If you’ve ever thought you spend too much time on Facebook, maybe you should make a career of it.
Social media managers know the ins and outs of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and other platforms in which users upload their own content. Social media specialists keep up with the latest trends to remain on the cutting edge of using these platforms, and they know which ones are the best to use for different purposes.
Social media managers develop strategies to promote their companies’ brands using digital media, coordinating marketing strategy with the rest of the company. And they don’t just post it and forget it, but they follow up on users’ responses, questions and critiques.
Social media managers are responsible for every aspect of managing a company’s digital footprint. They create promotions, constantly post new content and coordinate the company’s overall online marketing plan.
Fifteen years ago, this job didn’t exist. Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter in 2006 and Instagram in 2010. It took time for businesses to see the advertising and publicity potential of these social platforms, and it took even more time for them to realize that they needed dedicated professionals to manage these accounts.
Today it’s an occupation with a secure future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the job outlook for social media managers under “public relations specialists,” for which it projects a 7% increase from 2019 through 2029, while the average for all professions is just 4%. The BLS says PR specialists earned a median annual salary of $61,150 in 2019.
Glassdoor says social media managers make an average of $50,473 a year in the U.S. According to Payscale, they make an average of $51,162. Not bad for a profession where you spend much of your day scouring social media, which in many occupations is considered “goofing off.”
If you’re looking for a job in this competitive field, you’ll need to put your publicity skills to work by promoting yourself, and that starts with a great cover letter and resume. Resume.io has already prepared a guide for resume preparation for social media managers, which we encourage you to review.
But now let’s talk about the cover letter you need to accompany this resume. What we’ll discuss in this guide:
A cover letter should follow a defined structure, including all of the following components:
The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more general advice about cover letters, but below you will find specific advice for each paragraph and section of your letter.
This social media manager cover letter example is a good foundation to develop your own professional application:
Dear Mrs Hartley,
It used to be that if customers walked out of a restaurant with a happily full stomach, they might tell two of their friends. Whenever they happened to chat with them, that is. Over the past five years, the feedback loop has become far more immediate and transparent – image-led snackable social media feeds are made for the restaurant business.
Social media is where you maintain relationships with active customers and create awareness for a whole swathe of new ones. Having run the social media accounts for two restaurant chains, I understand the buttons that you need to push to keep your restaurant fully booked and your diners raving. When people eat great food, they want an avenue to let the world know about it. A professional social media presence is a second “kitchen.”
I understand that this role is new for your business, but I would like to put your mind at rest: I have documented proof from my two previous roles that with an investment of 2% of your monthly net profits, you get 5/6x ROI on your investment. Your social media team will pay for themselves within a month and any investment in targeted ads (essential) enjoys a 500-1000% ROI. Those numbers sound fanciful, but here are some of my previous achievements:
I am proficient with all online media, including video and graphic design. One of my video campaigns won an industry award for innovative marketing. I enclose examples of my work that I think might work for your marketing and would be delighted to discuss at interview.
Sincerely,
Anthony Williams
Now, let’s talk about what each section should include.
If you are looking for more ideas, check out the following marketing cover letter examples:
The top of your letter should contain an attractively designed header that includes your personal contact info: name, occupation, address, phone and email. As a social media specialist, it may also be advisable to include links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles.
Aside from letting employers know how to reach you, the header serves a secondary function as a design element. It should have an eye-pleasing design and layout, perhaps a splash of color and an appropriate use of white space.
Social media managers are expected to possess “visual intelligence” to draw readers in with appropriate use of photos, graphics and videos. Although you certainly don’t want to over-decorate your header, you do want a professional but creative presentation that shows you understand the importance of good design.
Take a look at resume.io’s free cover letter templates to get an idea of what attractively designed headers look like.
The goal of this section: Prominently display your all-important contact information and create an eye-catching design.
Your resume and cover letter should have similar visuals and design, so use the same fonts, font sizes and formatting for both of these documents. It should be obvious at a glance that these two came from the same person and were made to go together.
This achieves two major goals: a) the hiring managers and recruiters will actually remember you due to matching document styles (the human brain loves patterns and similarities!) b) your resume and cover letter won’t get separated and lost in the bustle of the office, since they are memorable specifically as a pair, attached to your name.
“Dear Mr. Carpenter” or “Dear Ms. Baker” are examples of a proper cover letter greeting (also known as a salutation). In formal business letters, these are generally followed by a colon rather than a comma.
If you happen to know the person you’re writing to, there’s nothing wrong with addressing him or her by first name, perhaps with a greeting other than “Dear” such as “Greetings” or “Hello.” But beware of being too casual in a letter where you’re asking for a job.
The goal of your greeting: Start off in a professional manner to set the tone for your letter.
Always attempt to address your letter to a hiring manager by name. If your greeting says only “Dear Hiring Manager,” it suggests that you haven’t gone to any trouble to find out who makes the decisions at the company you’re targeting.
People like to read their own names — it actually causes a positive psychological response in the reader. And it shows attention to detail and responsibility on your part if you’ve bothered to learn the name of the proper person to address.
If you’re responding to a job posting that doesn’t include a name, it may well be worth your time to call the company and find out who is the appropriate person to write to.
You only get one chance at a first impression, so the first paragraph of your letter should be a provocative, attention-getting statement. You want to identify the job you’re seeking and also provide a top-level preview of your qualifications for the job. And in some cases, it may be appropriate to say why you’re seeking a new job in the first place.
It’s important to establish the right tone of voice — lively, energetic and confident, yet never arrogant, presumptuous or familiar.
The goal of the cover letter intro: Craft your message to fit the needs of the company. Get the hiring manager to sit up and take notice so they want to read on.
It used to be that if customers walked out of a restaurant with a happily full stomach, they might tell two of their friends. Whenever they happened to chat with them, that is. Over the past five years, the feedback loop has become far more immediate and transparent – image-led snackable social media feeds are made for the restaurant business.
In the central two or three paragraphs of your letter, you want to make a convincing case that you are the right candidate for this job.
You need to emphasize your relevant work experience, not just by saying where you’ve worked but by listing your accomplishments at those jobs. Be specific by using facts and figures wherever possible, and use anecdotes to tell short stories about challenges you’ve faced in the past and how you resolved them.
As a social media specialist, there may be additional figures you can cite to stress how influential your online presence is, perhaps by naming the platforms you use and citing the number of followers you reach.
Another very effective way to use the body of your letter is to address the needs you know of at the company you’re targeting. If you’re aware that this company is struggling against a competitor with a more robust social media presence, try to find a way to suggest how your contribution would help level that field.
Speaking of which, it’s always helpful to say something specific about the company you’re addressing — showing that you’ve done your homework to speak to its needs, and that you aren’t just mass-mailing the same cover letter to random employers.
You can also use the body of your letter to mention your education and/or certifications, especially if you have formal training in advertising, public relations, marketing, communication or sales.
The goal of the middle part: Explain how you go about developing a social media campaign and your knowledge of the industry.
Social media is where you maintain relationships with active customers and create awareness for a whole swathe of new ones. Having run the social media accounts for two restaurant chains, I understand the buttons that you need to push to keep your restaurant fully booked and your diners raving. When people eat great food, they want an avenue to let the world know about it. A professional social media presence is a second “kitchen.”
Close with a recap, a thank you and a call to action. Say something about how you are eager to have a continued conversation about this position, or about you would be delighted to come in for an interview.
Again, you want to speak in an upbeat, confident tone, without ever sounding arrogant or presumptuous. Make your reader want to talk to you further.
Close with a simple “Sincerely,” “All my best,” or a similar phrase, and type your name below that. If you’re sending this letter electronically, you can add a scanned version of your actual signature if you like.
The goal of the conclusion: Tell your future employer why they should hire you and remind them you are eager for an interview.
I am proficient with all online media, including video and graphic design. One of my video campaigns won an industry award for innovative marketing. I enclose examples of my work that I think might work for your marketing and would be delighted to discuss at interview.
Social media managers need a sense of visual flair, and your design skills should show in your cover letter. Make sure it looks as good as it reads by following these formatting tips.
Always remember that you’re writing to a human being, and your goal is to establish a personal connection with that person. So your letter should read like it was written by a human being, not a corporate robot — and while this is a formal business letter, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be personal.
Psychologists say people react to stimuli on both an emotional and a rational level, so ideally you want to speak to both the head and the heart. Writing in a professional tone doesn’t mean you can’t have a personality or a sense of humor.
It’s crucial to find a tone that hits the right notes, with a confidence that suggests competence, but not with an overconfidence that suggests arrogance. You want to come off as someone who is really good at what you do, yet also someone who’s likable. Nobody wants to work with someone they don’t like.
Streamlining
Be sure your letter contains everything it should and nothing it shouldn’t. Leave out extraneous info that isn’t relevant to the job. And when deciding which experience and skills to highlight, choose carefully. For each job you apply for, consider which of your achievements and qualities demonstrate that you’re the best fit. You may have skills you take for granted and don’t even mention, but these may be the very skills the employer is looking for.
Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager as you reread your letter. If you received this letter, would you want to hire the person who wrote it? Don’t just write the letter you want to write; write a letter the hiring manager would want to receive.
Here are some common mistakes you want to avoid in writing a cover letter:
Happy job hunting and remember: fortune favors those who are well prepared!