Social media didn’t exist until the early 2000s. It has since become a powerful force in business and marketing, and it’s changed the world in many ways. But with so many different platforms available, it can be hard to keep track of what’s new and what changes are on the horizon. If you love social media, there’s no shortage of careers you can pursue to use your passion for these tools in new ways. Here are five careers that will help you channel your enthusiasm for social media into meaningful work.
1. Director of Social Media
When a business or brand wants to make a mark on social media, it hires a Director of Social Media to manage the process.
As you might imagine, the Director of Social Media is responsible for all aspects of the company’s social media strategy and execution. This includes developing strategies that meet the company’s goals, creating content, promoting the brand through social channels, and monitoring performance.
To be a successful Director of Social Media, you need to be an excellent communicator and copy editor with a firm grasp on how to use social media platforms. To learn how to reach your target audience you can benefit from taking online digital social media courses. A background in marketing courses is helpful but not essential; as long as you can demonstrate relevant skills and experience, you’re likely to be considered for the job.
2. Brand Manager
A brand manager is responsible for developing strategies that will promote and maintain a brand’s image, voice, and messaging across all platforms. They often work on the business side of a company or organization, but some work directly with clients to promote their own personal brand.
If you like social media because it gives you a window into how other people live their lives or what they think about certain topics, this might be a good fit for you. You’ll have to stay on top of trends and have an eye for detail if you want to succeed in this role.
3. Social Influencer
A social influencer is someone who builds a following in a particular niche, engages with a community of people online, and has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience.
Social influencers may be considered celebrities by their followers, but they’re much more accessible than traditional celebrities. They have the ability to communicate directly with their audience through social media platforms and blogs. Many popular brands are now partnering with social influencers to target specific audiences because these influencers have bigger followings than many traditional celebrities. This can be an effective way for brands to expand their reach and engage new customers.
While you don’t need previous experience to become an influencer, there are several skills that will help you be successful in this role:
You’ll need excellent communication skills since you’ll be talking with your audience on a regular basis through your blog posts, videos, and other communications channels. You’ll also need strong writing skills if you plan to write blog posts. Having good public speaking skills can also help if you decide to speak
4. Content Strategist/Marketer
Content strategists and content marketers work almost exclusively in the digital world. They are responsible for creating and managing content on a company’s website, as well as other social media platforms. While content strategists focus more on the conceptual side of things — what type of content is right for the brand — content marketers are responsible for getting that content out there through blogging, SEO, email marketing, and so on.
A good candidate must have a strong understanding of both the brand they represent and their target audience. They must be able to create content that will resonate with that audience while still building up the brand.
The daily responsibilities of a content strategist or marketer vary widely depending on the platform they’re working on and which department they’re in (marketing vs editorial). One thing that’s consistent among all platforms, however, is how often you’ll be engaging with your audience. Collecting and analyzing data about how people interact with your posts can help you optimize the information you share in order to get more engagement.
5. Community Manager
If you can’t go a day without checking your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, then a career as a community manager may be the perfect fit for you. A community manager is responsible for planning and coordinating online marketing strategies through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
While earning a degree in marketing or communications will certainly help you land a job as a community manager, it’s not an absolute necessity. What employers really want is a person who has experience using various types of social media platforms and understands what it takes to engage an audience.
If you love social media and want to make it a career, this list of five job options should give you some ideas about what to do with your degree. If you’re not interested in social media, feel free to look for something that piques your interest because, at the end of the day, there are exciting careers out there for pretty much everyone.