How To Get Into Social Media Marketing [2024 Career Guide]

With the constant emergence of new digital platforms, social media marketers are constantly looking for new ways to reach their target audience. That’s one of the many reasons why so many people are attracted to social media marketing—a constantly changing landscape is sure to keep things fresh. 

But the process of landing your first social media marketing job can seem daunting. Besides getting on social media yourself, where do you start? That’s why we’ve created this guide. Below, we’ll detail how to launch your career in social media marketing, including the skills you’ll need and how to land your first job. Ready? Then let’s go. 

What Is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is when businesses use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to promote a product, brand, or service. It’s one part of a brand’s larger digital marketing strategy, and entails posting content on social media sites, engaging others in conversation, and, most importantly, building communities.

Understanding How The Social Media Marketing Process Works

Social media marketing is a process with many different steps involved. Let’s break down what that process looks like. 

Identify Your Target Audience

Knowing your audience gives you an idea of how to market a product to them more efficiently.

If your target audience is young adults, they probably hang out on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. If your audience is parents with young kids, you’ll want to focus on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. Once you know where to look for your target market online, you can develop a strategy for each platform.

Research

Some people call this “listening,” but research is more than that. Note what your target audience is saying and how they want it delivered. What are they worried about? What do they like? If you can relate to your target audience and understand their needs, you can tailor your marketing efforts to them on social media.

Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy

The first step in creating a social media strategy is to define your goals for using social media. In other words, what do you hope to accomplish with it?

The next step is deciding on your strategies for posting and responding. Posting original content that captures attention and keeps people interested in a company or product will keep them coming back for more. Responding to questions and comments will make people feel like they are part of your community.

Another aspect of creating a content strategy is defining the type of posts you want to make. You should also plan out the frequency of posts and remain consistent with posting times. Your social media marketing strategy should also include a schedule for replying to comments, questions, and reviews on social media sites.

Create a Content Calendar

By developing a social media calendar that outlines the content you will provide, and when it is posted, you will save time and effort while ensuring your postings are consistent. Use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to help you schedule content in advance.

Work on Content Creation

Content marketing for social media is different from content creation for blog posts. Your audience will be more segmented and scattered across social channels. You’ll have to post fresh content on a regular basis to stay on the radar of your followers.

Publish on Social Media Channels

Be creative and have fun with this—people will see through forced or uninspired content easily. You might even find that some posts are better suited for one channel over another. For example, videos work best for Instagram Reels, while announcements are more suited for Twitter or Facebook.

Engagement and Community Building

You can engage with your target market in many ways, like replying to their comments, running contests and giveaways, or asking for user-generated content.

The most important thing is to build a community. If people feel that they are part of a community, they will be more likely to share information about your products and services with others. In addition, engagement will keep them coming back for more.

Track Analytics, Measure Results, and Adjust

It’s essential to track your efforts to know what worked and what didn’t. This will help you adjust different social content types in the future and determine if specific campaigns or channels are worth your time. Measure results by comparing them with your goals and objectives. Using tools like Google Analytics, you can track where people are coming from and what they’re interested in. Then, you can use this information to understand their behavior better.

Skills Required To Succeed in Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing requires a particular set of skills. Let’s explore the essential ones.

Technical Skills

Technical skills are important in all marketing fields but are especially vital in social media.

Here’s what you should be familiar with:

Copywriting

A good copywriter uses specific techniques to influence people into doing something, such as getting people to click a link, persuading them to feel a certain way, and creating an emotional connection with them.

Design

If you want a job in social media management, you should have basic design skills. The colors you choose, the type of images you share, the layout of your creatives, all these things help tell a brand’s story or its social media persona.

Video Editing

Some social media marketing jobs require video editing skills. These include knowledge of video editing software and an understanding of rhythm and flow, sound, or visual components.

Data Analytics

Analyzing data and making decisions based on it is essential for a social media marketer. This is because the most effective marketing campaigns target specific audiences uncovered by data. Moreover, it can also improve customer service and increase sales.

Deep Understanding of Social Media Platforms

There are many platforms, each with its functionality and uses. To manage social media accounts, you need to understand how each platform works and what the audience expects from each of these platforms.

Project Management

A project manager ensures that all of the pieces of a project come together, which means that you need to know how to keep tabs on multiple moving parts and ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Soft Skills

Soft skills enable us to communicate our thoughts and feelings effectively, build strong relationships with others, make ethical decisions in complex situations, think creatively, and work efficiently. Here are the soft skills you should possess as a social media marketer:

Creative and Experimental Thinking

It takes experimentation and creativity to get past common roadblocks when running a campaign, such as declining sales or low traffic to your website.

Written and Verbal Communication

You have to be able to put your thoughts together and convey information clearly, especially when you are talking about or presenting data.

Organizational Skills

If everyone on your team is organized and has their projects in order, it becomes easier for them to complete their objectives individually and as a team.

Time Management

Managing your time efficiently and effectively will help you be more productive in your work as a social media marketer.

Flexibility

Social media marketers are notorious for being open to new opportunities, adapting quickly to change, and being able to handle many tasks at once. You have to react fast, create and execute short-term plans, and learn from the successes and failures of your efforts.

People Skills

As a social media marketer, you’re also a people person. Every tweet and every like is an interaction with another person. Even if you work with a team, you will communicate with someone who isn’t part of that team at some point. The more comfortable you are talking to people, the better off you’ll be in your career.

However, you don’t need all the above skills to succeed in social media marketing. A general mix will do.

Social Media Marketing Job Requirements

When you look at the growth of social media positions over the past decade, it’s easy to see why many companies are looking for people with a strong background in social media.

Some of the most sought-after social media careers include social media strategist, social media manager, community manager, or social media consultant.

Do You Need a Degree To Become a Social Media Marketer?

You don’t necessarily need a degree to succeed as a social media marketer.

Plenty of companies are hiring go-getters who have strong writing skills and can think on their feet right out of college. They’re looking for people who can come up with innovative ways to use social media and devise new social media marketing strategies to reach consumers.

A degree might give you an edge over other candidates. Still, it’s also possible that your hands-on experience using social media channels or your certifications will speak louder than whatever grade point average you brought.

What Are Employers Looking For?

Social media marketing booming and expanding every day, so you’ll need to ensure that your resume, portfolio, and personal brand are up-to-date and on point.

What are employers looking for when hiring a social media manager? Are they looking for someone who can write well? Or someone creative? Maybe an expert in analytics?

While these traits are certainly beneficial when a company is looking at candidates, the most important thing they’re going to want to see is that you know how to be strategic. You should be able to conceptualize and implement a social media plan that is forward-thinking and visionary.

Employers are looking for someone who can use data from analytics platforms like Google Analytics or Facebook Insights to craft a strategy that aligns with your company’s business goals. In other words, if you can show them that you have experience with social media marketing and the tools used regularly, it’s much more likely that the company will hire you.

Some of the most common skills employers want in new hires include the following:

• The ability to come up with creative, shareable content
• A solid understanding of social media platforms and how each one works
• Knowledge of digital marketing strategy and campaign structure
• An understanding of how to develop a target audience and reach them through social media
• The ability to create a cohesive look and feel for the brand’s online presence

How to Land Your First Social Media Marketing Job: 8 Top Tips

If you’re looking to jump into the world of social media marketing, there are several steps you can take to help ensure your job search is successful. Here are just a few of them.

Take a Certified Course

If you’re looking to land a job in social media marketing, working towards a certificate in the field is a great idea. 

A professional social media marketing certificate on your resume can help you get your foot in the door at hiring companies. You may also find that it helps you get promotions within your company or move into other positions.

Create an Optimized Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Your resume’s primary goal is to convince a hiring manager that you’re worth interviewing. Make sure to showcase your experience, education, and skills. Tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. Same goes for your LinkedIn profile. 

Have a Strong Portfolio

Create a portfolio that highlights your achievements on the job. Make it quantifiable and include any results from your social media campaigns, whether you’ve increased a company’s conversion rate or doubled its engagement.

If you want to make your social media portfolio shine, consider doing volunteer work. You might start at a charity of choice by doing things like writing press releases or maybe posting on their social media accounts. If you’re passionate about the cause, it’s a great way to get hands-on experience.

Develop a Social Media Presence

One of the best ways to get noticed by potential employers and make a name for yourself on social media is to join social networking sites. Twitter, for example, is one of the best ways to connect with marketing experts with similar interests.

Make sure to be active on social media, not just lurk around. Talk about it on social media when you write an article on your website or achieve great results with a campaign. That way, when other people are looking for social media experts, they’ll check out what you have to say.

Build Your Network

A big part of building your network is connecting with potential clients and employers through social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. These sites are great for staying connected with people and sharing relevant content.

When you meet someone new, talk about how you’ve done something similar or what you’ve learned in your career. Share any information that could be useful to that person—they might even be able to give you advice on how to succeed in your field. 

Pursue an Internship That Transitions Into a Full-Time Job

One of the most important parts of securing an internship is ensuring it will transition into a full-time job after finishing it. You want to find an internship where you will learn new skills that will help your resume stand out from the crowd.

Networking is great for finding these sorts of opportunities. This can be as simple as talking to friends and family about possible opportunities, following companies you are interested in on social media, and finding connections through professional organizations.

Consider Agency Jobs

Agency jobs are great for expanding your skills in social media marketing. They’ll allow you to take on various projects, working with a range of clients and under different circumstances. 

You’ll learn how to juggle multiple priorities at once. You’ll be able to develop your professional relationships and learn from people who have years of experience in the industry. And you’ll have the chance to sharpen your social media expertise by working with some big brands and seeing how they approach specific challenges.

Prepare for Each Interview and Show That You’re Results-Driven

Each interview is an opportunity to share your skills and qualifications with a potential employer, so it is essential to prepare for each. You should tailor your resume for the job you are applying for and have at least two copies of it on hand to leave with the interviewer. Your resume should be updated to include any new qualifications that you may have gained in the interim.

Thoroughly research the company and the position that you are applying for. Knowing as much as possible about both will enable you to make good, relevant comments during the interview and may even give you some valuable insights into whether or not you would like to work there.

How Much Can You Earn as a Social Media Marketer?

Regarding social media manager salaries, work experience is a significant factor. How much you earn depends on how much time you’ve spent in this position.

Entry-Level

Entry-level social media marketers should understand how social platforms work and have basic copywriting skills. Some other job responsibilities include writing copy for social media posts, coordinating with graphic design teams, keeping track of analytics, and creating reports.

As an entry-level social media marketer, you should earn an average of $41,017 annually.

Mid-Level

Mid-level social media marketers typically have three to five years of experience in the field. They can efficiently juggle multiple social accounts and set realistic budgets for each.

A mid-level social media marketer typically earns an average of $62,570 annually.

Senior-Level

Senior-level social media marketers have experience working with various clients, including small and enterprise businesses. They have expertise in running A/B tests and usually handle bigger budgets.

Senior-level social media marketers usually earn an average of $70,169 per year.

Is Social Media Marketing for You?

Deciding whether social media marketing is for you can be a daunting task. Before taking the leap, there are several questions to ask yourself:

Do You Have an Eye for Copywriting or Design?

Copywriting and design are the two skills most often required for jobs within the social media industry. If these fields appeal to you, it makes sense to explore working in social media as a potential career choice.

Do You Have a Creative Mind and Communication Skills?

Social media is about how you brand yourself and your company, so if your personality is outgoing and you like to connect with people, this might be a good field for you.

Do You Stay Up-to-Date With the Latest Social Media Trends?

If you’re serious about changing your career and want to be a competitive hire, you can’t afford to fall behind on the latest developments in the social media industry. The best way to keep up is by looking for companies that are leaders in the field and making yourself available for learning opportunities.

Are You Good at Engaging With People and Building Relationships?

The person who can make small talk at a party and work the room has an advantage over someone who prefers to stay in the corner and watch. Not everyone is comfortable with that, but if you’re up for it, social media offers an excellent opportunity to practice your people skills.

Have You Spoken With People Who Work in the Industry?

If a potential career in social media doesn’t sound interesting to you yet, consider talking to people who already work in the industry. They’ll be able to let you know what it’s like and whether it’s what they expected when they first started doing it.

Would You Like To Transform Your Social Media Skills Into a Career?

Before going forward, think about your motivation for wanting to become a social media expert. Consider if this is something you can see yourself doing for years.

Social Media Marketing FAQs

We’ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions.