What, Exactly, Does a Social Media Intern Do?
In the digital age, social media is a fundamental moving part that makes a marketing engine go. If you’re looking for the majority of your customers, there’s a great chance you can find them on a social platform. But running this sector properly is no easy feat. So what does this mean for your brand or business? It’s simple: you’ll need a helping hand—someone who knows the ropes. We’ve got a suggestion: hire a social media intern.
What Do Social Media Interns Do?
We get it, it’s tricky. Trusting someone who is not particularly seasoned in a given field to run such an integral part of your brand strategy is hard. But there are a few ways that hiring an eager, willing, fresh face to a team of professionals can be beneficial. Here are a few social media intern tasks that you could expect from yours.
1. Consumer Research
If the intern you hire has any sense of urgency or capacity for curiosity, they should be able to use a search engine. Learning about the consumers that you serve is a key part of the process for creating social content that resonates with your audience. It’s also important to provide your intern with the right tools and resources to make this possible.
2. Social Content Scheduling
Scheduling content is almost just as important as the sharing itself. Utilize different scheduling tools like calendars or task management programs to iron out the specifics of certain dates and times that are best for publishing content. The better the schedule, the better the engagement.
3. Organizing Campaigns
Social media campaigns are a great way to reach large audiences with a specific type of content. Campaigns can really solidify a stance, cause, or position that you or your brand stand for. They have the power to make a lasting impression on not only existing loyal customers but also new people who may now show interest in what you offer.
What They Don’t Do.
Hiring a good social media intern is mostly about putting some trust in a person who is willing to learn through doing the work. They shouldn’t be incompetent but they also shouldn’t be over-qualified. Finding a person who strikes a good balance between the two will be crucial for your brand. Ideally, the intern you decide to hire shouldn’t:
Express ideals online that contradict your brand’s message, mission, or values.
Make futile attempts to engage with audiences or people who don’t support or understand your product or service, and make attempts to deface your brand. The internet is a big place and negativity spreads fast. Protect your reputation and ensure that your intern is someone who is committed to standing by your brand, through thick and thin.
Overstep boundaries and limits. An intern should be on your team to gain knowledge about things that they don’t already know. They should understand that their position does not involve stepping on the toes of those who have led before them.
How Do You Find a Social Media Intern?
So… where do you find one of these? Recent college graduates—and/or students who are about to graduate—are often very good candidates for positions such as these. Try posting a job ad that targets students who have studied some form of social media marketing or public relations during their time at school. You may even find that some students will work for the experience they know they will gain, rather than expecting monetary compensation. They may not have the ideal experience, but they’ll be fresh with knowledge and new ideas—and probably eager and ready to take on the world.
Here in San Diego, The Forum is a digital marketing agency that offers many forms of digital marketing services—including social media. If you’d like to learn more about what we can do for your brand or business, visit us here.
