Last Updated on November 21, 2022 by Ludiah
I get asked this question a lot: Can you be a social media manager without experience? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as it will depend on the specific company and role. However, many social media managers do start out without any formal experience in the role. Instead, they learn on the job by taking on additional responsibilities and absorbing as much information as possible.
So, can you be a social media manager without experience? The answer is yes – with the right skills and strategies. Although some businesses & companies may prefer people with a degree in marketing or communications, others may be willing to train someone with strong writing skills and a passion for social media.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips for getting started in social media management, even if you don’t have any previous experience. We’ll also provide some resources to help you get started.
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Can you be a social media manager without experience?
Many people seem to think that in order to be a social media manager, you must have years of experience under your belt. However, this is not always the case. There are many jobs available for those who are just starting out in the social media industry.
One way to get started is by creating accounts on social media platforms and learning how to use and exploit the algorithms on each one. Besides that, you can offer to manage the social media accounts of a family member or a friend who is opening a new business.
This can give you the opportunity to learn on the job and hone your skills. If you’re ready, there are a few things you can do to gain the experience you need and prove that you’re capable of doing the job. Read on for some tips.
What is social media management?
Social media management is the art of running a business’ or a client’s online presence on such social sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Managing social media involves creating, posting, and scrutinizing the information that you post while interacting and engaging with other social media users.
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Clients can manage their social media either with free and paid tools or by seeking professional social media management services. That is where social media managers like you come in! When in need of professionals, clients hire an expert to either work as a consultant or in-house staff to oversee their social media marketing, advertising, and management. A social media manager serves to help a business attain its social media goals, like growing its following or social media revenue.
What skills does a social media manager need?
Great organizational skills: Having exceptional organizational skills is important because you need to plan the content calendar accordingly. It’s not like a personal social media account, where you merely upload a photo of your espresso when you get up. You must be up to date with upcoming events and have all of your tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram posts, and other social media updates prepared.
Writing and editing skills: This is especially important if you have to write other types of material, such as blog entries. With improved grammar and writing abilities, you become much more productive and less worried about making errors.
Well, can you be a social media manager without experience? If you’re good at writing, yes, but that’s not all you need. Great writing skills are a must for any social media manager.
Photo editing skills: As a beginner social media manager, it is advisable to have basic editing skills. You should have the ability to edit and optimize images for social media use. Learn about the various graphic dimensions for every social networking platform. Apart from that, knowing how to resize a picture and “save for the web” can really help.
Basic data analysis: You’re basically proving your job and position with the traffic, engagement, and conversions. Learn how to properly graph it, place it in tables, and explain why things happened the way they did.
Communication skills: You are responsible for coming up with the content. So, you must be able to talk to fellow freelancers or company employees to know about the topics or posts you can write about. You should also be able to listen to your client’s customers to identify what information they want and need about a product or service. This will help you create social media posts around the topics the audience need to read.
How to be a social media manager without experience
Starting a social media management business is a great way to work from home, but it’s not as easy as it seems. Here are tips to help you get started.
Follow relevant blogs
You can develop your social media competence and remain up-to-date with industry developments by following professionals in the field. These blogs are filled with fresh info with which you can enhance your marketing.
- The Social Media Explorer
SME is a professional consultancy company and also a blog that has a slew of social media and marketing gurus. The SME blog is frequently regarded as being among the sector’s most intelligent, and a few of its contributors have authored bestselling books on various elements of digital marketing and management.
- Scott Monty
Monty is a marketing expert who speaks on a variety of topics. His social media writings, on the other hand, are always eye-opening. If you’re unfamiliar with him, check out his “this week in digital” blogs, which will keep you up to speed on all the latest social media management developments.
- The Social Media Examiner
The Examiner, never to be mistaken for the Social Media Explorer, is a leading social media blog in the market. Its social media reports provide all of the critical data that digital marketers need, and its blog entries contain excellent recommendations as well. If you had to select only one social media blog to follow, this should be it.
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Read eBooks
These eBooks can give you detailed information on each social media platform and topics.
- The Beginner’s Guide to Social Media
Here’s an excellent tutorial from Moz. This book’s 12 chapters are jam-packed with useful information that every marketer should be aware of. You’ll want to save this guide since you’ll use it again and again.
- How to create high-quality videos for social media
Videos, like photographs, generate a lot of attention on social media. And, while the prospect of creating a high-quality video for your social networks may be difficult, it is actually simpler than you think. To understand how to easily transform your workplace into a production studio, download the free guide above.
Get Online Courses
- Coursera
Take free social media management classes on Coursera. It is absolutely free and allows you to learn everything about marketing, specifically digital marketing and social media. This Coursera online course will help update your professional skills for the current digital job market. So, learn social media management any time, from anywhere on any device that you have at hand.
- Udemy
Enroll for social media management training on Udemy. The online learning platform attracts both professionals and entry-level individuals who want to learn how to use social media, social media strategy, and social media marketing. With only a good internet connection and a web browser, the social media management online course on Udemy will teach you everything you need to know about social media management strategies and tactics.
Social Media Management for beginners
Tips for becoming a social media manager without experience
You need the experience to become a social media manager. But after learning, where do you gain this experience? Below are some tips.
Start mastering social media platforms
If your desire is to become a social media manager, then you need more than just casual knowledge of social media platforms. For your clients, you must be an expert.
The accessibility of social media platforms allows you to master them by creating your own social media presence. Your social media profiles could serve as a portfolio of your skills. You could also learn most of the valuable skills, including interpreting analytical data, by working on your own account.
So begin by opening accounts on all major platforms–think of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Also, think of platforms on which your ideal clients might be based—LinkedIn if you’re targeting a professional base or TikTok if you want to work with a younger demographic.
You mustn’t master all platforms at once. Only focus on mastering one at a time and move to the next when you feel comfortable.
Understand how algorithms work
Social media algorithms filter messages in users’ timelines and promote some content over others. Each social site has a somewhat distinct algorithm, and it’ll be your responsibility as a social media manager to understand how to use them for your business.
Engaging your client’s audience is one of the most effective ways to do this. Concentrate on providing compelling material that receives likes, comments, and shares. Algorithms appreciate material that engages people, and items with higher engagement are pushed to the front of people’s feeds.
The social media field is ever-changing. There are new sites, algorithm improvements, trends, and other developments. One of the reasons for the fast-paced nature of being a social media manager is the need to keep up with an ever-changing landscape.
You can keep up with the latest developments by:
- Subscribing to podcasts regarding social media, such as Social Media Today and The Next Web Daily Dose, is a good idea.
- On Twitter, follow social media experts such as Mashable and TechCrunch.
Look for social media opportunities
Social media managers take pride in identifying and capitalizing on chances to provide relevant content. Use holidays, sports events, award shows, and even election cycles (if you’re willing to go political on your account).
When you begin dealing with clients, you must be aware of industry-specific or niche-specific seasonal events. The back-to-school season, for example, will be critical for organizations working in the parenting sector.
Targeting seasonal opportunities is something that you can accomplish quickly. Start by interacting with people in the niche you’re targeting.
Conclusion
Can you be a social media manager without experience? The answer is yes, you can, but it will be much easier if you do have some good writing skills, marketing, graphic, and communication skills under your belt. While it is helpful to have some experience, it is not necessary. Many social media managers are successful without any prior experience. If you’re still not sure if you have what it takes to be a social media manager, comment below. We would be happy to help you kickstart your social media management career.
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