How to become a Social Media Manager in 5 Simple Steps.

A social media manager is a marketer responsible for creating a content strategy and coercing engagement on a company’s social platforms.
A social media manager is an essential part of a marketing team and is responsible for creating, managing, and publishing content for a brand’s social media accounts.

Who is a Social Media Manager?

A social media manager is a person who is responsible for setting strategies that can lead to engagements on the company’s social media platforms. They can work with individuals, brands, or companies by representing them on several social media channels. They can create content, respond to comments, and add engaging information representing the brand.

What Does a Social Media Manager Do?

Social media managers are responsible for creating strategies to increase followers, producing content, communicating with key stakeholders in the company, and overseeing social campaigns on social media platforms. To do that, they often have duties such as:

• A Social media manager is responsible for scheduling posts and monitoring engagement.
• They optimize pages and post organic-rich content.
•  They report important metrics to relevant parties.
• They build brand awareness by engaging relevant influencers.
•  They analyze trends and find solutions to brand problems.
•  They create graphics.
•  They Comment and respond to customer service inquiries.
•  They find relevant content and share it.
•  They are responsible for strategizing content and campaigns.
•  They set up profiles.

What are the skills Possessed by a Social media manager?

There are certain skills a social media manager should possess. Which are:

1. Writing: writing is far beyond solid grammar and spelling, it is the ability to create compelling and engaging content on social media platforms to get the attention of the target audience. It will be important to have your copywriting skills to develop compelling writing that fits into a brand’s story.
2. Editing: Alongside writing, you’ll likely need to review your team members’ work and ensure it’s grammatically correct and error-free. However, your copy editing and proofreading skills can help you develop the eye necessary to reassure a company or brand that they’re in safe hands.
3. Understanding social media platforms: every social media manager should understand the concept of social media, their strengths, weaknesses, and user demographics, among other characteristics to manage accounts successfully. Knowing of the following platforms will likely be most important: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
4. Eye for design: Social media managers need to have an eye for design to create visually captivating posts, graphics, and videos that resonate with their audience and align with the brand’s image.
5. Analytical tools: Knowing what messages connect with consumers requires an analytical eye and the capacity to research. It’s helpful to know how to use social media listening tools like Sprout Social and HubSpot.
6. Flexibility: Change is constant in the social media world, new trending hashtags and platform features often require social media managers to make a quick decision and incorporate difference into their work.
7. Timeliness: News events can cause some posts to be perceived as insensitive or otherwise overshadow your post in importance. Staying on top of the news and the bigger online conversations can help you react accordingly and maintain an organization’s brand.

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Steps to Becoming a Social Media Manager.

Certain steps are to be followed for an individual to become a social media manager. They are:

1. Develop a strong understanding of social media platforms and how to use them effectively for business: Gaining knowledge on the use of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, etc, and learning how to create engaging content and leverage platform features and algorithms to get positive results.
2. Cultivating essential skills: writing engaging social media posts, having SEO knowledge to optimize content, and creating and designing skills to produce visually appealing content are all skills to be cultivated by a social media manager.
3.  Gain relevant education and experience: Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field and considering the completion of a social media marketing certification program. You can seek internships or entry-level roles in social media, marketing, or communications to build experience.
4. Continuous learning and adaptation: Staying informed about the latest social media trends, and platform updates, developing a growth mindset, and being willing to experiment with new content formats and strategies.
5. Building a strong professional network: Connect with other social media professionals on LinkedIn and other platforms. Attending relevant conferences, or networking events to expand your knowledge and connections.

How Important is SEO to a Social Media Manager?

Search Engine Optimization(SEO) is the use of search engines to understand your content. It helps maximize output on social media engagement and publicity.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is important for a social media manager. Understanding SEO principles allows social media managers to optimize content for search engines, increase traffic, enhance brand visibility, and attract potential customers to social media platforms. They are implementing SEO strategies, such as using relevant keywords and metatags and optimizing content.

SEO is crucial in expanding reach, boosting visibility, and driving engagement on social media platforms.

SEO can have a great impact on your social media content. A good Social Media Manager knows this and strives to integrate SEO for social networks. When you impact SEO as one of your strategies, you can drive a larger audience with an interest in your products or services, leading to more potential customers.

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How Much Should You Charge as a Social Media Manager?

Certain factors should be considered when you want to charge your client, which are as follows:

• Your level of experience.
•  The value you bring to clients, including increased engagement, followers, and conversions.
• The size and type of clients you work with, including small businesses, large corporations, or non-profit organizations.
• The specific services you offer, such as content creation, campaign development, analytics, and community management.
• The level of competition in your market.

How to Freelance as a Social Media Manager.

If you are interested in becoming a social media manager, there are several things you need to consider before taking this step;

1.  Think thoroughly about your choice: If you’re considering freelancing, it is important to be sure whether freelancing is the right choice for you. Unlike the traditional job where you receive a paycheck at the end of the month, freelancing requires a mindset shift. To prepare for this work, you’ll need to change your mindset away from relying on a pay date and start thinking about turnover annually, and how you can manage your money effectively. You must learn to manage your time, be disciplined, meet deadlines, handle clients, and prepare for lean times. However, you can work from the comfort of your home and choose the clients you want to work with.
2.  Identify your skill: To be a freelancer you must first know your skills and abilities to succeed. To begin it is better to look for skills the market demands to secure clients. However, it is better to specialize in the skills that go with your passion and existing skills, even if they are not in high demand. Freelancing offers creative freedom, so choose work that brings you joy and fulfillment. You’ll find that specializing in your preferred skills will help you grow faster in your career.
3. Build a strong online profile: As a freelancer, your brand is your secret to building a strong profile. However, many freelancers make the mistake of prioritizing their clients and projects, using the excuse of not having time to work on their brand. Clients need to trust the professionals they hire. That’s why creating valuable content and showcasing your competence is important.
4. Create a strong portfolio: A portfolio aims to explain the importance of working with you. A portfolio is different from a resume, it is the putting together the collection of your best books used as a tool to display your work.
5. Price your services: Fixing prices and rates for a freelancer is never an easy task. You can either pick to work on a project basis or at an hourly rate. It’s always wise to consider the hourly rate, even if you’re working on a permanent or project basis. Your time is valuable. Therefore, working with those who pay you the most is your best approach.

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Platforms to find a Social Media Managing Role.

Here are some platforms where you can find social media managing roles:

1. Lucres: Lucres is a networking platform that connects job seekers to recruiters quickly. You can search for social media manager roles and Lucres can help you find the right match quickly and easily.
2. LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a popular platform for professional networking and job searching. You can search for social media manager roles, connect with hiring managers, and even apply directly through the platform.
3. Indeed: Indeed is a widely-used job search engine where you can find a variety of job listings, including those for social media managing roles. You can filter your search based on location, experience level, and more.
4. Glassdoor: Glassdoor not only provides job listings but also company reviews and insights into company culture. You can search for social media manager roles and get an idea of what it’s like to work for different companies.
5. SimplyHired: SimplyHired aggregates job listings from various sources, making it a convenient platform to search for social media managing roles across different companies and industries.
6. AngelList: If you’re interested in working for a startup, AngelList is a great platform to find social media managing roles in the tech industry. You can also learn more about the company and its funding status.
7. Freelance Platforms (Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr): If you’re looking for freelance or project-based social media managing roles, you can explore platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr to find opportunities to work with clients on a contract basis.

When applying for these roles, remember to tailor your profile and resume to highlight your social media management skills and experience. Make use of Lucres for your job search to get the best hiring opportunity!