Is Social Media Marketing a Good Career?

Written by: Hilbert College • Feb 13, 2024

A social media marketing team discussing strategy while pointing to a laptop computer.

When social media gained traction in the early 2000s, it was primarily used for personal interactions. Today, it plays a pivotal role in both personal and business realms.

Is social media marketing a good career though? The following statistics underscore why social media marketing can be a promising career choice. Over 4.76 billion people, constituting 59.4% of the world’s population, actively engage with social media, according to a report from DataReportal. Notably, the report reveals a growth trend: In just one year, the number of new active social media users surged by over 137 million. This growth surpasses the year-on-year global population change, estimated at around 67 million as of January 2023.

Individuals who are interested in pursuing one of many career opportunities in social media should consider earning a bachelor’s degree to prepare them with the specialized skills they’ll need for success in the field.

A compelling reason to pursue a career in the field is its rapid expansion. In 2004, MySpace marked a pivotal moment when it reached 1 million monthly active users (MAUs). Today’s giants, such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and WeChat, have billions of MAUs.

Growth remains robust, making social media marketing an attractive career choice for those seeking innovation, adaptability and ongoing learning. Other reasons that social media marketing is a good career include the following:

High business demand. Businesses see the need for an online presence, creating demand for social media experts.
Versatility. Social media marketing is a flexible career, spanning sectors and thriving amid remote work trends.
Creativity. Individuals are empowered to express themselves creatively and innovate in content and campaigns.
Continuous learning. Social media’s ever-changing nature fosters skill development.
Data analysis. Data is core to social media, creating opportunities for improving analytical skills.

Social media marketing sits at the intersection of communications and marketing. Students investigating if social media marketing is a good career need to understand key social media marketing skills that are essential for achieving success in the field.

Community Building

Communities are groups of people who share common interests. They want to connect around those interests. Community building is all about fostering relationships. This flow of information goes in many directions, so organizational skills are key. Effective community building can boost loyalty, awareness, engagement, growth and reach. It also brings like-minded people together.

Creative Development

Capturing attention demands creativity in crafting exciting, valuable, relevant content. Creative development involves idea planning and an attention to detail and is often guided by a creative leader in brainstorming sessions. Defining the brand voice and content types are vital aspects, ensuring that content is visually appealing and adaptable across various media channels.

Data Analytics

Social media experts use analytics to inform marketing and customer experience strategies. Beyond likes and shares, they delve into replies, comments and link clicks. In-depth analysis reveals the reasons behind high engagement and identifies top-performing content. This data is invaluable for optimizing social media campaigns.

Escalation Management

Increasingly, social media is being used for customer service requests. It’s as important as phone calls or face-to-face interactions. Escalation management involves sorting requests, making it easier to delegate responses and keeping response times in check. Effective escalation management can prevent small issues from growing into crises. Benefits can include boosts in customer retention and positive sentiment on social media.

Marketing Strategy

Businesses rely on digital marketing, which encompasses search engine optimization (SEO), blog management and social media. It blends marketing, customer experience and sales, combining traditional and digital approaches. Marketing strategy marries the roles of marketing and content strategists to create data-driven, customer-centric strategies that incorporate email, paid campaigns, events and webinars. Social media is integral to this marketing mix.

Project Management

Social media managers conceive ideas for campaigns and oversee schedules. They’re also responsible for executing social media projects, typically from start to finish. A social media manager must manage projects well to ensure that social media programs run properly. This includes budgeting, distribution, coordinating collaborators and tracking progress.

Research

Social media is always changing. Staying informed about your audience and trends is a crucial part of research. Research also involves keeping an eye on platform and algorithm changes and user behavior. Social media managers use research to help ensure that social media content is well informed. Another aspect of research is investigating and tracking how content will appear on various devices and platforms.

Writing

Social media marketers must create engaging, platform-appropriate content. Creativity is key to retaining followers, as dull posts can drive them away. Each platform has a predominant tone; LinkedIn has a professional tone, whereas X/Twitter has a more casual, conversational tone. Content alignment with branding and timing is vital. Effective writing also goes beyond words to include knowing what and when to share.

Social media marketing offers diverse roles with unique responsibilities, including the following:

Videographer/video producer. Responsibilities for this role include creating engaging videos to boost conversions for social media platforms. Video producers with social media skills earned a median annual salary of about $50,100 as of 2023, according to the compensation website Payscale.
Social media specialist. Responsibilities for this role include content, engagement and strategies. This role may serve as a stepping stone for social media manager positions. Social media specialists earned a median annual salary of about $50,300 as of 2023, according to Payscale.
Social media marketing manager. Responsibilities for this role include overseeing online presence, trend analysis, brand awareness and engaging content creation. Social media marketing managers earned a median annual salary of about $61,000 as of 2023, according to Payscale.

Stay Ahead in Your Digital Marketing Career

Social media marketing can be a good career for those keen on staying abreast of the latest technologies and trends. LinkedIn data reveals a 24.9% average skill shift in social media marketing since 2015. This underscores the importance of skill development to remain ahead in the ever-changing work landscape.

For those aspiring to excel in the dynamic field of digital media and communication, Hilbert College Global’s online Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media & Communication program is a gateway to honing essential skills and knowledge.

Learn more about how Hilbert College Global can help you achieve your professional goals.

Recommended Readings

Digital Marketing Specialist: Salary and Job Description

Content Strategist: Salary and Job Description

8 Digital Marketing Career Paths

Sources:

Adobe, What Is Digital Marketing? A Complete Guide

Buffer, “What Does It Really Mean to Build a ‘Community’ on Social Media? (And Why You Should)”

Buffer, “What You Need To Know About Building A Career In Social Media (No Toxicity, Expert Advice Edition)”

DataReportal, Digital 2023 Global Overview Report

Investopedia, “Social Media: Definition, Importance, Top Websites & Apps”

LinkedIn, Future of Skills