Social Media Manager: What I Do

When people ask me what I do for a living, they sometimes look confused. It isn’t as easy as replying “I’m a writer”. The term is a great catchall, but doesn’t completely summarize the services I offer. People assume writers spend their days writing books, but that is not exactly what I do, so I clarify by saying I am a Social Media Manager. That also doesn’t necessarily help though. I have seen enough polite nods to know when people just don’t get it.

Role of a Social Media Manager

“A What?”

So I consider myself a Social Media Manager. What exactly does that mean? Well for starters, I am a Writer. Not necessarily as narrowly defined as an author of books though. I write blog posts, headlines, and catchy intros to encourage people to click on, comment on, or share posts. I also search the web for interesting articles related to a client’s niche business. In other words, I research. Plus, I take thousands of photos to illustrate blogs, tweets, and posts. Best to avoid plagiarism whenever possible. Sometimes I even take those photos and edit them to make collages, add in quotes, or tweak them for promotions. How is that for wearing many hats? I do whatever I can to get my client’s social media needs met.

As a social media marketer, I also need to know my way around various social media platforms. I need to know how many characters I can use in a tweet. I have to create a consistent message and picture of a company on Facebook. On Instagram, I have to figure out what hashtags will attract new followers, and which ones might help me find other people to follow. Not to mention, knowing what social media platforms might be the best fit for a company in the first place.

Unless you have an extensive team available, it is best to focus on what you can handle and do a good job of. A poor showing on a platform can do more harm than good. Especially if people see inconsistent entries and old information. 

Other Tasks

What else do I do? To keep my brain and grammar sharp, I read plenty of books. Other people’s words can inspire, educate, and sometimes teach me what NOT to do. I also keep up with what is going on in the world, so that I can appear current on client’s pages. You never know how world or community events might affect individual businesses. It isn’t enough to just know generalities about a business though. I touch base with clients regularly, so that I know what is currently going on with their business. Not only does it remind clients that I exist and care, but it feeds my need for up-to-date information about my client which I can turn around and share with their customers and followers. On top of that, I try to make time for additional training of my own, to further hone my skills. Sometimes I even get out and network, to meet new clients or to make other connections in my community. You never know when those connections might help me or my clients down the road.

Ultimately, I do whatever it takes to offer the best services for people in need of a social media presence; for those who cannot do so themselves. I keep abreast of changes in the social media world, so that I can share that knowledge with others. Plus, I try to maintain my own social media channels, so potential clients can find me, and see examples of what I offer. You wouldn’t trust someone with your own social media, if they didn’t have a presence of their own. I may not be perfect, but social media rarely is anyway. You need to roll with the changes and that’s what I try to do.

Could you use some help with your social media presence? Try me. I’d love to help any way I can.