If you want to build a career in social media marketing, an apprenticeship can be a great way to get some hands-on experience. As an apprentice, you will get to learn the trade from experienced professionals and you will have a chance to contribute to an organization as you gain practical experience.
This article will introduce you to the requirements, benefits, and main types of social media marketing apprenticeships to help you get started.
What Is a Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship?
A social media marketer is someone who assists in creating digital campaigns on a wide range of platforms. These digital marketing campaigns help drive traffic, increase customer engagement, customer acquisition, and customer retention.
An apprenticeship in this field gives you the chance to practice content creation, digital marketing business principles, and digital communications strategies. By the end of the apprenticeship program, you’ll have the skills necessary to pursue a career in this field.
What Does a Social Media Marketing Apprentice Do?
A social media marketing apprentice helps create the marketing messages that are sent to customers through a variety of channels. They need to ensure that the messaging fits the company’s brand voice and is aimed at their target audience. Tasks for an apprentice can include researching market trends, posting content online, and engaging with customers on social media.
This work provides you with the opportunity to get hands-on experience in applying digital marketing principles and strategies. You’ll become familiar with the company’s marketing objectives and research. You will also have to work as part of a team, and will typically report to a digital marketing executive, marketing manager, or IT manager.
Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship Salary
According to Glassdoor, a social media marketing apprentice earns an average salary of $55,857 per year in the United States. Your wages will differ based on the terms of your contract, your level of experience, and individual employers.
Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship Requirements
To begin your social media marketing apprenticeship, you must understand basic marketing principles, digital marketing analytics, and digital platforms. It should have an excellent understanding of the different social media platforms and the types of audience that use them. You should also be attentive to details and understand what customer-oriented service is.
As an apprentice, you also need to have good organizational skills and a passion for digital marketing. Communication and teamwork are essential to this role, so make sure you work on your soft skills.
Types of Social Media Marketing Apprenticeships
There are different types of social media marketing apprenticeships that offer valuable industry experience. Any of these roles will help you gain relevant qualifications and develop your professional skills.
Social Media Coordinator
A social media coordinator is someone who collaborates with the social media marketing team and serves as a bridge between them and the social media manager. They are typically in charge of executing social media strategies, handling content creation, and generating reports and performance analyses. They are also tasked with creating content calendars.
Social Media Assistant
A social media assistant collaborates with the social media team and the management to create and develop marketing strategies for an organization’s campaigns. They work with other digital marketers in the idea generation process and assist the social media executive if needed.
Assistants typically perform a variety of roles according to the needs of the team and manager, so it’s a great position for someone who is versatile and is quick to engage with a variety of tasks in a short period of time.
Social Media Manager
A social media manager handles the execution of digital marketing strategies across various platforms, creates action plans to meet marketing objectives, and collaborates with the whole team to achieve specific goals. Social media managers also monitor the progress of the campaigns and posts and make changes according to audience feedback.
Content Strategist
A content strategist is someone who helps companies tell their brand’s story through a wide variety of channels. Usually, these people have an educational background in journalism or marketing and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. They are also well-versed with tools like Google Analytics and SEO.
Content strategists create appropriate content for the targeted audience. They strategize and improve content delivery and promotion based on feedback and performance. They also set the guidelines for an organization’s voice, tone, and overall style to ensure consistency.
Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship Jobs
Becoming a social media or digital marketing apprentice doesn’t require a lot of relevant work experience. However, it is important that you are equipped with knowledge about social media and strategies for effective communication. Below are some apprenticeship opportunities you can take advantage of in the US. These positions were available at the time of writing.
Fire&Spark Apprenticeship Program
This apprenticeship offers six months of hands-on training in marketing tools and techniques. You’ll work with a senior digital strategist who’ll guide and answer your questions during one-on-one meetings. You’ll also get the chance to meet with the company’s clients and help deliver successful digital campaign management services.
Other important things you’ll learn about include web analytics, content marketing, Amazon marketing, search engine optimization, and market research.
Nomadic Marketing Apprenticeship Program
This digital agency works with small to medium-sized companies in launching their digital campaigns using PPC, SEO, and other content marketing strategies. As an apprentice, you will work with the Digital Marketing Production Lead and Content Coordinator to meet client goals.
You will support the team by delivering digital marketing campaigns and reports, and creating and managing paid and organic social media content. Other responsibilities include participating in client meetings, performing marketing analysis, and researching competitors. You’ll also manage internal social media channels and come up with relevant content.
Methods+Mastery Apprenticeship Program
As an apprentice, you’ll be tasked with creating engaging content under tight deadlines. You’ll also develop plans for community engagement. You’re expected to be on the lookout for trends and use that information to create on-brand news content.
You’ll also have an opportunity to write, shoot, edit, and produce photo-based content for social media platforms. Your advantage here is that you’ll get lots of opportunities to get experience with emerging platforms and engage with online communities.
Swift Digital Marketing Apprenticeship Program
This apprenticeship offers the chance to learn about social media and the digital marketing industry. You’re expected to be flexible, independent, and take initiative. After 13 months, you’ll have a chance to step into the role of a digital marketer.
You’ll learn how to manage and update websites and social media pages. You’ll also gain experience in search engine optimization, content creating through creative design tools, and composing email marketing campaigns. You’ll organize social media campaigns and record analytics, and use data to improve future campaigns.
Museum of Photographic Arts Marketing Apprenticeship Program
As an apprentice, you will handle content and engagement analysis for the company’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as their website, YouTube, and TikTok accounts. Your primary responsibilities are to plan out the content calendar, conduct a monthly assessment to ensure the team is meeting its goals, and recommend ways to optimize quarterly campaigns.
How to Get a Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship
Getting a social media marketing apprenticeship is a great way to kickstart your career in this field. There are many different ways you can accomplish this. To help you out, we’ve listed some of the main ones below.
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Bootcamps
What makes a coding bootcamp a great choice is that you can finish it in a short amount of time while gaining the technical skill you need for the job. Bootcamps help increase your competency and offer up-to-date training based on current industry trends and employer needs.
If you are looking for ways to enhance your social media skills, bootcamps offer courses on product management, design, data analytics, and digital marketing, as well as provide career support to help you transition into the workforce after you graduate.
Internships
Internships are usually a requirement to complete your college degree and offer the opportunity to gain practical experience in your chosen field. Social media marketing interns typically learn about digital campaigns, technologies, and strategies, while offering support to their teams in various capacities. Internships can pave the way to apprenticeships or entry-level positions.
Trade Schools
A trade school is any post-secondary education that offers training for a specific role. Students attend trade school to hone the skills needed for their chosen career path. This type of training typically takes from three months to a year to complete and prepares you to enter the workforce right away.
Vocational Training
Vocational training refers to education designed to provide you with skills for a specific job, craft, or trade. Unlike a four-year degree that focuses on general knowledge, vocational training focuses on procedural knowledge and hands-on training. Vocational training in this field will teach you about digital media technologies, customer relationship marketing, and digital advertising.
Is a Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship Worth It?
Yes, it is worth it especially if you are passionate and interested in the world of digital marketing. An apprenticeship equips you with practical transferable skills, relevant experience, and a chance to network and learn from active professionals in the field.
Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship FAQ
It depends on your employer and your contract. A typical apprenticeship can last from three to six months or can extend to a year or more.
Your application will stand out if you can show prospective employers that you already have the skills for the job. That means you know what the different social media platforms are and how to use them to create campaigns. Employers are also looking for professionals who are attentive to details, who have attended social media marketing classes, or have relevant qualifications.
It is right for you if you are interested in the marketing and social media world. This industry is continuously evolving, and more companies are now incorporating e-commerce and digital marketing into their workflows. This type of apprenticeship is a great option if you have communication skills and a passion for keeping up with industry and social media trends.
Yes, you are paid during an apprenticeship. This means you can earn money while acquiring the necessary training and transferable skills to pursue a full-time role in the industry of your choice once you’re done.
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