15 Social Media Professional Marketing Skills To Learn in 2024
Social media professional skills have become indispensable in today’s digital landscape. With over 4.9 billion social media users worldwide as of 2023, mastering these skills is crucial for success in the digital realm.
This blog post delves into 15 essential social media marketing abilities that professionals should hone in 2024. From the art of storytelling and persuasive copywriting to strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making, we’ll explore a comprehensive range of techniques and strategies. We’ll discuss the importance of creativity, effective communication, and the fundamentals of marketing in the social sphere.
Additionally, we’ll cover critical areas such as research and analytics, community management, customer care, and branding. The post will also highlight the significance of agility, cost management, and visual content creation in crafting successful social media campaigns.
15 Social Media Professional Marketing Skills
Digital Vidya presents a visual guide to the core competencies required for success in social media marketing. Img-1 highlights five key areas that every social media professional should master to excel in the digital marketing landscape.
1. Storytelling
Storytelling in social media is the art of crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your audience across various social platforms. It involves creating and sharing content that evokes emotions, builds connections, and communicates your brand’s message effectively. By developing this skill, social media professionals can significantly enhance engagement and foster deeper relationships with their online communities.
Benefits of mastering storytelling:
- Increased audience engagement
- Improved brand recall and loyalty
- Enhanced emotional connection with followers
- Better conversion rates
To acquire this skill, focus on understanding your audience’s preferences, practicing different narrative techniques, and analyzing successful storytelling campaigns. Utilize various content formats like videos, images, and interactive posts to tell your stories.
Example: Nike’s “Dream Crazy” campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick is a prime example of powerful storytelling. The campaign, which garnered over 5 million engagements on Twitter alone, showcased how effective storytelling can spark conversations and create lasting impact in social networking spaces.
‘Dream Crazy’ – Colin Kaepernick Nike Ad 2019
2. Copywriting
Copywriting for social media involves crafting concise, persuasive, and engaging text that captures attention and drives action within the limited space of social platforms. This skill is crucial for creating impactful posts, ads, and profiles that resonate with your target audience and achieve marketing objectives.
Benefits of enhancing copywriting skills:
- Higher engagement rates
- Improved click-through rates
- Better conversion rates
- Stronger brand voice and consistency
To improve your copywriting, practice writing attention-grabbing headlines, experiment with different tones and styles, and study successful social media campaigns. Focus on creating clear, concise messages that align with your brand’s voice and resonate with your audience’s needs and interests.
Example: Wendy’s Twitter account is renowned for its witty and engaging copywriting. Their clever responses and humorous tweets have helped them gain over 3.9 million followers, showcasing how effective copywriting can boost brand awareness and foster social interactions.
3. Creativity
Creativity in social media marketing involves generating unique, innovative ideas for content, campaigns, and strategies that stand out in crowded social communication channels. This skill is essential for capturing audience attention, driving engagement, and staying ahead of trends in the fast-paced world of social networking.
Benefits of developing creativity:
- Increased brand differentiation
- Higher engagement rates
- Improved viral potential
- Enhanced brand perception
To nurture creativity, stay updated on industry trends, encourage brainstorming sessions, and experiment with different content formats and ideas. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and think outside the box when developing social media strategies.
Example: Oreo’s “Dunk in the Dark” tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl blackout is a classic example of creative social media marketing. This timely and clever post generated over 15,000 retweets and 20,000 likes on Twitter, demonstrating how creativity can lead to viral success in online communities.
(Img-2) In a brilliant display of real-time marketing, Oreo capitalized on an unexpected moment during the 2013 Super Bowl. When a power outage plunged the stadium into darkness, Oreo’s social media team quickly crafted a clever response that would become a landmark example of agile, creative social media marketing.
4. Communication Skill
Effective communication in social media involves clearly and efficiently conveying messages, responding to inquiries, and fostering meaningful dialogues with your audience across various social platforms. This skill is fundamental in building and maintaining relationships with followers, managing brand reputation, and ensuring your message is understood and well-received.
Benefits of improving communication skills:
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
- Increased audience trust and loyalty
- Better crisis management
- Improved brand-customer relationships
To enhance your communication skills, practice active listening, develop empathy, and focus on clarity and conciseness in your responses. Adapt your tone and style to suit different platforms and audience segments while maintaining your brand’s voice.
Example: JetBlue’s Twitter account is known for its excellent communication skills. They respond to customer queries promptly and personally, often resolving issues in real-time. This approach has helped them maintain a high customer satisfaction rate, with 70% of their Twitter mentions being positive.
5. Writing and Persuasion
Writing and persuasion in social media encompass the ability to craft compelling content that not only informs but also influences your audience’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. This skill is crucial for creating persuasive ad copy, convincing call-to-actions, and content that drives conversions across social networking platforms.
Benefits of mastering writing and persuasion:
- Higher conversion rates
- Increased brand influence
- Improved audience trust
- Better ROI on social media campaigns
To develop this skill, study persuasive writing techniques, practice crafting compelling arguments, and analyze successful social media campaigns. Focus on understanding your audience’s pain points and desires to create more targeted and persuasive content.
Example: Airbnb’s Instagram account effectively uses persuasive writing to inspire travel and bookings. Their captions often paint vivid pictures of destinations and experiences, encouraging followers to explore and book through their platform. This approach has helped them amass over 5.2 million followers on Instagram, showcasing the power of persuasive writing in social communication channels.
6. Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking in social media involves developing comprehensive, long-term plans to achieve specific marketing objectives through various social platforms. This skill requires analyzing trends, understanding audience behavior, and aligning social media efforts with overall business goals to maximize impact and ROI.
Benefits of enhancing strategic thinking:
- Improved campaign effectiveness
- Better resource allocation
- Increased ROI
- Stronger competitive advantage
To develop strategic thinking, practice setting SMART goals, conduct regular SWOT analyses of your social media presence and stay informed about industry trends. Focus on creating data-driven strategies that align with your brand’s overall marketing objectives.
Example: Spotify’s “Wrapped” campaign is a prime example of strategic thinking in social media. By leveraging user data to create personalized year-end summaries, Spotify encourages massive sharing across social networks. In 2022, this campaign generated over 60 million shares, showcasing how strategic thinking can lead to viral success and increased user engagement.
7. Fundamentals of Marketing
Understanding the fundamentals of marketing is crucial for effective social media management. This skill involves applying core marketing principles such as market segmentation, positioning, and the marketing mix to social media strategies. It’s essential for creating cohesive campaigns that align with broader marketing objectives.
Benefits of mastering marketing fundamentals:
- More effective campaign planning
- Better audience targeting
- Improved brand consistency
- Enhanced overall marketing integration
To acquire this skill, study basic marketing concepts, take online courses in digital marketing, and apply these principles to your social media strategies. Focus on understanding how social media fits into the larger marketing ecosystem.
Example: Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign successfully applied marketing fundamentals to social media. By personalizing products and encouraging sharing, they created a campaign that resonated across social platforms. The campaign led to a 2% increase in U.S. sales after a decade of declining revenues, demonstrating the power of applying marketing basics to social media.
8. Research and Data Analytics
Research and data analytics in social media involve collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from various social platforms to inform decision-making and strategy. This skill is crucial for understanding audience behavior, measuring campaign performance, and optimizing social media efforts.
Benefits of developing research and analytics skills:
- Data-driven decision making
- Improved campaign performance
- Better understanding of audience behavior
- More efficient resource allocation
To enhance these skills, familiarize yourself with social media analytics tools, learn basic statistical analysis, and practice interpreting data to derive actionable insights. Focus on translating complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for your social media strategies.
Example: Netflix effectively uses data analytics to inform its social media content. By analyzing viewing habits and social media engagement, they create highly targeted content for different audience segments. This approach has helped them amass over 16 million followers on Instagram, showcasing how data-driven strategies can boost engagement in online communities.
9. Networking and Connection
Networking and connection in social media involve building and maintaining relationships with influencers, industry professionals, and audience members across various social platforms. This skill is essential for expanding reach, collaborating on campaigns, and fostering a sense of community around your brand.
Benefits of improving networking skills:
- Increased brand reach and exposure
- Access to new opportunities and partnerships
- Enhanced industry knowledge and insights
- Stronger community engagement
To develop this skill, actively engage with others in your industry on social platforms, attend virtual and in-person industry events, and seek out collaboration opportunities. Focus on building genuine relationships rather than merely collecting followers.
Example: Gary Vaynerchuk, a social media expert, has built a massive following (over 10 million on Instagram) through effective networking. He regularly engages with followers, collaborates with other influencers, and shares valuable insights, demonstrating how networking can lead to significant growth and influence in social communication channels.
10. Community Management
Community management involves creating, growing, and maintaining active, engaged communities around your brand on social media platforms. This skill is crucial for fostering brand loyalty, gathering customer feedback, and creating a positive brand image through social interactions.
Benefits of mastering community management:
- Increased customer loyalty and retention
- Improved brand reputation
- Enhanced customer insights
- Higher engagement rates
To acquire this skill, focus on creating valuable content for your community, encourage discussions, respond promptly to inquiries, and develop clear community guidelines. Practice active listening and empathy to better understand and address your community’s needs.
Example: Lego’s Ideas community is a prime example of effective community management. By allowing fans to submit and vote on new Lego set ideas, they’ve created a highly engaged community. This approach has not only boosted engagement but also led to the creation of successful products, showcasing how effective community management can drive both engagement and business results in online communities.
11. Customer Care
Customer care in social media involves providing prompt, efficient, and empathetic support to customers through various social platforms. This skill is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction, resolving issues publicly, and turning potentially negative experiences into positive ones within social communication channels.
Benefits of enhancing customer care skills:
- Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty
- Enhanced brand reputation
- Increased customer retention
- Higher likelihood of positive word-of-mouth
To develop this skill, focus on active listening, practice empathy, and familiarize yourself with your company’s products or services. Utilize social media management tools to ensure timely responses and track customer interactions across platforms.
Example: Xbox’s support Twitter account (@XboxSupport) is renowned for its excellent customer care. They respond quickly to user queries, often resolving issues in real-time. This approach has earned them the nickname “Elite Tweet Fleet” and has significantly contributed to customer satisfaction in their online community.
12. Branding
Branding in social media involves consistently representing and reinforcing your brand’s identity, values, and personality across various social platforms. This skill is essential for creating a cohesive brand image, building brand recognition, and fostering emotional connections with your audience through social interactions.
Benefits of mastering branding skills:
- Increased brand recognition and recall
- Stronger emotional connection with the audience
- Improved customer loyalty
- Better differentiation from competitors
To enhance your branding skills, develop a clear brand voice and visual identity, create brand guidelines for social media, and ensure consistency across all platforms. Study successful brand campaigns and adapt their strategies to your unique brand identity.
Example: Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign effectively uses social media to reinforce its brand values of inclusivity and self-esteem. By showcasing diverse, unretouched models and encouraging user-generated content, Dove has built a strong, recognizable brand presence across social networking spaces.
13. Agility
Agility in social media marketing refers to the ability to quickly adapt strategies, content, and campaigns in response to changing trends, current events, or audience feedback. This skill is crucial for staying relevant, capitalizing on timely opportunities, and maintaining engagement in the fast-paced world of social media.
Benefits of developing agility:
- Improved responsiveness to trends and events
- Increased relevance to the audience
- Better crisis management
- Enhanced competitive advantage
To improve agility, stay informed about current events and industry trends, develop a streamlined approval process for timely content, and create contingency plans for various scenarios. Practice creating quick, relevant content in response to trending topics.
Example: Burger King’s response to Kanye West’s tweet about McDonald’s being his favorite restaurant showcases social media agility. Their quick, witty reply (“Explains a lot”) garnered over 700,000 likes and significant media coverage, demonstrating how agility can lead to viral success in online communities.
(Img-3) Burger King UK’s succinct response “Explains a lot” to Kanye West’s McDonald’s tweet garnered over 700,000 likes, showcasing the power of quick-witted social media engagement.
14. Cost and Production Management
Cost and production management in social media involves efficiently allocating resources, budgeting for campaigns, and optimizing content production processes. This skill is essential for maximizing ROI, ensuring consistent content output, and managing social media efforts within budget constraints.
Benefits of mastering cost and production management:
- Improved ROI on social media efforts
- More efficient resource allocation
- Consistent content production
- Better alignment with the overall marketing budget
To develop this skill, familiarize yourself with social media advertising costs, learn to use content planning and scheduling tools, and practice creating efficient workflows for content production. Focus on balancing quality with quantity while staying within budget.
Example: Buffer, a social media management platform, effectively demonstrates cost and production management by consistently producing high-quality blog content and social media posts with a small team. Their approach to repurposing content across platforms showcases how effective management can lead to consistent, quality output in social communication channels.
15. Visual Content Creation and Design
Visual content creation and design for social media involves producing engaging, brand-aligned visual assets such as images, videos, infographics, and animations for various social platforms. This skill is crucial for capturing attention, conveying information quickly, and enhancing overall engagement in visually-driven social networking spaces.
Benefits of enhancing visual content creation skills:
- Increased engagement rates
- Improved information retention by audience
- Enhanced brand aesthetic
- Better storytelling capabilities
To improve this skill, familiarize yourself with design principles, learn to use graphic design and video editing tools, and stay updated on visual trends across social media platforms. Practice creating visuals that align with your brand identity while appealing to your target audience.
Example: National Geographic’s Instagram account, with over 250 million followers, exemplifies exceptional visual content creation. Their stunning photographs and engaging video content consistently generate high engagement, demonstrating the power of visual storytelling in social media. In fact, Instagram posts with images get 38% more engagement than those without, highlighting the importance of this skill in driving social interactions.
Social Media Marketing Tools For Professionals to Use
Social Media Marketing tools empower marketers to schedule content, analyze metrics, monitor brand mentions, and engage audiences efficiently. By automating routine tasks, they free up time for strategic planning and creative content creation, leading to more effective campaigns and improved ROI.
Here are five essential social media marketing tools:
- Hootsuite: A comprehensive platform for managing multiple social accounts from a single dashboard, offering content scheduling, social listening, and analytics reporting.
- Canva: A user-friendly graphic design tool with templates and elements tailored for social platforms, enhancing visual content creation.
- Sprout Social: Excels in analytics and reporting, providing in-depth insights into audience behavior and content performance. Its social listening features enable prompt responses to customer feedback.
- Buffer: Known for intuitive scheduling capabilities, Buffer simplifies maintaining a consistent social media presence across platforms.
- BuzzSumo: Invaluable for content research and influencer marketing, helping identify trending topics and influential figures in the industry.
Leveraging these tools can significantly enhance a brand’s digital marketing strategy. By automating tasks, providing insights, and facilitating content creation, they enable marketers to navigate social media more effectively. Staying updated with the latest social media marketing tools and technologies is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the online marketplace.
5 Steps to become a Social Media Professional
- Close skill gaps: Develop key marketing skills through training programs. Focus on project management, communication, copywriting, adaptability, and eagerness to learn.
- Learn social media platforms: Understand major platforms’ strengths and weaknesses. Study competitor strategies and familiarize yourself with marketing tools. Consider digital marketing courses for comprehensive learning.
- Gain relevant work experience: Pursue social media marketing internships or manage social media for small businesses.
- Develop a portfolio: Showcase your work and its impact. Consider building a website to display your most successful projects.
- Market yourself to clients: Demonstrate your ability to market products or services. Network at conferences and small business events, introducing yourself in person to stand out in the competitive field.
It’s your turn now!
So now that you know the 7 essential skills for becoming a Successful Social Media Marketer, how do you plan to build upon these skills in the coming years?
If you already are a Successful Social Media Marketer, what skills came in handy during your journey, and how did you build those over time?
Share your responses in the comments section with our readers and us.
Moreover, to become highly proficient in social media marketing, you should also have social media certification that can act as proof of your worth.
FAQs
1. What is a social media professional?
A Social Media Professional is responsible for creating and publishing content on all social media platforms, growing an audience, building brand awareness, and ultimately, boosting sales.
2. Can I be a social media manager without a degree?
Yes, you can be a social media manager without a degree.
But, still, a social media marketing course and certification can improve your chances of getting a social media job.
3. What are the job duties of a social media marketer?
The job duties of a social media manager would typically include the following:
- Planning and developing social media campaigns
- Crafting compelling content
- Posting content across social media accounts
- Engaging with customers on different channels
- Analyzing running campaigns
- Being on top of the latest social media trends
4. What are the 5 types of social media posts?
5 types of social media posts-
- Social Networking
- Photo Sharing
- Video Sharing
- Interactive Media
- Blogging/Community Building
5. What do you do in a social media job?
Here are some common responsibilities that might be expected of you as a social media manager-
- Creative copywriting.
- Graphic design.
- Social ad setup and optimization.
- Creating and publishing content on various social platforms.
- Performance tracking and data analysis.
- Community engagement.
- Customer support.
- Public relations.
- End-to-end planning of social media campaigns.
