Updated August 18, 2023
A social media management contract establishes the working relationship between a brand and a social media manager hired to oversee its social media presence. This type of contract is commonly used by companies when hiring independent contractors to help build, grow, and maintain a successful social media marketing campaign.
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Social Media Manager Salary
Factors that may impact salary include experience, education, location, and industry.
What Does a Social Media Manager Do?
A social media manager is responsible for managing the social media presence of a brand. From daily maintenance of social media accounts to running digital campaigns, a social media manager works closely with the company’s marketing and public relations teams to achieve effective outreach to target audiences and maintain brand consistency.
Typical responsibilities of a social media manager include:
- Creating engaging digital content tailored to each social media platform;
- Analyzing engagement data and strategizing accordingly;
- Building and maintaining an audience on all social media platforms;
- Responding to messages, comments, and questions;
- Staying up-to-date on social media trends and ethics; and
- Developing and maintaining brand identity and voice.
How to Become a Social Media Manager (3 steps)
1. Understand Social Media Platforms
Understanding how to best utilize each social media platform and cater to their respective audiences is crucial to becoming an effective social media manager.
Each platform offers a different social media experience. For example, Instagram is optimized for users to post images and videos with captions as supporting copy. In contrast, Twitter is optimized for users to post text with images and videos as supporting content. TikTok includes editing features that allow users to integrate both visual and written content.
Another important aspect of a social media manager’s job is analyzing engagement data to identify trends and optimize performance. Becoming well-versed with each platform’s metrics tool is highly recommended.
2. Get Certified
In addition to acquiring a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or business, it can be very helpful to enroll in a certification program specifically tailored for a career in social media.
While there is no nationally accredited license or certification to become a social media manager, many training programs offer up-to-date practices, skills, and industry knowledge on digital and social media marketing.
The most popular courses include:
- Academy of Art University: Social Media Management Certificate
- Blueprint Certification for Facebook
- Boot Camp Digital
- Cal State East Bay: Certificate in Social Media Marketing
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ)
- Hootsuite Academy
- LinkedIn Learning with Lynda
- MetaBlueprint: Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
- UCLA Extension: Social Media Marketing
3. Build a Portfolio
Work experience is crucial for getting hired for any job. Using the knowledge and know-how gained from your personal research and/or training program, start building your portfolio by creating some mock social media campaigns for well-known brands.
Freelance gigs for social media managers can also be found on online freelance marketplaces, such as Fiverr or Upwork.