I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You’ll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.

Updated July 22, 2021

If you’re reading this, chances are that you have a deep passion for social media.

You know the power of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends and family. But what if you could take your love of all things social media and turn it into a career?

The field of Social Media Management is booming these days and there’s never been a better time to get started! Whether you want to start your own business as a freelancer, start an agency or if you are ready to work in-house, keep reading!

The average salary for an entry-level Social Media Manager is around $40K per year, but many earn more than $60K annually. Sound good so far?

Well, there’s more: as one of the most in-demand careers today, companies are fighting over qualified Social Media Managers — meaning job security is high!

Do you have a knack for social media and want to get started? Here are some of the steps in starting your career as a social media manager.

Bonus: we are also going to share EXACTLY how many of our community members got started in the field of social media management!

Learn as Much as You Can About All Social Channels

It goes without saying that you should learn everything you can about Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Clubhouse, Pinterest etc.

Follow their blogs (all social media platforms have blogs!) and learn about the history of each platform. Read social media industry blogs and read about the latest trends in the industry.

Set Up Your Own Social Media Profiles

Shall we say it? You need hands-on experience! Set up your own account on all of the top social media sites!

Use all the newest and latest features, and get in the habit of weekly content creation sessions. The easiest way to do this is to create a content calendar for your own social media accounts and start pushing out social media content!

This might include starting a website and a blog, especially if you are interested in working for yourself. Write blog posts about what you are learning and gather tips for the clients you eventually want to serve!

Start Using Social Media Management Tools

Next, sign up and start using tools. Most social media management tools offer free trials. Use these to learn how tools work, what each tool does and how to navigate dashboards.

While there are many, many choices — look for tools that have been on the market for years, thus are trusted, dependable and safe to use. Start there. That would include Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Buffer and AgoraPulse.

Take Courses in Social Media Management and Get Certified!

Then, takes onlines courses in social media management. Learn social media marketing strategies, tactics, learn how to find a target audience, social listening, customer service through social, and brand awareness. There is so much to learn and while most of this can be learned ‘on the job’ or for free on the internet, why waste so much time “hobbling together” this knowledge when a company like us has a proven program in place that provides you a clear pathway and roadmap on how to become a social media manager in 45 days!

The cherry on top is that a company like us offers certification as well. Learn more about what certification can do for your career here.

Network Like Crazy with Others in the Social Media Industry

Once you know what to do, it’s imperative you connect with others in the industry. Your marketing efforts can now be used to find a job or new clients!

Use your social media platforms to announce the opening of your business, or that you are looking for your next challenge. If you want to join social media teams as an in-house social media manager, ask on LinkedIn if anyone knows of any openings. Search for jobs openings, and look at the skills required to apply for the job you want!

Work on a Portfolio

Whether you need a portfolio, or a CV, this is the best time to start putting your skills “on paper”.

Whatever job you apply for, or even if you start out as a freelancer, people will want examples of your work. Creating an online portfolio that’s easily shared is one of the best ways to get noticed.

Ready to Get Started in the Field of Social Media Management?

Getting started in the field of social media management can seem overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t need to know it all, or do everything, at once!

You just have to get started and find out what works for you. There are many different paths.

We want to leave you with two things.

First, if you are serious about becoming a social media manager, check out our courses and certification program. Taking a course will save time and, ultimately, money! You can get started in this new career quickly and be up and running within a few months.

Then, read the answers to this question I recently asked our community of experienced social media managers:

In four words or less, tell the story of how you got started as a social media manager!

Read. Enjoy. Learn!

The trends we saw from the 200+ answers in this post include:

Reach out to us if you have questions about getting started, and join our own community! ⬇️

I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You’ll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.

Sharing is caring!

This content was originally published here.