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What Does a Social Media Strategist Do?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A social media strategist assists a company with projecting a public profile and interacting with customers through social media. This involves a mixture of marketing skills as well as familiarity with blogging, social media, and online content management. The work may involve focusing exclusively on the needs of a single company, or consulting with several firms that want to enact social media strategies.

One aspect of the job involves helping a company develop a consistent and flexible social media plan. This can include where the company wants to maintain a presence, the level of transparency it plans to use, and how it will interact with customers. These strategists may recommend outreach to disgruntled customers as well as the creation of online content to draw people to the company. Contests, viral videos, and other promotions help keep the company in the eyes of consumers and encourage social media users to share, promoting the company along the way.

To become a social media strategist, you should learn the various aspects of marketing and advertising, especially those aspects that are related to online networking and marketing initiatives.
To become a social media strategist, you should learn the various aspects of marketing and advertising, especially those aspects that are related to online networking and marketing initiatives.

Keeping track of statistics and responses is also an important aspect of the work for a social media strategist. Using a variety of tools, strategists can measure the number of customers they are reaching, how people respond to campaigns, and whether the company is regarded as an authority. In a simple example, a social media strategist wants to make sure the company’s official profile is the first result in a search on a website, rather than a spoof or fake profile. This requires regularly updating profiles, interacting with users, and establishing a presence to increase rankings and followers.

Social media strategists typically help market a company and its products or services through websites and software.
Social media strategists typically help market a company and its products or services through websites and software.

Designing content and promotions can also include creating it, in some cases. A social media strategist may regularly update profiles and interact with users, or delegate this to another staff member. Part of the company’s overall plan can include training and policies for staff using official accounts to ensure they are consistent and on message. A family friendly company, for example, does not want a staff member using profanity on an official account, or making lewd comments to followers. Conversely, a more racy firm might like staff members to push the envelope in official communications to make the company seem more edgy.

A social media strategist may work with a model to increase their web presence.
A social media strategist may work with a model to increase their web presence.

Throughout its presentation in social media, the company wants to market itself, create and build an image, and increase the size of its following. The social media strategist can help the company set specific goals and targets, such as reaching a set number of followers or page views. This can involve cooperating with marketing and communications teams to coordinate campaigns, keep messages consistent across platforms, and share ideas.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Raynbow

@heavanet- My brother is a social media strategist for a small company, and he loves his job. He has always been great with social media platforms, so the position is ideal for him.

Heavanet

Young people today have many exciting options to turn their love for social media into lucrative careers. From creating and posting unique videos to blogging, students can take what they love to do as they enter the job market. The position of social media strategist is just one of those positions that uses these sources to promote a business.

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    • To become a social media strategist, you should learn the various aspects of marketing and advertising, especially those aspects that are related to online networking and marketing initiatives.
      By: corepics
      To become a social media strategist, you should learn the various aspects of marketing and advertising, especially those aspects that are related to online networking and marketing initiatives.
    • Social media strategists typically help market a company and its products or services through websites and software.
      By: Scott Griessel
      Social media strategists typically help market a company and its products or services through websites and software.
    • A social media strategist may work with a model to increase their web presence.
      By: unpict
      A social media strategist may work with a model to increase their web presence.
    • A social media strategist uses images and information to promote a businesses image and gain new customers.
      By: Monkey Business
      A social media strategist uses images and information to promote a businesses image and gain new customers.
    • Social media strategists may try to limit the types of images clients upload to networking sites.
      By: nenetus
      Social media strategists may try to limit the types of images clients upload to networking sites.
    • Social media strategists target specific groups when promoting things online.
      By: gemphotography
      Social media strategists target specific groups when promoting things online.
    • A social media strategist may regularly update profiles and interact with users.
      By: Adam Radosavljevic
      A social media strategist may regularly update profiles and interact with users.