Become a highly sought-after Social Media Manager in Switzerland

This job series is part of all Marketing jobs in Switzerland series, check our other focus on the blog

What is the job of a social media manager?

In a nutshell: a Social Media Manager develops and implements a company's social media strategy, creating and curating engaging content, managing posts, and responding to followers. 

They analyze social media performance metrics to refine strategies, increase engagement, and grow the brand's presence across various social platforms. 

Social Media Management daily business?

We are all consumers on social media, but what does a Social Media manager do on a day-to-day basis?

1. Develop and Implement Strategies: Social Media Managers craft strategies that align with the company's business goals, identifying target audiences and setting specific objectives for social media engagement.
2. Create Engaging Content: They are responsible for producing content across various formats - writing posts, designing graphics, and creating videos - tailored to different social media platforms and aligned with the brand's voice.
3. Manage Scheduling and Posting: They utilize social media management tools to schedule and post content, ensuring a consistent online presence and optimal engagement with the audience.
4. Engage with the Community: They actively interact with followers, respond to comments and messages, and manage community discussions to foster a loyal and engaged audience.
5. Stay Updated with Trends: They also keep ahead with the latest trends and updates in social media to incorporate new features and maintain the brand's relevancy in the digital landscape. Yes, also established brands can benefit from jumping on the viral band wagon.

What are the myths about professional Social Media Management?

We love to bust myths, and we know you love them, too. These are our top 3:

1. It's Just Posting on Social Media: Haha. Everyone who posts on social media consistently knows that this is wrong. In reality, the role is much more complex and strategic, involving content creation, data analysis, audience engagement, and aligning social media activities with broader marketing goals.
2. It's an Easy Job Anyone Can Do: Many people assume that managing social media is easy and doesn't require specific skills. You wish… Quite the contrary, effective social media management requires a combination of creativity, analytical ability, strategic planning, and an understanding of marketing principles, often underpinned by professional training and experience.
3. It's All About Getting Likes and Followers: While likes and followers are visible metrics, they aren't the sole focus of social media marketing management. More important goals include driving engagement, building a brand community, enhancing brand reputation, and generating leads or sales, all of which require a deeper and more nuanced approach than simply accumulating followers.

What are the competencies required for a Social Media Manager?

At the core, there are 4 areas, which are: 

1. Strategic Planning and Execution: Ability to develop and implement comprehensive social media strategies that align with the overall marketing goals and business objectives.
2. Content Creation and Curation: Proficiency in creating and curating engaging, relevant, and brand-aligned content across various social media platforms.
3. Analytics and Data Interpretation: Skills in using social media analytics tools to measure performance, analyze audience engagement, and adapt strategies based on data insights.
4. Community Management and Engagement: Aptitude for fostering community interaction, managing online discussions, and effectively engaging with followers to build a loyal and active social media presence.

What is the future of Social Media Marketing?

As digital platforms continue to be a primary mode of communication and marketing, the demand for skilled social media managers is expected to rise. 

Trends we observe, are;

1. Increased Emphasis on Data Analytics and Metrics: The ability to analyze and leverage data from social media platforms to inform strategies, tailor content, and measure the effectiveness of campaigns will become increasingly crucial.
2. Rise of Video and Interactive Content: With the growing popularity of video-based platforms and features, social media managers will need to focus more on creating and managing engaging video content, including live streaming, short-form videos, and interactive media. Heck, we build our whole company around video content based on that insight.
3. Crisis Management and Reputation Building: Social media managers will play a crucial role in managing online reputations, handling crises, and navigating the challenges of real-time public feedback and viral content.

How to best start a career in Social Media Management?

There are not a lot of jobs where you can practice the craft without working on the job. But Social Media Marketing is certainly one of them. Therefore, we recommend the following:

1. Gain Practical Experience: Start by managing social media for small businesses, and nonprofits, or through internships. This hands-on experience is crucial for understanding real-world challenges and dynamics of social media management.
2. Build and Showcase Your Online Presence: Create your own social media profiles on various platforms and actively engage with the audience. Use these platforms to demonstrate your ability to grow a following, create engaging content, and drive engagement.
3. Document and Highlight Achievements: Develop a portfolio showcasing your social media projects, including metrics like follower growth, engagement rates, and successful campaigns you've managed. This tangible evidence of your skills and results will be key in job applications and interviews.

How to find the best Social Media Management jobs that suit you?

Remember the myth “It's an Easy Job Anyone Can Do”? Well, it’s going to be your task to convince recruiters that not everybody can do it and that you can show that you are already doing it in some form or capacity.

This is why you should tailor your resume and portfolio: Identify the current social media strategies of the company you are applying for. This should be very straightforward as it’s online and easily accessible.

Come up with recommendations on what you would continue doing, or do differently - But pay attention! You want to stay tactful and respectful while doing so. What you don’t want to do is, bash their existing efforts.

Social Media Marketing positions are very competitive. Our best advice to stand out is to add a video application to your CV application to show personality, and character and be remembered. 

Check out what we are doing at moonwork.ch for that.