Top Skills 2019: Social Media Marketing

Top Skills 2019: Social Media Marketing

An estimated 90 percent of companies use social media to market their products and services in some way. What began as a form of entertainment has evolved and is now one of the most effective marketing tools available. In fact, spending in social media marketing is expected to exceed 17 billion dollars in 2019 just in the United States. This is a ten billion dollar increase over what was spent just five years ago. It’s time to develop social media marketing skills — one of the top skills to have in 2019.

To land a job in social media marketing, you must prove to employers that you have what it takes to find and connect with customers using various social media outlets. One of the best ways is to earn a highly-recognized, professional certification like the Online Marketing Certified Associate (OMCA). There are several variations of this certification designed specifically for digital marketers including the OMCA Social Media Associate.

How is social media marketing used?

One in four people worldwide access at least one social media site. More than half of these people report using social media sites more than once per day. This equates to billions of potential customers. For companies to succeed, they need to connect with these users in meaningful ways on a regular basis.

Social media marketers manage social media marketing campaigns, and maintain daily activities like creating relevant post content. If this was your role, you would create, curate, and manage published images, links, content, and videos. You would also monitor posts and respond to users through social media to capture leads and cultivate sales. Through it all, you will track and measure your progress to make data-driven decisions — a true mix of creativity and project management. 

Why are social media marketing skills important in 2019?

Demand for qualified social media marketers is high.

The 2018 Marketing Trends Report, revealed a growing demand for digital marketing skills with 69% of companies indicating that they plan to hire more marketers. And of course, social media marketing made the list. Digital marketing hires increased by 32% between 2016 and 2017, and this rapid increase is expected to continue. However, demand for good digital marketing talent is currently at 59% while the supply of qualified marketers is only 19% leaving a lot of open positions and opportunities for those willing to learn the job.

You can earn a good salary with social media marketing skills.

The average salary for a social media marketers, according to PayScale.com, is $49,000. Marketing specialists $46,326 on average, while social media managers earn $49,449 and digital marketing directors earn an average $60,400. Social media marketers who can effectively generate leads, track ROI, and weigh their efforts to the company’s bottom line can earn over $75,000 per year. 

Barriers to entering a social media marketing career are low.

As social media marketing is a relatively new career, there are no specific education requirements. Many of the professionals in this area have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications. These aren’t actually required to get a job though. As more people enter the profession, earning a social media marketing certification sets you apart. Further, it proves to employers that you have what it takes to manage their digital marketing presence.

Social media marketing offers a lot of variety.

Every industry uses social media marketing, from start ups to corporations. In addition, you can choose to work in finance, healthcare, education, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, technology, or many, many other industries. The major social channels — Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter — offer different avenues to specialize. You might have a knack for writing social copy, designing graphics or videos, or manage relationships with influencers. 

Express your creativity with social media.

Social meeting marketing can provide you with a great creative outlet. From writing content to choosing compelling images and video, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to your company’s social media presence. No two days will be the same in this role as you seek to build an audience and craft responses that will keep them coming back to hear more.

What can you do with social media marketing skills?

Once you obtain social media marketing skills, you will be prepared for an entry-level digital marketing job in any organization. From there, you will gain experience and work your way up to social media manager and eventually, with additional education and training, you may go on to become a marketing director, senior marketing manager, digital strategist, or communications director. Moreover, after years of experience you could even become a VP of marketing or CMO.

Social media marketing skills can provide you with many job opportunities, a good salary, and a way to entry the industry of your choice in a creative and essential role to your chosen organization. Don’t expect social media, and the industry that utilizes it for business, to go away anytime soon.