By Kristine Aitchison
Author & Content Specialist
Do you have a passion for all things social media? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment? Do you have a flair for the artistic and creative? Do you enjoy producing graphics, video, and writing content? Then a social media marketing role might be the career for you.
Whether you are at the beginning of your social media marketing journey, a recent graduate, someone looking to enhance your skills, or considering a career change, we’ve outlined the social media job opportunities below.
Technical Skills for Social Media Specialists
With social media’s ability to reach global audiences and provide targeted and measurable results, skilled social media marketing specialists are in high demand. A social media specialist works with an organisation’s marketing team to manage their social media platforms. This includes platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, LinkedIn, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Pinterest.
Randstad lists the following as the technical skills of a social media marketing specialist:
- Managing and coordinating the social media profiles of a company.
- Devising organic and paid social media strategies to maximise a company’s return on investment.
- Develop the best strategy depending on the social media tool.
- Analysing social media trends and interpreting data.
- Preparing social media plans.
- Plan, create, and distribute content to keep the profile of a brand, public figure, or influencer active.
- Create content using images, text, video, surveys, interactive competitions, etc.
- Post regular and engaging content to boost growth.
- Monitor the performance of social media channels.
- Report on key performance indicators.
Furthermore, according to The Creative Store, social media and content roles require a sound understanding of digital platforms, including SEO and paid advertising.
Below is a list of common social media specialist roles, from entry-level to more senior. There is considerable overlap across the different positions in terms of skills, offering plenty of scope for career pivot and growth.
*Please note: Salary information is tailored specifically for the New Zealand market and is gathered from The Creative Store New Zealand Salary Survey 2023.
Social Media Marketing and Content Creation Roles
Content Coordinator/Manager/Producer
A content manager’s role involves overseeing marketing strategies that engage customers and develop a consistent online presence and brand identity for a company. Content managers use metrics and data to target specific audience demographics and create content that raises brand awareness. Daily responsibilities could include managing a content team and meeting deadlines.
Lowest salary: $60,000
Highest salary: $120,000
Average salary: $85,000
Average hourly rate: $65 – $90 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Leadership and management skills
- Brand Marketing
- Content Strategy
- Content planning, coordination, and production.
- SEO knowledge
- Time management
Social Media Coordinator
A social media coordinator is responsible for managing the social media presence of an organisation. This includes creating and executing social media digital marketing activities that inform, advertise, and engage an organisation’s audience. Social media coordinators handle an organisation’s social media accounts, monitor comments, and engage with its community.
Lowest salary: $50,000
Highest salary: $65,000
Average salary: $57,000
Average hourly rate: $30 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Copywriting and editing
- Content creation
- Design
- Photo editing
- Social media expertise
- Customer service
Content/Social Writer
As a content or social writer, you’re responsible for the written content for an organisation’s online channels. This could include writing content for blogs, web pages, or social media pages.
Lowest salary: $55,000
Highest salary: $120,000
Average salary: $85,000
Average hourly rate: $65 – $100 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Research skills
- Writing skills
- Creativity
- Editing and proofreading
- SEO knowledge
- Time management
Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, you’re responsible for creating social media content – including advertising and organic posts – that your audience can relate to. You help develop your organisation’s brand voice and engage with your audience via comments and private messages.
Lowest salary: $60,000
Highest salary: $120,000
Average salary: $85,000
Average hourly rate: $65 – $85 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Social media expertise
- Written communication skills
- Graphic design
- SEO knowledge
- Customer service
- Analytics
- Creativity and adaptability
- Time management
Campaign Manager
Campaign Managers (or Digital Marketing Campaign Managers) are responsible for various advertising collateral and content. This role involves coordinating seasonal and promotional campaigns, product launches, remarketing, and advertising across various digital platforms, including social media. You will be responsible for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the campaign. These tasks usually involve collaboration with other departments, such as sales and designers.
Lowest salary: $60,000
Highest salary: $85,000
Average salary: $65,000
Average hourly rate: $50 – $65 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Execute promotional campaigns.
- Execute social growth.
- Creative thinking
- Planning campaign budgets
- Execute digital advertising.
- Data Analytics
- Determine KPIs and measure ROI.
- Stay current with trends.
Data/Analytics Specialist – Intermediate and Senior
A social media data analyst is responsible for keeping track of the data from social media platforms to inform a business’s marketing decisions. This role involves analysing metrics and creating reports to provide insight for future marketing campaigns.
Lowest salary: $55,000
Highest salary: $140,000
Average salary: $70,000 – $90,000
Average hourly rate: $60 – $120 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Data-driven
- Social media analytics
- Determine KPIs and ROI
- Create reports.
- Track engagement and conversions rates
- Analyse customer behaviour
- Evaluate social media.
- Study competitors
Content/Social Strategist
A content or social media strategist is responsible for developing and executing social media strategies that align with a company’s marketing objectives to drive business growth. Social media strategists plan and execute social media campaigns; create engaging content; monitor and engage with a company’s online community; and track, analyse, and report on results.
Lowest salary: $90,000
Highest salary: $140,000
Average salary: $90,000
Average hourly rate: $65 – $100 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Digital and social media expertise
- Brand Marketing
- Content Strategy
- Content planning, coordination, and production.
- SEO knowledge
- Time management
- Social media analytics
- Determine KPIs and ROI
- Create reports.
- Track engagement and conversions rates
- Analyse customer behaviour
- Execute promotional campaigns.
- Execute social growth.
- Creative thinking
Head of Digital
As head of digital, you are responsible for developing and overseeing marketing campaigns on social media and other digital platforms. Daily responsibilities can include managing a team of digital professionals to create marketing strategies that engage customers and develop a consistent online presence and brand identity for your company.
Lowest salary: $150,000
Highest salary: $250,000
Average salary: $200,000
Average hourly rate: $120 – $200 per hour
Technical and soft skills:
- Leadership skills
- Management experience
- Brand Marketing
- Content Strategy
- Planning and coordination.
- SEO knowledge
- Digital and social media expertise
- Social media analytics
- Determine KPIs and ROI
- Creating reports
- Track engagement and conversions rates
- Analyse customer behaviour
- Creative thinking
- Planning campaign budgets
These roles can exist in-house within a marketing team at a company; as part of a social media, marketing, or public relations agency; or as a freelance consulting business. There is considerable overlap across the different positions in terms of skills, offering plenty of opportunities for career pivot and growth. So, whether you’re a creative, analytical, leader, or all these things, there’s a job in social media for you.
Written by Kristine Aitchison: Guest Writer and Content Specialist
Kristine Aitchison is a copywriting and content marketing specialist. Showcase your expertise with regular blog content for your website. Visit www.writeasrain.nz.
