As a social media manager, you can work freelance, or you could have a permanent job. It all depends on how many hours you want to work. But being a freelance social media manager, you get more freedom on who you want to work with, and you can set your own hours.   

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What would my responsibilities be?  

All from (Social media manager job profile | Prospects.ac.uk, 2022)  

• develop creative and interesting social media strategies  

• manage the day-to-day handling of all social media channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, adapting content to suit different channels  

• oversee, plan and deliver content across different platforms using scheduling tools  
  create engaging multimedia content (and/or outsource this effectively) across multiple platforms  

• develop, launch and manage new competitions and campaigns that promote your organisation and brand  

• form key relationships with influencers across the social media platforms  

• undertake audience research  
  manage and facilitate social media communities by responding to social media posts and developing discussions  

• monitor, track, analyze and report on performance on social media platforms using tools like Google Analytics and Facebook insights  

• research and evaluate the most recent trends and techniques to seek out new and better ways of measuring social media activity  

• analyze competitor activity  

• recommend improvements to extend performance  

• set targets to extend brand awareness and increase customer engagement  

• manage, motivate and coach junior staff like social media executives or assistants  

• manage a allow social media activities  

• educate other staff on the employment of social media and promote its use within your company (in-house roles)  

• encourage collaboration across teams and departments  

• regularly liaise with clients via telephone, email, conference calls or face-to-face (agency roles).  

As a social media manager, you must:

(Social media manager job profile | Prospects.ac.uk, 2022)  

• a solid understanding of the use of a range of social media platforms, particularly in relation to advertising/branding and customers  

• strong copywriting and editing skills suitable for each platform, from knowing how to write a successful tweet to using effective storytelling techniques  

• knowledge and understanding of algorithms and search engine optimization  

• creative skills for contributing new and innovative ideas  

• strong communication and people skills for articulating ideas to colleagues and clients  

• leadership qualities to lead and motivate a team  

• excellent teamwork, collaboration and networking skills  

• organizational skills, with the capacity to prioritize and work across multiple projects  

• project and campaign management skills  

• the ability to work well under pressure in order to meet deadlines  

• skills in data analysis and interpreting statistics  

• Online community management and customer service skills to strike the balance between publicity and stimulating direct discussion with potential and actual customers  

• an eye for detail and the ability to work accurately  

• motivation and commitment  

What qualifications will I need?  

There are no set qualifications for becoming a social media manager, however, some employers require a degree but it's open to any graduate. Some degrees that would be particularly important are advertising, business management, journalism, marketing, media and communications and public relations.   

  

A woman called Isabella Peters who used to work for a company called Moxie & Mettle. She studied marketing communications at the University of West England and after graduation she applied for over 50 marketing jobs. She notes that marketing jobs are very highly sought-after graduations. She managed to get a couple of interviews but as she has a lack of ‘marketing experience’ she unfortunately didn’t get the job. She, however, met her former boss who contacted her for a marketing role she thought Isabelle was perfect for and she became their in-house marketing assistant.  

 
 

What route is there to enter the social media industry? 

Many employers require their social media managers to have a degree in marketing or a related field. But most employers want their social media managers to also have work experience with running a social media page, so you have the vital skills and knowledge you need to have in this field of work. Instead of completing a degree in this it then means you could do an apprenticeship as it lets you earn money whilst completing your academic studies. It also means you won't be in student debt as if you go into an apprenticeship role, they can pay you to go to university. This then ticks off two of the boxes' employers look for: work experience and a degree.   

 
 

I can also enter the industry through an entry level media position at a junior or assistant level. I can gain social media experience through these positions which helps build my resume and portfolio until I have built and gained the right amount of experience for the job. If I have enough experience, you can qualify for a more advanced role as a social media manager.