Learn from these gifted and experienced social media managers about what it takes to be successful in the social media industry.
Are you hoping to become a social media manager, either for your own business or as a consultant to others? Or perhaps you want to build your own social media marketing agency but aren’t sure where to begin?
With the vast majority of every generation using social media to connect with each other, yet facing such an abundance of platforms and seemingly inexhaustible changes, business owners are rightly feeling overwhelmed.
And this, my friends, is an opportunity for you.
Social media management is a skill and industry that continues to grow and expand. In addition to being a fun, exciting business, social media management is also extremely collaborative. Social media managers around the world are typically open and helpful and committed to working with each other. With so much room for specialization and localization, social media management is one of the few industries where it’s legitimately challenging to find true competition.
With that spirit of collaboration and cooperating in mind, I asked some of the brightest social media marketing minds I know what they thought you should know about how to become a social media manager. Specifically, I asked each of them a series of questions to help learn things like what do social media managers need to know, what should social media managers avoid, and, most importantly, how do social media managers get started and grow.
This social media experts round-up features Jay Baer, Ian Cleary, Heidi Cohen, Mike Gingerich, Ashley Graham, Ian Anderson Gray, Christine Gritmon, Jenn Herman, Christian Karasiewicz, Douglas Karr, Danny Monzon, Pam Moore, Donna Moritz, Christopher S. Penn, Julie Riley, Jo Saunders, Dustin W. Stout and Bella Vasta.
Let’s see what these experts had to say.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Jay Baer: Probability and statistics.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Jay Baer: Not leaving enough room for RTs back when that mattered.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Jay Baer: Constant research and inspiration from my team and our clients.
RELATED: Social Media Marketing 101: What Every Smart Social Media Manager Needs to Know
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Jay Baer: Extraordinary variety of work and a constant shift in best practices!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Jay Baer: Constant shift in best practices and need to be always on!
About Jay Baer
Founder of digital marketing and CX consultancy Convince & Convert. New York Times best-selling author. Hall of Fame keynote speaker. Host of the Social Pros podcast.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Ian Cleary: It’s not about the volume of content you share it’s about the results you achieve. Before you even start sharing, agree on what success is, and then come up with measurements to track your progress. The work you can do with social media is never-ending, and we get caught up in sharing more than measuring.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Ian Cleary: I never had the role of social media manager, but I have seen mistakes in my team, and it was mainly about thinking that it’s up to them to share all the content. You need to think of ways of getting your audience to share out content as much as possible. This is by involving influencers in your content, encouraging your existing audience to share, and creating more shareable assets. When you are sharing, don’t just think about your audience. Think about what they would share with their audience.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Ian Cleary: The world of social media is constantly changing, so you need to allocate several hours every month to education. Follow key influencers in social media to get your daily dose of knowledge and invest in education. Going to conferences is great, and networking with your peers at the conference is a great learning experience. If you can’t make it to conferences, buy the virtual pass, which a lot of conferences have, and this can be very cost-effective.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Ian Cleary: A social media manager gets to engage with audiences of one or many brands, and if you’re a friendly person, this can be a lot of fun. You can build so many great relationships on social media.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Ian Cleary: A social media manager needs to constantly keep up with changes on social media platforms. What worked yesterday may not work today!
About Ian Cleary
An experienced digital marketing professional who works with companies to enhance results from Digital Marketing.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Heidi Cohen: We currently live in a highly partisan, divisive period. As a result, either you or a member of the larger community may say something that misses the mark and upsets someone. So while you may need to respond in a timely manner, take a moment and breathe. Don’t let the words go directly from your brain to the social media platform. Because when you do that, your words have a greater probability of hurting someone or eroding trust.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Heidi Cohen: When I first joined Twitter, I was active in a number of regular chats. To support the #BlogChat group, a couple of us decided to have a pre-chat discussion to help newbies since it was such a fast-moving conversation. As a result, I wound up in Twitter jail because I sent too many tweets in too short a time period. That said, around the same time, I was a part of a group called #UsGuys where we experimented with an on-going conversation 24/7. Even better, we extended our conversations into real life with meetings in NYC.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Heidi Cohen: Watch what the top people on a particular platform do regardless of their area of specialty. Then figure out their how and why to apply these tactics to your business.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Heidi Cohen: The best part of being a social media manager is the ability to build a broader community. Therefore, use every engagement as an opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others. But—and this is key—don’t expect anything in return. Your objective is to pay-it-forward and be helpful.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Heidi Cohen: When someone reaches out on social media, they expect you or your business to be available and to respond quickly. While their expectation is often within minutes, you should respond as quickly as possible and manage expectations by posting your real-time availability in your profile.
About Heidi Cohen
Top global digital, content, and social media marketing influencer, Heidi Cohen runs the award-winning Actionable Marketing Guide.
As a consultant, professor, and speaker, Heidi helps executives and students understand and apply actionable tactics to execute their marketing strategy. Heidi has built measurable business value for global organizations like Bertelsmann, Citibank, The Economist and The New York Times.
Fun fact: Heidi trekked across the Andes from Argentina to Chile.
Follow Heidi Cohen on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Mike Gingerich: Every social media platform is unique and must be treated as such! You cannot do the same thing on Instagram that you do on Twitter and expect results.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Mike Gingerich: I tried to automate too much and pre-scheduled boring links of the same material to Twitter and Facebook.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Mike Gingerich: Read. Read. Read! I’m a huge blog reader. I devour content from blogs daily as well as follow key people on Twitter and Facebook to watch and learn from.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Mike Gingerich: Helping a company establish a powerful presence on social media and seeing that result in sales growth and brand loyalty is amazing!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Mike Gingerich: You have got to be a constant learner and adapter. What worked a year ago likely won’t work now. It takes continual improvement and you have to stay on top of it, which means there is really no coasting!
About Mike Gingerich
Mike Gingerich is president of Digital Hill, a Web development and software firm, and a partner in the FinTech startup, Visionfinancialmarketing.com. Mike’s passion is to see businesses and people grow into their highest potential. He lives with his family in Pennsylvania and loves to compete in half marathons and triathlons.
Follow Mike Gingerich on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Ashley Graham: How you plan to connect and communicate with your community on social media is key. Have a clear message that you want to convey to your audience, and nurture every element that you attract through that conversation on social media. Whether that’s comments on your post, shares, and direct messages, think of these as your warm leads to furthering that relationship with those accounts. The most highly engaged social media managers tend to see the most success rate when it comes to building the brand’s reputation on social, especially when it comes to responses and seeing the conversation around the brand increase.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Ashley Graham: The newbie mistake that comes to mind from my young social media manager days is focusing too much energy on what other accounts were doing versus honing into the unique elements I could execute around the brands I was working with at the time. Diving into what makes your brand different from others in a similar space is what drives the overall success of the awareness of the brand. Copying a model that works for one brand doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for you. I would highly recommend for those who are interested in becoming a social media manager to get creative and innovative in their approach.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Ashley Graham: I grow as a social media manager by listening to what my audience wants to see and hear from the brands that I am working for/with. I also take pride in recognizing the brand messaging shifts that social media incorporates, such as moving content to video, live streams, and/or better ways to approach user-generated content. I also participate in a variety of social media community groups on Facebook where conversations are hosted around new industry trends from other influential social media managers. This is a fun and interactive way to stay up-to-date on trends, while also building relationships with other social media managers online.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Ashley Graham: For one, we all have shifted our focus into the digital space one way or another. With the times currently, the best aspect for being a social media manager to me, outside of the creative freedom to express storytelling in a variety of ways, but also the security it provides. There will always be an opportunity to get into the digital space through social media directly.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Ashley Graham: I find the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager is staying up to date on the ever-evolving trends that circle around in the social media space. It’s incredible to see where the social media space has evolved over the last 10+ years, and I can guarantee 10 years from now, it will be vastly different. However, this is what keeps us social media managers on our toes, and it’s been an incredible journey.
About Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is a brand strategist and publicity expert who has a passion for coffee, media collaborations, and connections. To Ashley, every brand has a unique story that wants to be heard, and she strives to be the influence in connecting those stories to the media. Ashley’s creative process is to coach her client’s on filtering through the main ingredients of their brand to facilitate a well-rounded methodology on how they need to execute their media outreach plans, story angles, and additional content strategies in-between on social media. Ashley’s clients have been exclusively featured in outlets such as Entrepreneur, Markets Insider, Thrive Global, BuzzFeed, EllenTube, and many more.
Follow Ashley Graham on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Ian Anderson Gray: Don’t be a one-way communicator. It’s very tempting to pump out the content, but the real magic happens when you interact with your audience and grow engagement organically. There is nothing more powerful on social media than a passionate audience of superfans.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young, padawan social media manager?
Ian Anderson Gray: I had the tendency of paying too much attention to the “vanity stats,” such as the number of followers I had. I wish I had paid more attention to the more important analytics such as engagement, click-throughs, and more.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Ian Anderson Gray: I am always learning! Going to conferences, speaking, blogging, masterminding, and more have always been incredibly important in my growing and learning. But I’ve realized over the years, that the times I’ve learned the most have been when I have been doing and creating. For example, every time I go live with my Confident Live Marketing Show, I learn something new about what I should and should not be doing. Sometimes, that means you have to get out of your comfort zone and be prepared to make mistakes or even looking like an idiot!
What is the best aspect of being a Social Media Manager? Why?
Ian Anderson Gray: Community and relationships! I’ve made the most amazing friends over the years. Interacting and engaging with my audience, and being able to help and support people all around the world gives me so much joy!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a Social Media Manager? Why?
Ian Anderson Gray: The social media landscape has changed so rapidly over the years, and so it’s really difficult to keep up with all of that and stay on top of the latest tools, techniques, and best practices. But honestly, I find that I content overload so easily. Pings and notifications across all my channels can make me feel overwhelmed. A decent social media management tool helps and a having a proper plan, but it’s still a challenge!
About Ian Anderson Gray
Ian is the founder of the Confident Live Marketing Academy and is the host of the Confident Live Marketing Podcast. He helps entrepreneurs to level up their impact, authority and profits by using live video confidently. He’s founder of Seriously Social – a blog focused on live video and social media tools. He’s an international speaker, trainer, teacher and consultant. He has a passion for making the techno-babble of live video and social media marketing easy to understand. As well as being a geek, husband, and dad to two kids, Ian is also a professional singer and lives near Manchester in the UK.
Follow Ian Anderson Gray on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Christine Gritmon: Don’t get so caught up in making things look “professional” that they lose the human touch. Allow some strategically-scrappy content in there; it’s more accessible to the audience.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young, padawan social media manager?
Christine Gritmon I was so afraid of getting in my clients’ way that I often didn’t get what I needed from them to really make their social shine. Getting what you need can require some chasing at times, but it’s worth it. The client can’t just hand it off without ANY involvement; they’re the ones with their finger on the pulse of their business, so, like it or not, they do need to weigh in and give you information from time to time, to ensure the social and the business are still connected and part of the same living, breathing, ever-evolving organism.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Christine Gritmon: Constant, CONSTANT learning: from trusted publications, from industry leaders that in many cases have become personal friends, and from hands-on experience. A day rarely goes by where I’m not finding out something new to try.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Christine Gritmon: Helping tell the stories of people who are doing incredible things, and getting those stories in front of the people who will absolutely love them!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Christine Gritmon: Business owners who aren’t in the social media field can often simultaneously underestimate its importance while overestimating expectations.
About Christine Gritmon
Christine Gritmon is a branding coach and DIY social media strategist for small businesses. She helps business owners and solo-preneurs figure out what they should be doing online in a way that fits into their limited time, budget, and existing workflow.
Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Jenn Herman: Every social media manager should know their “why.” Why are they using social media? What is their end goal and purpose for using social media? It may be brand awareness for a newer company. Or it may be employee advocacy and recruiting. Or it may be to increase online sales. Whatever the reason, unless you know WHY you’re using social media, you won’t be able to create the right strategy to get there.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Jenn Herman: I had no strategy when I started out. I was blogging whenever it was convenient or I felt like it. I was posting to social media on a whim and about pretty much anything that came to mind. I didn’t focus on an outcome or goal. I was really just throwing it all out there and seeing what worked. It didn’t take me long to realize that wasn’t actually working! lol! So I got strategic and started planning content and schedules to better maximize my time, improve the quality of my content, and better serve my audience.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Jenn Herman: Learn, learn, learn! OMG, this industry changes so fast and drastically sometimes. What worked a month ago, 6 months ago, or a year ago may not work anymore. It’s important to follow leaders in the industry, experts on each social media platform you manage, and read blogs, groups, and more for what’s current and evolving on social media. Take the time every day or week to read news and updates. Invest in yourself (time or financially) to take courses or webinars that will help you stay at the forefront of what’s happening in this field.
About Jenn Herman
Jenn Herman is a social media consultant, speaker, and globally recognized Instagram expert. She is the forefront blogger on Instagram marketing and her blog, Jenn’s Trends, has won the title of a Top 10 Social Media Blog over multiple years. She is a sought-after and international speaker providing tips, resources, and training for organizations of all sizes that need to structure their social media strategies. Her business background includes Administration, Sales, Human Resources, and Marketing and she enjoys bringing all these skills together to help you grow your business. Jenn has been featured in Inc., Fox News, BBC News, Yahoo Finance, HuffPost, The Verge, CBS Radio LA, and numerous other podcasts and publications. She is the author of “Instagram for Dummies,” “Instagram for Business for Dummies,” and “Stop Guessing: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Social Media Strategy.”
RELATED: Social Media Marketing 101: What Every Smart Social Media Manager Needs to Know
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Christian Karasiewicz Make every piece of content you publish count. Users don’t spend a lot of time reading your content, so you have to publish insightful, quality content that adds value for them.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Christian Karasiewicz: Initially, automating posts across each platform, each with the same message. Whoops!
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Christian Karasiewicz: I try and stay on top of current trends on social media through my weekly social media marketing talk show, #SocialChatter. In addition, I try and network with other social media managers, to talk strategy, and to see what is and isn’t working in their respective industries.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Christian Karasiewicz: The best aspect of being a social media manager is knowing you made a difference for a customer (hopefully, a positive one). While the work is hardly 40-hours a week, it is refreshing knowing that every day is different. It’s also pretty satisfying getting to meet a lot of diverse and unique customers.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Christian Karasiewicz: The most challenging aspect of being a social media manager is replicating the success from one campaign to the next. Oftentimes, a client will be thrilled with the results, but then expect that same level to be reached on subsequent campaigns. Even though you try the same tactics, they don’t usually work or achieve the same level.
About Christian Karasiewicz
Christian Karasiewicz is a consultant and public speaker on social media, Internet marketing, and technology. He is the founder of Social Chefs, a company providing social media marketing training for customers in the B2C and B2B space. He is also the host of #SocialChatter, the longest running weekly social media marketing talk show, with Phil Gerbyshak and co-founder of the Launch Your Live podcast with Jim Fuhs. With over fourteen years of experience across social media, e-commerce, search engine optimization (SEO), Internet marketing, and related technologies, Christian strives to help individuals and businesses create meaningful social media campaigns to connect and engage with their customers and keep them coming back for more.
Christian has created digital campaigns and strategies for Fortune 500 companies, such as IBM, General Dynamics, Shop.com, government agencies, and more. He specializes in working with small- to medium-sized businesses across a variety of industries including online retailers, entrepreneurs, celebrities, musicians, athletes, defense contractors, news organizations, fashion designers, and jewelry artists.
Follow Christian Karasiewicz on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Douglas Karr: Social media managers must understand omnichannel marketing efforts and how the social media strategy impacts the overall sales and marketing strategy.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Douglas Karr: I thought that social media could directly drive conversions.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Douglas Karr: I continue to focus on building out the business intelligence tools needed to inform my clients’ strategy using social media as one of the inputs. It requires constant attention to technology advancements and platforms.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Douglas Karr: Having a direct relationship with prospects and consumers is empowering and provides incredible insight into your brand, its reputation, and keeping your fingers on the pulse of your industry or community.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Douglas Karr: Measuring the downstream impact of your efforts in a world where consumers are moving from screen to screen, channel to channel, and medium to medium makes understanding your return on investment extremely difficult.
About Douglas Karr
Douglas Karr is a digital transformation expert who works with enterprise organizations to implement sales and marketing strategies that maximize their return on technology investment. He’s the chief strategist and co-founder of Highbridge, a Salesforce Partner. He’s a public speaker on everything MarTech and technology-related, does custom workshops for companies, and is an avid blogger and podcaster.
Follow Douglas Karr on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Danny Monzon: As with any other game or sport, know the rules of the game.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Danny Monzon: Before deciding to let go of some control and then finding the right talent, I spent way too much time creating and scheduling content.
There are three lessons there.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Danny Monzon: I understand that this space is constantly evolving, so I belong to online communities where I can stay current. Investing in learning is always at the forefront of our annual goals, so conferences and courses are always on our radar.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Danny Monzon: When you associate with brands that are not only fun to work with but who are mission-driven, forward-thinking and you have a win-win situation going on, it doesn’t feel like work.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Danny Monzon: I believe that this field is getting more competitive as people are looking to reinvent themselves. You have to bring a specialty, a special sauce if you will, to this marketplace.
About Danny Monzon
Social media strategist, bilingual marketing consultant, and agency owner. The creative and strategic thinker behind DM Digital, a digital marketing solutions agency working with local brands in the U.S and in Latin America.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Pam Moore: A social media manager’s role is about more than just knowing how to post to Facebook or LinkedIn. You MUST understand why your business is doing social media in the first place. What are your goals? What does success look like? Who do you want in your community and why? What is the overall purpose of the community? Knowing the role your efforts play into the larger business goals is the absolute key to success! Do not live and focus on your silo of social media, ensure everything you do supports the goals of the business.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Pam Moore: Wasting time trying tools and technology that were not applicable to my business or community. Less is truly more. Always focus on where your audience is and where they are going. Couple this with where you have strengths and feel the most comfortable and you have a winning combination for success!
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Pam Moore: Never stop learning! Identify your strengths and weaknesses. What is something that literally scares you? Make that your greatest strength. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. If you are the brightest one in the room at all times, you are in the wrong room!
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Pam Moore: The ability to impact human beings in a positive way every single day. You can literally change lives and families!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Pam Moore: The only guarantee is change! You must learn to roll with the changes and keep strong endurance. Fall down seven times, stand up eight!
About Pam Moore
Pam is the founder and CEO of Marketing Nutz, a social media training and consulting firm that specializes in new media and digital branding. She is a global keynote speaker, Forbes Top 10 Social Media Power Influencer, and best-selling book author. Pam trains and consults thousands of people per year for organizations of all sizes, from solo entrepreneur to Fortune 5 companies. She “walks the walk” with leadership in the digital media space and has a leading blog, top-ranked podcast, and massive social media audience that she is thankful for every day.
RELATED: How to Land Another Great Social Media Manager Job
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Donna Moritz: Every social media manager should know that the most important skill to develop is your ability to cope with and pivot with change. Social media marketing is always evolving, so we need to be able to effectively review, assess, and pivot or modify our approaches to reflect the industry, business, or community we are sharing and engaging with.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Donna Moritz: I wish I had revealed more of myself earlier. I think the key to really connecting with a community is to not just sharing content and engaging, but more so to be relatable and vulnerable. We’re all in this together, and people are going to share and engage more if they feel that you are in it with them, not just a moderator posting from up on high.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Donna Moritz: I commit to always learning. No matter what level you are at in this industry, there is always something to learn. It’s not just the A-lister marketing experts who you need to listen to. It’s the small operators, brick and mortar businesses, and brands that can teach you a lot. Real creativity and innovation comes from small businesses with small marketing budgets and small followings. I’ve always learned a lot from what these businesses are doing. It’s their case studies that I love sharing on my blog and from the stage … because my community can relate to them.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Donna Moritz: I love the community aspect and the “social” nature of being able to engage with a group of people with a common interest. I love that you can connect with people who are interested in your content or business or industry across the world. There are no borders or limits to the community you can grow. And despite this global nature and multiple time zones, we can still do this job at any hour of the day, which makes it a great option for many people!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Donna Moritz: Change. I know that I said this is one thing you need to keep up with, but it’s also something that is challenging and always will be. The sooner we embrace it (and enjoy riding the wave of changes in the industry and best practice and what works in your own business), the more it will seem like fun and less like a challenge.
About Donna Moritz
Donna is an Australian Visual Content Strategist, and founder of Socially Sorted–a leading social media blog globally and featured by Inc. as “a Social Media Blog You Should Be Following in 2020.” Donna helps brands leverage the power of visual storytelling and content strategy in their business, and is a sought-after speaker and trainer in the marketing and tourism industries internationally. Her content has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, and Social Media Examiner.
Follow Donna Moritz on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
About Christopher S. Penn
Christopher S. Penn is an authority on analytics, digital marketing, and marketing technology. A recognized thought leader, best-selling author, and keynote speaker, he has shaped four key fields in the marketing industry: Google Analytics adoption, data-driven marketing, and PR, modern email marketing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning in marketing. As Chief Data Scientist of Trust Insights, he is responsible for the creation of products and services, creation and maintenance of all code and intellectual property, technology and marketing strategy, brand awareness, and research & development.
Mr. Penn is a 2020 three-time IBM Champion in IBM Analytics, a Brand24 Top 100 Digital Marketer, co-founder of the groundbreaking PodCamp Conference, and co-host of the Marketing Over Coffee marketing podcast. Prior to co-founding Trust Insights, he built the marketing for a series of startups with a 100% successful exit rate in the financial services, SaaS software, and public relations industries.
Mr. Penn is an IBM Watson Machine Learning Certified Professional, a Google Analytics Certified Professional, a Google Ads Certified Professional, a Google Digital Sales Certified Professional, and a Hubspot Inbound Certified Professional. He is the author of over two dozen marketing books including bestsellers, such as “AI for Marketers: A Primer and Introduction,” “Marketing White Belt: Basics for the Digital Marketer,” “Marketing Red Belt: Connecting With Your Creative Mind,” and “Marketing Blue Belt: From Data Zero to Marketing Hero,” and “Leading Innovation.”
Follow Christopher S. Penn on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Julie Riley: Do not let imposter syndrome get the better of you. We are all at different stages of our careers and on our own journey. You must build your business on your schedule and do not compare your day 1 to another person’s year 5. Keep learning, invest in yourself, and learn and grow at your pace.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Julie Riley: Undervaluing my services and not charging enough. Also, taking on any client and not being selective about who I work with.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Julie Riley: Always learning new skills, attending trainings and staying up to date with the ever-evolving changes this industry has.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Julie Riley: Getting to share in the successes and wins with my clients. It is so rewarding to see my hard work create success for someone and to get to be a part of that.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Julie Riley: Educating clients who insist they know more than you.
About Julie Riley
Julie Riley is the owner of Depict Media in Wichita, KS. Julie began working in digital marketing in 2007 and has grown to become sought after for her knowledge in Social Media Strategy, and Messenger Marketing. She teaches workshops and speaks on many different topics of social media marketing, including, Social Media Day ICT, the Video Marketing Summit for Entrepreneurs, the Nonprofit Chamber 2019 Conference, and she has been a keynote speaker for WIBA Small Business Connect plus many more.
Follow Julie Riley on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Jo Saunders: How to set up your own LinkedIn Profile as a social media manager. It shows up in Google Search and is a great marketing tool for those referring you.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Jo Saunders: Trying to do everything 100%. Pick your primary marketing platform (website, one to two social media platforms, and email marketing) and use the rest to support or amplify your brand. Have a different purpose for each.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Jo Saunders: Attending online events such as anything Agorapulse puts on! Social Media Marketing World is one of the leading events for social media managers to learn. Learn from experts who are leaders in the field, make time to test and play with the platforms you use, and collaborate with specialists to serve your clients. Most importantly, NEVER STOP LEARNING. Curiosity is the key, so make time for it.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Jo Saunders: Marketing is often not a priority for business owners. They don’t know what to do and don’t enjoy it. Leading your clients, showing them the possibilities, and getting creative in your delivery, then seeing the results is the best part of the role. Let your creative mind flourish!
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Jo Saunders: Turning off the ideas and making sure we take a break! It is easy to get caught up, while not moving! Prioritize your health. Your clients will benefit.
About Jo Saunders
Jo Saunders is a leading LinkedIn expert, marketing strategist, and Social Media Educator of the Year finalist, who shows professionals, graduates and teams how to energize online presence, enhance credibility and earn influence using LinkedIn and social marketing tools.
Her passion for #connectfluence started in the early 90s running a penfriend club, designing and managing events, and falling in love with social media marketing.
She was named a 2019 Top 50 Social Media Marketing Influencer, #2 LinkedIn Expert in Asia Pacific for 2018 by the Social Media Marketing Institute and is the only Australian LinkedIn expert to be invited to speak at Social Media Marketing World
She is co-author of “Get Good or Get Off–A Guide to Getting it Right on Social Media” and “Connectfluence: The Path of Influence Through Connection” (coming soon).
Follow Jo Saunders on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Dustin W. Stout: Plan your content ahead of time—don’t expect inspiration to just strike you every single day. There will be days and maybe even weeks when trying to come up with something relevant and valuable seems impossible. Having a plan will save you tons of time in the long run, and rescue you from those times when inspiration just isn’t anywhere to be found.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Dustin W. Stout: Honestly, the newbie mistake I made over and over again was to just post whatever I felt like that day—not having a plan. In the beginning, it just seemed so easy. I had ideas for days. But eventually, those ideas started to dry up. The monotony of day-to-day tasks and other projects started to pile up and I started to burn out. If I would have spent the time to plan out my content ahead of time, I could have saved myself a lot of stress and anxiety.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Dustin W. Stout: Your ability to grow is 100% determined by the people you surround yourself with. I am constantly keeping an eye on the people I look up to—the people doing things exceptionally well. And no matter how long I’ve been doing this I recognize that there’s always something new to learn.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Dustin W. Stout: For me, the best aspect of being a social media manager is interacting with people. As much as I love content creation—it’s kinda what I’m known for—I love people more. Building relationships, growing communities, and encouraging others is the best part of my work.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Dustin W. Stout: The most challenging part of being a social media manager is managing time, energy, and resources. Creative work, such as copywriting and design, is super time- and energy-intensive, and if you don’t manage them well, you have a recipe for burnout.
About Dustin W. Stout
Dustin is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and digital marketing consultant. His blog, DustinStout.com, was named one of the best social media blogs by Social Media Examiner and continues to be a growing resource for marketers, entrepreneurs, and bloggers alike. His most recent project, SoVisual.co, is a marketplace of high-quality social media graphics bundles called “Social Packs.”
Follow Dustin W. Stout on Twitter.
What is one thing every new social media manager should know?
Bella Vasta: No one can tell you what is right and wrong for your page; you need to test everything.
What newbie mistake did you make as a young padawan social media manager?
Bella Vasta: I thought there was a right day and time to post. I thought that there were magic words to say to get engagement. I thought everything had to be well thought out in order to be successful. While that is true, a small bit, you can go further by allowing your brand to have a personality online.
How do you keep growing and learning as a social media manager?
Bella Vasta: I hang out with people who are smarter than me. I listen to podcasts and read lots of articles. I listen in on discussions from others who are immersed. Keeping an open mind and having an attitude of always be learning has gotten me far.
What is the best aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Bella Vasta: I love the creativity of it. Trying things out, seeing if they work—and discovering what does and doesn’t work. It offers a great reality check because something I like isn’t necessarily what resonates with my audience. I love being creative and it is constantly teaching me new ways to be visually and descriptively creative.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a social media manager? Why?
Bella Vasta: While I don’t believe in everything being planned, you have to plan to some extent. So sometimes, the creativity has to have boundaries, especially when you are working with a team. You can’t batch content and then be constantly changing it up and ripping it apart. That won’t be good for team morale and will kill productivity.
About Bella Vasta
Bella Vasta is the dynamic personality behind the small business consulting agency, Jump Consulting. She is a speaker, author, podcast host, consultant, and mom to a micro-preemie.
Follow Bella Vasta on Twitter.
Wrapping Up
One of the consistent themes you may have picked up on while reading through the thoughts from these incredible experts is the idea of constant learning. Over and over, the majority of these social media influencers and educators, managers, and agency owners, they all stressed the importance of continuous learning.
“The world of Social Media is constantly changing, so you need allocate several hours every month to education.” (Ian Cleary)
“I commit to always learning. No matter what level you are at in this industry, there is always something to learn.” (Donna Moritz)
You don’t learn how to grow a strong Facebook Page today and stop learning tomorrow. The platforms change. Audience needs change. Your experience and capabilities evolve. So the learning has to continue, and then when a new platform or opportunity arises, you apply what knowledge and experience you have then seek out additional learning opportunities.
One such opportunity that we have for you is the Social Media Manager School. This is a 100% online opportunity for you to dive deep into all of the major social media platforms and their successful tactics. You’ll learn how to manage social media and leverage those channels to grow a business, whether for your own or for clients.
And while access to all of the training, certification, and community included within the Social Media Manager School is typically reserved for annual Agorapulse subscribers, we’re currently offering anyone who wants to take advantage of it, a free 8 week period where they can take and learn as many of the training modules as they wish.
You have until May 31, 2020, to sign up and from whatever date you register, you’ll have 8 full weeks to go through all of the available content.
This is a learning opportunity you cannot pass up.
“Learn learn learn! OMG, this industry changes so fast and drastically sometimes. What worked a month ago, six months ago, or a year ago may not work anymore. Invest in yourself (time or financially) to take courses or webinars that will help you stay at the forefront of what’s happening in this field.” (Jenn Herman)
Read more: agorapulse.com
