Twitter is close to officially launching new features that allow Verified Organizations to post job listings to Twitter profiles.
Some Verified Organizations have already posted job listings.
Screenshot from Twitter, July 2023
The jobs listed below the Twitter bio and audience numbers link interested applicants directly to the job listing on the company website or other job networks.
Screenshot from Twitter, July 2023
Twitter also created an official @TwitterHiring account.
Screenshot from Twitter, July 2023
Twitter CEO Elon Musk hinted at Twitter jobs – as well as Twitter dating – in May.
If Twitter were to establish a hiring platform similar to LinkedIn’s, which currently attracts over 52 million job seekers, it could boost Twitter’s revenue and user engagement.
Twitter charges companies at least $1,000 monthly for the Verified Organizations program and associated benefits.
It will (hopefully) encourage more Twitter users to post high-quality content that would leave a positive impression on potential employers.
Benefits Of Using Twitter For Hiring
Hiring companies could capitalize on the platform’s widespread usage and diverse user base, potentially attracting a broader range of candidates from different geographical locations and professional backgrounds.
Using hashtags in job postings could help streamline the search for employers and job seekers, as individuals can easily find job posts relevant to their interests or expertise.
Twitter’s retweet function would also increase the visibility of job listings, allowing them to reach even further through network connections.
Overall, the social nature of the platform would foster a more personal and interactive recruitment process, giving candidates a chance to engage with potential employers and gain insight into the company culture.
In the past, I have provided insight into getting through the RFP process.
You’re past that point now, having been chosen to present in the hopes of being awarded new business.
The RFP process gave you strict guidelines in the ask, as well as likely outcomes.
However, don’t simply approach the task with blinders on. My point here is that the ask might not be your strong suit, but completing the task will likely open opportunities for your organization.
For example, website development may not be your claim to fame, but a successful completion may lead to ongoing marketing and advertising work. Be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone in your willingness to work.
There may be more lifetime value potential from this relationship, and it also may give you a chance to case study an offering you do not have much experience in now – but may in the future.
2. What Does Success Look Like?
Yes, to this point, you have been told what the prospective client is looking for.
However, as digital marketing experts, it is our job to listen – not necessarily to find the solution, but to define what KPIs may look like that can lead to success.
Often, the success metric may be offline, but it is your job to be the digital bridge in finding that success.
Listen to the end goal. The client is telling you what keeps them up at night, but also listen to discern what would make them happy.
You may not be able to make their wish come true directly, but you can leverage your expertise to envision the content strategy, ad platform, and tactics that will eventually lead them to success.
3. Don’t Be A Stranger
The hour that you have with the prospective client team is your chance to prove you are the right choice.
No one wants to feel as if they are entertaining a stranger.
This is your opportunity to show that you are not an untested relationship but more so an extension of their organization.
Take this time to showcase how you have seamlessly blended into other company workflows in the past. Speak to your agility in working with groups of different industries, company sizes, and workflow demands.
4. You Are Smart, But So Is Everyone Else
Drop your ego at the door; Don’t mistake ego for confidence.
You need to consider that with the evolution of AI, the ability to resource, research, and complete tasks will be a level playing field.
This is the time to talk about company and team structures. Speak to dedicated account staff, internal process, and why the client will be excited to join the next meeting with you.
5. Take Advantage Of The Executive’s Ears
Don’t get ahead of yourself; you haven’t been granted the business yet, but you have been given the opportunity to meet with senior company management.
Moving forward, you may likely have a day-to-day contact in a middle-management role, where access to chief decision-makers may be sparse. Be the person that they want to talk to again.
6. Don’t Give Away The Secret Sauce
This can be so very hard in your attempt to sell who you are and what you can do. I have personally found myself revealing too much about what can be done to answer the ask in an attempt to show my digital expertise.
Keep in mind that you may reveal too much, which may make penny-pinching prospects believe they can simply take your idea in-house.
If you have the solution already, the client might not be incentivized to cough up the budget for campaign discovery, research, etc.
Know the need, but also be honest that you don’t know the solution yet.
However, you know the next steps and can convey how your process and expertise will find the way.
7. Be You
The best pitches are the ones where you don’t even make it through your deck, as you are so heavily engaged in fruitful conversations and questions.
While the prospective client wants to engage your intelligence, they also want to know what working with you will be like.
Show your ability to collaborate, generate quick ideas, ask questions, etc. Especially in the world of digital marketing, simply showing off your toolsets of software will not impress your audience.
What will impress them, is showing how you use these tools creatively to achieve successful end results.
Showing how your personality and creativity shine through your work will help you to be the vendor candidate that stands out.
8. You Are The Case Study
Anyone can point to a screen and brag about a potentially made-up success metric that grew by X amount. A case study should not simply show that you got a job done and were able to get it done well.
Add emotion to the story. Don’t just speak to the high points; be real.
Talk about what went wrong. Talk about the challenges and the times you didn’t think it would work – then explain how your team came up with solutions and ways to persevere.
9. Pack Your “Columbo”
You don’t have to give away the secret sauce, as I just mentioned, but don’t be afraid to do your homework and find a very quick fix that can immediately create change in the prospect’s site or advertising campaigns.
This is why access to analytics, content management systems (CMS), or ad platforms can help supercharge your research.
A wise friend once educated me on this technique, and it is a helpful way to go from hopefully being remembered to being a necessary solution provider for the client.
10. Enjoy Yourself
The pitch process can be a hectic and nerve-racking time of trying to put your best foot forward.
While your eyes may be on the prospective client and closing the deal, this is also a great time to enjoy the journey and evaluate your team.
It’s your chance to show your talent and knowledge in your craft, but also a chance to experience great teamwork in action.
Conclusion
Though trying times may be ahead of us, it’s our job to help others and find great partnerships.
While you may feel you have these communication styles and presentation approaches down pat, it doesn’t hurt to reflect on what are sometimes the small things that help you win.
These tips are meant to help you understand that in a time of robotic evolution, being human is what will help you get that new contract.
According to LinkedIn, there are currently 860,000 vacancies for digital marketing specialists alone. And with more than 4.65 billion social media users around the globe, the demand for social media marketing skills is at an all-time high.
All of this means that if you want to compete in the digital marketing arena, you must be able to keep up – which is what a social media marketing course can help you do.
You’ll get a solid social media foundation, enhance your skill set, and have the credibility you need to position yourself as a serious candidate.
All you need to do is decide on the right course, and you’ll be golden.
17 Social Media Marketing Courses To Look Out For
Free Social Media Marketing Courses
With so many free courses to choose from, there’s no need to break the budget.
Foundational knowledge on digital advertising is freely available – just choose the course that best suits you and build your basic skills from there.
Paid Social Media Marketing Courses
If you can invest in a paid social media course, extending your education through more in-depth knowledge could be worthwhile.
Choose from various courses on social media platforms, content curation, business growth, and more – and take your social media marketing training to the next level.
Social Media Marketing Certifications
If you want to learn social media marketing and add to your existing qualifications, a social media certification is the best way to do it.
Not only will you be upping your social media game, but by taking a social marketing certification exam, you’ll also be putting yourself in the top tier of marketing professionals.
With so many courses to look at and decisions to make, where do you even start?
We’ll help you by looking at some of our favorites from this list.
Basic social media marketing courses for small businesses.
Run by: Meta
If you own a small business, you might be looking for a Facebook blueprint to help launch you onto social media.
Now, Meta will do you one better – by giving you the blueprint of all its social media platforms.
With various digital marketing courses designed to help you bring your business online, Meta will teach you how to identify potential customers, understand your target audience, set goals, and tell your business story.
By working through actual examples, you’ll learn how to apply the lessons to your own business for social media success.
A crash course in social media marketing, strategy, and management.
Cost: €995
Run by: Growth Tribe
If you’ve got two days, then Growth Tribe has the ultimate digital marketing course – a crash course on social media that’s ideal for everyone from beginners to freelancers to business owners.
Sit down with leading marketing professionals and learn the essentials of internet marketing, content strategy, community building, influencer marketing, and more.
It’s everything you need to develop a sound social media strategy and measure it, all delivered in one compact course.
Social media tools for engagement, activation, conversion, and retention.
Cost: $1,390
Run by: Hyper Island
Do you know how to use Internet marketing to identify and engage your target audience? This social media course from Hyper Island will show you how.
Learn how to attract your online audience, convert them into leads, and achieve your goals – all with the right digital marketing tools.
You’ll be taken through social media marketing strategy, content strategy, analysis, and more – all designed to help you understand your customer better and reach your targets.
Understanding how to retain, activate, and engage users.
Cost: $1,995/year site membership
Run by: Reforge
It’s one thing to acquire new users; it’s another to convert, engage, and retain them. That’s what this in-depth course from Reforget will teach you.
From analyzing retention to activation and engagement strategies, you’ll learn the frameworks you need to improve your retention rates and boost your profitability.
Market your business on social media with simple tips and tools.
Cost: $20 (approx.)
Run by: LinkedIn Learning
Whether you’re interested in promoting your business on one social media platform or across multiple platforms, you’ll need certain tools at your disposal.
This affordable, certified course from Linkedin Learning will give you all the tips you need – from creating content and engaging with influencer marketing to using Google Analytics, boosting your social media marketing campaigns, and more.
Then when you’re done, you can showcase your certificate on your LinkedIn profile for extra kudos.
Develop the social marketing skills needed to grow your business.
Cost: $199
Run by: Hootsuite
If it’s industry recognition you’re after, this certification course from Hootsuite will give you just that.
Learn the building blocks of social media strategy, content marketing, community building, and how to measure your success. Plus, earn an online certificate as proof of your new-found expertise.
Learn how to craft social media content and boost engagement.
Cost: €995
Run by: Growth Tribe
Whether you’re a digital marketing consultant, commerce manager, or part of a social media team, you’ll benefit from learning how to boost your engagement across multiple platforms.
Learn how to create an effective communication strategy, optimize your content, and build a brand identity. You’ll also earn a certificate in Digital Communication at the same time.
Is A Social Media Marketing Certificate Worth It?
We’ve started you off with our social media certification picks. However, there are many other excellent digital marketing certifications out there to choose from.
Should you bother with them, though, particularly if there’s a cost involved? The honest truth is yes.
Social media marketing is about more than firing off a quippy Facebook caption. It’s about building brands, driving traffic, increasing sales, and creating a sharply curated dialogue between brand and consumer.
Good marketers make it look easy – which is why beginners are often misled into thinking they’re just one viral dance challenge away from breaking the internet.
But there’s a little more to it than that, and that’s where social media marketing certification can help give you the edge.
Not only will you get the relevant training you need within a constantly evolving industry, but you’ll also have an accredited certification – all of which can help increase your skill level and performance and boost your job prospects.
So, if you want to move to social media marketing, start your journey by upskilling yourself first.
For a position that’s grown 30% faster than other marketing roles, it’s the smartest way to put your best foot forward.
If you get paid as an SEO consultant by the hour or project, your earning potential will always be limited by the number of hours you work.
And once you stop working, the money stops flowing, too.
Even if you manage to work more efficiently or raise your rates, there will always be a maximum limit to your income. How do you get over that wall?
Roland Fraiser suggests you start getting paid for the value you bring to your clients to overcome this limitation and unlock higher earnings.
“Don’t let your genius be someone else’s retirement.” – Roland Fraiser
In a recent episode of the SEJ Show, we had the privilege of hosting Roland, an award-winning podcast host, Stanford University Advisor, and principal of six of Inc.’s fastest-growing companies.
Roland shared some fascinating insights into alternative payment models and how consultants and agencies can start the transition to generating wealth and income.
Why Consulting For Equity Is The Smart Way To Get Paid
Roland emphasized the importance of not relying solely on traditional compensation models such as flat fees, hourly payments, or revenue shares.
These models are not sustainable from a quality-of-life perspective because they require continuous work to generate income.
Instead, Roland suggests that consultants and agencies avoid the “dollars for hours” trap and find ways to transform their efforts and the value they provide into equity.
The concept is to leverage your knowledge, skills, and connections to negotiate compensation that reflects your long-term contributions and the growth in business value.
If your contributions continue to benefit the business, you deserve to be rewarded with a share of profits or equity.
How To Find Consulting For Equity Opportunities
Getting paid in equity requires some effort. Negotiating these payment models takes time, and if you’re not careful, it can result in no immediate income.
Roland learned this lesson firsthand:
“When I started out in this field a long time ago, I made several mistakes and ended up with equity in twenty businesses but no money. Most of the time, the businesses either didn’t generate profits or reinvested them for growth, leaving little to distribute…So, I was putting in a lot of work without any income. It taught me the importance of having both income and wealth.”
To avoid this pitfall, Roland recommends the following steps:
Focus on businesses with existing cash flow and profitability rather than startups.
Identify areas where you can significantly impact and add value to the company.
Quantify the value you can bring, such as cost savings or revenue generation.
Calculate the percentage of value you can contribute to the overall worth of the business.
Approach the business owner with a clear proposal, emphasizing the ongoing value you can provide.
Negotiate the terms, considering factors like milestone-based or KPI-based compensation if necessary.
Present your contribution as an ongoing investment that increases the business’s overall value.
Determine the specific valuation and agree on the terms reflecting your added value.
One of Roland’s most critical tips is to maintain open communication with the client and ensure that you deliver on your promises to establish trust in the relationship.
Positioning Yourself To Consult for Equity
Unlike hourly or project revenue models, equity payment models require preparation, including branding, strategic positioning, and demonstrating the value of offering comprehensive services.
1. Transition From SEO To Growth Strategist
To avoid being limited to a specific role or expertise, it’s crucial to establish a clear brand and define your desired positioning.
You need to move beyond being solely identified as an SEO specialist.
Instead, aim to be seen as a strategic partner, offering a broader range of expertise for greater value and opportunities.
2. Build Strategic Alliances
Align yourself with professionals who offer complementary services to enhance your value proposition.
Collaborating with experts in different areas allows you to take a holistic approach to problem-solving and demonstrate a broader range of capabilities to potential clients or employers.
3. Craft A Unique Brand Identity
Throughout the episode, Roland emphasized the significance of branding in shaping a potential client’s perception.
Defining a differentiating factor that unifies your various areas of expertise is crucial, he says. Choose a specific focus or specialization within the broader growth landscape, such as AI for demand generation.
This niche selection allows you to stand out in a crowded market by presenting yourself as a problem solver with unique insights and approaches, bringing exceptional value to the table.
4. Content Strategy for Brand Expansion
After establishing a focused brand identity, consultants can gradually expand their content strategy to cover broader topics within their expertise.
For example, Roland Fraiser transitioned from being recognized as the “acquisitions guy” to exploring related fields like exits and fundraising.
This progressive expansion demonstrates his continuous growth and adaptability while retaining his initial brand positioning.
4. Communicate Your Value And Goals
Consulting for equity relies on your ability to communicate your value and long-term goals to clients.
From the beginning, share your intention to deliver exceptional results and create lasting partnerships.
And don’t hesitate to express your desire to obtain equity in a company. Roland says doing so does four things:
The client realizes that having you as a partner is an option.
Clients demonstrate that they believe in you.
Shows the client is willing to invest in themselves.
The client understands your goals.
It also demonstrates your long-term commitment, brings the value you provide to the front of their minds, and can be the foundation for a solid long-term relationship.
Conclusion
For the right SEO, marketing professional, or agency, alternative compensation models such as equity or fractional c-suite positions may be the ideal way to take your career (and your income) to the next level.
Looking for more tips and insights from Roland on how to start consulting for equity? Be sure to check out Episode 308 of the SEJ Show.
Revolutionize Your SEO Consulting Career with Alternative Models
You know how the world of SEO is constantly changing. And staying on top of things and making the most of your skills is essential.
That’s what we’re all about here at the SEJShow – finding fantastic new business models and strategies that help you shine as an SEO consultant.
Roland Frasier joins me in today’s show to dive into alternative methods that could change your consulting game, giving you even more rewards for all that hard work you put into client and partner projects.
So, strap in, and let’s jump off that old SEO hamster wheel to uncover some exciting SEO consulting opportunities!
If you’re entrepreneurial, it makes sense to think about possibly getting something more permanent for your time. –Roland Frasier, 03:40
What I found to be most effective is to say you’ve got knowledge, skills, experience, and connections that add tremendous value to businesses, so you have a choice: You can get a short-term income and a flat fee, get paid by the hour, and even get in the middle of a revenue share. But then, when that stops, it stops. A way around that is to come in and add value to the business. The value you bring to the company should be compensated by participating in the ongoing profits or equity of the business. If you increase the asset’s value, wouldn’t it be appropriate and fair to participate in a portion of what that asset will be valued at? What it’s going to be sold at ultimately when the business sells? That’s the concept: how do you turn your effort into equity? –Roland Frasier, 05:12
After so many years in marketing, I don’t consider myself just an SEO. I’m typically brought in to do SEO Consulting and help on that side. The next thing I know, there’s a new brand launching, so I’m looking at opportunities for brand messaging, looking at the product before it comes out, and involved with that this and that. –Loren Baker, 13:03
[00:00] – About Roland. [07:01] – What consultants should look for when they want to have equity in a company. [12:55] – How to avoid “over consulting” and earn based on the value provided beyond SEO? [20:45] – How to position yourself as more than just an SEO. [23:20] – How to start consulting for equity. [32:55] – What is a Fractional CMO? [41:30] – The mindset that leads to a better quality of life.
I would stay away from businesses that are not already profitable. So now I’m going to look at where I can have a significant impact, and so I’m going to say if the lift that I can add to this company is something that I think will move the needle for them, then I believe it’s an appropriate conversation. –Roland Frasier, 9:40
They will put you in that box if you come in as an SEO, so how you brand and present are essential. I’d position myself as a strategist as opposed to an SEO-only. The fact that SEO is one of the things that you do is significant. It might be the main thing that you do. But having even alliances with other people that can provide the additional services is an intelligent way to go because if you come in as growth, you know that the company is going to value you more than if you come in as a component or sub-component of development. –Roland Frasier, 15:01
People might think that it’s not possible to have you as a partner. It might not occur to them, but they might believe you’re so far beyond that it’s not even an option. So by telling them in advance that this is an option having them put skin in the game by having them show that they believe in you and that they’re willing to invest in themselves is crucial in making this work. –Roland Frasier, 20:00
Roland Frasier stands out in the world of ambitious investments and building strategies. With over 1000 acquisitions, exits, real estate portfolios, and more under his belt for himself and his clients, he knows what it takes to succeed in business!
As a principal of 6 Inc.’s fastest growing companies plus an advisor at Stanford University –Roland is making waves with some hefty credentials. Not only has this savvy investor been featured on all major news networks but Business Insider, Fast Company, Forbes & Entrepreneur are singing praises too!
And if that isn’t enough star power…he even interviewed Sir Richard Branson AND Magic Johnson, so you know something good must be cooking up around him – like his award-winning podcast, ‘Business Lunch.’
Enhancing Expertise: The Edge of Intimate Gatherings and Collaborative Sessions for Digital Marketers
Networking is one of the best parts of any conference. But, the bigger events might not give you the best opportunity to improve your skills and expand your network as much as you would like.
Smaller-scale events and masterminds can provide unique benefits with more intimate networking opportunities, personalized learning experiences, and the chance to interact with industry experts on a one-to-one basis.
Join us to learn how smaller events can help you exchange ideas and collaborate with like-minded individuals who can motivate and inspire you.
Jim Christian, a seasoned digital marketer with over 26 years of experience and founder of The Digital Marketers Organization, and Stephanie Solheim, a dynamic leader in the SEO industry and co-founder of Mastermind Mansion, joined me on the SEJShow to share their insights on the value of smaller SEO events and masterminds and how they can help professionals reach their full potential.
You’re building those relationships that you wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to build when you’re at a larger event. You have access to the people that you want to talk to. So in Austin, that might mean that I’m going to get burgers at midnight with a bunch of my buddies to talk about my buddy’s new software. It’s awesome, you know. We cap our events at probably 40 people. –Stephanie Solheim, 6:45
People are going to remember the event that they’re here for, but they’re not going to remember all of it. They might feel like they got a speaker and some tips and tricks. Still, the real thing that they’re going to remember is they’re going to remember being on this balcony up on the 60th floor of the Cosmo hotel. They’re going to remember all the people that were in this room, and they’re going to remember those conversations, and those are the things that they’re going to take back with them. The thing that holds value is the social networking aspect. And so, for us, the mentorship never stops at the event. The event is just the beginning. After that, it’s all about keeping those connections and bringing everyone into the community, and just sharing with the larger audience. –Jim Christian, 34:54
Not everyone is a natural conversationalist. It can be overwhelming to walk into a room at an after-hours event in New York or a larger event in Vegas with hundreds of people. It’s challenging to make conversation with people you don’t know, especially when you can’t tell if someone is a salesperson or not. At trade shows, expos, or educational events, there might be a speaker presenting great material, but as one of the hundreds of people in the room, it can be hard to engage with them. With multiple tracks happening simultaneously, conversing with the speaker afterward can be nearly impossible. –Loren Baker, 7:23
[00:00] – About Jim and Stephanie. [07:53]- How are the barriers in large events taken down in smaller events? [12:08] – Do smaller events give your company more ROI? [18:17] – How you build community after the event. [21:35] – Struggles that larger events face now. [30:33] – The benefit of including non-search people in SEO events. [33:51] – How did Mastermind Mansion start? [34:50] – How mentorship plays in the events that they do. [37:08] – Tips they’ve learned while promoting events. [40:42] – How do you ensure topics remain relevant when planning ahead? [44:02] – Ticket sales vs waitlist: Which works better?
We try to pull people from all different walks of life regarding digital marketing and then put them together into a group designed to accelerate growth and learning. –Jim Christian, 16:33
Every time I go to my event, I come away with at least two alternative ways to do my processes more efficiently. And I walk away with either somebody that can use my services or somebody that I can call on when I need help with something. I know that happens across the board. I mean, you’re making those really deep personal connections and understanding at a greater level. –Stephanie Solheim, 12:19
What we’re offering is truly a nice branded experience. There are no drink tickets, so we go out and have a great time. And there isn’t a limit. Or again, we can take you on a really cool excursion that you wouldn’t be able to do if you had, you know, 2,000 people –Jim Christian, 25:22
With over 26 years of experience, Jim Christian is a skilled digital marketer passionate about driving client success through bespoke, performance-driven strategies. He has worked across various industries, including B2B, B2C, travel, luxury, ecommerce, and retail.
Jim began his career in 1997, eventually becoming GoDaddy’s Director of SEO and managing a $40-million sales channel. Later, he founded Blush Digital, a digital marketing agency assisting large enterprises and global brands. He established The Digital Marketers Organization (DMO), a community of thought leaders hosting conferences and masterminds across North America.
Stephanie Solheim, a dynamic leader in digital marketing and SEO, owns Grow With Meerkat, a full-service agency known for its innovative approach. As the founder of Women in Marketing and co-parent of Sisters in SEO, she empowers women in the industry. Stephanie’s friendly personality shines at her Mastermind Mansion Brand events, where top SEO experts share insights.
An active mentor, she participates in the “Attagirl” sorority and enjoys sharing humorous content. Passionate about AI and prompt engineering, Stephanie was recognized as one of the “12 Powerful Women You Should Know” by The Content Factory.
Social media has transformed the business world and opened up new career paths in the social media field.
There are more opportunities than ever to explore fresh and exciting careers, and understanding what is required to pursue your desired career is essential.
Social media manager is a popular job title, but what does it entail, and how do you get that role?
Keep reading to learn what a social media manager does and what skills you need if you want to pursue this social media career path.
How Do I Become A Social Media Manager?
Becoming a social media manager requires many diverse skills and abilities, and you need to ace plenty of things to help you with this.
Make sure you understand some of the necessary steps to help you become a social media manager.
Here are some of the key elements that are involved in becoming a social media manager:
Define your services.
Build your manager skills.
Establish an online presence.
Build up a portfolio of clients.
Look at what positions are available.
Expand your knowledge and skill set.
Learn about the best social media marketing tools.
Get better qualified (postgrad, degree, course, etc.).
Gain experience via entry-level roles before moving up.
There’s no single path to launching a career as a social media manager.
But focusing on certain steps like building your portfolio and pursuing a degree or certification in this field can give you a major advantage.
What Does A Social Media Manager Do?
Understanding the role of a social media manager is also imperative for helping you find the right opportunities and being able to thrive in your career.
Typically, a social media manager is responsible for strategizing campaigns and content to increase followers, connect with people across different social platforms, and improve their brand’s social media presence.
According to Socially Buzz, 28% of internet users found new products due to social media ads, which illustrates a social media manager’s important role in helping get the best out of marketing campaigns.
Of course, the responsibilities tend to differ depending on a multitude of factors, such as the size of the company.
Producing compelling content and analyzing data are crucial for developing success as a social media manager.
Check out some of the key responsibilities you can be expected to fulfill as a social media manager:
Social engagement: Increasing followers and driving engagement better is important for developing a strong social media presence, and you can do this through written and visual content. With 137 million new internet users in the past 12 months, this is a large pool of users to target when looking to improve engagement.
Data analysis: One of the most important roles a social media manager has to fulfill is that of data analysis, which involves assimilating all pertinent data and using it to assess how the company’s social accounts are performing.
Posting and monitoring social platforms: It might be necessary to schedule posts across all different social media platforms, as well as observe the performance of these posts and interact with followers and customers.
Campaign strategy: Developing a strong strategy for a successful social media content campaign is one of the best things you can do to excel in your role as a social media manager. This makes a huge difference in driving engagement and helps you effectively align your brand marketing strategies and values.
What Is A Typical Social Media Manager Job Description?
Social media manager is a job description that is multi-faceted, and it will allow you to gain a greater understanding of what this role entails.
Mostly, you will find that this is a role where applicants are responsible for overseeing businesses’ interactions with consumers via social media, as well as managing and overseeing their social media platforms and implementing content strategies.
The following are the usual social media manager job requirements:
Manage a social budget.
Interact with customers.
Take ownership of the social strategy.
Promote posts and craft new content.
Develop new social media campaigns.
Research trends and stay ahead of the curve.
Monitor and analyze social media campaign data and performance.
Streamline social media channels to ensure the tone of voice is consistent.
How Much Is A Social Media Manager Paid?
When choosing any career path, knowing what you can expect to earn is important.
It is important to have an idea of what you want to earn, as well as knowing what the average is, to give you room for negotiation.
According to Zippia, who claims the tagline “The career expert,” the average social manager salary is $70,287 per year. On the low end, you might expect $50,000 at the entry level and upwards of $98,000 if you have a few years under your belt.
Washington tops the list in terms of the highest-paying state overall, while San Francisco, California, claims the top spot for the highest-paying city.
Via the above link, if you select your location, specific industry, and education level, you can get a more tailored estimate of what you are worth.
What Skills Does A Social Media Manager Need To Have?
So, what makes a good social media manager?
Well, there are several different attributes to consider, and this will play a massive role in helping you secure this kind of career path in a more positive way.
Understanding the skills and abilities needed to help you excel in your role as a social media manager is crucial when seeking a career path in this area.
So, what is required to be a skilled and successful social media manager? Here are some key social media manager skills you’ll need to excel in this career.
1. They Must Have Solid Communication Skills
It may seem obvious that someone whose primary job is to connect with people from outside the company needs to have good communication skills. In fact, it’s arguably the No. 1 skill social media managers need to be successful.
Communication skills in this realm are slightly different than they are in traditional communication roles.
Social media managers need to be able to understand the audience they are communicating with and speak in a way that will resonate with that audience.
While all social media platforms are similar in what they accomplish, each channel has a slightly different way of communicating. Recognizing and understanding how a person communicates on Facebook is different from how a person communicates on Twitter is essential.
2. They Must Be Social
The best social media managers are people who thoroughly enjoy social media and participate in social media on a personal level.
To be a truly successful communicator on social media, one has to know not only the ins and the outs of the programs but also be able to use the vernacular common to each.
It sticks out like a sore thumb when an “outsider” posts on a social media channel, which can negatively affect the business’s reputation.
That’s why a social media manager who is well-versed in everything each channel entails is key and why the best social media managers are those who, first and foremost, participated in social media on a personal level before taking it on as their profession.
3. They Must Have Personality & Creativity
One of the biggest differences between social media usage for work and personal life is the formality of the content. This isn’t to say that social media messaging for businesses should be stuffy.
It’s quite the opposite, actually.
Social media channels are a way for businesses to communicate with customers on a more personal level.
So, a sense of humor, a touch of creativity, and a voice that resonates with the audience are all must-haves.
A business’s social media channels shouldn’t appear as ads or include typical PR jargon.
4. They Must Be Up On Digital Data
The top three skills on this list all deal with the makeup of the person who holds the title of social media manager. The rest are all professionally-based skills.
A social media manager needs to take the content a step further by optimizing and analyzing it.
This means being able to discern whether the social media marketing is working by culling the appropriate data for each channel and then adjusting the content, if necessary.
Managing social media channels for a business isn’t all fun and games. It’s a serious job that takes serious management skills.
Some social media managers will be one-man or one-woman teams. If this is the case, the person will need to approach each channel as a separate project with short-, medium- and long-term goals, along with that of the overall social media plan.
Some social media managers have a team of people helping them manage each of the channels. In these cases, the manager must have solid skills in managing people and projects.
6. They Must Write & Edit Well
As a social media manager, you will need to be able to write creatively.
Crafting social media copy can be very challenging, and it takes a creative and talented head to be able to do it well.
Writing and editing as the “voice” of a company can be hugely fulfilling, and this is an essential part of being a social media manager.
Yes, the social media manager will need to be able to inject some flair into the writing, but it must be done in a professional way.
This goes for the content the manager will write and the content that he or she will edit that others on the team have written.
7. They Must Have Visual Skills
Social media is a very visually-driven form of communication.
Even posts on text-based channels such as Twitter perform better if they have pictures that go along with the text. That’s why successful social media managers must understand how to pair visuals with text.
This means a good social media manager will be able to cull available images from the internet or a company’s database and also must be able to create great imagery on his or her own – or at least, be able to tell a design department in the company what to create.
8. They Must Be Flexible & Adaptable
A social media manager’s job requires a lot of patience and flexibility. Not only are a company’s needs changing all the time, but social media itself is, too. This is where the flexibility comes in.
A good social media manager will need to be able to digest changes made to each social media channel, as well as how to shift the approach to that channel.
In addition, social media managers need to be able to adapt to each environment they are communicating in, as sometimes the change occurs with the users of a social media channel and not just the channel itself.
This means being up on all the trends on not just how people are using Twitter, for example, but what they are talking about on Twitter – whether that relates to the manager’s company or not.
9. They Must Be Great Marketers
Ultimately, the purpose of a social media channel is to create marketing opportunities. The fun part of social media is communicating, taking photos, creating eye-pleasing posts, and interacting with people.
But the end goal is to market the business.
The social media manager doesn’t need to have a strong direct sales background, but he or she needs to understand that the content the social team produces is ideally supposed to generate sales – if even in an indirect way.
It’s also important for the social media manager to recognize a sales lead that may come across in a reply to a message and pass it along to the sales team.
10. They Must Have Excellent Customer Service Skills
One aspect of social media that can’t be overlooked is the fact that it’s a two-way communication street. It’s simple for people to reply to your content or share it with all of their followers.
Successful social media managers will understand this customer service aspect of the job and will be able to effectively monitor the activity on each social media channel and respectfully reply to all inquiries in a timely manner – whether the reply is positive or negative.
People can say whatever they want on social media – and they often do – so approaching these people politely and respectfully takes some patience and discipline.
Where Can I Find A Job As A Social Media Manager?
You should consider plenty of options when looking to become a social media manager, and you have several options when trying to get a job in this role.
Finding online openings and opportunities via job boards is always a good option, and you also need to make sure you contact companies directly to see if there are any openings.
Networking is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself connected to job opportunities, which can prove incredibly useful.
Social media sites are a great way of being able to network with potential clients, and this is an excellent way of finding a job as a social media manager.
Bottom Line On Becoming A Social Media Manager
The best social media managers will be able to draw on a combination of the above 10 skills, as it’s truly a position that requires a diverse set of skills across various traditional disciplines.
As social media platforms keep growing and their algorithms change, the fact remains that any company online, from ecommerce to small businesses and agencies alike, will need you.
You’ll have a lot of opportunities to upskill and pave your own path as a social media manager in whatever industry you desire.
With the rapid pace of artificial intelligence (AI) news, it’s no surprise that six in ten Americans believe AI will significantly impact the labor force.
According to a report published by the U.S. White House, AI has the potential to increase productivity, efficiency, and innovation. Likewise, it can potentially displace workers who need help adapting to AI tools and skill sets.
An OpenAI study revealed the types of occupations which could be most affected by large language models (LLMs). Mathematicians, analysts, researchers, and writers could utilize GPT to reduce the time spent on tasks.
AI alone may not take most jobs. But the people who utilize AI in the right way will be the ones to take them as others become unable to meet new quotas and productivity expectations.
Reskilling Employees To Fill AI-Roles
A McKinsey survey of organizations worldwide found that almost half reskill internal resources to fill AI-related roles in addition to sourcing talent from tech companies and universities.
Organizations that chose to reskill employees used various training paths, including self-paced online courses and certifications.
It makes sense, considering employees know what their organization needs to succeed. AI allows employees willing to learn to boost their productivity and creative output to become valuable assets to their organization.
Continued Layoffs In Tech
Of course, not all companies will retrain employees for new opportunities. We’ve seen tech companies lay off hundreds to thousands of employees since the start of 2023. And the layoffs are not over yet.
Meta recently began another round of layoffs in its quest for efficiency.
According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) reportsacross the United States, many large companies in tech and beyond are planning more layoffs. U.S. employees can search Google for WARN notices in their employer’s state.
Increasing Jobs Listings Seek Talent With AI Skills
For those seeking a job in tech, Stanford revealed that the U.S., Canada, and Spain have the highest percentage of AI job postings in its AI Index Report.
John Mueller offered advice for those in search of a job in tech: “…my recommendation would be to take the time to get your skills & knowledge up to a high level, and then seriously look into a job once things start to pick up again.”
Comprehensive AI Courses To Enhance Your Skillset
Here are AI and machine learning online courses and certifications from tech companies and universities to work into your resume.
LinkedIn AI And Machine Courses
LinkedIn Learning made 100 AI and machine learning courses free until June 15, 2023. Topics covered include generative AI, AI and machine learning foundations, responsible AI, advanced AI, and applied AI.
IBM AI Foundations For Everyone Specialization
This introductory course on AI is designed for everyone, including those without a technical or programming background.
The specialization consists of three courses on AI uses and applications, using IBM Watson, and building AI chatbots.
Some courses are offered through Coursera. Coursera offers a seven-day free trial, after which it is $39 monthly to continue a single course.
If you find additional courses on Coursera, you can subscribe to the premium service that includes unlimited access to thousands of courses and certifications for $59 monthly.
Courses that offer certification or college credit may have additional prerequisites, requirements, and fees.
Google Machine Learning Crash Course
If you want a quick dive into the basics of machine learning, try this free Machine Learning Crash Course. It includes video lessons, case studies, and hands-on practice with TensorFlow APIs, an open-source platform for developing and training machine learning models.
Google AI offers more courses on various aspects of machine learning.
If you want to pursue a career as a data scientist or machine learning engineer, Google Cloud offers courses for a Professional Machine Learning Engineer Certification.
Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Recently introduced on The Keyword blog, the Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate is a self-paced course that prepares data analysts and scientists to use regression and machine learning models to collect and analyze data.
It could require approximately ten hours a week for three to six months to complete the course and earn a shareable certificate.
Microsoft Azure Data And AI Certifications
Microsoft offers several certifications for data analysts, developers, and engineers using AI and Microsoft Azure.
Arizona State University MasterTrack® Certificate In AI & Machine Learning
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can complete three courses within an estimated six to nine months to earn a certificate in AI and machine learning.
You can choose from four courses on statistical machine learning, artificial intelligence, knowledge representation and reasoning, and an intro to deep learning.
The certificate program is $4,500 total or $1,500 per course.
If you meet specific ASU requirements, these credits will apply to an online Master of Computer Science program.
Stanford Artificial Intelligence Professional Program
Stanford’s AI Professional Program allows working professionals to dive into graduate-level AI and machine learning courses.
The program consists of seven courses. Each course costs $1,750 and takes 10 – 15 hours weekly for ten weeks.
Continuing Education
With the rapid developments in AI and machine learning, anyone interested in the field should stay current with the latest AI and machine learning news relevant to their industry.
In a thread on Reddit, a user recently asked for advice on landing a job at a big tech company like Google.
Google’s Search Advocate, John Mueller, who has been with the company since 2007, responded with several valuable insights.
For many, landing a job at Google or another major tech company can be a dream.
However, it’s important to remember that hiring at companies of Google’s size can be lengthy and competitive.
With Mueller’s advice, aspiring job applicants can better position themselves for their dream job.
Aspiring tech workers can increase their chances of landing a job by building their skills and knowledge, making industry contacts, and preparing for interviews.
Here’s what Mueller says about how to position yourself for success.
Develop Your Skills & Build Industry Contacts
Mueller advises potential job applicants to take the time to build their skills and knowledge to a high level and make industry contacts.
He suggests studying and contributing to open-source projects, even if it doesn’t involve coding.
These efforts will put you in a better position to land a job once hiring picks up again.
Mueller states:
“I work at Google but obviously can’t speak for them with it comes to jobs, and business administration is not something I know much about. I’m guessing product management comes close?
Anyway, none of this is really specific to Google, but generally speaking with the recession or pseudo-recession or whatever it is, my recommendation would be to take the time to get your skills & knowledge up to a high level, and then seriously look into a job once things start to pick up again.
Take the next 1 – 2 years to study up & try to build industry contacts (look around open-source projects, your contributions don’t have to be coding). My assumption is with layoffs & co, bigger companies will pause hiring for a while, maybe 6-18 months, and then they’ll want to get moving full speed again.
Getting a job in a downturn like this is probably harder and more chaotic — though that can be ok too. Getting lined up & ready for when things pick up is probably a better strategy.”
Prepare For Interviews
Once you start seeing job openings, Mueller recommends doing serious interview training based on the positions you’re interested in.
He advises finding someone with a similar position at a company you’re interested in and picking their brain.
Practice answering questions objectively and with metrics instead of personal opinions.
Mueller continues:
“Once you start seeing roles available, my recommendation (for big companies) would be to do serious interview training based on the positions you’re looking at.
Going into interviews as a smart young person can work, going into them with an understanding of how the process will look will be much less stressful (and you’ll still have to know the right things, interview-training doesn’t replace that).
For coding, there are lots of books & tips, for non-coding I’m sure there are some too. Ideally, find someone with a similar position at one of the companies you’re interested in, and pick their brain.
Practice with someone. Get a feeling for how to present answers objectively — instead of “I think X or Y”, find ways to get metrics “choose X or Y based on the results of Z”, etc.”
Don’t Get Discouraged
Lastly, Mueller advises against getting too focused on one company or location.
He says that hiring can be somewhat random, and even if you think you do a great interview, it might not work out.
Don’t take it personally, he adds:
“It’s a long process, I’d really recommend taking it slowly during the downturn and using it to prepare, I’d also strongly recommend starting out with interviews at your non-preferred companies to get actual practice.
Don’y hyper-focus on one company / location. Also, hiring can be somewhat random, so even if you think you do a great interview, it might not work out — don’t take it personally.”
Being a member and supporter of the Women in Tech SEO community, SE Ranking – which is an all-in-one, comprehensive SEO toolkit – is on a mission to make SEO accessible for everyone.
As we want to encourage female marketers to succeed professionally, we interviewed 10 prominent women in SEO and digital marketing.
These experts shared their outstanding experiences and life lessons, and we’re excited to share their wisdom with you.
Discover how to build leadership skills, overcome obstacles on your professional journey, and build success and resilience in your work life with these tips and advice from inspiring women leaders.
The biggest obstacle on my path to success was earning the right to be trusted, respected, and backed as someone of young age at the time.
To combat this, I focused on being confident in my abilities and proving my worth through my work. This involved spending 50% of my time with clients and the other 50% doing the actual work, as well as freelancing to learn how to work independently without extensive resources.
This set me up for success, allowing me to start and scale my own agency to generating £7m a year in just 3 years, and I continue to stay involved in the work to this day as the Founder and CEO.
In the business and career world, I have faced gender discrimination beyond my expectations, as women statistically face more obstacles in achieving success, leadership roles, investment, and building a Fortune 500 company.
Even when launching my own agency with a male co-founder who owned an equal percentage of the business, the hate and negativity I got was on another scale.
I found that my opinions or case studies were questioned, and people were in disbelief at the results. I got a “prove it” response, whereas when my cofounder posted the same results, he got a “Congrats, great work.”
In terms of money, I have a slightly controversial opinion on the pay gap in the industry. Do I believe it exists? Yes. In my own case, I was paid less than a male coworker who started within the same two weeks as me, had the same experience, etc.
However, now being a founder, I can see an issue I believe to be true. I’ve found women are natural givers. They have “motherly” traits and do things because they care. And as a result, don’t ask for more money by doing more.
On the other hand, men are less likely to give for free. And more confident to ask for pay raises or higher salaries. This is a real issue. Therefore, here are some ways to overcome it:
Encourage telling people what they’re worth. I’ve had many instances where I have offered a higher salary to people because I believed they were worth it. I gave them the confidence to know and understand their personal value and be open enough to talk about salaries.
Create yearly pay review meetings with salary benchmarks for the industry. I think we as leaders need to give our staff the data they need to be confident to ask.
2. We’re Here To Amplify The Work Of Brilliant Women In The Industry
Areej AbuAli, Founder Of Crawlina & Women In Tech SEO
A few years ago, I was truly struggling to fit into the SEO community, and I wasn’t feeling motivated in the industry. I used to attend conferences but did not see myself represented, and I wasn’t too sure if it was a career path that I wanted to continue in.
I remember hearing about a few “exclusive” groups; you needed to be ‘invited’ to be a part of them or know someone. It just didn’t feel right.
So, I decided to start my own thing. I put out a call saying, “Women in Tech SEO, rejoice, we now have our own group.”
This was back in May 2019 – right away, I was surprised by how many people joined. It was over 100 in only 2 days. I made sure that we had rules and values in place.
Everyone who identified as a woman was more than welcome to join; it didn’t matter if they were starting out their SEO career or they had been in it for over a decade.
In other words, Women in Tech SEO is a global community for women in the Technical SEO industry; It’s a safe space for women to connect, learn and support one another. We’re here to amplify the work of brilliant women in the industry.
I know a lot of people who work at SEO agencies, and very often, women with more experience earn way less than their younger and less experienced male colleagues.
I have noticed that this is because they don’t dare ask for a raise and, when applying for a job, are afraid of asking for too much, fearing that they won’t be hired.
My piece of advice is to always talk about all your skills, including the ones you have not completely mastered (I noticed a lot of women won’t admit that they know something because they don’t know it perfectly, while males will often say they are experts at something they barely know).
And another tip is to always ask for way more than you think you should ask because your mind is most likely undervaluing you. Don’t get fooled by it.
Also, to help freelancers know their worth and be paid as much as they deserve, together with Myriam Jessier, we created SEO Cash Flow, which aims to help underrated freelancers earn more.
On the whole, my advice is to believe in yourself because you can do it. If you’re just beginning your journey, start by reading the Google SEO documentation from cover to cover.
Make sure to become part of the Women in Tech SEO community. Follow other female SEOs like myself, and don’t be afraid of reaching out to them. Most of them (if not all) will be happy to help you and give you free advice.
4. You Aren’t Alone – Let’s Help Support Each Other!
My biggest struggle on the way from an SEO specialist to a company founder has been about learning to trust myself, listen to myself effectively, and be willing to try and fail – and try again while also not ignoring or forgetting the needs of others.
When it comes to being an in-demand professional – soft skills – that’s where I see most growing SEO professionals lacking today.
There’s too much focus on gaining a specific, technical hard skill that will somehow magically make them feel confident and successful. In reality, most SEO pros need to learn how to be influential, impactful, and empathetic.
This all said, I do think it’s important for women specifically to focus on having a technical or data-focused hard skill of some sort. This is largely practical: Too often, women’s opinions and contributions are brushed aside.
Being better at a specific skill (or a few!) vs. the men in the room is the single biggest way to be heard and make room for yourself. You bring the data, you bring the informed analysis, and they have to listen to you. To be clear, this is not good or right, but it is a reality I’ve experienced.
If you’re just starting your career in the SEO industry, find a mentor! And a support group of women to talk to, learn from, and grow with. As the most important thing is knowing you aren’t alone – let’s help support each other!
5. Don’t Hesitate To Ask For More; You Deserve It!
I guess the most challenging part of becoming a team leader is when you become responsible for people, processes, and results.
That’s why to make progress, switching to a business-owner mindset is needed. This helps to see a wider perspective of how you can grow the company through what your team and you do.
But even if you are not in a manager position, leadership skills are important. To make things happen, you need to take responsibility, even if you’re not 100% sure you can handle situations and lead processes or people – if there’s a need or an opportunity to do this.
But the thing is, despite having remarkable abilities, one cannot be completely immune to bias in the professional setting.
Unfortunately, I’ve faced obvious sexism at one of my previous workplaces, where my manager used to say things like, ‘Women cannot think so effectively and be so technically wise as men.’
Some would expect the advice to prove the opposite with your work. But usually, it’s very hard to change people who build such an unhealthy discrimination-friendly environment – you might just end up having your self-esteem negatively affected.
Another problem is that often women in SEO get lower salaries than men, so they earn less because they tend to ask for less.
Just don’t hesitate to ask for more; you deserve it, but it is helpful to back up your request with solid arguments, data, and achievements.
6. Don’t Give Up! Take Help And Support From Other SEOs
Grabbing a chance really means creating an opportunity and working hard until it evolves into the next thing. Being a middle-aged woman in the SEO industry certainly didn’t give me any freebies, either.
I started working in the mid-’90s when we had a completely different working atmosphere in terms of gender equality. Things have changed since, even if we feel it hasn’t changed enough.
Even if it has become better over the years, women still experience not being listened to or taken seriously and being questioned whether they know what they are talking about.
Women in SEO often find their knowledge being tested every now and then like it’s an unannounced pop quiz. In the past, I dealt with it the way we women did then: by coming more prepared than our male colleagues. Working harder, reading up on matters more carefully, and walking two extra miles.
While I think this is still true, we have become much better at supporting each other, lifting brilliant women in the community, and opening up to discuss these discriminations publicly. All of this helps.
So, if you’re just starting your career, my advice is: Don’t give up! Take help and support from other SEOs!
Reach out to Women in Tech SEO and other communities for women in SEO, like SEOGIRLS in Sweden, which is a safe place for women to discuss SEO without experiencing mansplaining or being talked over by male colleagues.
We are there for you to support you in your journey!
7. The Goal Is To Remove Or At Least Minimize Discrimination At Work
Besides having the skills to perform SEO work at an excellent level, you need to have good management, adaptability, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. At the same time, you don’t need to be a Jill of all trades. Instead, find the niche that separates you from others.
However, even the most exceptional skills cannot provide absolute protection from workplace discrimination. I have experienced both gender and racial discrimination, not just in my current work but also in my previous jobs.
That comes in different ways and is not always an “in your face” incident. For example, when I was ready to go on an important business trip, the management felt it was for men only as I had children.
I believe the goal is to remove or at least minimize discrimination at work. Though it’s important to let them know that it’s a problem at the time of the incident.
Rather than just react, I suggest you document them and discuss them with the management and HR. If other employees are experiencing similar problems, doing this as a group will give you a bigger voice.
Another problem is the payment gap between men and women, which is not unique to the SEO industry.
So, when you need to negotiate anything with the company, you need to prepare. When you discuss the salary (or the promotion), “I’ve been working hard” or “I deserve more” aren’t the best way to approach it.
You have a better chance of succeeding in the negotiation if you can quantify your value to the company, i.e., the increase in conversions/sales your work brought to the company.
Sadly, the SEO industry’s payment gap between men and women is certainly there. How to deal with it? Show your worth and ask for more! What’s the worst that can happen? That they say no? Perfect – ask for more!
If you want to succeed in the SEO industry, I would recommend having an overall knowledge of the SEO process, how it all works, and every activity/area that influences it: how a search engine works, how people search, crawl, indexing, content relevance, link popularity, etc.
Then, depending on your skills and preferences, you might want to focus on technical SEO, content optimization, link building, or in a specific area, like local SEO or ecommerce SEO.
Whatever you choose, ensure you understand how it works from a tactical standpoint and how it aligns and fits from a strategic one to the whole SEO process.
Then, learn about communication, prioritization, coordination, influence, and project management, which will allow you to successfully sell and manage SEO processes, whether as an external solo consultant, in an agency, or in-house. These are critical skills.
I highly recommend those looking to learn more about SEO take a look at LearningSEO to go through all of these areas and learn about them.
And at work, remember to always be professional, show up and do what you said you would do, and commit and focus on your project’s success and your own as a professional!
9. Be Your Own Biggest Advocate
Chima Mmeje, Founder Of The Freelance Coalition For Developing Countries
I don’t think there’s any woman in any industry who hasn’t experienced gender discrimination. It’s sadly a part of our lives.
I feel like some men speak to women in a condescending tone they wouldn’t use with other men. I hear it in the way they cut me off when I’m speaking, brush off my ideas, or try to mansplain something to me.
I try to establish authority early in the conversation to show my expertise. I share my ideas and encourage mutual respect if we’re to have a healthy working relationship. Most importantly, I advocate for myself to ensure my voice is heard when I’m in the room because commanding authority leads to respect.
If you want to achieve outstanding results in your professional life, listening has to be at the top of the list for soft skills. Hard skills depend on your industry, but everyone should learn to write. It’s such an underrated skill, even for developers and technically inclined folks.
You can build a personal brand when you know how to communicate with your preferred audience using words they connect with.
Also, staying nimble, especially in the age of AI, is an essential skill. We need to constantly learn how to use AI as a friend to improve our current processes instead of ignoring it because it’s not going away.
What advice would I give to women who want to succeed in their SEO careers? Just get in there! There’s nothing to be afraid of. Ask questions, even when it sounds dumb in your ears.
Build your own website and use it as a testing ground to improve your skill. Document your progress in public so people can help you along your journey.
Be your own biggest advocate because you’re working in an industry where people will question your authority and skills every step of the way.
In our industry, the hard skills that help to succeed are knowing the area you want to specialize in or having a broad knowledge of SEO.
Technical SEO, on page optimization, and digital PR require learning on the job and/or taking a course with a supportive team member to answer your questions.
One of the biggest soft skills is the determination to keep learning. I talk a lot about soft skills, and these are the ones that are important to SEOs (and in many industries).
Emotional intelligence: Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills.
Communication: Be a clear communicator and be aware of nonverbal communication.
Empathy: Ability to understand and sense other people’s emotions.
Active listening: Conscious efforts to hear the words and engage the speaker.
Confidence: The feeling one can do a task well.
Overall, learn as much as you can, and find a good support system and a great mentor. If you do not know something, ask, and people will help you.
I would also recommend taking the CliftonStrengths Assessment. This way, you can find out your natural strengths, which, when you work on them, turn into your talents.
To sum up, if you’re a female marketer and want to succeed in the SEO industry, you need to:
Be brave enough to stand up for yourself.
Value your skills, experience, and expertise, and never stop evolving.
Don’t be afraid to ask for more.
Network with other professionals in the industry. The people you connect with will become your friends and mentors with whom you can share your struggles and happiness.
Remember that people are always here to support you.
Screenshot from Twitter, July 2023
Screenshot from Twitter, July 2023
