The duties of a social media apprentice can vary depending on the company. If the company does not already have a social media presence, the apprentice can establish a social media strategy to meet the company’s goals. S/he would establish specific tactics to produce the desired outcome for the company. For example, if a company wants their social media presence to increase sales for an online store, the apprentice might update a Facebook page with weekly savings, which will result in more Facebook “Fans,†and ultimately increased sales.
If the company already has an established social media presence, the apprentice may take over some of the responsibilities while adding his/her own voice and input. For example, if a company brings an apprentice into an established system that works well at distributing information, s/he may have the chance to learn from established practices, while providing new ways to gain customer feedback and join a social media conversation.
The social media apprentice also spends time monitoring accounts. Social media is more than sending out a message. The company has to understand what is being said about it, and become an active member of the conversation if warranted. Replying to those who have questions, passing on information to those who can use it, and generally remaining engaged in the conversation are all part of a social media apprentice’s work. Also, s/he must remember to be a person, because people do not care what companies tell them, they care what people say.
These are only a few of the ways a social media apprentice can help a company. Given specific goals and means for a particular company, the possibilities are infinite.
