In this post
Is a Career in Social Media Marketing Right For You?

Working in social media sounds like a dream come true – imagine spending your days switching from Facebook to Instagram to Twitter, without the added anxiety that your boss may be looking over your shoulder while you’re updating a status?
That being said, a career in social media marketing isn’t all retweets and double-taps – there is a lot more to the job than meets the eye.
So, what is it really like to have a career in social media? Explore the ins and outs that are unique to this fast-paced industry.
What is social media marketing? (SMM)
Social media marketing is the practice of using social mediums and social networking websites as a tool to market an organisation’s products or services. By using social media marketing, companies are given a platform to engage with both new and existing audiences, and deliver these users different kinds of relevant content to create a community and grow brand exposure.
5 Important Skills for a Social Media Marketer
Copywriting
Copywriting is the written content and promotional materials for the purpose of marketing. For example, the text that you see accompanying an Instagram post, or the online articles that you find on your favourite fashion website, are all some form of copy. Copy writing comes in different forms – you can be a creative copywriter, a digital copywriter or even an SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) copywriter – the possibilities are vast when looking at the scope of marketing content.
Creativity
When you are a social media marketer, it is imperative that you capture the attention and interest of your audience, otherwise you will fall behind your competitors. Thinking of inventive methods to engage your social community, whilst still keeping it relevant to your business, is a tricky thing to do. Creative visual content is a central element of SMM.
Analytics
Content is only one part of the job – your ability to effectively track information is crucial to measure the success of your efforts. How will you know if your content is really resonating with your audience otherwise? There are plenty of social media networking tools that are designed to track information and deliver data and results.
SEO Knowledge
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is the practice of employing different techniques to increase the online visibility of your website in a search engine’s unpaid results. This is relevant to social as Google considers your social platforms when deciding where to rank you on its results page – the more reputable and genuine your website and social media platforms are, the higher up your website will appear in a search.
Organisational Skills
In this industry, organisation is a fundamental skill that all successful social media marketers possess. Managing content and coordinating it depending on several factors such as its type, goal, audience and platform, is all part and parcel of the role. The way you communicate to your audience and measure your interactions is assisted by timely organisational skills – it will definitely make your job a lot easier!
Top 5 Knowledge Areas in Marketing
- English Language – 87%
- Communications and Media – 87%
- Administration and Management – 82%
- Sales and Marketing – 78%
- Customer and Personal Service – 76%
Top 5 Skills in Marketing
- Active Listening – 80%
- Social Perceptiveness – 80%
- Speaking – 80%
- Time Management – 78%
- Critical Thinking – 75%
Social Media Marketing Jobs
Depending on the size of the business that you are working for, social media marketing can be split into several different roles:
Social Media Manager
The Social Media Manager puts a social strategy in place depending on organisational goals, whilst also supervising any action from other team members to put these goals into action. They also have final say in which social platforms are best suited to the businesses industry and what kind of content and copy you will make.
Content Creator
A fundamental factor of SMM, the content creator is responsible for just that: content. The content made for social channels can range from blog posts, images, video content and much more. As this is an ever-growing field, the Content Creator must always be on the ball when it comes to social trends and successful content.
Community Manager
This role is accountable for building and managing relationships within your social communities. Audience engagement is not defined by pushing out content and hoping for the best. It is listening to your audience, answering their questions and providing customer service, then utilising this information to make changes to the dynamic of the business when necessary.
Social Media Monitor
This role is another aspect of customer service, more so the management of negative feedback and disgruntled customers. Social media monitors respond to customer complaints that are received on social media, as well as up keeping brand image and generally monitoring social platforms.
These are only a few of the roles that fall under social media marketing – as there are so many aspects involved, positions can be broken down further and further depending on company resources and the importance of social media within the organisation. Want to know more? Meet a marketing professional here.
Average Pay for Different Social Media Positions
Social Media Coordinator Salary
$48,819
Social Media Manager Salary
$57,871
Social Media Strategist Salary
$75,000
Qualifications of a social media marketing professional
Social media marketers in Australia have some sort of basic degree or certificate directly relating to marketing, or equivalent experience. Depending on the path you decide to take, you can either get your qualification in marketing and then build on your social media marketing skills from there, or you can dive directly into a social media marketing course – the choice is entirely up to you depending on your career goals. There are plenty of social media courses in Melbourne and social media courses in Sydney, as well as a variety of study options, ranging from in-class, social media online courses, or a blend of both. These courses are designed to suit even the busiest of students, with the flexibility to study on your own terms.
What are the 4 P’s of Social Marketing?
The four P’s of marketing is a simplified concept that encompasses four components:
Product
‘Product’ is not just limited to tangible items, but can also be a service offered or even intangible ideas.
Price
‘Price’ refers to what the targeted audience might do to gain the product. Price is not limited to money, but can also be time and effort.
Place
The ‘Place’ is the way in which the product will be distributed to the customer. For social marketing, the so called ‘Place’ is generally confined to social media channels.
Promotion
And finally, ‘Promotion’ is the combined employment of elements like advertising, PR, promotional materials and various others.
Gender Employment Share Marketing
Full-Time Worker Share Marketing
If you consider yourself to be a social media enthusiast and think you’ve got what to help brands launch and develop their social platforms, turn your passion into a career in social media marketing. Whether you see yourself working in-house for a brand, as a freelance writer, at a social media marketing agency, or even as a blogger, there are a variety of courses and pathways to suit your career goals and study style, ensuring that you get the most out of your qualification.
If you’d like to find out even more about the marketing industry, read our Industry Insider: What Do Marketing Professionals Do? here.
Browse Results
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
Why choose the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)? The SSCP certification is recognised internationally as a benchmark for IT security expertise and is designed to validate the knowledge and skills necessary to implement, monitor and admini...
Project Management Professional – PMP
Why choose the Project Management Professional – PMP? The Project Management Professional Course is an in-depth course that enables project professionals to significantly improve their understanding of the intricacies and challenges of Project Manageme...
PRINCE2® Pathway
Why choose the PRINCE2® Pathway? PRINCE2® is a globally recognised project management methodology, and its adaptability lets you manage projects of all sizes, using industry best practice. Passing the PRINCE2® Foundation certification demonstrates your...
PRINCE2® Practitioner
Why choose the PRINCE2® Practitioner? If you’re looking to build on your foundational understanding of PRINCE2® Project Management methodology then this course is for you. PRINCE2® (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a globally recognised framewor...
PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner
Why choose the PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner? PRINCE2® is a globally recognised project management methodology, and its adaptability lets you manage projects of all sizes, using industry best practice. The PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner course is an extensi...
PRINCE2® Foundation
Why choose the PRINCE2® Foundation? PRINCE2® is the global standard for project management, and this certificate gets you well on the way to a rewarding and lucrative role as a project manager. The course will give you a clear understanding of the PRIN...
PMP Pathway
Why choose the PMP Pathway? Providing a senior level training in Project Management, plus the foundations of Scrum and Agile. Our PMP Pathway elevates your expertise in Project Management and widen your skill sets too. By completing this pathway, you’l...
PMP and Change Pathway
Why choose the PMP Pathway? Providing a senior level training in Project Management, plus the foundations of Scrum and Agile. Our PMP Pathway elevates your expertise in Project Management and widen your skill sets too. By completing this pathway, you’l...
PMI Agile Project Management
Why choose the PMI Agile Project Management? The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) course is a professional certification which works to enhance your ability to bring agility and self-sufficiency in project management. Agile projects involve self-...
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)
Why choose the PMI ACP? The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) course is a professional certification which works to enhance your ability to bring agility and self-sufficiency in project management. Agile projects involve self-empowered teams that...
Networking Career Starter Pathway
Why choose the Networking Career Starter Pathway? Our Networking Career Starter Pathway helps you to efficiently launch or advance your IT networking career. Covering the fundamentals of computing, networking, security, routing, and switching, each ste...
Microsoft Cloud Pathway
Why choose the Microsoft Cloud Pathway? Our Microsoft Cloud Pathway will help you learn the fundamentals of computing hardware, software, and networking and then helps you gain globally recognised certifications to work with the Microsoft Azure cloud....
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Why choose the Azure Solutions Architect Expert? The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert course elevates your expertise in designing and implementing Azure solutions. The course teaches you to craft solutions tailored to specific busi...
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900
Why choose the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900? The Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 certification is an entry-level qualification offered by Microsoft. Microsoft Azure is utilised globally, enabling companies to build, dep...
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate AZ-203
This course is for those with some experience in using Microsoft Azure looking to boost their career in this area. This certification is for someone with some experience working with Azure and the cloud looking to follow a cloud developer career pathwa...
Java Novice to Javanista
Why choose the Java Novice to Javanista? Java is a popular and versatile programming language that is used worldwide. It helps aspiring developers gain the skills and knowledge necessary to create applications, games, and tools in Java. This course wil...
ITIL®4 Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV)
Why choose the ITIL®4 Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV)? ITIL® 4 is the latest iteration of the widely adopted IT service management framework. By becoming certified in ITIL® Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV), you stay current with the latest best practices an...
ITIL® v4 Foundation
Why choose the ITIL® v4 Foundation? If you have an interest in building your understanding of IT applications in business strategy, then the ITIL® v4 Foundation is the course for you. During this entry-level course, you will become familiar with ITIL®...
ITIL® 4 High Velocity IT (HVIT)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 High Velocity IT (HVIT)? Stay ahead with ITIL® 4, the latest IT service management framework. Obtain the ITIL®4 High Velocity IT (HVIT) certification to drive change, align governance and strategy, and encourage collaboration for...
ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI)? The ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI) enables professionals to align governance and strategy with service management activities, encourage a culture of collaboration and continual improvement, a...
Online courses also available
Latest Articles
Agriculture Careers: What You Should Know in 2025
As one of Australia's most important industries, the agriculture industry offers great career opport...
Are Digital Skills the Key to Job Security in 2025?
The digital revolution is here, and it doesn’t care if you have a technical job or not — it’s coming...
How to Become a Chef in Australia: Complete Guide for 2025
The complete guide to becoming a chef in Australia. Learn how to get your start and make it in the h...
Want to read more?
Interested in a Career in Accounting? Here’s What You Need to Know
Accountants have a bit of a stigma for being an introverted or dull lot. But away from the stereotyp...
8 Best Working From Home Jobs in 2025: How to Make Money From Home Online
Whether you’re a stay at home mum looking to earn money working from home, or looking to avoid peak...
“Your Interests Are Your Toolkit”: How You Can Succeed as a Youth Worker
Youth work is one of Australia’s most dynamic sectors that can lead to a wide array of roles —...