Successfully Hiring a Social Media Manager for Your Team

You’re taking the next step in hiring a social media manager. Having someone on your team who can manage content creation and community building for your social platforms is definitely a game-changer. Not only will it take some work off your to-do list, but having someone who is skilled in this area can really skyrocket your growth.

But how are you supposed to find and select the right person for the job?

Successfully Hiring a Social Media Manager for Your Team

As you embark on finding this new addition to your brand’s team, here are some suggestions you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. Begin Your Search Through Referrals or Job Boards

The first thing you need to do when hiring a social media manager is start searching. There are a couple of ways you’re able to handle this… If you already have a community of other businesses at your disposal, you can post to your social media platforms asking for referrals. Odds are, someone you know has a great recommendation they can send your way. Many freelancers handle social media for a few different brands. This might be the way to go, especially if you’re just looking for someone to work part-time hours.

Another option is to start scouring the job boards online. There are websites like Upwork, which make it easy to find freelancers to join your team. You’ll likely have to sift through some applications that are less-than-stellar, but it’ll be worth it when you finally find the right person.

2. Choose Someone That Understands Your Brand

This is crucial no matter who you’re looking to bring onto your team. You want to make sure that whoever you hire has a clear understanding of what you’re all about and what your values are. Why? Because your entire team is representing you. And you want people working alongside you who are going to portray your brand in the best light.

Hiring a social media manager who is already familiar with the kind of work you do is also a plus. This includes the products and services you offer, who your target audience is, etc. Knowing these basics will help whoever you hire ease into the role.

3. Consider Their Past Experience

As with any job, having experience is always beneficial. A proven track record will leave you feeling confident that someone is more than capable of handling the tasks you send their way. Look for someone who is familiar with the social media platforms you’d like to use. And it helps if you’re hiring a social media manager who has already worked with a similar company. Don’t hesitate to ask to see some of the previous campaigns they’ve developed!

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t take a chance on a newbie. If you’re willing to hire someone that hasn’t worked in this role before, just keep this next tip in mind…

4. Look For a Few Key Skills

At the end of the day, the skills a person possesses is really what will determine if they’ll do a good job for you. And when you’re hiring a social media manager, there are some specific ones to be on the lookout for. Great writing skills and communications skills are a major plus since they’ll not only be creating content, but also engaging with others online.

I’ve previously written a post about the traits every social media manager should have. Definitely check that out so you know what to look for.

5. Check Out Their Social Media Presence

When hiring a social media manager, you obviously want to get a sense of what they’re like. And the best way to do this is by checking out their social media presence. If you want someone to take over your online accounts, then you want to know they do a good job at maintaining their own profiles as well. After all, are you more likely to hire someone who is active on these platforms or someone who doesn’t appear to have an online presence at all?

As you check out their social media accounts, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. Are they posting regularly? And if so, what’s the quality of their content like? Someone who takes great pride in their own social media presence will potentially do the same for you. How are they when it comes to engaging with others? All of this ties back to how they may perform on the job as part of your team.