
Social media management is the practice of developing and executing strategy to achieve organizational goals through posting content and interacting with others online across a range of ever-growing and changing social platforms. It requires planning, creating content, measuring impact and effectively engaging (potential) customers or stakeholders.
Many organizations manage their social media presence with in-house staff, though some do rely on agencies to provide this service. In smaller organizations there may not be a dedicated team to handle this function and social media management is often the responsibility of a marketing or communications team member. Experience with analytics, image and video editing software, content management systems and copywriting is often required.
Learn more about this field in the Firsthand Guide to Social Media Jobs.
Students interested in positions in social media can prepare by pursuing roles in student organizations where they are contributing to their marketing, membership growth and event execution through social media. Employers often look for more than personal social media use, and like to see practical applications of skills. Having examples of your work and its impact will help you in application materials and interviews.
Many employers post social media roles on their websites, but students can also network with professionals and alumni to learn about roles. Some Princeton students pursue digital marketing master’s programs to build additional expertise.
- Social media specialist/manager
- Social media analyst
- Communications specialist
- Digital media manager
Professional organizations and associations are membership-based groups comprised of people working in a similar field. They can be helpful resources for students to learn more about a field, develop connections and discover related opportunities. You can search for related organizations and associations using a database provided by the Princeton University Library.
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