Skills That a Good Social Media Manager Needs to Master

Not everyone has what it takes to work in social media. Being able to craft a witty Tweet or find the perfect GIF…

…doesn’t automatically qualify you to be a social media marketer.

When building their social media teams, hiring managers often look for very specific attributes. So, what makes a good social media manager? Let’s dive into the ten things social media managers should know like the back of their hand.

#1: Community Management

Social media managers should have this down. Whether you’re on a sophisticated team or a team-of-one, mastering the art of social media communication is imperative for your success at the higher strategic level.

Never forget about the audience’s experience, the value of a swift response, or real-time marketing’s potential.

#2: Analytics, Analytics, Analytics

Social Media Managers are constantly being asked to prove and double down on what works. In order to gut-check their intuition and sell it to the rest of their company, social media managers should be well versed on marketing analytics. Simply Measured and Google Analytics are great places to start!

#3: Planning

There is A LOT that goes into launching a social media campaign. Social media managers may even be running two or three campaigns at once!

Extensive planning is crucial to making sure your campaigns run smoothly and are successful. Being able to define a campaign’s objectives, creative, messaging, timeline, etc. will only elevate your social media game.

#4: Project Management

After you’ve finished planning your social media campaign, it’s time to execute. Campaigns are dependent on multiple teams, not just yours. You need blog posts, videos, logos, and graphics.

Being able to run a project from start to finish and delegate responsibility is of utmost importance. Don’t try to get good at doing things by yourself. Focus on becoming great at leading a charge and collaborating.

#5: Graphic Production

#6: Prioritization

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple years, I’ll say this once more: visuals on social are everything. Now, unless you live the cushy life of having a dedicated social media graphic producer, you’ll probably need to do some of the heavy lifting. Ramp up on your photo / video production skills.

This holds true in nearly every single job. However, for social media managers it is imperative to align your priorities with your purpose.

Is your purpose to drive engagement or sales?

Should you be focused on real-time marketing or customer service?

All of these things fall under the social media manager’s umbrella, but they need to be prioritized. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking like this.

#7: Listening

Work on your listening skills. Don’t always try to control the conversation, roll with the conversation. This goes for both online and offline. Listen to your team and co-workers’ feedback the same way you would to a customer or fan on Twitter.

#8: Thick Skin

That being said…being the face of a company isn’t easy, especially when you’re faced with the anonymity of the internet. Don’t let the haters get you down! Ignore the trolls and keep on trucking.

#9: Being Scrappy

Social media is in its infancy. Some people aren’t even convinced that it’s worth it for their company yet. Chances are you’re not getting enough resources to do your absolute best work. What’s the solution?

Scrap it up. Learn how to shoot your own videos, connect with influencers to extend your reach in lieu of a paid budget, make your own graphics with Canva, etc. Every social media manager needs to learn how to do a lot with a little.

#10: Taking Risks

This very well might be the most important point on this list. Social media managers cannot be afraid to fail. Social media is still up-for-grabs, and the only way you’re going to find what works for you is to experiment. Be prepared to encounter a little bit of failure, but don’t let it scare you off!

Stephen Darori's Social Media Wisedom From Zion.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016