I’ve had this post on my mind for so long now, it’s a little embarrassing that I’m just getting around to sharing it. I was thinking about the people I know that are successful in social media. I’ve noticed that it’s this interesting combination of traits: being dedicated to learning the skills it takes, being a creative thinker, and lastly, having a passion for it. Once I had this realization, I decided to go for it and craft the traits I think make for the perfect social media professional. Let us know if any or all of these qualities speak to you!
(I like to make DIY bouquets and model with them for pictures… Always a good habit for social media people;))
You love keeping up on trends + you’re always in the know
All of the people I’ve met that have been really successful at their social media jobs have a love of trends. It might be pop culture trends, or it can be closely related to their industry, like beauty, lifestyle, food, you name it. To work in an industry that’s always changing and hinging on the “next big thing”, you have to be on the pulse of all things current. That doesn’t mean you’re a trend follower, just that you’re aware of what’s popular so that it can inform your strategy. Personally, this is where I fall short in a lot of ways. If being in-tune to trends just isn’t your go-to, you have to be conscious of your need to stay up to date.
Going along with that, you spend time becoming knowledgable about the areas you are interested in (or that are in your industry). You know that friend that always has the best recommendations? They’d do well in a position like this. For example, to manage social media for an up-and-coming restaurant, you want to be knowledgable not just about trends, but all things food, dining, hospitality, etc. You’ll want to be on the pulse of all of the other things that your diners (customers) are interested in, so you can create content that engages them and speaks to their habits.
You are always eager to learn
Whether it’s how to be a better writer, photographer, stylist, social media isn’t just about one skill. (Side note: while there are plenty of large companies that have entire social media teams, so those that are dedicated to producing the visual content, those that just write the copy, and those that just manage advertising, etc., many positions require you to at least have some base knowledge of all of these things. Don’t worry, it’s something you learn as you move up in the industry!)
To work in social media means to be part of a constantly changing community.
The people that do best in these types of positions aren’t adverse to change, they thrive on it. They know that being creative and coming up with new processes and strategies is the only way to succeed. So if you are the type of person that loves to experiment and innovate, this might be a great space for you.
You aren’t afraid of busy work (aka, “an intern could do it”)
While that last bullet sounds super inspiring, there are two sides of it. Since social media roles require so many different skills, there’s often a ton of what would be considered “busy work” involved. Especially if you are the only social media professional at your company. I doubt any social media manager would say their fave part of the job is scheduling tweets in hootsuite, but it has to be done if you want to get that message posted! Just like any job, there are going to be some tedious tasks (though luckily there’s a lot of automation available now), so I think this is a job best suited for those that embrace the varying levels of work.
You’re passionate
Okay, my favorite point. There are two ways this plays into being a great fit for a social media role. One, if you have passion for the product/service/company/client. If you’re a huge foodie or lover of entertaining and get to work on social media for the restaurant industry, that’s great! Then there’s if you’re the type of person who’s just passionate about seeing their work progress in a measurable way, or seeing success for your client. Meaning, even if you’re not a total foodie, but you have a genuine passion for connecting people, finding solutions, and bringing your clients success, you might be just as great. I’m personally the first. I do best when I really advocate for the product/service. I have a good friend that’s amazing at the second. It doesn’t matter what the industry, she’s there to make that account the best it can be, period.
Do you embody traits that would make you good at social media? Or does a friend or co-worker instantly come to mind? Let us know your thoughts below!
Abbie says
I’ve just started my first role in social media after graduating and I agree with all your points! The best thing about working in social is having the opportunity to learn so many skills. It’s such a great industry to work in at the moment, and you don’t just sit on Facebook all day like many think…
http://www.mondaymode.co.uk/
Angela says
Yes I agree! And there is so much more to it than that. Good luck in your new role!