What does 'working in social media' really mean?
Beyond posting pictures of your pooch on Instagram, there are many ways where you can make a living through social media. Micala Wilkins, a social media consultant, describes what her trendy job entails and how she got into this innovative new industry.
Micala Wilkins can never be accused of spending too much time on social media because that’s exactly what her job entails! The 50-year-old has one of the world’s trendiest roles as a social media consultant to a wide range of companies.
“We work closely with them to understand their key messages, target audiences, and what's happening in their businesses, both now and in the future,” she explains.
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Micala, who works with Sussex-based Chimera Communications, had a background in marketing and sales before making the move.
“I was a business development manager prior to concentrating on what I saw as a growing and fascinating area,” she says.
Having already honed her organisational, strategic and forward-thinking skills, the move into social media seemed an obvious next step.
“The fact that you can garner a lot from social media platforms - feedback, research, reading news and networks - all really appealed to me about working in this world,” she says.
Micala particularly enjoys the autonomy to craft content for clients – and decide how best to convey their messages on different platforms.
“I like the ability to be as creative as I can be, as well as getting to grips with each social media channel,” she adds.
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Of course, knowing all the different social media platforms really well is essential – even if clients choose to focus on just a couple of channels to reach their target audiences.
“When you use social media for a while you start to get intuitive about it,” she says. “You can see what’s working well for others, and what is not.”
For anyone looking to work in a similar role, Micala’s advice is to understand the client and acknowledge their reputation is in your hands. Bad news, she points out, can spread quickly.
“You also need to keep your finger on the social media pulse as platforms change regularly,” she adds. “There is always a lot to sift through – and plenty of fake news!”
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