Comments on: How do I get a job in social media marketing? http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rhonda Chapman http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-15599 Rhonda Chapman Tue, 31 May 2011 08:06:00 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-15599 That is exactly what I'm doing. Putting myself out there and learning as much as possible. I view myself as my own client and selling strong and hard. It is not easy taking into consideration that there are so many graduates and experienced marketers competing with me. I found myself three mentors who are owners and directors/managers at marketing companies and that helps me quite a lot with choosing subjects in my diploma, blog, networking. I find mentors a key to success. That is exactly what I’m doing. Putting myself out there and learning as much as possible. I view myself as my own client and selling strong and hard. It is not easy taking into consideration that there are so many graduates and experienced marketers competing with me. I found myself three mentors who are owners and directors/managers at marketing companies and that helps me quite a lot with choosing subjects in my diploma, blog, networking. I find mentors a key to success.

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]]> By: Renee DeCoskey http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-15598 Renee DeCoskey Tue, 31 May 2011 05:56:00 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-15598 Great post, Mark. It really hits home for me. As a displaced English teacher, I realize that, with education the way it is in the US right now, I can't just sit around hoping a new teaching job falls into my lap. It just doesn't seem likely. I've spent two years trying to figure out where I could take my writing skills, and ultimately this is where it led me. Another degree isn't in my budget right now, but I've been trying to get all the experience I can -- building myself a brand online, freelance blogging, learning as much as possible, and trying to participate in the conversation as much as I can. I know it's an uphill battle, but I'd be happy just to start in entry level if it means I get to learn as I work. I just keep sending out letters and hoping, hoping, hoping someone takes a chance on me.  Thanks for a great post :)  Great post, Mark. It really hits home for me. As a displaced English teacher, I realize that, with education the way it is in the US right now, I can’t just sit around hoping a new teaching job falls into my lap. It just doesn’t seem likely. I’ve spent two years trying to figure out where I could take my writing skills, and ultimately this is where it led me. Another degree isn’t in my budget right now, but I’ve been trying to get all the experience I can — building myself a brand online, freelance blogging, learning as much as possible, and trying to participate in the conversation as much as I can. I know it’s an uphill battle, but I’d be happy just to start in entry level if it means I get to learn as I work. I just keep sending out letters and hoping, hoping, hoping someone takes a chance on me. 

Thanks for a great post :)  

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-6250 Mark Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:26:30 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-6250 Chris, Always an honor to have you stop by. Particularly interested in hearing more about your new degree. Sounds fascinating. Philosophically I agree that a degree may be unnecessary but practically speaking wonder if a self-guided education would work for many people. Certainly a possibility though. Chris, Always an honor to have you stop by. Particularly interested in hearing more about your new degree. Sounds fascinating. Philosophically I agree that a degree may be unnecessary but practically speaking wonder if a self-guided education would work for many people. Certainly a possibility though.

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]]> By: Chris Bailey http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-6246 Chris Bailey Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:27:28 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-6246 Mark, I'm really glad to see you recommend "become a beefy marketer" as your most important requirement. If you don't know the first thing about marketing, then no amount of social media wizardry is going to help you. Show me you know how to build campaigns that fulfill a strategic purpose (like getting more leads, improving brand positioning, etc.) and it doesn't really matter if you can accomplish it through social media or through more traditional means. The point is to meet a business need, irregardless of the toolset (and social media is just that). I'd also argue that degrees are nice but nonessential. I have a history degree and working toward a business anthropology Master's degree. To someone without a degree or formal training, I'd recommend a two-pronged approach: 1) Read a diverse set of marketing books and blogs. Look for best practices on how to execute the basics as well as gathering new ideas. 2) Think about how you would put this reading into practice. If given an assignment to create a new inbound marketing strategy, how would you do it? If asked to build a social media effort around a product launch, how would you do it? Create a one-page document and have an experienced marketer help you fill in the gaps. Then package this as part of your portfolio and take it to an interview. As a hiring manager, if I can see how you think, how you solve critical problems, I'll be more likely to consider you for a general marketing or a social media marketing position. Mark, I’m really glad to see you recommend “become a beefy marketer” as your most important requirement. If you don’t know the first thing about marketing, then no amount of social media wizardry is going to help you. Show me you know how to build campaigns that fulfill a strategic purpose (like getting more leads, improving brand positioning, etc.) and it doesn’t really matter if you can accomplish it through social media or through more traditional means. The point is to meet a business need, irregardless of the toolset (and social media is just that).

I’d also argue that degrees are nice but nonessential. I have a history degree and working toward a business anthropology Master’s degree. To someone without a degree or formal training, I’d recommend a two-pronged approach:
1) Read a diverse set of marketing books and blogs. Look for best practices on how to execute the basics as well as gathering new ideas.
2) Think about how you would put this reading into practice. If given an assignment to create a new inbound marketing strategy, how would you do it? If asked to build a social media effort around a product launch, how would you do it? Create a one-page document and have an experienced marketer help you fill in the gaps. Then package this as part of your portfolio and take it to an interview. As a hiring manager, if I can see how you think, how you solve critical problems, I’ll be more likely to consider you for a general marketing or a social media marketing position.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-4764 Mark Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:57:02 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-4764 You certainly have the right background to make a go of it Joey! Best wishes to you and let me know if I can help (I live right down the road!) You certainly have the right background to make a go of it Joey! Best wishes to you and let me know if I can help (I live right down the road!)

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]]> By: Joey Strawn http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-4761 Joey Strawn Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:29:32 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-4761 Wow Mark, another great post. It's hard to keep up and this one is especially relevant to me as I am currently looking for a place in the social media world. I've already saved this article and plan to look it over and over as I continue my search. Right now, I'm sitting with a Master's in Marketing and PR and I write my blog and interact to build my community and it has given me great contacts. A couple of whom I'm currently working on some projects to gain experience and hopefully a name around Nashville. Thanks for the advice and I hope to comment on this issue later saying how much of a success it has all been for me. Experience is key and I'm gaining it as I go. Wow Mark, another great post. It’s hard to keep up and this one is especially relevant to me as I am currently looking for a place in the social media world. I’ve already saved this article and plan to look it over and over as I continue my search.

Right now, I’m sitting with a Master’s in Marketing and PR and I write my blog and interact to build my community and it has given me great contacts. A couple of whom I’m currently working on some projects to gain experience and hopefully a name around Nashville.

Thanks for the advice and I hope to comment on this issue later saying how much of a success it has all been for me. Experience is key and I’m gaining it as I go.

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]]> By: Reza Malayeri http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-4363 Reza Malayeri Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:22:34 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-4363 Mark you make some great points and give great advice for people looking to join the growing world of Social media marketing and public relations. I finished my BA in finance and have worked in many different fields. I found that business school was a great place to become well rounded in many of the area's that are needed for any aspiring social media rep. I consulted as a business development rep with a social media startup here in Seattle for several months, and learned quite a bit during that time. I was tasked with crowd sourcing, engagement on Twitter, and management of Facebook fan pages for our clients. There are many skills that are necessary for PR and marketing reps to be effective and the ones that are gained through college are definitely very valuable to job seekers and employers. Mark you make some great points and give great advice for people looking to join the growing world of Social media marketing and public relations. I finished my BA in finance and have worked in many different fields. I found that business school was a great place to become well rounded in many of the area’s that are needed for any aspiring social media rep. I consulted as a business development rep with a social media startup here in Seattle for several months, and learned quite a bit during that time. I was tasked with crowd sourcing, engagement on Twitter, and management of Facebook fan pages for our clients. There are many skills that are necessary for PR and marketing reps to be effective and the ones that are gained through college are definitely very valuable to job seekers and employers.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-2651 Mark Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:57:13 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-2651 @Brad Really glad this helped! Good luck with everything!! @Brad Really glad this helped! Good luck with everything!!

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]]> By: Brad Lovett http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-2644 Brad Lovett Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:27:20 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-2644 Great article and answered a lot of questions for me. I think I intrinsically knew some of the answers. I'm a little different as I'm not a young person just out of college; I've spent 30 years in old media. Definetely a lot of experience to get to make the transition, but I believe it will be worth it. Great article and answered a lot of questions for me. I think I intrinsically knew some of the answers. I’m a little different as I’m not a young person just out of college; I’ve spent 30 years in old media. Definetely a lot of experience to get to make the transition, but I believe it will be worth it.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/02/14/how-do-i-get-a-job-in-social-media-marketing/#comment-2634 Mark Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:56:35 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2188#comment-2634 @Prince You're doing a great job on your blog -- that's a good start toward demonstrating proficiency and gaining experience. Keep up the good work! @Natasha Always a pleasure to hear from you! @Prince You’re doing a great job on your blog — that’s a good start toward demonstrating proficiency and gaining experience. Keep up the good work!

@Natasha Always a pleasure to hear from you!

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