Consider a Career as a Social Media Manager

Have you ever thought about being a Social Media Manager? Social media managers are responsible for helping clients create a digital marketing strategy, a content scheduling calendar, posting ideas, customized graphics, ad campaigns … you get it, this career definitely has some very interesting days! The overall goal is to help clients with their digital marketing by optimizing their brand, messaging, website and social content. Ultimately, a robust and consistent emphasis on online marketing will increase their reach, exposure and engagement on their social platforms.

I represent several clients. Here’s what my yesterday looked like and my tomorrow will look similar.

• Replied to all comments and notifications on every client’s social platforms
• Scheduled posts on Hootsuite and Later for all clients
• Researched and wrote a blog
• Searched copyright-free images for the blog’s image
• Created a Canva design for the blog’s header
• Loaded the blog to WordPress and added SEO
• Posted it to Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn
• Created an Instagram story for the blog with linkin.bio
• Checked insights for a Facebook ad and extended promotion due to success
• Created event listing with customized graphic on FB for a conference
• Edited Website content for client, added SEO to menu page
• Conference call with a client
• Edited workshop presentation
• One hour spent onboarding client
• Prepared newsletter draft for client
• Crafted Instagram strategy for new client
• Emails (endless) and phone calls require one to two hours daily

Income Expectations

You decide what to charge. Obviously, if you’re new or inexperienced, you’ll begin by charging less and as your business grows, your rates should increase. The highest salaries can be found as a full-time, in-house position but if you choose to start your own business, you can expect to make more.

The median annual salary for a full-time position is $56,770 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups social media specialists with other types of public relations specialists. These workers might go by various job titles, including digital engagement specialist, social media strategist, and online community manager.
• In May 2015, there were about 218,910 public relations specialists working in wage and salary jobs, according to BLS. Their median annual wage was $56,770, higher than the $36,200 median for all workers. These data do not include the employment and wages of self-employed workers. Source: Comparably

Note that this salary does not include the earnings of self-employed workers which means that as a self-employed, small business owner, you could potentially earn more than $60k yearly.

Marketing a Social Media Manager Business

I use a variety of advertising options, including Facebook ads, posting on Instagram and Twitter, writing blogs and sharing them on my social profiles and posting consistently to Google My Business. Consistent posting keeps my brand at the top of the newsfeed.

I create a monthly newsletter loaded with info and special prices and I offer freebies to those who sign-up. I also advertise on Craigslist and in Nextdoor—the neighborhood newsletter. I teach online social media classes and often receive referrals from students. I’ve taught free social media classes to artists and writers and garnered business from it and I’ve volunteered on projects and also gained clients.

It’s up to you whether you want to run your own business or gain the necessary skills for this career and accept a full-time position with a company. This is a rewarding career for me in that I earn good money and I also have the freedom to take time off as needed. Being a social media manager has afforded me a healthy work/life balance.

Jules Marie owns 33Words. Phone Jules at 303-478-7863 if you’d like to learn more about the world of social media.