How To Become A Social Media Manager [In 5 Simple Steps]

An Overview of Social Media Management: A Primer

One of the primary goals of a social media manager is to help build a brand's online presence.

They promote a brand through several online marketing strategies, but their main focus is social media platforms.

Their goal is to increase followers and drive engagement on these accounts by creating and publishing content that aligns with the brand's identity and goals.

A social media manager job is dynamic, and sometimes, you'll have to wear many hats.

Some of your daily tasks could include:

• Setting up a new or optimizing an old social media account for clients
• Developing and executing a social media marketing strategy to drive engagement
• Planning and creating compelling content across social media platforms
• Monitoring key metrics and performance indicators to measure success
• Engaging with customers and followers on social media channels
• Collaborating with content managers, editors, and marketers
• Creating reports based on analytics, etc.

How Much Do Social Media Managers Make?

According to career expert Zippia, social media managers in the US can make $70,287 per year, meaning around $33.79 per hour. The salary ranges between $50,000 to $98,000 a year.

Salaries can depend on your location, education, and experience level.

Reasons to Consider Becoming Social Media Manager

Working as a social media manager offers many great benefits, such as:

Doing something you love

Social media is all about communication and collaboration, and a great deal of that collaboration is through written words.

If writing and storytelling are your passions, that makes this gig even more fun and interesting.

Flexibility and creative freedom

As an independent worker, you can write and develop social media campaigns from anywhere you want.

This can lead to a great work-life balance. You can also enjoy the creative freedom to choose the type of projects you want to work on.

Increasing demand and work opportunities

With the constantly evolving social media landscape, there's a high demand for skilled social media managers.

It also offers future opportunities for personal development and professional growth.

Reach and Influence

You get to work with some popular brands or businesses and have the power to shape their social media presence.

You connect with many professionals, build communities, and engage with your audience. This helps you expand your reach globally.

What You'll Need to Become a Social Media Manager [& Associated Costs]

Like any marketing role, becoming a proficient social media manager demands many skills.

Here are some of the basic things you should consider if you want to succeed in social media marketing:

Education and Experience

A college degree is not a strict requirement to become a social media manager.

But it can expose you to a wide range of opportunities, increasing your chance of getting hands-on experience in a professional setting.

Strong Communication Skills

Being a social media manager means constantly interacting with people. Building a successful social media campaign is based on collaboration.

Good communication skills allow you to respond to customer queries and share ideas with stakeholders effectively.

Social Media Proficiency

You must have a good understanding and knowledge of all social media platforms and social media management tools.

You should also have strong analytics and marketing management skills.

Content Creation and Editing

Above all other skill sets, writing engaging content is at the top of the list for being a successful social media manager.

Apart from writing the copy, you'll likely need to review the work of other team members.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Social Media Manager?

The costs to become an in-house or freelance social media manager can vary greatly depending on your location, scope of work, experience level, and the skills you bring to the table.

You can expect to spend a few hundred or even thousand dollars on anything from software expenses to advertising, marketing, and website management.

If you plan to work from home, you can rule out office expenses like rent, transportation, and utilities.

Is It Hard to Become a Social Media Manager?

This job can be challenging because of the ever-changing technological and social trends.

And the increasing competition makes it more challenging to get desired results.

But social media managers work in every industry, making it a great career move long-term.

It will take time, effort, and persistence. But the great thing about this industry is you can land a small social media manager job early, even before you finish training.

You can volunteer at local NGOs and manage their social accounts to get practical experience.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Social Media Manager?

If you have a background in marketing, business communications, or a related field, you may have a good head start and can focus your efforts on learning specific social media skills.

It could take you only a couple of months to get started. Remember, no two social media manager jobs are alike.

If you're starting from scratch, you could go for a relevant bachelor's degree, which can take three to four years.

A degree is not always a requirement, though. You can take social media courses or certifications to expedite the process.