Social Media Management is a Full-Time Gig.
At work, it isn’t unusual to find me walking the halls with my cellphone clutched firmly in my hands, the screen held inches from my face. I’ve become a pro at navigating the college campus while gliding my thumbs rhythmically across the surface of my phone--usually composing messages to post on the various social media platforms about things going on that day. People may never know the time that goes into managing social media for an organization and may not give much thought to how valuable this role is in the company.
Social media is more than uploading photos and sharing funny GIFs; it’s about strategic planning, audience engagement, outreach, creativity, relationship building, responsiveness, quick wit, and that isn’t everything. Social media done well has the potential to boost recruitment, increase retention, land new clients, and improve customer service.
Some may look at the position as “fun,” and perhaps trivial--sort of like a necessary but insignificant component of the marketing efforts. Well, if so, you’re right about the fun part. I love what I do. However, social media should be one of the key components of your marketing efforts, and yet, for so many businesses, there is usually one or maybe two people who pitch in with social media as “part” of their jobs. BizHUMM makes a stance that it is better to hire social media experts who can make the most out of your social media presence than to have people who post at random.
I am fortunate to have a small team of people who help provide content, but I agree: more people who are dedicated to social media management would help improve and streamline any organizations efforts. There is so much more to social media than what meets the eye, and it takes skill (and staff) to manage these platforms successfully.
Take a look around you. Social media is a powerful tool and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Based on a survey from Pew Research Center, 68 percent of American adults use Facebook, 38 percent are on Instagram, 29 percent are using Pinterest, 27 percent on SnapChat, 25 percent are on Linkedin and 24 percent are using Twitter--that's just in the United States! With the steady increase in users, organizations should take a serious look at their social media management team, or lack thereof.
How many people do you have dedicated to social media at your organization? If you haven’t given it much thought, perhaps it’s time you did.
AlstonNobles and Company offers social media management services to assist organizations with their social media efforts. AN.
