The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Social Media Manager

Social media managers play a vital role in managing social media platforms for organizations and thus showcase their brand identity and reputation.   It’s highly crucial to hire a social media manager as the demand for social media marketing has risen up to 45.9%, according to a study by LinkedIn.  
 
The need for marketers with social skills rose as the demand for paid social media rose by 116.4%. During this period, proficiency in Instagram also grew up to 28.4%, with a 26.2% growth in social media optimization and a 25.7% growth in knowledge of LinkedIn. That's exactly why social media managers should be hired! Take a quick read through our guide to hiring a social media manager.

Why Hire A Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers play a crucial role in shaping a company's online presence and reputation. Here are some ways in which a Social Media Manager can contribute to the success of a company:
 
- Build and manage a strong online presence: A Social Media Manager can create and manage a company's social media accounts, publish engaging and relevant content, and interact with followers to build and maintain a strong online presence.
- Increase brand awareness: By publishing content and engaging with followers on social media, a Social Media Manager can help increase brand awareness and reach new audiences.
- Boost customer engagement: A Social Media Manager can use social media to engage with customers, respond to their inquiries and complaints, and gather feedback. This can help build customer loyalty and trust.
- Drive sales and leads: A Social Media Manager can use social media to promote products and services, run targeted advertising campaigns, and drive sales and leads.
- Provide valuable insights: By analyzing social media metrics, a Social Media Manager can gain valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, and use this information to inform and improve marketing and business strategies.
 
Let’s look at their roles and responsibilities in detail.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Social Media Manager

Keep these responsibilities in mind to be clear on what you are looking for in a person when you hire a social media manager.

• Brand Management:   A Social Media Manager can help maintain and enhance a company's online image by creating and publishing content that aligns with the company's brand values and goals. Social media managers should protect the brand's reputation. This includes monitoring social media for negative comments or mentions and taking action to address any issues or potential crisis situations.
• Audience Engagement:   Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with customers and stakeholders. A Social Media Manager can help increase engagement by creating and managing social media campaigns, responding to customer inquiries, and analyzing social media metrics. They can also build relationships with followers by engaging with them and responding to comments and messages on social media posts.
• Marketing Strategy: A Social Media Manager can help a company develop and implement a comprehensive social media marketing strategy that aligns with overall business goals and helps drive leads and sales. This includes setting goals, determining the target audience, selecting appropriate platforms, and creating a content calendar for social media.
• Time Management:   Social media management can be time-consuming and requires a significant investment of time and resources. By hiring a Social Media Manager, a company can free up resources and focus on other core business functions.
• Provide Industry Guidance:   Social media is constantly evolving, and a Social Media Manager can provide expertise and guidance on best practices, emerging trends, and tools to help a company stay ahead of the competition. They should stay up-to-date with the latest social media trends and technologies, attend events and conferences, read industry publications, and experiment with new tools and platforms.
• Manage Social Media Accounts:   Social media managers are responsible for publishing posts, responding to comments and messages, and monitoring activity on social media platforms. They are hired also to create and curate content, edit posts, create graphics, and source images and videos. They should also measure and analyze performance by tracking metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and followers, and using data to inform future strategies and make improvements.
• Team Collaboration:   Social media managers should closely work with marketing, customer service, and product development teams to ensure that social media activities are aligned with business goals.

Things to do while Hiring a Social Media Manager

• Define the role and responsibilities: Clearly outline what you expect from the social media manager in terms of tasks, goals, and metrics for success. Refer to the roles we discussed above. Also, use HireQuotient’s JD generator to craft the perfect job description.
• Look for relevant experience: Look for candidates who have experience managing social media accounts for a business or organization, and who have a proven track record of creating successful social media campaigns.
• Consider their skillset: Look for someone who is skilled in content creation, copywriting, graphic design, data analysis, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. We will definitely discuss the skills required, later.
• Check their references:  Ask for references and speak with their past supervisors and colleagues to get a better understanding of their work style, communication skills, and overall experience.
• Evaluate their passion for social media:   Hire someone strongly passionate about social media and who has a genuine interest in the role, as well as your brand and industry.
• Offer a fair salary and benefits:   Social media management can be a time-consuming and demanding job, so be sure to offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Make sure you refer to the industry standards. 
• Conduct interviews and assessments:   Schedule face-to-face or virtual interviews and assessments to evaluate their skills, knowledge, and fit with your organization. Find customizable skill assessments in HireQuotient’s repository. Request a demo now, to seek what you need!

Must-Have Skills of a Social Media Manager

Out of multiple qualities that a social media manager should have, looking out for these skills is a must when hiring a  social media manager.

• Strategic thinking:   The ability to develop and execute a social media strategy that aligns with business goals, within a specific time limit. A Social Media Manager should be able to think critically and strategically to develop and execute social media campaigns.
• Excellent communication skills:   A Social Media Manager should have excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with audiences and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Creativity: The ability to come up with unique and engaging content ideas that will resonate with your target audience. A Social Media Manager should have a creative and innovative approach to social media and be able to think outside the box to develop engaging and impactful campaigns.
• Adaptability: The ability to stay up-to-date with the latest social media trends, algorithms, and technologies.
• Data-driven: The ability to measure the impact of social media activities, analyze data, and use insights to inform future strategies.
• Technical Skills: A Social Media Manager should be proficient in social media management tools, such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social, and have a good understanding of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. A genuine interest and excitement for social media, as well as your brand and industry, is also a must.
• Attention to detail: The ability to produce high-quality, error-free content and manage social media accounts with precision and accuracy.
• Customer-focused: The ability to understand the needs and interests of your target audience and use social media to build relationships and provide value. 

A social media manager must have a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field. It’s an added point if they have 3-5 years of experience working in social media, marketing, or a related field. 
 
This experience should include creating and executing social media campaigns, managing social media accounts, and using social media analytics tools. In modern times, it’s also advisable that Social Media Managers are AI competent. This refers to their ability to effectively use and integrate artificial intelligence technologies in their social media management work.

 Key Competencies for a Social Media Manager in AI

• Understanding of AI technologies:   The Social Media Manager should have a basic understanding of AI technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and how they can be applied in the context of social media. 
• Knowledge of AI tools:   The Social Media Manager should be familiar with AI tools that are relevant to social media management, such as social media listening and analytics tools, chatbots, and content generation tools.
• Ability to use AI to improve workflow:   The Social Media Manager should be able to use AI technologies to streamline and automate various tasks, such as content creation, sentiment analysis, and customer engagement.
• Understanding of ethical considerations:   The Social Media Manager should have an understanding of the ethical considerations involved in using AI technologies in social media, such as privacy and data security.
• Ability to measure the effectiveness of AI:   The Social Media Manager should be able to measure the effectiveness of AI technologies in their social media management work and make data-driven decisions to optimize their use.

In a nutshell, a Social Media Manager with AI competence should be able to effectively use and integrate AI technologies in their work to improve workflow, generate insights, and deliver better results for their company or clients.
 
Now, how do we assess the candidates for their skills? Here are some assessments that can help in hiring a social media manager.

Assessments to consider while Hiring a Social Media Manager

• Writing and copywriting test:   Ask the candidate to write a sample social media post or create a campaign that showcases their writing and copywriting skills.
•  Social media platform proficiency test:   Assess their knowledge of various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and their ability to navigate and use these tools effectively.
• Content creation test:   Ask the candidate to create a sample piece of content, such as a video, graphic, or blog post, that showcases their creativity and content creation skills.
• Data analysis test: Give the candidate a set of social media metrics and ask them to analyze and interpret the data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Customer service simulation: Simulate a customer service scenario and ask the candidate how they would handle a customer complaint or inquiry through social media.
• Strategy development test: Ask the candidate to develop a social media strategy for a hypothetical company or product and present their approach to the team. 
• Role-play or simulation:   Have the candidate role-play or simulate a typical day in the life of a social media manager, including tasks such as creating content, managing social media accounts, and engaging with followers.
• Personality and fit assessment: Use a personality or fit assessment to evaluate the candidate's communication style, work style, and cultural fit with your organization.
   

These assessments can help you find your purple squirrel for social media management. A social media manager helps make a difference in building your organization up as a brand and staying ahead of the pack. However, there are some alternatives that you can think of.

Alternatives to Hiring a Social Media Manager

• Social Media Marketing Agency: Companies can outsource their social media management to a marketing agency that specializes in social media. This can be a cost-effective option for companies without the resources to hire a full-time Social Media Manager.
• In-House Marketing Team: Companies can have an in-house marketing team manage their social media accounts, with a designated team member responsible for social media management.
• Freelance Social Media Manager: Companies can work with a freelance Social Media Manager on a project basis, rather than hiring a full-time employee.
• Automated Social Media Tools: Companies can use automated social media management tools to schedule and publish content, analyze metrics, and engage with followers. However, it's important to keep in mind that these tools are limited in their ability to provide strategic guidance and human-like engagement.
• Employee Advocacy Program: Companies can encourage and enable employees to share company-related content and engage with followers on their personal social media accounts. This can help build a strong online presence and expand reach organically.

Platforms that can help Hire a Social Media Manager

Freelance platforms like Upwork help find and hire social media managers from all over the world, and the ones like Fiverr and Hootsuite provide social media management services. You can also go for professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Glassdoor to find prospective candidates and hire the best-fit social media manager. 

It's important to keep in mind that hiring through these platforms may involve additional costs, such as platform fees, and to carefully evaluate the qualifications and experience of the Social Media Manager before making a hiring decision. That’s why we have the best solution for you at HireQuotient’s skill assessment platform. We help you hire the best candidates from our global talent pool. Talk to our experts now for customized assessments and the best hiring experience!