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How to become a social media manager: My 8 tips
In my opinion, being a social media manager is a pretty neat job, I should know as I have now being doing this since 2008 and earning a pretty good living from it, working the hours I want and choose. I do not want that to sound like I am blowing my own trumpet or being big-headed at all.
I love it, as I get to be creative, work with cool people, learning more about their industry and business, and (best of all) I stay connected to what’s going on in the world.
But, believe me, it’s not all fun and games. As a social media manager, I am also responsible for creating and curating content, managing community engagement, and measuring results. This can be quite time consuming and even stressful at times.
It’s a lot of work, but it can be incredibly rewarding. If you’re passionate about communication, helping your clients grow and want to make a difference in the world, then becoming a social media manager might be the perfect career for you. I would not change it for the world!
As I see it, as social media grows in popularity, more and more businesses are looking for talented people to run their online presence. If you want to work in social media management but have never done it before, don’t worry (I never had any experience in this field before 2008) and there are many ways to get started.
Here are some of my own personal tips on how to become a social media manager without any experience:
1. Learn how to use the different social media platforms.
If you want to be a successful social media manager, you need to know a lot about the different platforms that are out there. I suggest spending some time getting to know the most popular ones, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find out how each platform works and how businesses, your potential clients, are using them to reach their target audiences.
Many businesses now have a presence on social media, and it can be a great way to connect with customers and promote their products or services. However, each platform has its own unique features, so it’s important to learn how to use each one effectively.
For example, Twitter is all about short, snappy messages, whereas Facebook is better for longer posts and sharing photos and videos. LinkedIn is focused on networking and connecting with other professionals, whereas Instagram is all about visual content. Don`t even get me started on TikTok!
So, before you start using social media for business purposes, make sure you take the time to learn how each of these platforms work.
2. Keep up with what’s going on in social media.
If you want to be a good social media manager, you need to know what’s going on right now. But, trust me, this is not as scary or time consuming as it sounds.
Just make sure you’re following the right news sources and influencers in your industry so you can find new social media opportunities for your business. A good place to start is by using the free tool Google Alerts. I use it all the time and is one of the few tools I could not manage without.
It’s important to stay up-to-date with what’s happening on social media. This means more than just logging into Facebook or Twitter every day.
You need to be actively seeking out new content and developments, so the first and best place to start is by setting up Google Alerts for key terms related to social media, and make a point of reading through the results every day.
This will help you to identify any new trends or developments that you need to be aware of. Additionally, following influencers will give you a better sense of what content is resonating with your audience. By staying on top of social media, you can ensure that you’re always ahead of the curve.
3. Build a strong brand for yourself.
What sets you apart from other social media managers is your personal brand. If you want to be successful, you should start by building a strong personal brand that highlights your unique skills and strengths. Use your own social media channels to build your personal brand, and make sure it fits with the brand of the company you want to work for.
Build a strong following on social media by sharing your unique perspective and engaging with your fans. As a result, you have a valuable asset: a well-established personal brand.
When you’re managing social media for a business, you can leverage your personal brand to help promote the business. Your followers know, like and trust you and are more likely to listen to you when you endorse a product or service.
In addition, your personal brand can help to attract new customers and followers to the business. So if you’re looking to set yourself apart from other social media managers, make sure to focus on building your personal brand.
I have had clients come to me and say that when they were researching for someone to mange their social media, the first thing they looked at was that brands own social media, they looked at their following but more importantly their content and activity. I recently secured a client based on the content I was sharing on LinkedIn.
4. Put your work in a portfolio.
One of the best ways to stand out when looking for new clients, or applying for social media management jobs, is to have a strong portfolio of work to show potential new customers or employers. When I started out and had not done this before, I started by making some sample content or campaigns that I could use to show what I could do. Then once I secured a few clients I used that content for my portfolio.
Quite simply, when you’re trying to break into the social media world, one of the best things you can do is build a portfolio.
Even if you’re not looking for a new job, having a portfolio is a great way to showcase your skills and accomplishments. And if you are looking for a new job, a portfolio can be essential in helping you land the gig. After all, social media is all about creating content, so what better way to show off your skills than by having a collection of your best work?
Plus, a portfolio can help you keep track of your progress and see how far you’ve come. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of my tips:
• Choose your platform:
Do you want to create a website or an online portfolio? There are pros and cons to both. A website is more extensive and gives you more control over the design, but it takes more time and effort to create and maintain. An online portfolio is easier to set up and can be completed in a shorter time frame, but you’ll have less control over the overall design.
• Collect your content:
Once you’ve chosen your platform, it’s time to start collecting your content. This can include blog posts, articles, infographics, photos, videos, or any other type of content that you’ve created. If you don’t have any original content of your own, you can curate content from other sources that showcase your skills.
• Organise your content:
Once you have all of your content collected, it’s time to start organising it. You’ll want to group similar items together and create sections that make sense. For example, if you have a section on blog posts, you could further divide it into subcategories like “Top 10 Lists,” “How-To Guides,” or “Product Reviews.”
• Create an eye-catching design:
One of the most important aspects of creating a great portfolio is making sure it has a strong design. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to be flashy or over-the-top; instead, focus on creating a clean and organised layout that highlights your content in the best way possible.
• Add additional information:
In addition to your content, your portfolio should also include some basic information about yourself like your name, contact info, social media links, and a short bio. This will help visitors learn more about who you are and what you do.
Building a portfolio is a great way to showcase your skills as a social media manager. By taking the time to collect and organise your best work, you’ll be able to create a strong portfolio that will help you get noticed by potential employers or potential new clients.
5. Join communities on social media sites.
Participating in online communities related to social media management is another great way to get started. This will not only help you build your network, but it will also teach you more about how social media works and how businesses use it to reach their customers.
I have joined many online communities on both Facebook and LinkedIn. These not only help keep me updated on what is new, but I also get some great tips and see that other social media managers are having the same problems or issues as me, and I find that quite comforting.
In my experience, when it comes to being a good social media manager, one of the best things you can do is join relevant communities. This will help you in a couple of different ways.
First, it will give you a chance to interact with potential customers or clients who might be interested in what you have to offer.
Second, it will help you stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your industry. By being a part of these online communities, you’ll be able to quickly and easily find out about new trends, products, and services.
For me, it is about staying on top of these developments and this is essential to your success. In short, joining communities on social media sites is a great way to connect with potential customers and stay informed about your industry, even using it as a sound-board to let off steam or get answers to questions from those in the same field.
6. Go to conferences and other events about social media.
All over the country, there are often conferences and events about social media. I have found that these can be great ways to learn more about the industry, meeting other social media managers, and show potential employers, or clients, what you can do.
As an experienced social media manager I know the best way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices is to attend conferences and business networking events. Social media is a constantly evolving field, and those who want to stay ahead of the curve need to be willing to invest in their professional development.
When it comes to the cost, I see it as an investment not an expense. I was a member of BNI for many years and this helped grow my business, expand my knowledge and contact sphere. I would recommend it to anyone and trust me when I say, you will definitely get a good return on your investment, as long as you are willing to put the time and effort in.
I have found that conferences provide an opportunity to learn from industry leaders, network with other professionals, and gain insights into the latest trends. If you are serious about pursuing a career in social media management, attending conferences and networking events is a must.
7. Look for internships or jobs that are easy to get into.
Social media internships or entry-level jobs are great ways to get started in the field. They’ll help you get ready for a job as a social media manager by giving you hands-on experience.
8. Use a good social media management dashboard
In my opinion this is essential. A good social media management dashboard will help you manage your clients social media accounts from one place.
It will help you create and schedule content, engage with your clients audience, monitor their brand and listen out for conversations related to their industry. Some good ones to try are:
Conclusion
These are my tips on how to become a social media manager with no experience.
Even if you have never done it before, these tips will help you get started on your way to becoming a successful social media manager. So go out and start making connections, building your personal brand, and putting together a portfolio of your work. You can reach your goals and get the social media management job of your dreams if you work hard and stay focused.
