By Kristine Aitchison
Author & Content Specialist
There is a glamour often associated with a career in social media marketing. The buzz of influencer marketing, the drive for engagement by crafting creative content; and the quest to go viral by engaging followers to grow your fans.
Amidst the realm of posting photos, creating reels and TikTok’s; stories; live video; comments; shares; and likes, there is an expanse of intricate strategies, constant adaptation to marketing trends, and creative problem-solving.
We could tell you what it’s like to work in social media, but we thought we’d go straight to the source and ask a professional who is actively shaping the digital sphere first-hand. This month, we chatted with Maddison Pace, Content Creator at the Likeable Lab, on what it’s like to work in social media marketing.
What initially drew you to pursue a career in social media?
I was in my final year of high school, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It’s hard as a 17-year-old to decide what direction you want your life to go in. I was initially drawn to journalism, as even when I was younger, I loved to read and write. I was about a year into my degree when I realised how competitive the world of journalism was and I didn’t think I had the same passion as all my friends. During my degree, we touched upon elements of social media, which ended up being the classes I seemed to enjoy the most and performed best in. I soon realised I could translate my love for writing into a social media career while still challenging myself creatively and enjoying my love for writing.
How has your journey unfolded since then?
I graduated from university at a very rocky time, during the beginning of COVID-19. No one knew what was happening in the world and there was a lot of instability. My degree didn’t require us to do work experience, so after graduating, I took it upon myself to reach out to companies for a taste of working in social media in the real world.
I eventually found a job working for a rugby league company. Although this is far from my passion (not a big sports girly), it was a great way to get my foot in the door.
I am originally from Australia, and when I moved to New Zealand a year later, I was lucky to get an interview with Alex Haskell, Head of Creative, who gave me the incredible opportunity to work for Likeable Lab! I feel like since being in this role, I have learnt an unbelievable amount and continue to grow every single day. Being able to work for multiple different companies on social media has been super eye-opening and there isn’t ever a dull moment.
Can you describe a typical workday in your role?
A typical day begins by coming into the office at 8:30 am. I start by doing a bit of admin, such as clearing emails, making changes that have come through overnight, and planning out my day.
After that, I get stuck into my first community management slot (which is the process of engaging audiences across social media networks, to grow authentic connections and increase brand loyalty). This can take anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes depending on the comments. If we have done a giveaway, I may need to contact the client for a response.
Next, I prioritise my work from most important to least. I am most productive in the morning, so I use this time for community engagement, and leave other tasks such as editing, filming and coming up with content ideas to later in the day.
On any given day, I can work on anything from coming up with content ideas, briefing content, editing reels or photos, filming reels, planning a photoshoot, writing copy, writing blog posts, content meetings with the team and clients, curating an EDM,or working on a project.
I have a second community management slot at around 2:30 pm. Social media engagement is important because is humanise your brand. It encourages people to respond and talk positively about a brand. So, these community management slots are pretty important.
What do you find most rewarding about this role?
I like seeing a brand or company find their voice through social media. I like seeing their socials transform and I also love building a community relationship with people who love to engage with content.
I also love how fast-paced social media is. There is always something new to learn and that’s exciting.
What advice would give someone looking to start a career in social media?
If you’re thinking of starting a career in social media, I highly recommend gaining practical experience first, through internships or freelance work. And stay up to date with industry trends. LinkedIn is a great platform for staying up to date.
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.
