I bet you’ve heard this from a friend or relative before: “Social media marketing? I have 200 followers on Instagram, I could totally do that!”
Sigh. While most people these days have at least one social media account, not everyone has what it takes to become an outstanding social media manager.
This requires a very particular skill set that your uncle probably doesn’t have (no offence to your uncle).
Whether you’re a seasoned social media professional planning your next career move or you’re new to the field and curious about where this profession can take you, this article is for you.
Let’s round up the seven key skills you need to foster as a stand-out social media manager.
1. Marketing Analytics
Insights and analytics help businesses make data-driven decisions regarding their marketing efforts. This is, of course, very very important. Without being able to analyze data, how will you be able to help a business grow?
Marketing analytics allows you to understand and evaluate the effectiveness of the social media strategies you create.
With marketing analytics, you can track key metrics such as engagement, clicks, and conversions. This information can then be used to craft compelling social media strategies for your clients and help them unlock the best results.
Here at Plann, we offer in-depth social media analytics that makes it so much easier to identify which types of posts are most successful and tailor your content accordingly, or to see which channels are driving the most traffic and focus your efforts on those platforms.
2. People skills
We know, dealing with clients and collaborators isn’t always a smooth ride. You really have to love working with others if you’re to thrive in a social media management role.
Identifying opportunities for future partnerships, collaborating with celebrities, working with micro-influencers – all of this requires a very important skill: being able to build relationships with all sorts of people.
Not everyone can do this and that’s okay, but if you are the kind of person who can get along with anyone, you’re well-suited for a career in social media.
The best way to demonstrate people skills on your social media manager resume is by giving specific examples of when you used these skills in the past.
Oh, and by this we don’t mean the time you stopped a fight from breaking out between your siblings as a kid. Instead, include a bullet point highlighting how your personality and people skills helped you score a brand collaboration, for example.
3. Copywriting
Was English your least favorite subject in school? Don’t worry. The kind of writing skills you need as a social media manager is different from the ones needed to write a detailed essay or report at school.
Instead, what you need to be able to do is create impactful tweets and relevant Instagram hashtags.
Creating compelling social media content across platforms through effective copywriting is what helps brands increase their impact online. It also builds trust and credibility with the audience, which in turn will lead to increased engagement and conversions.
This makes copywriting a crucial skill to highlight when you’re applying for jobs, because it shows you can engage followers and drive traffic to a business’ website.
4. Social Media Tools
Looking for ways to make your life easier? Aren’t we all! Luckily, as a social media marketer, there are plenty of tools to use to simplify your (work) life.
The best social media tools provide a range of features and capabilities that make you a more effective social media manager.
For instance, there are tools that can automate the process of posting content on multiple platforms. This will save you tons of time and ensure that your content is being shared consistently, even when you’re not there to monitor every step.
But there’s more!
These tools also provide valuable information about a business’s social media performance, making tracking the success of different strategies a breeze.
And, one final thing.
Certain social media tools will allow you to monitor and manage a business’ online reputation. By keeping track of mentions of the business online, you’ll be able to quickly put out any fires and respond to any negative feedback or other issues before they escalate. Pretty handy, right?
5. Creativity
With all of this talk about analytics and software, it might seem like excellent technical skills is all you need to take the world of social media marketing by storm. But, of course, there’s more to it than that.
Think that artists and other creative folks are the only ones who benefit from a healthy does of creativity? Think again!
As mentioned before, this is a dynamic field, meaning you’ll need a balance of both hard and soft skills, including creativity.
The most successful social media managers are also the most creative. Someone who thinks outside of the box is likely to be much better at coming up with unique content for their audience than someone who lacks creative flair.
Social media users have a lot of choices when it comes to the content they consume, and distinctive content tailored to your target audience will improve your chances of catching their attention.
In fact, the same applies when you’re putting together your job application.
Hiring managers know that in the social media field, creative employees are effective employees. So, by including a creatively written cover letter that shows off your personality you can get a leg up on the competition (just remember to keep it professional).
6. Strategic Thinking
There’s a reason it’s called a social media strategy. Online success doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It requires careful planning and attention to every teeny, tiny little detail.
So, what exactly is strategic thinking?
When it comes to social media marketing management specifically, this skill involves analyzing what marketing efforts are and aren’t working, why that’s the case, and coming up with a clearly defined plan for creating better marketing campaigns in the future.
By thinking strategically, you’ll be able to create more effective content, devise long-term marketing strategies, and ultimately drive business growth.
7. Project Management
This one surely won’t come as a surprise: to be a successful social media manager, you need to be a multi-tasker who’s able to manage projects from start to finish.
Juggling multiple ongoing campaigns, planning future collaborations, organizing and managing resources… Just the thought of it can make one’s head spin! It all requires superior organisational abilities and the ability to think ahead.
With so many moving pieces on a social media campaign, being able to coordinate everything from start to finish is essential. Proper project management will ensure that all tasks are completed on time, while also giving you some wiggle room to make adjustments as needed.
In short, social media marketers who can master the art of project management will be better positioned to secure a job due to their ability to handle the challenges that come with adapting to the ever-changing social media landscape
Plann for success
And that’s it!
Now that you know what employers look for in social media management candidates, it’s time to start honing your skills.
And, don’t forget to sign up for a free 7-day trial of Plann to take your social media marketing to the next level.
