The world of digital marketing is continuously changing, with social media at the center of it all. Whether you’re managing Facebook advertisements, creating Instagram communities, or optimizing LinkedIn strategy, the appropriate courses will set you apart as a social media manager in 2024. But here’s the thing: while experience is necessary, keeping up with the latest trends and techniques is also essential.
As someone who has worked with social media teams for several years, I have witnessed firsthand how important it is to continue learning. I reme mberhow confused we were at work when Facebook altered its algorithm for the first time. It was one of those “What just happened?” experiences. That’s when I realized that if you don’t keep developing your skills, you’ll quickly fall behind. So, in this article, I’ll take you through the best social media manager courses that will not only help you keep up but also thrive in your career in 2024.
Key Takeaways
- With rapidly changing algorithms, new tools, and emerging technologies like AI and augmented reality, social media managers must constantly upgrade their skills to stay competitive in 2024 and beyond.
- Social media management is more than just posting content—it’s about creating a clear, well-thought-out strategy that aligns with business goals, ensuring all efforts are focused and purposeful.
- Completing courses that offer real-life case studies, practical exercises, and mentorship can bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing the hands-on experience that sets professionals apart.
- Choosing courses accredited by industry experts or recognized institutions not only ensures up-to-date knowledge but also boosts credibility, making certifications a valuable addition to any social media manager’s professional toolkit.
What is a Social Media Manager?
A social media manager uses platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, and others to engage with consumers, communicate a brand’s story, and increase brand awareness.
However, it is now more difficult than ever to stand out in digital noise and engage with a brand’s target audience. But as a social media manager, you’ll have the opportunity to represent a business and contribute to the development of audience engagement initiatives.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the social media world moves quite quickly. Platforms update their features almost monthly, and algorithms change more. often than You would like to admit. In 2024, as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and immersive content become more crucial to digital marketing, social media managers will require more than just the fundamentals to keep up.
Take for instance the arrival of AI-powered chatbots or Instagram’s focus on short videos. These developments were not as significant a few years ago. What about now? They are critical tools for engagement and conversion. What is the best approach to remain on top of these trends? You guessed it: through specialist courses.
This is because courses allow you to delve deeply into topics like advanced analytics, innovative content generation, and paid advertising techniques, ensuring that you not only survive but thrive in the competitive digital arena.
Key Skills You’ll Learn from a Social Media Manager Course
When I first started in social media management, I thought it was just about posting cool content and interacting with followers. Oh, how wrong I was. Social media management is about strategy, analytics, creativity, and, most importantly, execution. Here are the key skills that you can develop from as a social media manager good social media courses:
#1. Social Media Strategy Development
A well-planned strategy is the foundation of any successful campaign. It’s similar to planning a road trip—you wouldn’t get in your car without knowing where you’re going, right? Similarly, without a clear strategy, your social media efforts may feel aimless.
I learned this lesson the hard way in my early days. I once spent weeks generating material only to discover later that it did not correspond with the brand’s overarching objectives. Following that, I made it a point to never skip the strategy phase.
#2. Content Creation and Curation
It’s not just about creating content—it’s about creating the right content. Good courses teach you how to match content with your audience’s preferences and platform algorithms. From video content for TikTok to articles for LinkedIn, you’ll understand how to create the perfect blend of formats.
#3. Audience Engagement and Growth Strategies
One of the most satisfying aspects of my profession has always been seeing a community form around a brand. Courses can help you learn the most effective ways to engage followers and convert them into devoted customers. There is a lot more to it than simply responding to comments!
#4. Analytics and Performance Tracking
This is where the magic occurs. Numbers do not lie, and as a social media manager, you must understand what works and what doesn’t. An excellent course will educate you on how to interpret data, analyze engagement rates, and adjust your approach accordingly.
#5. Paid Social Advertising
With organic reach falling on most platforms, paid advertising is more important than ever. Facebook Ads, LinkedIn-sponsored content, and Instagram Ads are all examples of this. courses can teach you the ins and outs of creating highly targeted, effective ad campaigns.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Social Media Manager Course
Not all courses are created equal. I’ve personally gone through several social media courses over the years, and I’ve picked up a few things about what makes a course truly valuable. Here are a few criteria to help you choose the best one for your needs:
#1. Accreditation and Industry Recognition
Go for courses that are recognized by industry experts or accredited by reputable institutions. It adds weight to your resume and ensures the course content is up to date.
#2. Comprehensive Course Content
A great course will cover all aspects of social media management—from strategy to execution. Make sure it also includes real-life case studies and practical exercises, which can help bridge the gap between theory and practice.
#3. Flexibility
If you’re already working or have a busy schedule, consider flexible courses. Many platforms offer self-paced learning, allowing you to study when it suits you.
#4. Cost and Resources
While some of the best courses come with a price tag, think of it as an investment. Many courses also offer additional resources like templates, access to a community of peers, or even one-on-one coaching.
What Does a Social Media Manager Do?
Planning and creating content is a key piece of social media management. Since every network is different, social media managers need to ensure captions, formats, and images align with platform requirements. Here are some common SMM responsibilities:
- Own branded social media channels. Social media managers are well-versed in a variety of different social media channels and are often required to oversee and run each one. Additionally, if new platforms arise, SMMs need to adapt and learn new platforms if they are relevant to the brand.
- Create social media marketing strategy. From lead generation to customer conversions, marketing aims to meet relevant business goals. Based on these goals, SMMs create a multi-channel marketing strategy to meet customers on various social platforms.
- Develop social and ad campaigns. SMMs working for an eCommerce store may run campaigns as a part of a product launch. SMMs working for a non-profit might run campaigns to drive fundraising or open-house visits. No matter the organization, social media and ad management can work together to meet business goals, and SMMs help make that happen.
- Oversee approval and scheduling for all platforms. SMMs often supervise team members and approve content. Or, they might work with a handful of freelancers to get the job done. Either way, being an SMM means editing and guiding others to meet content expectations.
- Monitoring social and ad performance. Along with overseeing various platforms and a team of content creators, SMMs need to have an understanding of social media analytics. Tracking and reporting performance helps organizations allocate funds and adapt campaign strategies accordingly.
Social Media Courses for a Manager
I recall the first time I clicked “publish” on a client’s social media post. I was a public relations student with an internship where I was essentially the sole member of the marketing team. Quite a warm welcome to the industry. That was ten years ago, but I vividly remember how proud I felt after completing my first social media marketing campaign during that internship.
A lot has changed, but I’m still learning, and so are all of the other social media experts. That is why I am so thrilled for you to begin learning today. Many of these courses are free and provide an industry-recognized certification. Here are some of the best courses that I recommend for improving your social media manager skills in 2024:
#1. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google
Google’s digital marketing certification boasts more than 300,000 students and contains two social media modules to help you get started with social media marketing. It also offers digital marketing courses on mobile marketing, search engine optimization, content marketing, and site optimization.
The courses cover paid and organic search and teach you how to create search-engine-optimized web pages. Learning how to optimize pages for search on a popular search engine (for free) appears to be a win-win scenario. After completing the course, you will be given a digital certificate to include in your LinkedIn profile and résumé.
#2. Social Media Marketing Course by Acadium
Acadium is an apprenticeship and mentorship program — there are several lessons within the social media marketing course that you can take before, after, or during your apprenticeship.
The courses offered cover an array of social media marketing topics, including how to set up profiles on your chosen platforms and how to save time as you scale your social media efforts.
You’ll learn:
- How to get started with the most popular social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram.
- How to publish posts.
- How to stand out from your competitors.
I recommend this course for true beginners who not only need a foundation of social media marketing in general but also mentorship from Acadium’s group of mentors. Because it offers highly basic knowledge, we don’t recommend it for current marketers or social media managers.
#3. Social Media Marketing by The Open University
This is a paid course that allows you to learn at your own pace while also connecting with other students. This is one of the most thorough courses I’ve come across, and it’s ideal for both beginners and people wishing to expand their knowledge.
The first session addresses broad subjects such as user journey mapping and misleading data, which is unusual for a starting course. “What differentiates great social media?” is one of the topics covered in this online course. With such a detailed outline, the passion and expertise are evident.
You’ll learn:
- How to map the user journey.
- Drawbacks and risks to different social media platforms.
- What separates great social media content from just good content?
Given how much material this course covers, social media managers or new social media team members could benefit from this training.
#4. Social Media Certification by HubSpot
HubSpot’s social media certification course is a comprehensive program that will help you acquire customers and partners while also building brand loyalty. Because social media is the key to inbound marketing, this course easily integrates the two principles.
The course is flexible enough that you can do it on your own time. It covers important issues including ROI measurement, reaching out to new audiences, creating social media content, and social listening.
You can also select certain lessons from the HubSpot Academy course, such as this one on social media advertising. We also have a simple social media management tool that may help you put all of these ideas into action.
Get a glimpse here:
- How to develop a social media marketing strategy to generate brand awareness for your business.
- How to use social media listening to find out what works best for your followers.
- How to extend your reach on social media and leverage influencers to attract new audiences.
- How to get the most out of your social media investments.
Because this course immediately jumps into social media strategy, we recommend it for new social media marketing managers who’ve recently been promoted from a junior-level role. Some experience in social media is recommended.
#5. The Strategy of Content Marketing by the University of California, Davis
Social media marketing is a sort of content marketing, and this course will help you combine the two into a more comprehensive plan. This online course from the University of California, Davis will teach you how to design a content marketing plan as well as an awareness of the ecosystem that surrounds it. There will also be plenty of time to focus on strategic writing and framing.
The various types of content marketing will be discussed, along with how they relate to social media marketing. There are five weeks’ worth of content, including videos, activities, readings, and quizzes.
You’ll learn:
- What the content marketing ecosystem is.
- How to use the “7A Framework” to power up your content.
- How to tailor your content to each phase of the buyer’s journey.
I recommend this course to social media marketers who want to approach social media marketing from a content-centric standpoint.
I’ve witnessed industry shifts firsthand, and it’s evident that continuous learning is crucial. The courses listed above will not only keep you ahead of the competition but will also give you the confidence to manage the changes that come with this ever-changing sector.
How long is a social media manager course?
Each course is 21 hours in length, for a total of 126 instructional hours. Most students choose to complete the program requirements within one to two years.
How much does social media training cost?
You can expect a live online social media marketing certificate course to cost around $2,500, although on-demand video courses tend to be cheaper than in-person or live online courses.
What is the difference between social media marketing and social media management?
Understanding the differences between social media management and marketing is critical to leveraging their full potential. While management keeps your brand connected with its audience, marketing drives growth and achieves specific business goals.
Conclusion
So, if you’re serious about advancing your career as a social media manager, investing in a good course is a no-brainer. The right courses can give you the tools and confidence as a social media manager you need to tackle anything 2024 throws at you—whether that’s mastering new algorithms or navigating the complexities of paid advertising. Don’t wait! Start exploring one of these top courses today and take your social media skills to the next level.
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