Not every social media manager is a strategist

Not every social media manager is a strategist.

Quite often the terms are used interchangably in the industry- but in fact, they are two very different things.

Here are the differences:

⭐A strategist is a high-level expert who will set and determine the tactics employed to move the business forward using social media as a tool.

⭐A social media manager then creates content in line with the strategy and manages getting the content out across your social channels.

With a social media strategist, you usually will pay a one-time fee and have a complete strategy document delivered so that you and your team can implement it. Alternatively, you can have a strategist on a retainer who will provide that strategy but oversee its implementation with a social media manager, and the strategist will also adjust your strategy and tactics after looking at your data.

Some social media strategists, like myself, also offer social media management as an offer. But it is not a given that someone offers both. So checking when you have those initial conversations means you will get to see what they can actually deliver for you, and check their expectations that the role match yours.

If you don’t hire a strategist, and choose to hire a social media manager instead, it does not mean that you are getting any less of a service, it is just a different package you are getting. However, you are likely (although not always) to find a monthly management package that solely creates content and schedules it, without follow-up, costs less that a strategist, who will also be charging for looking at analytics and adapting your approach.

If you go down the management route, you will need to ensure that you are providing them with a strategy to follow, and give them clear guidance on what your social media goals are for the content that you are asking them to complete. Essentially the success of the strategy is more reliant on you.

However, both roles have a place in delivering your social media strategy, but knowing the two distinct purposes of those roles will help you hire the right role for your business, and your budget.