Explore the vital role of Social Media Marketers and the growth of the field as online usage continues to rise. Gain insights into the foundational skills necessary for a successful career in Social Media Marketing, including content creation, data analytics, and understanding human behavior.
Key Insights
- Social Media Marketing employs platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok to reach target audiences, drive online traffic, and boost brand recognition.
- There are two types of Social Media Marketing: paid marketing, which involves buying ads, and unpaid or "earned marketing, " which relies on high-quality content and social engagement.
- A successful Social Media Marketing Campaign involves strategic planning, audience engagement, consistent publishing, data analytics, and both earned and paid advertising.
- Proficiency in key skills such as using software tools, Content Marketing, data analytics, and a deep understanding of social media dynamics are crucial for a successful career as a Social Media Marketer.
- Noble Desktop offers the Social Media Marketing Certificate that teaches these vital skills, with options for in-person classes or live online Digital Marketing courses.
- Starting salaries for Social Media Marketers can range widely depending on location and level of expertise, with potential for significant growth as experience and skills develop.
Social Media Marketers use different social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to promote products, brands, and ideas. With over half the world’s population online, Social Media Marketing continues to grow. Although you can learn Social Media Marketing without any prerequisites, having some skills when you start can make learning the field easier. An affinity for tech, content creation, people skills, and an understanding of human behavior are just a few of the abilities that can help you start a career as a Social Media Marketer.
What is Social Media Marketing?
Social Media Marketing uses platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok to connect with a target audience. According to Hootsuite’s Digital 2021 report, more than 4.48 billion people use these platforms daily, making Social Media Marketing a smart choice to help drive website traffic, build a widely-known brand, and gain revenue.
There are two types of Social Media Marketing: paid and unpaid. Paid marketing means buying ads on different social media sites, while unpaid marketing relies on high-quality content, clicks, likes, and shares. It’s also called “earned marketing.” While earned marketing is valuable because it doesn’t cost any money, it can take a long time to see results, so Social Media Marketers need to be patient and persistent.
A Social Media Marketing Campaign is based on these five essential activities:
- Strategy–setting goals, choosing the best channels, and deciding what type of content will attract your audience.
- Planning and publishing–understanding your audience, knowing what and when to publish, and maintaining consistency.
- Listening and engagement–interacting with your audience and tracking changes in the market.
- Analytics–collecting, tracking, and analyzing data on social media accounts so you can figure out what is working for you.
- Advertising–earned and paid advertising.
Read more about what Social Media Marketing is and why you should learn it.
Is Social Media Marketing Easy to Learn?
If you are a people person who enjoys interacting with the public, Social Media Marketing may be easy for you to learn. Of course, you need to know more than how to talk to strangers. Social Media Marketers use tools like Salesforce Marketing Cloud or Emplifi Social Marketing Cloud to keep up with conversations and track likes and shares on social media. You will also need to learn data analytics.
Most people find it easier to learn new skills by taking classes. Noble Desktop’s Social Media Marketing Certificate teaches skills that can help you start a career in the industry. Those ready to dive into the field can attend in-person classes at Noble Desktop’s New York City location or attend live online Digital Marketing courses from anywhere in the world. You can also find other Digital Marketing courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs in your area using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Noble Desktop also offers more detailed courses for those looking to hone their skills on specific channels such as Facebook Marketing, Instagram Marketing, Social Media Content Marketing: Blogs & X, and Video Marketing: TikTok & YouTube, among others.
Other Noble Desktop resources that can help prepare for a career in Digital Marketing include its Digital Marketing blog, which has detailed articles about Social Media Marketing, SEO, and other essential tools for Digital Marketers. Further resources include Noble’s seminar on YouTube entitled Intro to Social Media Marketing.
What to Know Before Learning Social Media Marketing
One of the best ways to get started in Social Media Marketing is to create a website and some social media accounts. You can learn a lot on your own and by following tutorials, reading blogs, and listening to podcasts. A great place to practice your Social Media Marketing skills is to create a website for yourself (or help out a friend!) and use it to test out different techniques. Being able to implement various strategies and compare what works and what doesn’t will help you when you are applying for a job. A website of your own gives you a chance to work on Content Marketing skills, drill down on the ins and outs of Video Marketing, and figure out Search Engine Optimization.
Create some social media accounts and learn how they work. Start an Instagram account and begin creating content. See what resonates, what people respond to, and what they don’t. Create a YouTube account and practice making videos. This might feel difficult at first, but as you learn the ropes, it will become easier, and you will enjoy it more.
While there are no formal prerequisites for learning Social Media Marketing, there are some primary and secondary skills that will make the process easier. If you enjoy using technology, are comfortable working with numbers, and like interacting with people online, you will have an easier time mastering Social Media Marketing.
Foundational Skills
The skills listed below are necessary for a successful Social Media Marketing career. Primary skills can be learned from classes and tutorials. You should be at least proficient in using software tools, paid and unpaid ads, Content Marketing, data analytics, and the ins and outs of social media before you set out on your career as a Social Media Marketer.
Tech Savvy
If the thought of digging in and learning a new software tool excites you, you are already on the road to becoming a Social Media Marketer. Whether it’s posting on social media, researching the competition, or collecting data on website visitors, Social Media Marketers spend most of their time online. Some of the most popular kinds of tools Social Marketers use are social listening and social media analytics. Tools help Social Media Marketers produce and schedule content and manage paid and unpaid advertising. Social Media Marketers also need to keep up with rapidly changing markets and new tools and platforms that come along.
Content Creation
Engagement is the backbone of Social Media Marketing. The ability to create or choose quality content to engage with social media users is one of the most valuable skills for a Social Media Marketer. Content refers to any written, visual, or audio media that can be posted online, downloaded, or shared with others. Social Media Marketers use Content Marketing to share information, educate followers, and build relationships within an online community. It also helps with brand recognition and loyalty, can save costs, and lead to increased sales.
Social Media Analytics
Social Media Analytics involves collecting, tracking, and analyzing user data on social media accounts to determine how well your strategy is performing. You’ll gather crucial information on engagement, including your campaign’s reach, mentions (positive and negative), post visibility, sharing activity, hashtag performance, and more. This data helps improve your strategy and optimize future campaigns, saving time and resources.
Psychology
Psychology—the study of how people think, behave, and learn—is highly useful for a Social Media Marketer. Individuals trained in psychology often possess strong research, problem-solving, writing, and critical thinking skills that can enhance content targeting and audience engagement strategies.
Sociology
Sociology focuses on how people behave in society. For Social Media Marketers, this perspective is valuable for understanding audience behavior and crafting strategies that influence social interactions online.
People Skills
People skills are essential in Social Media Marketing. Being able to understand, empathize, and communicate effectively with others allows you to represent a brand authentically and build community trust.
Statistics
Statistics play a central role in Social Media Marketing. Understanding how to interpret data and metrics is critical for tracking performance and making data-driven decisions about campaign direction.
Marketing Principles
The four principles of marketing—product, price, place, and promotion—form the foundation of any effective strategy. A deep understanding of these concepts allows Social Media Marketers to create campaigns that align with broader business goals.
Learn Social Media Marketing with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop’s Social Media Marketing courses teach practical, in-demand skills for launching a career in the field. Classes are led by expert instructors in small group settings, and students can retake any course for free within one year. Choose to attend in-person at Noble Desktop’s New York City campus or live online from anywhere.
The Social Media Marketing Certificate at Noble Desktop covers everything from strategy development and brand building to content creation, analytics, and conversion optimization. Students receive personalized feedback, mentorship, and portfolio support.
Noble Desktop also offers specialized courses for marketers interested in specific channels, including Facebook Marketing, Email Marketing, Social Media Content Marketing: Blogs & X, and Video Marketing: TikTok & YouTube. To further prepare for a digital marketing career, explore the Digital Marketing blog, featuring expert insights on Social Media Marketing, SEO, and more. Don’t miss the free YouTube seminar, The Pillars of Digital Marketing Success.
Key Insights
- Building a successful Social Media Marketing career requires foundational skills like content creation, analytics, psychology, and communication.
- Courses from Noble Desktop offer hands-on experience with marketing tools, analytics platforms, and campaign strategy.
- You can learn Social Media Marketing through in-person or live online training, self-paced tutorials, and free webinars.
- Strong people skills, a willingness to learn tech tools, and the ability to analyze data are all key to success in the field.