Nobody alive today can honestly claim not to know the awesome power that social media wields. Whether in education, business, learning, or simple socialization, social media has come along and revolutionized the way we interact, work, and play. In the U.S.A. alone, over 2.1 billion social media profiles, spread out over a plethora of platforms, exist, with billions more spread out across all four corners of the globe.
With these figures in mind, it’s no surprise that business organizations are becoming fully alive to the fact that social engagement has to be a priority in their operational strategies should they wish to stay in the game. You won’t find social media engagement reserved for the teams in communications, marketing, or I.T. departments, however; it’s an organization-wide effort, involving every employee from the CEO downwards in many cases.
That’s why, whatever your rank in the organizational hierarchy, social media savvy is increasingly becoming an important component of the skill set employees bring to their positions. As business models and social media dynamics continue to evolve rapidly, job titles and departmental requirements will continue emphasizing the growing importance of social media users and social media know-how, and this will become more and more adapted to the specific business sector in question. You don’t tweet quite the same way as the CEO of a fortune 500 tech company as you would as the sole proprietor of a tattoo parlor – you have to tailor your message to your audience.
Here’s a look at some of the job titles that have already felt the touch of social media in their workings and what makes it a relevant aspect of their day-to-day operations.
- Data Scientist – When called upon to reveal and analyze an organization’s marketing ROI (Return On Investment), a working knowledge of social marketing analytics comes in handy to get you as complete a picture of the rewards of your marketing efforts as possible. Social media updates and trending topics may also act as an illuminating, if not entirely comprehensive forex calendar, lending insightful leads on events shaping the world of finance.
- Head Hunter/Recruiter – For this special breed of worker, whose job s to locate and attract the best talent in the workforce available out there, social media is an undeniably valuable to have. Employee referrals are made infinitely easier by the wealth of information provided by professional social media platforms as well.
- Community Management/ Customer Service – Brick-and-mortar businesses and online enterprises alike are facing a similar reality, and that’s the fact many of their customers rely on social media to have their issues resolved, seek opinions on your products, and have any questions they might have answered. For the highest customer engagement and satisfaction possible, a strong social media presence is essential for success.
- Law – Social media doesn’t come without its share of legal pitfalls, as the open, uninterrupted, and often unfiltered flow of information from a business to the outside world can every often result in damaging or negative information leaking out. The ramifications of this may even take on a legal aspect. Social media crises are a new introduction to the lawyer’s list of responsibilities, and they show little sign of disappearing any time soon.
- Creative Teams (designers, copywriters, etc.) – The working opportunities for creative professionals have been greatly opened up thanks to the advent of social media. Organizations are increasingly placing value on professionals that can deliver high quality, engaging, and industry-relevant content to reach out to the increasingly important audience to be found on social media.
- Content Strategist –You’ve probably heard it more than enough times by now, but Content is King, and it seems it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Content strategists are thereby tasked with creating increasingly valuable social content to drive engagement and coordinate the running of campaigns and channels.
The Long and Short of it
At the end of the day, those among us looking to make their mark in the world of business need to include social media in their toolkit or be consigned to the ranks of the non-starters. Beginners and old-hands alike are scrambling to keep up with the rapid advances and shifting dynamics that characterize the social media sphere. Whatever your operational budget, social media is an asset that you can’t afford to overlook.
