What is a social media manager?

Although they began as platforms for exchanging information between users, companies and brands have been present on social media for years with the goal of connecting with their audiences, building lasting relationships, and boosting their business.

That's why the role of a social media manager has become indispensable today , as they have the experience and knowledge necessary to meet the objectives that the brand/company sets in the field of Social Media.

If you're still not sure what a social media manager is, what their functions are, or what tools they need , stay tuned; this is of great interest to you.

Definition of social media manager

A social media manager is a professional expert in creating and managing digital marketing strategies on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Its main objective is to increase the visibility, engagement, and reach of a brand or company through the creation of attractive content, interaction with users, and measurement of results.

Virtually all digital marketing agencies employ a social media manager, although there are also professionals who perform this task independently.

Why is it important for a brand/company to have a social media manager?

As we mentioned at the beginning, social media is a fundamental channel for connecting with potential customers, retaining existing ones, and building a strong brand . A social media manager is important because it helps:

• Define a clear strategy and specific objectives.
• Create high-quality content that connects with your target audience.
• Increase engagement and interaction with your followers.
• Generate leads and convert them into customers.
• Measure and analyze the results of your actions.
• Maintain an active and professional presence on social media.

Main tasks of a social media manager

The duties of a social media manager can vary depending on the size of the company, the industry it belongs to, and the brand's specific goals . However, some of the most common tasks include:

• Develop and implement the social media management strategy, previously defining the audience, the platforms to be worked on, and the objectives/KPIs.
• Create and manage the publication calendar.
• Design and edit engaging content (images, videos, text).
• Develop a contingency plan in case of an online reputation crisis for the brand, and collaborate in its resolution.
• Monitor social media and analyze key metrics to see if the proposed objectives are being achieved.
• Conduct regular social media performance reports to identify opportunities for improvement.

These tasks can be carried out by a single person or several, depending on the workload involved, the internal organization of the agency itself, etc.

What skills should a good Social Media manager have?

To perform an effective job, a social media manager must have the following skills:

Soft skills or “soft skills”

1. Effective communication : The ability to convey ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively is essential for engaging with your target audience, building relationships, and managing an online community.
2. Creativity and innovation : A social media manager must be able to generate original and compelling ideas to capture the audience's attention in a content-saturated environment.
3. Analytical skills: The ability to interpret data, identify trends, and evaluate the performance of strategies helps you make decisions and optimize campaigns.
4. Organization and time management : The ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and prioritize activities is essential to maintaining an active and consistent social media presence.
5. Adaptability and flexibility : The digital landscape is constantly evolving, so a good social media manager must adapt to changes and be able to learn to master new tools and strategies.

Technical skills

1. Social Platform Mastery : A deep understanding of the different social platforms, their features, functionalities, and algorithms is the cornerstone of creating effective strategies.
2. Content creation : Ability to write compelling text, edit images and videos, and master different content formats such as stories, reels, etc.
3. Graphic design : Social media managers must have basic design skills to create content that captures users' attention and is consistent with the brand's identity.
4. Digital tools : Familiarity with social media management, data analysis, graphic design, and video editing tools to optimize work and achieve better results.
5. Digital Marketing : Understanding digital marketing principles to develop strategies that integrate social media with other channels (SEO, SEM, etc.) and maximize reach.

Essential tools for managing social networks

Little or nothing can be done in digital marketing without software tools and applications, and social media managers are no exception. There are many tools to facilitate their work , but the most well-known are the following.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is one of the most popular platforms for social media management. It offers a wide range of features, including:

• Post scheduling: Allows you to schedule posts in advance on various social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Monitoring: Allows you to monitor social media in real time and receive notifications about mentions of your brand, hashtags, or relevant keywords.
• Analytics: Provides detailed reports on your social media performance, including reach, engagement, and conversions.
• Collaboration: Allows you to work as a team and collaborate with other users on social media management.

Buffer

Buffer is another popular social media management tool that offers similar features to Hootsuite, such as:

• Post scheduling: allows you to schedule posts on different social platforms.
• Analytics: Provides reports on the performance of your posts.
• Collaboration: allows teamwork.

Sprout social

Sprout Social is a more comprehensive tool than Hootsuite and Buffer, and offers additional features such as:

• Community Management: Allows you to manage your brand's online community, including comment moderation and customer service.
• Advanced Analytics: Provides more detailed reporting on your social media performance.
• Social CRM: Allows you to integrate social media with your CRM to gain a better understanding of your customers.

Differences between social media manager and community manager

Although the terms “social media manager” and “community manager” are often used interchangeably, and sometimes the same person performs both roles, there are some differences between the two.

The social media manager is responsible for strategic planning and general account management, while the community manager focuses on interacting with the online community . So, let's say the manager "acts in the shadows" and the community manager is the "public face" on social media.

Benefits of working with a social media manager

Delegating social media to a good manager has several benefits , such as:

• Save time and resources : Helps you save time and resources by managing your social media accounts.
• Performance Boost : Improve the performance of your social media accounts by increasing visibility, engagement, and reach.
• Greater knowledge of the target audience : helps you get to know your target audience better and create content that is more relevant to them.
• Improved brand image : contributes to the growth of the brand's online reputation.

What is the price of social media management in Spain?

To calculate the price of social media management, several factors must be taken into account, the main ones being: 1) number of platforms, 2) number of publications, 3) content creation and 4) community management .

Each agency or professional will set their own prices, but we can say that, in Spain, social media management costs between €200 and €2000 per month .

Do you want to boost your brand on social media?

You may not be putting enough effort into your networks because you don't have one of three things: the necessary skills or knowledge, the most advanced tools, or, in most cases, enough time.

The result is that your social profiles are abandoned, you're not gaining followers, you're not generating engagement, and you're not increasing your online presence and reputation. But your competitors are.

Think of every new post, every new follower, every comment you reply to as a new sales opportunity—an opportunity you're not taking advantage of.

Also, consider that the traffic you drive to your website through your social media channels benefits other digital channels, especially your SEO . Or maybe you'll get them to subscribe to your newsletter...

In short, Social Media is a very powerful marketing tool.

If you're not yet getting enough out of them, at Maktagg we can help you manage your social media so people fall in love with your brand, generate engagement, and make the most of all the possibilities this digital channel offers.

Fill out the form and tell us what we can do for your brand!