You want to know which one is better for you, a Social Media Manager (SMM) vs Virtual Assistant (VA), for both reasons, i.e., if you want to become one or want to hire one, here is everything you want to know about the Virtual Assistant and Social Media Manager.
Who Is A Virtual Assistant
The term “virtual assistant” was coined in 2008 by Jeff Bullas, CEO of Bullas & Company, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in technology strategy. He defines a virtual assistant as a software program used to automate office functions typically performed by administrative support staff.
A virtual assistant (VA) is someone with diverse skill sets who works remotely and assists businesses with tasks such as data entry, client follow-up, email creation, marketing, etc. VAs are often hired as contractors rather than employees and work independently. Digital marketing is also one of their core virtual assistant services. They are usually hired by small businesses and freelancers. Some virtual assistants even offer free trials. However, there are some drawbacks to hiring a virtual assistant. For example, it can be difficult to find one who understands your industry. You also don’t want to pay too much money upfront.
Some people refer to them as personal assistants because they perform many of the same duties as a traditional PA.
What Does A Virtual Assistant Do
A virtual assistant does everything from booking flights to managing emails, scheduling appointments, and even taking care of personal errands. They are usually hired by small businesses and individuals looking to save money, while still getting high-quality work done.
The duties of a virtual assistant include handling all sorts of correspondence, such as emailing clients and customers, scheduling meetings, answering calls, and making sure that important documents are filed properly. Most virtual assistants do general office management, including organizing files, creating spreadsheets, and updating databases. Some virtual assistants specialize in specific areas like social media marketing, accounting, bookkeeping, and customer support.
While being able to multitask is crucial for success in this position, it is not enough to simply be good at several things. VA must also be organized, punctual, and extremely detail oriented. For example, VA might be asked to send out invoices and receipts, but also be expected to keep track of expenses and ensure that payments go out on time.
The virtual assistant also needs excellent writing and grammar skills because most virtual assistants write letters and emails for companies and people. Being well-spoken and having strong listening skills are also essential. Many virtual assistants are also required to speak with clients over the phone, so you’ll need to be comfortable communicating verbally.
In short, there are many different responsibilities involved in being a virtual assistant, but the main thing is that you’re responsible for helping others succeed.
Who Is A Social Media Manager
A social media manager manages social media platforms or social media profiles for clients. You might have seen different titles for this job role like Social Media Assistant, Social Media Manager, and Social Media Strategist, etc. They are responsible for posting social media posts and content regularly across multiple platforms and monitoring comments and feedback. And they know all the social media strategies. This person works closely with marketing teams to help grow audiences and increase brand awareness.
They are often hired by businesses that want to grow their customer base and increase sales. Their role includes managing the company’s social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., and posting relevant information about the company. These individuals often coordinate posts and respond to customer questions and concerns. Social media managers often interact directly with customers and provide support via live chat, email, phone calls, and video chats.
The role requires extensive knowledge about how people communicate online and what types of content perform best in different contexts. Managers must understand how to engage consumers and build relationships with followers.
Social media managers usually report directly to the CEO or owner of the company. If there isn’t one person overseeing social media, the position could fall under the umbrella of marketing or communications.
The average salary for a social media manager ranges from $45,000 to $75,000 per year.
What Does A Social Media Manager Do
A skilled and knowledgeable social media manager is needed to manage the daily operations of a small business’ social media accounts. This position requires someone who is able to plan out social media campaigns and post regular social media content to keep customers engaged and interested and maintain your social media presence. This includes posting content regularly, responding to customers, and monitoring competitors’ activity. By developing high-quality and original posts and tweets, they can build a strong following and engage with existing fans. They must also monitor and respond to negative feedback and complaints.
The ideal candidate must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write concise copy and communicate effectively via phone, email, text messages, and live chat. They must be proficient in Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and be familiar with basic HTML editing.
This position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and an understanding of how to use analytics tools to measure success. In addition, candidates must understand how to build relationships with influencers and journalists, and be comfortable working independently while managing multiple projects simultaneously. Finally, applicants must be self-motivated, organized, and able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Advantages Of A Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant (VA) can save you time and money. They can handle administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, data entry, customer support, marketing, scheduling, and much more. A VA can free up your time to focus on what you do best – running your business.
The best part about hiring a virtual assistant is that you won’t even know what they’re doing most of the time. They’ll handle everything from booking travel arrangements to managing your calendar. They’ll even handle some customer support duties, too.
If you’re looking for ways to make your life easier, look no further than a virtual assistant. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider one today.
- They save you time.
- They keep up with social media.
- They handle emails.
- They manage your schedule.
- They research topics for you.
- They help you stay organized.
- They create reports, spreadsheets, and content calendars.
- They take care of your finances.
- They maintain your social channels.
- They can work remotely.
How To Hire A Virtual Assistant
The most common misconception about employing a VA is that it costs too much. In reality, there are many ways to find a reliable VA without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to consider:
- Use online job boards like Upwork and Freelancer.com to post your job requirements. This way, you won’t waste time posting on Craigslist or searching for jobs in newspapers. You’ll receive bids within minutes.
- Consider hiring a freelancer rather than a full-time employee. Many people prefer to work independently and freelance because they want flexibility and freedom.
- Hire a VA who specializes in your industry. For example, if you run a law firm, look for a lawyer who specializes in legal matters. If you’re looking for a VA to assist with social media management, make sure they specialize in social media.
- Research the market to see how much competition there is for VAs. Some markets are saturated, meaning there are plenty of VAs out there. Other markets, however, are understaffed. By researching the market, you can determine whether it makes sense to hire a VA.
- Ask friends, family members, and colleagues for recommendations. Even though they might not be familiar with the process, they can provide insight into the quality of VAs in their area.
Advantages Of A Social Media Manager
Social Media Managers provide a range of benefits to businesses, including increased brand awareness, improved customer experience, improved social media strategy, maintained social media presence, content creation, and better conversions. They are able to manage multiple platforms, monitor trends, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
In addition to managing social media, they can also assist with other aspects of online marketing such as email campaigns, web design, and analytics. This ensures that your digital footprint is always up-to-date while keeping track of your performance metrics.
A good SMM will work closely with your marketing department to understand your goals and objectives. They will also know where to find the best tools and resources to help you achieve those goals.
Social media managers use software to monitor activity across multiple platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tumblr, Reddit, Periscope, Vine, and others. Managers can also provide feedback to clients, suggest improvements, and even recommend changes to policies.
How To Hire A Social Media Manager
- First, ensure that the person you choose has experience managing more than one social platform. The ideal candidate should have knowledge of at least three or four platforms.
- Next, ask potential candidates what kind of results they expect. Make sure they explain clearly why they think they’d be an asset to your business. It’s important to note that even experienced SMMs sometimes fail to meet expectations.
- Finally, check online reviews to gauge the reputation of the company before making any decisions. Most reputable companies will offer references from previous employers. Also, read through negative comments to get a feel for the overall tone of the company.
Difference Between A Social Media Manager And A Virtual Assistant
- A social media manager specializes in managing and strategizing social media content, engagement, and analytics. In contrast, a virtual assistant handles diverse tasks remotely, including administrative duties, scheduling, and may also manage social media but with a broader scope of responsibilities.
- A social media manager is focused primarily on one area of your marketing strategy and a virtual assistant works across several different areas. Social media managers are usually tasked with managing multiple accounts, while virtual assistants are responsible for everything else.
- Social media managers have experience in growing social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and others. They use tools such as Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social to manage multiple profiles and keep up with news and trends. In addition, they might be able to help you grow your email list, optimize your blog posts, run paid ads, analyze data, and much more.
- Virtual assistants do it all. These experts work behind the scenes to make sure your business runs smoothly. They handle customer support, book appointments, schedule meetings, send emails and perform administrative tasks. Virtual assistants also know how to write copy for blogs, articles, press releases, and eBooks. Some can even take care of accounting, invoicing, and payroll.
- Social media managers are typically paid hourly rates while virtual assistants charge per project basis. Social media managers generally work 40 hours per week while virtual assistants often work 10-20 hours per week depending on the task.
Can A Virtual Assistant Be A Social Media Manager
Virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular among small businesses because they take away some of the administrative burdens that come along with running a small business. However, there is a downside to relying solely on a virtual assistant to handle your social media needs.
According to Social Media Examiner, “The biggest challenge facing many marketers today is that they don’t know how to manage multiple social networks effectively.” A recent study revealed that almost half of the respondents reported having no strategy whatsoever for managing social media accounts across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. This lack of knowledge can lead to inconsistent brand messaging, poor customer service, and missed opportunities.
With that being said, it might be wise to consider outsourcing your social media management duties to someone else. You can hire a virtual assistant to help you build a strong presence online while you focus on what you do best – running your business.
