How To Profit From Social Networking Sites
Do you want to get your dream job in social media? Do you want to profit from social media? This guide includes templates, tips, and free online courses to help you achieve that dream.
Are you asking how to get a job in social media? Succeeding in this business is not as difficult as a traditional business, but getting started in this field can be confusing.
How to get a job in social media in 2023
- Boost your presence on social media.
- Get testimonials from social media
- Find a job using social media
- Know what to look for in a social media career major
- Don’t be afraid to take a step back
- Make your CV stand out
What is a job in social media platforms?
First: What does it mean to work in social media?
The job of a social media manager or specialist may vary depending on the size and type of company you work for.
Small businesses often rely on one person who handles all social media accounts, and may be responsible for all marketing efforts even those that occur outside of social media platforms.
Large companies may have a team of people who specialize in social media management with more specialized roles, such as a social media strategy officer, community manager, or social engagement specialist.
Here are the main types of roles in social media:
- Social media management (including social media strategy and performance tracking)
- Content Creation
- Community management
- Advertising on social media
In smaller companies, all of these roles may be grouped into a single specialty. This means that when applying to a small team, it is best to present yourself as a general social media expert, and that you have extensive skills in all of these areas. When applying for a job with a larger social team, you will need to show specialization in one key area.
Daily tasks differ from company to company and from day to day, and “in this job, you are not tied to anything,” says Trish. “Social media changes every day, and you have to be able to adapt to that.”
Of course, ways to profit from social media are constantly changing, and you must always keep pace with these changes.
Here are some of the common responsibilities that can be expected of you as a Social Media Manager:
- Creative writing
- graphic design
- Setting up and optimizing ads
- Performance tracking and data analysis
- Community participation
- customer support
- Public relations
- Comprehensive planning of social campaigns
- Communication with stakeholders in the company
So, as you can see, a job in social media can involve playing many roles.
Profit from social media is a very important topic and you can benefit from it permanently, so follow this article with us to learn more about how to profit from social networking sites and how to profit from social networking applications.
1- Grow your presence on social media
Creating your own social media accounts is an effective way to prove to a potential employer that you know everything about your business, and the best part about it is that you can create your own personal content about whatever you like.
“Create your own social account around something you’re passionate about and invest time in it,” Bryden suggests.
If you’re starting from scratch, Hootsuite has tips on growing followers and increasing engagement on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media channels.
Nothing beats practical knowledge, even if it isn’t work experience.
If you’re in college (or even in high school), you can take on the position of Social Media Marketing Manager for any group.
“Join a club at school and lead their marketing efforts,” says Bryden.
2- Get a certificate from social media
There aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to social media qualifications, but having a social media certification is an asset.
“There are so many resources out there — webinars you can complete, Hootsuite Academy courses you can sign up for, that have been recognized by people in the marketing industry,” Trish says.
“By educating yourself using free resources, you show potential employers that you’ve taken the steps you need to pre-build your knowledge base,” says Trish Reswick, Social Engagement Specialist at Hootsuite.
Hootsuite Academy has everything you need to study, courses include:
- Social Marketing Certificate
- Social selling certificate
- Advanced Certificate in Social Advertising
And much more… Plus custom course options so you can set the curriculum best suited to your needs.
Many social networks also have their own training and certification programs to help social media professionals learn the best ways to use the specific tools of each network, and highlight this competency to potential employers on your resume.
You can learn from:
- Meta Blueprint
- Google AdWords certification
- Twitter Flight School
- Pinterest’s webinars
3- Searching for a job using social media
The best way to find a job in social media? It is, of course, the use of social media.
LinkedIn, the smart one in the family of social media platforms, is one of the best places to throw a new party.
(Instagram is trending, Facebook is mommy’s friend, get it)
“I found my job at Hootsuite on LinkedIn,” Trish shares.
“The best part about it is that you can see other people who work in the company, connect with them, and ask them questions.”
Bryden recommends reaching out to marketers in the industries you want to work in and arranging informal informational interviews.
LinkedIn has some hidden job search tricks, too.
“Create a search and save notifications function on LinkedIn for targeted keywords for jobs you’re interested in,” Bryden suggests. However, LinkedIn is not the only option.
You can join groups on Facebook or follow social marketers on Instagram to get leads.
4- Know what to look for in a job posting on social media
The marketing industry is always evolving and changing – type “social media manager” into a specialized job search engine and you will get a lot of traffic.
(A quick Indeed search turned up just 109 jobs in Vancouver, British Columbia, and this is just one of the many online jobs available.)
How do you tell a good business opportunity from a bad business opportunity?
Here are some red (and green) flags provided by our experts.
Red flag, you can’t tell what the company is doing:
It’s important to run social media for a company you actually care about, and if you can’t even tell from the job description what the company does, that’s a bad sign.
“I’ve seen a lot of job listings that don’t actually tell you what the company is or what they do, and that means you have to do all that extra research,” says Trish.
“Applying for a job should not be a search for things.”
Green Flag, A Healthy Work-Life Balance:
“Burnout is a real thing in the social media arena,” Bryden says.
Work-life balance is something you can discuss with a potential employer, or even a LinkedIn connection with someone who works at the same company.
You can also learn about the company’s culture by taking a look at its social media posts.
Red flag, job description too long:
“A really long job description can mean that the employer doesn’t necessarily know what they’re looking for or have realistic expectations,” says Trish.
“Having five or six specific points shows that the business owner knows what his goals are.”
Green flag, there are opportunities for growth:
Ask about this at the job interview (you know, at the end when the boss asks you suddenly forget your name).
Red flag, no social marketing budget:
To set you up for success, your company must provide you with the resources you need, and one of those resources is money that helps boost ads and pay subscriptions for your invaluable social marketing tools.
Green flag, you have the support you need:
Even if you’re a solo social media manager, you don’t want to feel completely alone.
“If you’re a one-man team, make sure you have the tools and mentorship you need to succeed,” Bryden says.
5. Don’t be afraid to take a step back.
Working in social media is different than working in any other industry, which means that you may not be climbing the ladder the traditional way.
“We get into this business where we always want to go for more money or a better title, but sometimes there’s value in taking a step back and trying out a role you weren’t expecting,” Trish explains.
Especially if you’re moving into social media management from another line of work, you’ll likely find yourself in an entry-level job, but you don’t have to stay in it forever.
“Sometimes taking a step back can open a door that wasn’t there before, and I definitely encourage people not to be afraid of that,” says Trish.
“Often, this is not really a step back, but a realignment.”
6- Make your resume stand out:
Your resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer, and there is a lot of competition out there.
Here are some tips to stand out from the crowd:
Show your creativity and personality
“Your resume shouldn’t be on a blank page with writing on it, let’s get creative!” says Trish.
Social media management is a job that requires originality, so you should display this skill on your resume. Show, don’t tell.
Bryden recommends that you showcase your personality through the design, colors, or copy you use on your resume.
“Make your resume social first by designing it,” he says.
Edit your resume for each job you apply for
Hi, no one said this would be easy. When applying to work in social media (or any industry), you must meet your resume to match the job description.
“Always include the skills that the list calls for,” advises Trish.
Read the job advertisement carefully and make sure that your CV covers all the required points.
You may also want to reverse the language from the ad to make it easier to match your experience with the requirements – especially if the first kind is done by the software.
Show your expertise in the field
You don’t necessarily need paid experience in order to put your best foot forward on your resume.
Bryden says any tangible working knowledge is worth highlighting — “even if it’s social networking for your own account, or for school projects that go with social media.”
Mark your results
Many organizations focus on demonstrating social ROI, so offer experience that shows your social marketing strategies are getting results. Including numbers from real-world winnings goes a long way.
For example, you can highlight the growth of social channels as you manage them, the success of the campaigns you run, etc.
What qualifications do you need to work in social media?
It is difficult to answer this question, because it really depends on the person and the company.
“We’ve seen stories of people on TikTok who became very successful social media managers while only being in high school,” Trish notes.
With a natural marketing instinct and some luck, you can make it happen with very few formal qualifications, but that’s not always expected, so here are the social media qualifications most hiring managers look for:
Qualifications required for work:
*. College or college degree: A post-secondary education in the arts is an asset, especially something related to writing. “You need creative copywriting skills,” says Trish. “The ability to create non-public content is much more difficult than many people think.”
*. Social Media Degree: Good news: a social media degree is much cheaper (and takes a lot less time) than an associate degree. Hootsuite offers social media courses through the Hootsuite Academy and free online social marketing training on Youtube. Completing these types of courses gives you a tangible achievement to include on your resume, and to refer back to during a job interview.
When it comes to working in social media, skills are just as important as qualifications. Here are the most important social communication skills you need, according to experts.
*. Be adaptable: “This space is changing at lightning speed! I’m not kidding you, there’s something new to keep on top of every day.” “You have to be comfortable with change and ready to jump in a new direction, change your algorithm, or update your content strategy like it’s no big deal.” “Social media changes every day, and you have to be able to adapt to that,” Trish asserts.
*. Be creative. “Creative writing is the biggest part of what we do,” says Trish. “There’s a lot of noise on social media,” Bryden adds. “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but you should have creative ideas that serve your brand purpose and engage your audience.”
*. Be Diversified: “Social media managers don’t just work with social media,” Bryden says. “They need the mindset of a digital marketing specialist because of what the role involves.” “It’s not just about creating videos or graphics,” says Trish.
Learn to manage social media like a pro with Hootsuite. Easily schedule posts, collect real-time data, and engage with your community across multiple social media platforms. Try it for free today.