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Hire Social Media Expert: Key Qualities to Look For

If you’re a business owner, marketer, blogger, entrepreneur, or founder looking to increase your brand awareness and customer support through social media platforms, then it’s time to consider hiring a social media expert.

Determine Your Needs

The first step in hiring a full-time social media manager is determining what your needs are. Do you need someone with extensive experience on all major social networks? Or do you need someone who can focus solely on one platform? Consider your target audience and content strategy when making this decision.

Look for Experience

Social media experts should have several years of experience managing personal profiles as well as business accounts. Look for candidates who have worked with businesses similar to yours and have proven success in increasing brand awareness and engagement.

Evaluate Their Skills

Apart from the number of years they’ve been working on various projects related to their field, skills are also important factors that must be evaluated before selecting an expert. Check if they possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, because these will be used when interacting with customers online. 

Also, evaluate if they can come up with effective strategies to boost traffic conversion rates towards the website or page being promoted. Moreover, check if he/she has knowledge about SEO since it plays an important role in ranking your website in search engines.

Consider Customer Support

Social media experts should be able to provide excellent customer support. They will need to respond quickly and professionally to any questions or concerns from your target audience. Look for candidates who have experience with providing customer service through social media platforms.

Cultural Fit is Important too!

The right candidate must also possess the same values as you do since they will represent your brand online. Cultural fit is important when hiring a social media expert because it ensures that he/she can work well with other members of the team while maintaining harmony within the company culture. 

But having so many social media experts looking to handle your work, how will you know which one is the perfect fit?

#1. Assess Their Social Media Presence

If you’re looking to hire a social media expert, one of the first things you should consider is their own presence on various social media platforms. A strong candidate should have an active and engaging presence across multiple networks, showcasing their understanding of each platform’s unique features, audience preferences, and content styles. 

#2. Analyze the Applicant’s Profiles Across Various Platforms

To get started with assessing a potential social media manager’s online presence, take some time to review their personal profiles on popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Pay attention to factors such as:

  • The frequency of posts: Are they consistently posting relevant content?
  • Quality of content: Is it original or curated? Does it provide value for followers?
  • Captions & descriptions: Do they use compelling language that encourages interaction?
  • Visuals: Are all they posting images and videos of high-quality?

#3. Evaluate Engagement Levels and Quality of Interactions

Beyond simply analyzing the content itself on a candidate’s personal profiles, also examine how well they engage with others in these spaces by considering:

  • Likes/Reactions/Shares/Retweets/etc.: How often do other users interact with the applicant’s posts? High numbers may indicate effective strategies being used.
  • Comments & replies: Does the applicant actively engage with their followers by responding to comments or questions? Constructing trust and deepening connections between the business and its customers is an essential part of successful social media management.
  • Influencer collaborations: Has the candidate worked with influencers or other notable figures within their industry? Collaborations with influencers and other notable figures can be a great way to grow brand recognition and expand reach. Check for any mentions, tags, or shared content featuring these individuals.

By taking a comprehensive look at an applicant’s personal social media presence across various platforms, you’ll gain valuable insights into their expertise level. Remember that while having impressive numbers may seem important, what truly matters most are genuine connections made through meaningful interactions – which ultimately lead toward increased customer loyalty down the line. 

#4. Their Crisis Management Planning

Handling a social media crisis is crucial in maintaining your brand reputation. Ask potential candidates about their experience dealing with such situations and how they would approach resolving them while minimizing damage to your business.

Strategies for Addressing Negative Comments or Reviews

A skilled social media expert should be well-equipped to handle negative feedback on various platforms. Here are some key strategies that can help mitigate the impact of unfavorable comments:

  • Respond promptly: A quick response demonstrates that you care about customer concerns and are actively working towards a resolution.
  • Maintain professionalism: It’s essential to stay calm, composed, and respectful when responding to criticism – even if it’s unwarranted.
  • Show empathy: Acknowledge the issue at hand by expressing understanding and offering an apology if necessary.
  • Suggest solutions: Provide actionable steps you plan on taking to address the problem, ensuring transparency throughout the process.
  • If needed, take conversations offline: In some cases, it may be more appropriate to continue discussions privately via direct messages or email correspondence instead of public forums where things could escalate further out-of-hand quickly due to increasing levels of negativity surrounding the situation itself.

Examples of Successful Crisis Management from Previous Experiences

An experienced social media manager should have dealt with crises before; here are two notable examples of successful crisis management:

  • JetBlue’s Response to Flight Delays: In February 2007, JetBlue faced a significant operational crisis when an ice storm caused massive flight delays and cancellations. Utilizing Twitter and YouTube, JetBlue apologized to customers for the inconvenience and shared updates on their recovery plan in order to rebuild trust. This proactive approach helped them regain customer trust and rebuild their brand image.
  • Oreo’s Super Bowl Blackout Tweet: During the 2013 Super Bowl, a power outage at the stadium led to a temporary halt in play. Oreo quickly capitalized on this unexpected event by tweeting “You can still dunk in the dark,” accompanied by an image of an Oreo cookie illuminated against a black background. Their timely response showcased adaptability during unforeseen circumstances while simultaneously boosting brand awareness.

In conclusion, when interviewing potential candidates for your business’s social media expert position, it is essential to inquire about their experience handling crises online – both big or small. By doing so, you will ensure that they possess the necessary skills needed to effectively manage any situation that may arise and help maintain overall reputation throughout the process itself.

Crisis management planning is an essential part of any social media expert’s job, and it requires a thorough understanding of the tools available to address negative comments or reviews. Knowledge of popular social media management programs like Hootsuite and TweetDeck can be a boon when selecting an experienced social media specialist.

#5. Check His Familiarity with Social Media Management Tools

Efficient use of social media management tools like Hootsuite and TweetDeck can greatly improve productivity when managing multiple social media accounts. Inquire about the candidate’s proficiency in using these tools as well as any other relevant software they may be familiar with. 

Go Through Their Experience Of Using Hootsuite, TweetDeck, or Similar Applications

To ensure that your prospective social media expert is capable of utilizing social media management tools effectively, ask them about their experience working with popular applications like Hootsuite and TweetDeck. These tools provide a single hub for controlling all social media accounts, thus enabling organizations to maintain an even digital presence on multiple networks.

  • Hootsuite: A comprehensive platform offering features such as post scheduling, content curation, analytics tracking, team collaboration options, and more.
  • TweetDeck: Primarily focused on Twitter account management; offers real-time tracking of mentions and hashtags while also allowing users to schedule tweets ahead of time.
  • Sprout Social: Another popular option providing similar functionalities as Hootsuite but designed specifically for business owners looking for advanced customer support capabilities alongside standard features like post scheduling and analytics reporting.

In addition to discussing specific applications they have used before during the interview process itself (e.g., asking what types of tasks were completed within each), consider requesting examples from past work demonstrating how these tools were utilized effectively within previous roles held by applicants.

Demonstrate Expertise in Scheduling Posts and Monitoring Analytics

Another crucial aspect of a social media expert’s role is the ability to plan and schedule content strategically. Social media experts must also be adept at recognizing how different post types fare on each platform, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Ask candidates about their experience scheduling content, as well as any strategies they have employed to optimize posting times based on target audience behavior patterns.

In addition to scheduling capabilities, monitoring analytics data is essential for measuring the success of your business’s social media efforts. 

Request that potential hires provide examples showcasing their expertise in analyzing performance metrics such as reach, impressions, engagement rates (likes/comments/shares), click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates (% visitors who complete desired actions after clicking links shared via social channels), etc., all while utilizing available software solutions designed specifically for this purpose.

By thoroughly assessing a candidate’s familiarity with popular social media management tools, you can ensure that your new hire will be able to efficiently manage multiple accounts while maintaining brand consistency and maximizing online visibility. Furthermore, an experienced social media manager should possess strong analytical skills enabling them to continuously monitor campaign performance and adjust strategies accordingly to achieve optimal results throughout ongoing marketing initiatives undertaken by your company.

#6. Does He Understand The Importance Of Hashtag Usage On Twitter?

Hashtags are essential for increasing visibility on Twitter by connecting users interested in specific topics. Ensure that your prospective hire understands how to effectively utilize hashtags to reach target audiences without appearing spammy or overusing them.

Crafting Targeted Hashtags for Campaigns

A successful social media expert should be able to create relevant and engaging hashtags tailored specifically towards each campaign’s goals. This skill is crucial in driving brand awareness, attracting a larger audience, and fostering meaningful conversations around your content. To assess their expertise in this area, ask candidates about their experience creating custom hashtags for previous projects or campaigns they have worked on.

  • Did they conduct thorough research to identify popular keywords related to the campaign?
  • How did they ensure that chosen hashtags were unique yet easily discoverable by potential followers?
  • What metrics did they use to measure the success of these customized hashtags?

An experienced candidate should be able to provide examples of successful hashtag strategies from past work experiences, demonstrating their ability not only in creating effective tags but also monitoring performance data.

Balancing Hashtag Usage Within Tweets

In addition to crafting targeted hashtags, it is equally important that a social media manager knows how many tags are appropriate per tweet while maintaining an engaging tone with followers. Overloading posts with excessive amounts of irrelevant or overly promotional terms can lead users away from your content instead of drawing them closer – ultimately hurting overall engagement rates as well as brand reputation online.

  • Ask candidates about their approach to balancing hashtag usage within tweets. How do they determine the optimal number of tags per post?
  • Request examples of past tweets that demonstrate a proper balance between content and hashtags.
  • Inquire about any strategies or tools they use to ensure that their posts are not perceived as spammy by users, such as utilizing trending topics in conjunction with branded terms.

A skilled social media expert should be able to strike the right balance when incorporating hashtags into their Twitter strategy, maximizing visibility without sacrificing user experience or engagement levels on this popular platform.

Bringing on a full-time social media specialist is an important decision for any business. By assessing candidates’ proficiency in crafting targeted hashtags and maintaining appropriate usage within tweets, you can ensure that your chosen hire will help boost brand awareness and foster meaningful connections with your target audience on one of today’s most influential social network platforms – Twitter. 

Remember to always prioritize those who have demonstrated expertise in managing multiple accounts across various social media platforms while also showcasing strong content creation skills tailored specifically towards each site’s unique features and preferences.

#7. Content Creation Skills

Understanding different types of content formats, such as text, images, and videos, is vital when creating engaging posts tailored specifically towards each platform’s user base. It’s essential to ask applicants about their experience with various content formats and what works best depending on where it will be posted. It’s important to gauge whether a candidate has the necessary capabilities or if extra help may be needed.

Text-Based Content

A social media expert should have strong writing skills to create compelling text-based content. They must understand how to craft attention-grabbing headlines and concise yet informative copy that resonates with your target audience. Additionally, they should know how to optimize written content for SEO purposes by incorporating relevant keywords without compromising readability.

  • Captivating headlines
  • Incorporating relevant keywords for SEO optimization
  • Balancing information density with readability

Visual Content: Images & Graphics

Visual content marketing strategies, including images and graphics, are crucial in capturing users’ attention on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. A skilled candidate should demonstrate an understanding of visual storytelling principles while being able to create eye-catching visuals that complement your brand identity. Familiarity with graphic design tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Canva would also be beneficial.

  • Familiarity with graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva)
  • Understanding of visual storytelling principles
  • Ability to create engaging visuals that align with brand identity

Video Content Creation

Video content has become increasingly popular, especially on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. A well-rounded social media expert should have experience in creating video content that caters to different platform requirements and user preferences. They must be able to plan, script, shoot, and edit videos while maintaining a consistent brand voice.

  • Experience in planning and scripting video content
  • Familiarity with shooting techniques (e.g., lighting, framing)
  • Proficiency in video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro)

In addition to these core skills related to specific formats, your potential hire should also demonstrate an understanding of how each type of content can contribute towards achieving your business goals – such as driving website traffic or increasing brand awareness. By assessing their expertise across various types of content creation methods during the interview process, you’ll be better equipped to find a social media expert who can effectively manage your online presence and drive results for your business.

6 Compelling Reasons to Hire a Social Media Expert

In today’s digital age, it is no longer enough to simply have personal profiles on various platforms; businesses must utilize social media for customer support, brand awareness, and reaching their target audience. This is where hiring a full-time social media manager or expert comes in handy.

Social Media Experts Have the Experience and Knowledge

A dedicated social media expert brings years of experience and knowledge about utilizing different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc., to create successful marketing campaigns that increase engagement rates with customers. They know how each platform works and can tailor content strategies accordingly.

They Can Create Effective Content Strategies

Social media experts can develop effective content strategies that align with your overall marketing goals while keeping your target audience in mind. They know what type of content performs best on which platform(s) at what time of day/week/month/year.

Social Media Managers Save Time & Money

Hiring a full-time social media manager saves you time by allowing them to handle all aspects related to managing your online presence including scheduling posts ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about it every day. Having someone who knows exactly what they’re doing when it comes to creating engaging posts means that they are more likely to get better results than if an employee were tasked with handling this themselves.

They Provide Consistent Branding Across All Platforms

A professional will ensure consistent branding across all channels ensuring continuity between visual elements (such as logos), messaging tone voice used throughout the company website/blog/social accounts – regardless of whether one person handles everything internally or multiple people do so externally over various networks/sites/apps/etc..

Social Media Experts Can Help Increase Sales

A social media expert can help increase sales by creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience, driving traffic to your website and converting visitors into customers. They will also be able to track metrics such as engagement rates, click-through rates (CTR), conversions, etc., in order to make data-driven decisions when it comes to optimizing future campaigns.

They Provide Excellent Customer Support

Finally, hiring a full-time social media manager means you have someone dedicated specifically towards customer support via various channels including direct messaging on platforms like Facebook or Twitter – which is becoming increasingly popular among consumers who prefer this over traditional methods of communication like email or phone calls.

In conclusion, hiring a social media expert provides numerous benefits for businesses looking to improve their online presence. By having someone dedicated solely towards managing all aspects related to digital marketing efforts across different networks/sites/apps/etc., companies can ensure consistent branding while increasing brand awareness and ultimately boosting sales numbers through effective content strategies tailored around target audiences!

Where Can I Find the Best Social Media Experts?

Social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter are great places to start when searching for talented individuals with experience in managing social networks. By using hashtags like #socialmediaexpert or #socialmediamanager in your search queries on these platforms, you’ll be able to connect with professionals who specialize in this field.

Hiring a Full-Time Social Media Manager

If you have a larger marketing team and require someone dedicated solely to managing your company’s social media accounts, consider hiring a full-time social media manager. You can post job openings on various job boards such as Indeed or Glassdoor.

Outsourcing Your Social Media Management

If hiring an employee isn’t feasible for your business at this time but you still need help with managing your brand’s online presence, outsourcing might be the solution for you. There are many agencies that offer professional services including content strategy development and customer support across multiple channels like Facebook and Instagram, as well as:

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Indeed
  • Glassdoor 
  • Freelancer

No matter which option works best for your business needs, it’s important to ensure that the social media expert you hire has a solid understanding of your target audience and can help increase brand awareness through effective marketing strategies.

FAQs 

To hire a social media specialist, start by defining your goals and requirements. Create job listings that highlight necessary skills such as content creation, analytics expertise, and hashtag usage knowledge. Review candidates’ profiles across various platforms while considering engagement levels and past experiences in managing crises before conducting interviews.

The cost of hiring someone to run your social media varies depending on factors like location, level of expertise required, and scope of work involved. In general terms, hourly rates range from $15-$50+ per hour for freelancers while full-time employees may earn between $30k-$70k annually depending on experience level.

Conclusion

After analyzing the applicants’ social media profiles, evaluating their crisis management strategies, assessing their familiarity with management tools and hashtag usage on Twitter, and examining their content creation skills, it is clear that hiring a social media expert can greatly benefit any business owner or marketer looking to increase brand awareness and engage with their target audience. With the help of a full-time social media manager or marketing team member who has experience utilizing various platforms and implementing effective content strategies, businesses can improve customer support and drive sales through personalized interactions.

If you’re aiming to expand your digital presence, consider employing a social media specialist now. Don’t let negative comments or reviews bring down your reputation – instead, learn from successful crisis management examples provided by experts in the field.

Ready to hire a Social Media Expert? Look no further than The Wall Blog, where our team of experienced professionals can provide tailored solutions for all your digital marketing needs.

Youssef Hodaigui is an entrepreneur, blogger and SEO expert with a strong track record of success in launching and growing blogs and websites. He has a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and the latest digital marketing techniques, and he is committed to helping bloggers and entrepreneurs achieve their online business goals.

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The Wall is a digital blog that helps the marketing, media and communications industries to understand the effects of emerging technology and media change. From ecommerce and email, to search and social media, The Wall features expert commentators and analysis of digital developments.

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