If you’re reading this, chances are, that you’re probably in the world of social media and what I’m about to say will resonant with you. Social media isn’t anything new but yet there are still a few people that are clueless about its existence and what it is that we do. If you’ve got a friend or family member in that category, feel free to pass this along or get a few laughs.
You get to Facebook and Tweet all day. That doesn’t sound hard: *sigh* *facepalm* Where do you even begin? The answer is yes and no. While we do get the joys of spending time on our favorite social networks all day, we also look behind the guts of the network i.e. the insights/analytics to see if what we’re doing is working.
Tweet? Isn’t that what birds do? No. Birds get to fly, chew up food for their little ones and spit it back out so no, we’re not birds. We figure out how to take your message and carefully compose it into 14o characters and still make it relevant. We figure out what to tweet, when, and how to best engage with your audience. Nope, nothing like birds at all.
What do you do all day? The short answer is: a lot. A day in the life of social media manager involves a variety of things from creating content, posting content, monitoring the networks, and keeping an eye on competitors and what they’re saying and doing. Aside from that, a social media manager has to plan ahead and put together editorial content, plan contests, put together those contests, and prepare reports of progress.
People actually use this stuff? Yes! Believe it or not, social media is a great way to connect with customers and get inside their head. Customers pour out their thoughts on social networks and we’re hungry for that info to learn more about you and what you’re saying. It helps businesses improve and be responsive to any need. Aside from managing social media, we also act as customer service.
Looks easy. Can anyone do this? Be wary of those that call themselves gurus, mavens, etc. and don’t hire just anyone off the street or ask a friend to do it unless that friend has a vast and proven knowledge of social media. Social media is more than just posting stuff on Facebook and Twitter so take caution when thinking about delving into this world.
We’re friends. Can you do mine for free? Never cross that boundary with friends, even close friends. If your friend has a business, it should be treated as a business. If your friend decides to give you a discount or offer something for free, that’s on them but never assume it. The same goes for social media. Don’t invite a friend for coffee and then pick their brain for free advice about your social media accounts. Social media managers catch on quick and it’ll be a bitter note for your friendship.
What other lines have you heard as a social media manager? Share your stories in the comments below.
