Why Learn Social Media Marketing

Discover the rigorous and rewarding world of social media marketing careers, including social media management, brand management, content marketing, digital marketing, marketing data analysis, and digital strategy. Learn about the various roles, their responsibilities, and the average salaries across different U.S. cities.

Key Insights

Social media marketing skills are highly sought after, particularly in businesses that aim to sell products online.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports approximately 350,000 jobs in advertising, promotions, and marketing, a figure expected to rise by 10% in the following decade.
Salaries for social media professionals vary by role and location, with Social Media Managers earning an average of $65,000 per year, Brand Managers $78,000, Content Marketers $68,000, Digital Marketers $63,000, Marketing Data Analysts $67,000, and Digital Strategists $68,000.
Individuals in these roles must possess an array of skills ranging from goal setting and data analytics, to market research and content creation.
They often work closely with stakeholders and use varied methods like social media interactions, website optimization, email marketing campaigns, and data analysis to increase company sales and income.
Attending social media marketing classes can help prospective professionals gain the necessary skills for a rewarding career in this field.

Social media marketing skills are in-demand among businesses wanting to sell products online. People who know how to use social media platforms to attract and grow a following, then use high-quality content to turn followers into customers are valuable to online businesses.

Social Media Marketers also need to know how to set goals and use data analytics to determine if campaigns are successful and how to make changes when necessary. Social media marketing classes can help you gain the skills you need to change to a new and rewarding career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are around 350,000 jobs in advertising, promotions, and marketing in the U.S., and this figure is expected to increase by ten percent in the next decade.

Many people who work in the digital marketing area are employed as Social Media Managers. Their job is to represent the company or brand on social media. Social Media Managers need to determine which platforms fit the company best, then identify an audience. By posting regularly and interacting with followers, Social Media Marketers build a supportive community for the company and turn followers into customers. Employment website Indeed.com lists an average salary for a Social Media Manager with three to five years of experience at $65,000. The highest paid cities for Social Media Managers in the U.S. are New York with an average of $69,000 and Los Angeles at $65,000.

Brand Manager

Brand Managers have a bit different focus from Social Media Managers in that their focus is on the image of a company, person, or product rather than on sales. They often work with Social Media Influencers to create a positive impression of a brand. Brand Marketers also work with stakeholders to design campaigns and monitor success. Brand Marketers need to learn to do market research and also need analytics skills. The average yearly salary is $78,000.

Content Marketer

Content Marketers need social media marketing skills specific to content. This could be blogs, photographs, videos, or infographics used to attract and engage a following. Content Marketers create and acquire content and use social media marketing tools to develop and maintain a publishing schedule. Content Marketers also need to know how to do keyword research to determine the best SEO for the content and then use analytical tools to monitor how it is performing. Content Marketers make an average of $68,000 per year and the top paying cities in the US for content marketing jobs are San Francisco at $100,000, Cambridge, MA at $99,000, and New York at $90,000.

Digital Marketer

Digital Marketers have a broader focus than Social Media Marketers. While they work with social media, they also optimize websites and run email marketing campaigns. Digital Marketers use all of the resources on the internet to increase company sales and income, including paid advertising. They sometimes design website landing pages as well. The annual average salary for a Digital Marketer is around $63,000 and two of the cities with the highest wages are Chicago, IL at $83,000 and New York at $79,000.

Marketing Data Analyst

While Social Media Marketers interact with followers, Marketing Data Analysts track their behavior through analytics tools like Google Analytics and SEMRush. Marketing Data Analysts collect data on consumer behaviors, use tools to analyze user actions, and determine ways to increase sales. Data Analysts also recommend ways to optimize websites for better search placement. The average yearly salary for Marketing Data Analysts is $67,000 with San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA coming as highest with $104,000 and $89,000 respectively.

Digital Strategist

Digital Strategists use the data collected to create successful strategies for the future. They study how consumers use the internet and social media and use that information to build a brand or promote a product. While Social Media Marketers and Digital Marketers look at individual campaigns, Digital Strategists take a long-range view. Digital Strategists earn an average of $68,000 a year with the highest salaries in New York–$99,000–and Washington, DC–$69,000.

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