arrow_back Back To Stories

Becoming a Social Media Manager, By: Courtney Crites

Oct 28, 2022 06:48 PM
Click to go to article

What is a social media manager? 

A social media manager is responsible for creating, managing and carrying out a brand’s online presence and social media strategy. This usually involves creating and publishing content, engaging with followers and managing the brand’s community, and monitoring conversations to ensure that the brand’s social media presence helps build a positive reputation. 


What does a social media manager actually do?

A social media manager is responsible for the day-to-day management and development of both content and copy for a brand’s social media platforms. This may mean positioning a brand through tweets, posts, stories, and discussions via social media platforms, in addition to monitoring related discussions. 

An entry-level social media manager will generally be responsible for general account monitoring and for managing social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc.

Eventually, a social media manager's role may also become more focused on marketing strategy and ensuring content and the brand’s social media presence align, accordingly. 


What kind of education do social media managers usually have?

While a degree is generally not required for social media managers, it is becoming more common for them to have a degree in digital marketing, communications, or data science. Of course, these degrees aren’t requirements to achieve success in this field, a degree can absolutely provide you with skills and experiences that can help you advance your career. 


What essential skills do social media managers have? 

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Organization
  • Adaptability 
  • Strong analytical skills 
  • Creativity 
  • Ability to work under tight deadlines 
  • Enthusiasm 
  • Relationship Management 
  • Initiative 


Where do social media managers typically work? 

Social media managers have the option to work for digital marketing agencies, a part of an in-house marketing team, or can freelance their services. 

An in-house social media manager is an employee who manages the company’s social channels. An agency is a third-party vendor that provides social media management services to businesses. A freelance social media manager is a social media marketing expert who assists a business to elevate their social presence. 


How much do social media managers usually make per year?

Social media managers can expect to earn anywhere from $45,000 to $80,000 per year. The average salary for a social media manager is around $50,000, with the average hourly rate at about $17.94, according to Indeed Salaries. However, it is important to note that salary varies based on important factors like location, qualifications, experience, and type of industry. 

How can you become a social media manager? 

First, it’s important to understand how social media works. This means using the platforms yourself and becoming familiar with them and understanding how they can be used to achieve business goals. It’s also a good idea to stay up to date on trends and best practices for each platform you plan to use or specialize in. 

As mentioned above, it’s important for social media managers to have strong writing and communication skills. Social media managers need to be able to communicate with both the external target audience and internal individuals. 

Finally, you’ll need to build a portfolio or collection of your work. Many social media managers start by managing social media accounts for school projects, small businesses, or volunteer organizations.