Social Media Manager vs. Social Media Marketing

When it comes to leveraging social media for business growth, you might hear terms like "social media manager" and "social media marketing" thrown around interchangeably. But the truth is, they’re not the same thing. Understanding the distinction between the two can help you make better decisions about what your business needs to succeed online.

What Is a Social Media Manager?

A social media manager is the person (or team) responsible for the day-to-day management of your social media accounts. Their job is to ensure your brand stays consistent, professional, and active across your platforms.

Here’s what a social media manager typically handles:

• Content Creation: Writing, designing, and posting engaging content tailored to your brand voice.
• Scheduling: Using tools like Metricool to plan posts ahead of time for optimal reach and engagement.
• Engagement: Responding to comments, messages, and mentions to foster a community around your brand.
• Analytics Tracking: Monitoring performance metrics like likes, shares, and reach to refine strategies.

A social media manager keeps your platforms running smoothly and ensures your audience stays engaged. However, they are typically more focused on execution than developing a high-level marketing strategy.

What Is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is a broader concept that focuses on using social media platforms as a strategic marketing tool to achieve specific business goals, such as increasing brand awareness, driving traffic, or generating sales. It involves a lot more planning and coordination than day-to-day account management.

Social media marketing typically includes:

• Strategy Development: Creating a long-term plan that aligns social media efforts with your business goals.
• Campaigns: Running focused campaigns, such as giveaways, influencer collaborations, or product launches.
• Paid Ads: Developing and managing targeted ad campaigns to reach new audiences.
• Brand Positioning: Ensuring that all content aligns with your brand’s identity and values.
• Lead Generation: Designing strategies to turn social media followers into paying customers.

Social media marketing is about taking a step back and looking at the big picture to ensure every effort contributes to your company’s growth.