5 Tips for Starting Your Career as a Social Media Manager

Do you love social media and want to make a job change? Companies all over the globe need qualified team members to help boost sales and increase brand recognition through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms. It can be extremely easy to start getting a degree online, and to start you off right, here are five tips for starting your career as a social media manager.

Tip #1: Start with Various Job Boards

The first step is to really look at various job boards to see who has a formal social media manager position that they’re looking to fill. For those just starting out in this line of work, this is usually a good place to learn the ropes of the job and differentiate between casual social media use, as these companies generally have a specific set of tasks they want their manager to accomplish. Apply with your normal resume and a formal cover letter, making sure to highlight any social media skills you already have.

Tip #2: Cold Email Brands You Know and Love

If you feel as though you have enough experience as a social media manager or understand the process well, it is a good idea to go ahead and cold email brands you know and love. After all, you never know who is looking for an additional team member or freelancer to help round out their marketing team. Be sure to highlight past wins you’ve had for other companies and the amount of experience you have on each platform.

Tip #3: Use Social Media to Build Relationships

You can also use your personal profiles on social media platforms to build relationships. This is especially true with LinkedIn. Make sure your profile is as complete as possible and post various blogs or other content on a regular basis to help show your credibility as a social media manager. You should also seek out social media and marketing teams at various brands in the industry you want to work in and offer your services or inquire about available positions.

Tip #4: Seek Out Certifications

While you don’t need a formal education to become a social media manager, it does help to have certain certifications. These online programs help bring you up to speed on the latest social media marketing methods. Examples include Hootsuite Academy, Twitter Flight School, and Facebook’s Blueprint Certification.

Tip #5: Keep Your Personal Profiles Clean

Of course, this probably goes without saying, but it is important to keep your personal social media profiles clean. Potential employers will probably take a look at your Facebook and Instagram channels to see how you handle these platforms. If yours shows you drinking heavily, engaging in scandalous activity, or something worse, you might not get the job. Instead, keep things as professional as possible. If you do have super personal details to share, make sure you have your security settings to the point of keeping the items hidden to the general public.

While it can seem a little daunting to start a new career as a social media manager, the process isn’t as difficult as you might believe. Keep the above tips in mind when beginning your job search and you’ll easily find a company to work within no time.