7 Qualities of a Great Social Media Manager

What makes a great Social Media Manager? There are so many so many “self-proclaimed” gurus and experts out there in social media today. So many people and companies who claim they have the golden ticket to success in social media. Some of these “so-called” gurus are making bold promises such as “I can get you a 1000 followers/fans for $10.” Some make claims that you will have overnight success and viral strategy. This is the farthest from the truth.  Many small businesses do not have any idea how to choose someone to manage a strategy for them.  Today I am going to share with you 7 qualities to help you make the most informed decision when choosing someone to run your campaign.

Experience 

The majority of the population today use social networks such as Facebook.  Just because someone can use Facebook in a personal capacity doesn’t mean that they can manage and implement a social media strategy effectively. Social media has evolved over the last few years, and there are many people out there with good experience in implementing strategy. How can you tell if you have an experienced Social Media Manager? Perform a simple search on Google, or ask the prospective manager to give you links to their blog, website, Facebook fan page, and Twitter. You can very easily see through reviewing content if you have someone who is knowledgable or blowing smoke. You want to use someone who is practicing what you are going to pay them to do. This individual has to know a lot more than the average user, and must have advanced knowledge of using Facebook Fan pages.

Willing to integrate their personal life with their professional life 

Social media is all about engagement and building relationships right? Well it certainly is! They do not have their complete private life online, and I certainly do not recommend it. You have to be transparent today. They know how to use privacy settings effectively on various social networking sites. They do not post anything that they would not want a boss, colleague, or potential customer to see. But you want someone who is willing to mix their personal and professional life online in order to build trusting relationships with clients, colleagues and potential customers.

HaS mobility

They should have the ability, and be comfortable with being mobile.  They should be willing to tweet, post, and make status updates from anywhere and at anytime, and should be able to plan accordingly.

Has creativity and is detail-oriented

Creativity is needed to have a great campaign. You want someone who is creative in branding, giveaway and promotion creation, and uses some out of the box strategies to boost your goals. Doing something different differentiates a great campaign from a mediocre one.

They take the time to understand you and your company

They take the time to learn about you and your company. They take the time to learn about your product, style, and company culture. How can I manage your company’s online presence and post on your behalf, if I do not understand who you are and what you do? The personality, voice, target segment, company motto, and vision all need to be understood by them.

Stays up-to-date with latest news, blogs, and technology

They are a regular reader of Social Media Examiner, Social Media Today, Mashable, Tech Crunch, All Facebook, and various other sources. You certainly do not want to find out about updates before they do.

Is Humble about their skills

They make sure they stay up-to-date and gets training to perfect their skills. They attend workshops, boot camps, seminars, webinars, and conferences. In addition they have a mentor, coach, or some time type of ongoing training.

Research them before you hire them, it’s a smart move. Connect with them on LinkedIn, engage with them on Facebook and Twitter, and read their blog.  You will learn firsthand if they are practicing what they preach, and will see if they are  respected and well received amongst their fans and colleagues. If your social media manager has these qualities, you have a winner.