Being a social media manager is not an easy job, yet the role is now one of the most important members of a brand’s marketing team. A social media manager is a professional responsible for developing, implementing, and managing a company's or organization's social media strategy on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, just to name a few. Their primary goal is to increase brand awareness, improve marketing efforts, and drive engagement and growth through various social media platforms. 

Some of the key responsibilities and skills typically associated with a social media manager include content creation and curation, strategy development, community management, analytics and reporting, advertising and promotions, collaboration, and trend monitoring. That’s one hefty job description, especially if you’re the only social media manager on board. So what kinds of skills do hiring managers look for in a social media manager? Those include creativity, communication, analytical thinking, time management, technical proficiency, and interpersonal skills. 

Now, let’s imagine you’ve scored your first social media management job. Congrats!...Now what? Here are ten pieces of advice for every novice social media manager:

1. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience's preferences, behaviors, and demographics is crucial for creating content that resonates and engages.

2. Create a Content Calendar

Planning and scheduling your posts ahead of time ensures consistency and allows for better strategic alignment with your marketing goals. We love apps like Planoly and Hootsuite.

3. Utilize Analytics

Regularly review analytics to understand what content performs best and to make data-driven decisions to improve your strategy.

4. Engage with Your Community

Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Building a community and fostering relationships with your followers is key to growing your social media presence.

5. Stay Updated on Trends

Social media is constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest trends, tools, and platform updates to keep your strategy relevant and effective. Following this blog is a great way to stay on top of what’s going on in the industry.

6. Experiment with Different Content Formats

Use a mix of photos, videos, stories, live streams, and user-generated content (UGC) to keep your feed dynamic and engaging.

7. Leverage Hashtags Wisely

Use relevant and trending hashtags to increase your content's visibility and reach a broader audience.

8. Monitor Competitors

Keep an eye on your competitors' social media strategies to identify opportunities and stay competitive.

9. Be Authentic

Authenticity builds trust. Be genuine in your interactions and content, and let your brand's personality shine through.

10. Invest in Paid Advertising

Organic reach can be limited. Invest in social media advertising to amplify your content, reach targeted audiences, and achieve specific marketing objectives.

By following these pieces of advice, social media managers can effectively navigate the complexities of social media and drive meaningful engagement and growth for their brands. Looking to hire a team of expert social media managers? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before outsourcing your social media management.  Schedule a discovery call with Media À La Carte today!