How to Become a Social Media Manager in 2023 (Free Step-by-step Guide)

Social Media Manager Career Growth Opportunities

If you think the social media marketing industry is oversaturated, think again.

Brands in almost every industry require the skills of social media managers to engage with their target audiences, grow communities, and drive traffic back to their sites.

So, when starting a career in social media, keep these specialities and role titles in mind:

#1: Social Media Coordinator

Typically (though not always) an entry-level role focused on creating and curating engaging content for platforms. 

#2: Social Media Specialist 

In larger companies that have social media teams, specialists often have more of a day-to-day focus on operations than social media managers do.

You might also see a specialized focus like TikTok Specialist, for example. 

A role that more broadly focuses on managing online (and sometimes offline) communities and events.

This is a great fit for those with strong customer service skills who enjoy finding creative ways to engage with a brand’s community. 

#4: Social Media Manager

This is the most common title and thus, the responsibilities can be broad.

If you’re at an agency, you might be responsible for managing multiple social media accounts and overseeing both strategy and execution. 

If you’re working for a larger brand, you might lead the social strategy and a team of specialists or coordinators.

#5: Social Strategist 

This role typically has a bigger emphasis on strategic, often cross-collaborative initiatives to help develop and execute social strategies and campaigns across multiple channels.

#6: Paid Social Media Manager 

An ad specialist or manager often focuses on PPC (pay-per-click) ad campaigns on social media.

A familiarity (and comfort) with platform ad managers, Google Ads Manager, and analytics is necessary. 

#7: Director of Social 

Usually the highest title ranking of a social media career (though, we have seen more seasoned professionals become CMOs too).

This role is specifically focused on high-level strategic initiatives like goal-setting, achieving KPIs (key performance indicators), and managing a team on execution. 

#8: Content Marketing Manager 

Plot twist: Working in social media means you possess a multitude of transferable skills that’ll work for other roles in marketing — like content (or even influencer) marketing — depending on your experience and areas of expertise. 

#9: Business or Agency Owner

Congrats, you’re the CEO!

If you’ve gone the freelance route, you’ll have the option to work as a solopreneur or scale your business to include a team of specialists. 

And there you have it — everything you need to become a social media manager in 2023.

With a quickly-growing industry and ever-evolving updates on social platforms, being a social media manager can be both challenging and rewarding.

But if you’re passionate about finding creative marketing opportunities, brainstorming ideas, and being the voice of a brand, social media management could be the perfect fit for you.