various industries, from manufacturing to retail and financial services. Any company that relies on social media and an online presence to generate revenue needs a social media manager who will curate content and brand messaging across different platforms.
This is an office job that primarily involves working at the office for most of the day. You may also attend meetings and conferences to enhance your social media knowledge, but aside from that, travel related to work is minimal. Since most tasks for social media managers can be completed via computer, remote work options are also available.
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who does a social media manager work with?
A social media manager's colleagues may include marketing managers, social media strategists, digital marketing managers, and marketing copywriters. They might also work alongside sales managers, sales consultants, SEO specialists, and other professionals such as web content managers, marketing directors, marketing coordinators, and web content editors.
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working hours schedule
A social media manager's schedule is full-time, typically 40 hours a week. Most social media managers work standard office hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but they sometimes attend events and client meetings outside of regular working hours. While many social media managers work full-time, many companies offer flexible work arrangements, including part-time roles or the option to work remotely. Some social media managers operate as freelancers or on a contract basis.
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development opportunities
Social media managers have a clear career path. From this role, they can advance to higher positions within digital marketing or communications. For example, they might become a digital marketing manager before moving into a communications manager or director role. Some social media managers further develop their skills and transition into professionals focused on web content creation or editing.
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why it's worth applying for a social media manager position through randstad
There are several advantages to working with a Randstad consultant when searching for a social media manager position.
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a consultant, well-versed in the marketing sector of the labor market, supports the selection process
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you can find a wide range of job opportunities on our website
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whether you're looking for a fixed-term or indefinite position, we help you find the job that best fits you
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required studies and skills.
studies.
To work as a social media manager, it's essential to acquire professional knowledge. It’s recommended to choose one of the following training programs to get started:
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university education
Most employers prefer candidates who hold a bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as marketing, business management, digital and social media marketing, or marketing and public relations.
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professional training programs
Several providers offer social media manager courses. These training programs can also serve as a stepping stone to an internship or a junior-level position.
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work experience
To become a social media manager, you need extensive experience in managing content across various social media platforms. Start with entry-level or internship positions in digital marketing to gain practical experience and develop relevant skills.
skills.
The following skills are essential for a social media manager to perform their job:
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writing skills
Exceptional writing abilities are essential to effectively engage audiences across various platforms. Strong writing skills help establish connections with different types of audiences and curate content tailored for specific social media channels. In addition to crafting posts and headlines, the content creation team also edits and refines the materials.
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creativity
As a social media manager, you need creativity to keep users engaged. Being skilled in using images and visual graphics helps in creating unique posts.
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flexibility
You need to adapt to the constantly evolving social media landscape. For example, as users shift from written content to video content, your social media strategy must also evolve accordingly to prevent losing followers.
frequently asked questions.
We have compiled the most frequently asked questions regarding the social media manager role:
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what does a social media manager do?
A social media manager develops strategies to increase followers across various social media platforms. Additionally, they create and oversee social media campaigns, produce content, and build online relationships with clients. Their work also includes reviewing analytics and communicating the performance of social media platforms to stakeholders.
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what are the three key skills for a social media manager?
Exceptional writing and communication skills are essential for creating engaging content. Creativity is also important for maintaining competitiveness and fostering online customer loyalty.
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what does it take to become a social media manager?
To kickstart your career as a social media manager, you need a foundational degree in marketing or PR. Additionally, gaining hands-on experience in entry-level roles within digital marketing is important to develop your skills and expertise.
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how much do social media managers earn?
The salaries of social media managers depend on their experience and qualifications. Use our salary calculator to discover the average pay ranges.
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how can I apply for a social media manager position?
Applying for a social media manager position is easy: create your Randstad profile and browse our job listings near you. Once you're logged in, you can apply with just one click for the opportunity that interests you, directly through our website!