Whether social media management is best for a person depends on numerous factors. Those considering this unique field must make essential determinations before they embark on a social media management career path. For example, does the busy schedule of a Social Media Manager align with their work style? Are there ample job opportunities in the cities where they would apply? Can they handle the responsibility of managing a team of Social Media Strategists or Specialists? Or, in a smaller organization, would they want to manage all its social media platforms and strategy?

Although it can be challenging to answer some of these questions before getting the role, students looking toward careers in social media can answer other questions before committing to a social media role. For example, do you prefer to work alone or with a team? Do you have supervisory responsibilities, or are you on track to management positions? Are you creative? Do you have skills and knowledge directly applicable to social media marketing? Read on to learn more about what Social Media Managers do, what features distinguish their careers from others, and how to determine whether social media management is for you.

What is a Social Media Manager?

Most Social Media Managers combine their marketing expertise with management skills. They may design, curate, and manage an organization’s social media content, especially in smaller companies. Larger organizations may require a Social Media Manager to partner with a creative team and outside agencies to oversee everything from short-form videos to marketing campaign strategies.

Job Responsibilities

There are just as many typical responsibilities for Social Media Managers as there are positions. These vary by seniority, industry, and title. Social media management positions can require duties like video editing for YouTube or TikTok, writing blog articles, attending trade shows, and managing search optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM), to name a few.

Reporting Structure for This Position

Some Social Media Managers oversee all their organization's social media and marketing projects, whereas others work with a larger team. Small company Social Media Managers may report directly to upper management, whereas in larger organizations, they may work with a Development Director, Executive Director, or Programming Manager.

Typical Working Environment

While there is no typical working environment for all Social Media Managers due to the diversity of positions, a team approach is the most common in large organizations. In addition to their combination of technical skills like SEO or Google Analytics, Social Media Managers need soft skills like creativity, excellent written and verbal skills, and the ability to multi-task on several projects at a time.

Social Media Managers need multiple hard and soft skills to qualify for their positions. Although these can vary by company, industry, or specific role, consider the following among the most common.

Why Become a Social Media Manager?

The reasons you might want to be a Social Media Manager are almost as varied as the many job titles social media pros can have and the many industries they can work in. Consider the following positions and how each might make sense along the Social Media Manager career path.

  • Content Creator - Many social media pros start in positions with titles like Content Creator, Content Strategist, Copywriter, or something similar. Jobs that require marketing can have a management-oriented goal.
  • Digital Analyst - A Digital Analyst typically studies marketing data, which means they report to a Marketing Manager. These skills pros must know essential social media tools like SEO and working with content management systems.
  • Marketing Manager - A Marketing Manager might specialize in social media marketing or make a lateral move to a Social Media Manager role. In some companies, the titles Social Media Manager and Marketing Manager are interchangeable.
  • SEO Specialist - Social Media Managers must have SEO knowledge, so the SEO Specialist position is another logical step toward management.
  • Social Media Strategist - The most common path to management is the entry-level Social Media Strategist role. A small company may hire a Social Media Strategist and make them the Social Media Manager by default.

Supervising Specialists

Social Media Managers work in one of two capacities: either freelance or in a small firm, responsible for all its social media, or supervising one or more employees. For the solo Social Media Manager, working independently is essential. Management skills are just as crucial for the Social Manager overseeing a team.

Fortunately, supervising other social media pros can come naturally to Social Media Managers. They typically have experience as a Social Media Specialist or Strategist and should know what their team members know. Such skills include SEO, SEM, Adobe Creative Cloud programs like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, and Google Ads and Analytics.

Soft skills for Social Media Managers include leadership, communication, creativity, conflict resolution, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Writing & Editing

Social Media Managers may not have to be editors like those at a publishing house or major news outlet, but they need strong writing and editing skills for two reasons. First, they must be able to create well-written marketing copy. Second, they may be responsible for vetting the work of a team of specialists or strategists.

Writing and editing may not be limited to short-form copy for videos. Depending on a Social Media Manager’s position, they may also have to write blog posts or articles. Even if their role requires little writing, they must curate content, including text. The company website may also require managers to have mid-level knowledge of a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, or Squarespace.

Video Expertise

Historically, Social Media Managers have needed strong design capabilities. As the web has moved to more and more video content, video skills have become the focus of social media in many organizations. The Adobe Creative Cloud provides most social media pros with all the tools they need to create dynamic graphics and videos. Consider Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Express as the likely requirements for this essential skill set.

Many social media pros come to training for their roles with little more experience than making personal smartphone videos. These novices wonder which platforms to master for social media marketing content creation and curation. Today’s top contenders include YouTube Shorts, TikTok Stories, and Instagram Reels, but other platforms may emerge tomorrow. Plan to always continue learning new programs and platforms.

Managing Customer Relationships

The customer relationship management (CRM) process is essential for every organization. If you want to know whether social media management is for you, remember that you're out of business without satisfied customers.

Old-school relationship management came through phone calls, office visits, or business lunches. Today's organizations integrate processes to track prospects, stay connected to customers or clients, and measure the success of digital marketing campaigns. Top CRMs include Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics.

Professional Development

Management pros of all types across every industry succeed because they continue growing. Professional development for Social Media Managers can come in many forms. Some continue their education with technical skills training, others take courses to hone and improve their management skills, and others do a little of both.

One avenue many managers take is professional certification. These designations recognize specific expertise that can bolster a career, leading to better positions or solidifying a current position. Certifications for Social Media Managers include:

  • Certified Digital Marketing Professional - Digital Marketing Institute offers this designation for marketing professionals, including social media pros, marketing specialists, and small business owners.
  • Facebook Certified Community Manager - Meta Blueprint provides the Facebook Certified Community Manager certification for management and non-management social media and digital marketing professionals.
  • Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification - Hootsuite Academy offers the Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification for Brand Strategists, Social Media Managers, and other marketing specialists.
  • Social Media Certification - For those with a basic understanding of social platforms, HubSpot Academy provides a Social Media Certification. This designation is appropriate for digital marketing, public relations, and brand management specialists responsible for social media.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Social Media Manager?

Education is essential to many careers, both formal schooling and on-the-job training. Social media management training can include practical experience as well as theoretical training.

Although a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be a standard requirement for some positions, this is not always the case with social media management. Scan online job postings, and you will find some Social Media Manager roles that require an associate degree or do not list any degree whatsoever.

Supervisory positions in well-known companies typically require college degrees, but not as a hard and fast rule before hiring. For example, a company that employs a valued Social Media Strategist might promote them to management or reimburse them for needed schooling before promoting them.

Social Media Managers with degrees often come from communications, journalism, marketing, or public relations backgrounds. Some positions require experience, while salary corresponds to a particular set of skills or industry-specific knowledge in others. However, the lack of a formal degree does not necessarily exclude strong candidates from specific social media management roles. A certificate of completion from a respected course provider can often open the door to a full-time position that includes healthcare benefits and paid time off (PTO).

Learn the Skills to Become a Social Media Manager at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers numerous training options for students to learn social media management in person or online through teleconferencing. Topics include marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics, to name a few. Consider the following programs:

  • Digital Marketing Certificate - Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate program is Noble Desktop's primary program for students looking to get on the marketing career track. You and your classmates will gain a deep understanding of digital marketing from every angle. Topics include Google Ads and Analytics, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing campaigns, to name a few.
  • Social Media Marketing Certificate - The Social Media Marketing Certificate emphasizes social without delving into SEO or Google Ads/Analytics. This immersive 72-hour certificate covers LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms alongside social media content marketing. Attendees learn hands-on as they create a professional-level portfolio.
  • Google Analytics Bootcamp - The Google Analytics Bootcamp introduces students to GA4, the newest analytics service from the tech giant. Topics include determining key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking ROI (return on investment) on marketing campaigns, and Google Analytics Reports. You can save by taking this bootcamp as part of the Digital Marketing Certificate program.
  • SEO Bootcamp - Also available through the Digital Marketing Certificate, Noble’s SEO Bootcamp is a 12-hour dive into the importance of search engine optimization. You'll learn keyword research techniques with Semrush, SEO for mobile, and numerous other subjects.
  • AI for Marketing - AI For Marketing is one of Noble Desktop’s most popular new courses, covering popular platforms like ChatGPT, Salesforce Einstein, and Google's Gemini AI. Applicants should understand social media marketing, SEO, and analytics before enrolling. You can save by taking AI for Marketing as part of the Generative AI Certificate program.