Social Media Analyst as a Career
Description of the Job
Social Media analysts collect and analyze data related to social media marketing campaigns. They assist organizations and businesses understand the best ways to penetrate the market and tailor social media marketing campaigns to specific audiences. Social media analysts track performance of different social media alternatives and adjust their campaigns accordingly.
Fast Facts
- Number of hours per weekGenerally 40
- Average starting pay$50k Nationally, $67k in the Bay Area
- Amount of travel requiredUsually no travel
Roles & Responsibilities
- Support teams with social media analytics tools
- Create marketing content to post and spread on various social media platforms
- Analyze data to create better social media presence and achieve goals
- Understand how each of the platforms uniquely impacts audience behavior and content performance
- Keep pace with social media and internet marketing industry trends and developments
Skills Needed
- Creativity: Outstanding ability to think creatively, and identify and resolve problems
- Detail-oriented: Attention to detail and the ability to effectively multi-task in a deadline driven atmosphere
- Written skills: Ability to clearly and effectively articulate thoughts and points
- Being a starter: High levels of autonomy, and self-motivation
- Analytical skills: Being able to look at a variety of data sets and making assumptions and decisions based on them.
- Organizational skills: Project management and time management skills
Steps to Enter The Field
- Most social media jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but there may be exceptions depending on the company or level. Common degrees are marketing, public relations, social media, other business-related fields, and communications
- It’s beneficial to gain experience working with popular social media advertising platforms found in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.
- Having a throughout understanding of the ways social media algorithms work can help the chances of landing jobs/internships
- Internships in social media can be helpful to enter the feeling post-grad and to see whether you like it. Many startups need social media interns, so it can be an easier track to land the first role. AngelList is a good resource to find jobs at a startup
- Staying informed on newest social media trends and sites
Landscape of the Field & Companies in the Field
- Corporate companies, small businesses, startups, non-profits, and all types of organizations around the world hire social media analysts.
- When looking for sales representative positions, people should consider which industries interest them and look for jobs in those industries
- As we exponentially make the switch to living online, more social media analysts will be needed.
External Resources to Learn More & Develop Skills
- 5 best resources for social media managers: Digital Marketing Institute provides the best resources and explains how to use them.
- Hubspot’s course catalog: Includes a plethora of free courses relating to marketing and social media.
- Some include LinkedIn Marketing for Business, How to Advertise on Instagram, and much more
- Social Media certifications: Includes a list of 8 Brand Certifications to Make You a Better Social Media Marketer, along with descriptions of each
- Best social media blogs: includes 33 of the top social media blogs
Related Careers
- Website developer, Data analyst, Marketing consultant, Social Media Strategist, Social Media Coordinator, Social media manager, Content creator, Digital marketing analyst, Public Relations
Informational Interviews
Social Media Manager
Company Name: Avail Medsystems
Title: Social Media Manager
Years of Experience: 3
Biography
Damien Grulick is a Social Media Manager at Avail Medsystems. He graduated from San Jose State University in 2018 with a degree in Public Relations. He worked at Varian Medical Systems as a Social Media Relations & Public Relations Specialist for 3 years before joining Avail Medsystems.