Steps to Take to Become a Social Media Manager
Social media management sounds like your dream job? If you're looking to make a career switch or are just curious about the field, this is for you!
Decide on Freelance or Employment
If you are looking for mentoring, direction, or more experience, or just enjoy working with one company and team, employment may be a better option for you. Make sure to list out the pros and cons of each to find out what's the best option for you and your personal experience at this stage in your life.
Education
We want to say first - you don't need a degree or every certification to be successful in this industry. However, there is a lot of confidence and connections that come out of investing in yourself that can be really helpful! Decide the path that's right for you and use the suggestions for each below if you'd like to up your education!
Most employment opportunities in social media job opportunities require a Bachelor's Degree. So, what do you do if you want a degree to help get you pointed in the right direction for social media marketing? Most commonly, social media marketers have the following majors:
Marketing
Digital Marketing
Journalism
Communications
Graphic Design
And a reminder, if you already have a degree, and it's not one of these categories, that doesn't mean you can't be a marketer. Listen to Heather on the Podcast Episode 121 on her background!
For freelancing specifically, most clients care more about results than degrees. While this education can be helpful for learning marketing strategies, they are necessary for becoming a freelancer. After all, you are your own boss! Consider focusing on having a strong portfolio, testimonials, or niche skills (like TikTok strategy or short-form video editing) and learning more about building these.
Internships and Experience
Internships and jobs can be a big help not only to gain knowledge on the subject but also to learn if you like it! Internships can be a great sneak peek into the industry and are such a great resume booster, and experience can look great in your resume or portfolio no matter if you go with freelancing or employment.
Where to look for social media jobs:
Indeed
LinkedIn
Facebook groups
Your network
What to look for in social media jobs:
The industry - choose something you'll love!
The platform - Platforms are so different, so ensure to check which ones you'd be running and make sure it's something you'd enjoy.
The description - if anywhere in the job description it says you'll be doing something other than social media...RUN! Just kidding...kind of...People commonly link social media with other jobs, but it's a full-time job in itself for many brands. So, be sure that if it does mention other tasks, and if they do, ask how much of your time will be focused on socials, so you know if it's the right fit.
The team - who will you be working with? Especially if it's an internship, you want to try to find a mentor or a boss who will help you learn! If it's a team, are they people who complement your personality that you can learn from and will help you grow? That makes all the difference in a role!
The company - do some research on the company. Check out the benefits, employee reviews, programs they have, the culture, community, and CSR.
When it comes to freelancing, experience will be super helpful, too. Consider starting small with one-off projects, discounted packages for local businesses, or even managing a friend’s account to build a portfolio!
Whether you choose the freelancing route or employment, the steps to becoming a social media manager are all similar: invest in learning, build experience, and start putting yourself out there!
If you are looking to build your freelancing business from the ground up, we have everything you need, from masterclasses to guides, to support inside our mentorship program!