How to become a Social Media Marketer

The role of a social media marketer is one for which there is a significant demand in the UK job market. Anyone who is creative, highly organised and passionate about social media would be a good fit for this role.

You may be wondering how to become a social media marketer (or marketeer) equipped with the skills that employers are looking for. Skilled social media marketers are sought after by a range of companies, and, with experience, social media marketing can be a well-paid career path. Although a career in social media marketing may occasionally be demanding, requiring you to meet organisational KPIs, it can also be a highly rewarding career. If you are creative and have a good command of English, perhaps social media marketing is the career route for you.

What are the challenges in Digital Marketing?

If you are looking for more information about social media marketing as a career you are in the right place. In this article, we aim to give you more details to enable you to decide whether social media marketer is the right role for you. We will look at an overview of the day-to-day tasks of a social media marketer and examine the best way to start your career in the world of digital and social media marketing.

Learn how you can improve customer experience through social media. 

What does a Social Media Marketer do?

As a social media marketer, you might work within an organisation’s in-house marketing department, helping to plan and implement online marketing strategies for products and services. Alternatively, you may find work within a digital marketing agency, or even pursue a freelance career.

Common tasks and day-to-day duties of social media marketers include:

• Planning and implementing campaigns across a variety of social platforms.
• Creating and managing content to be shared on social media.
• Building and maintaining a brand’s social media presence.
• Reporting on the success of social media campaigns against organisational KPIs.
• Identifying trends and insights and staying informed about developments in the world of social media.
• Building and maintaining a strong brand presence online.
• Collaborating with the wider marketing team and external agencies when required (for example, graphic designers or web developers).

How much can a Social Media Marketer earn?

In terms of salary for social media marketers, this depends greatly on your level of experience and where you are located in the UK. An entry-level social media role might pay something in the region of £18,000 to £25,000 per annum. As an experienced social media marketer, you will be able to command a higher salary as your level of experience and knowledge increases. Some social media managers can expect to earn over £50,000 per annum depending on the industry they are employed in.

Do you have the skills needed to become a Social Media Marketer?

Arguably, a social media marketer’s number one quality will be a strong ability to communicate a brand’s message via digital platforms. Other key skills and qualities include:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• First-class organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple social media campaigns at one time.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when dealing with complicated information.
• The ability to generate new and innovative social campaigns.
• Fantastic knowledge of existing and emerging social media platforms.
• Being a creative thinker.
• Good IT skills.

What do career prospects look like for Social Media Marketers?

There is currently a high demand for social media professionals in a variety of sectors including public and private sector, large multi-national firms, smaller independent businesses and charities. This is a rapidly growing field and there is potential to work in a variety of industries as a social media assistant or social media executive.

Many social media marketers find work within an agency where they will work on behalf of a diverse range of clients. It is advisable for an aspiring social media marketer to start in an entry-level marketing role, then specialise in social media marketing in order to gain relevant working knowledge of the field. Many social media marketers will go on to become digital marketing managers. Some social media marketers will eventually become self-employed social media consultants or digital strategists.

How do I become a Social Media Marketer?

Social media marketing is a very popular career choice, however, there remains a healthy demand for qualified social media marketers in the UK. Some aspiring social media marketers will take accredited digital marketing courses with an organisation like e-Careers.

A university degree or attending college is not necessary to pursue a career in social media marketing.  The most common route aspiring social media marketers prefer is to gain practical work experience and specialise in social media marketing, whilst gaining digital marketing certifications part-time as they work.

Practical workplace experience is arguably the most important factor in becoming a social media marketer. Social media marketers frequently add to their skill set with certified digital marketing qualifications, such as those accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), in order to ensure that their skills remains highly sought after by employers. e-Careers allows you to study a DMI digital marketing course part-time at a pace that suits you without having to give up your current job or take on university debt.

The most popular course aspiring Social Media Managers sit is the Specialist Professional Diploma in Social Media Marketing, accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute.

Entry requirements

In terms of what you need to become a social media marketer, there are no concrete requirements. There are many routes to this career, however, specific digital marketing qualifications will undoubtedly set you apart from other applicants to digital marketing roles.

Call us on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak to one of our Career Consultants today, to discuss your career goals or get started.