Whichever facet or umbrella of the digital marketing sphere you’re looking to specialize in, there is one common element that you must never overlook: to enjoy success and longevity, you must adapt, evolve and develop your skills on a continual basis.
In today’s climate, one of the most fast-paced, exciting, dynamic and potentially rewarding digital marketing career journeys available is social media – and due to a continual rise in mobile adoption worldwide, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
To put the importance of social media marketing into perspective, here are some key insights you should know:
Recent studies revealed that there were 3.196 billion global social media users in 2018, equaling 42% penetration
95% of web users aged 18-34 follow a brand via social media
71% of consumers who have had a positive social media service experience with a brand are likely to recommend it to their peers, becoming invaluable brand advocates
Top brands on Instagram enjoy a healthy per-follower engagement rate of 4.21%
Social media marketing is an essential part of any contemporary brand or business’s promotional toolkit, and if you have the skills, passion and knowledge, a career path of this kind has the potential to be particularly rewarding, both personally and financially.
1. Social Media Executive
Behind every social media activity or action, there is a person with the expertise required to represent a brand or business in a way that builds awareness, generates leads and forges long-lasting B2B or B2C relationships. At its core, this is the role of the social media executive.
A social media executive is responsible for managing a company’s various social media channels and campaigns with the primary aim of engaging customers, expanding commercial reach and improving overall customer satisfaction. This demanding and ever-shifting role includes the curation and creation of content that drives the brand forward while conveying essential messages. Today, people are more connected than ever and it’s the job of the social media executive to leverage this thirst for social media-based interaction.
While, like the vast majority of digital jobs, the role of the social media executive can change according to emerging trends and technologies, here is a rundown of the key daily or weekly responsibilities:
Managing the company’s various social media channels, populating each platform with engaging, dynamic content and responding to various consumer or user queries, issues or requests in a timely, personable fashion.
Gathering vital insights and data through social listening and competitor research.
Boosting engagement and brand awareness by using a host of social media methods and strategies, in addition to participating in trending content and relevant conversations.
Helping with the development of social media strategies and campaigns.
Tracking the company’s social media performance through data analytics and keeping up to date with industry trends.
Helping the social media manager to engage the rest of the business in all social media efforts and activities.
The Skills
Here are some of the skills required to work as a social media executive:
Relevant experience or qualifications in social media marketing.
A working understanding of all key social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and LinkedIn.
An understanding of social media-based data analytics platforms.
Customer service and community management experience.
Basic copywriting knowledge and experience.
A demonstrable passion to remain abreast with the latest market trends.
A creative mindset and exceptional organizational skills.
Stepping Up
To move along the social media marketing career path with confidence, you will need to spend time actively participating as a social media executive and learning every facet of the role.
With so many exciting elements of the role to master, the progression to social media manager could take between two and four years, but in the meantime there will be a wealth of aspects to challenge you.
By keeping up to date with industry trends, being confident with your creative ideas and asking for more responsibility with key social media marketing campaigns, you will stand a good chance of accelerating your career progression.
2. Social Media Manager
In addition to the core skills and responsibilities Photo Editing Services you will acquire as a social media executive, you will be required to take more of a leadership role as a social media manager, helping to spearhead the development of the company’s ongoing social media strategy.
While you will still need to assist in the daily or weekly duties of the social media executives you manage, you will need to adopt a managerial position, communicating all social media initiatives, campaigns and updates with confidence and clarity. You will also need to delegate responsibilities strategically while managing budgets and working with other key departments to help deliver successful digital marketing campaigns.
Here is a list of the primary responsibilities of the social media manager:
Oversee and direct the creation and publication of relevant, original, high-quality social media content across channels.
Manage social media advertising budgets and develop cost-effective paid promotional strategies that deliver a positive return on investment (ROI).
Create and manage a regular publishing schedule.
Motivate staff and encourage the continued development of their knowledge base and skills.
Lead social media marketing strategies and campaigns, helping to ensure success from start to finish.
Liaise with other digital marketing managers to deliver on critical promotional initiatives and strategy.
Work with industry influencers to boost brand awareness and expand commercial reach.