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Tagged Tendril
September 10, 2023

Should social media managers also have to be content creators (particularly for video)?

  • September 10, 2023
  • 13 replies
  • 1234 views

I’d love to hear people’s opinions on this! 

 

I’m a relatively senior social media manager (7+ years) and in my last role I worked hard to educate on how a social media manager also shouldn’t be your videographer, graphic designer and content creator (especially for reels and TikTok). I reached a point where I didn’t have to film anymore and only had to edit a video every couple weeks. I developed a network of content creators and influencers to produce video content instead so I could focus on strategy. Funnily enough it was very successful, crazy how much more I could achieve and enjoyed the job when I wasn’t bogged down in hours of editing. 

 

I’m in a new market and looking for a role and struggling to find a job where I’m not expected to shoot and edit all video content I’d be posting on social. It’s been frustrating landing interviews then finding out filming and editing is 50% or more of the role. I feel pretty strongly that a social media manager shouldn’t also have to be a content creator - other marketers aren’t expected to produce their own creative to the same extent! Keen to hear other SMMs thoughts! 

 

    13 replies

    Former Community Manager
    December 5, 2023

    @mmellander I hear you! It’s the hardest balance for sure. Loving the conversation and evereyone’s perspectives here!

    - Jonathan Z, Former Arboretum Moderator
    mary
    Engagement Orchard
    December 8, 2023

    @Claire.P I think a lot of this would depend upon the size of the business. A larger business will have a larger budget to cover content creators separately from social media management. A smaller business (or even some medium size businesses) may not have the resources to cover both separately.

    Mary
    Tagged Tendril
    September 27, 2024

    I would LOVE to not have to wear all the hats. Unfortunately, in many of the places I’ve worked, they just don’t have the budget to hire enough staff to do it well. While I agree, and in my consulting practice, I would consult on content creation, but largely do editing and strategy. However, now that I’m back and not working for myself, most of the jobs I’ve had require me to be the expert on not only strategy, scheduling, and management, but also the primary creator. 

    Most of the people I could use to create content aren’t communications professionals, so the videos they take or things they provide end up being almost completely unusable anyways.