Become aSocial Media Analyst

Becoming a Social Media Analyst you get to uncover the secrets behind successful social media campaigns, help businesses connect with their customers, and influence the way people interact online. Plus, with the rise of social media, there’s never been a better time to dive into this exciting career!

• Understand and shape online conversations.
• Use data to improve digital strategies.
• Work in a booming creative industry.
• Help brands connect with global audiences.

Social Media Analysts are the masterminds behind successful social media campaigns. They analyse data, track trends, and monitor engagement metrics to help businesses make informed decisions about their online presence. Whether it’s creating engaging content, identifying influencers, or measuring the impact of a campaign or channel, Social Media Analysts play a crucial role in shaping the digital landscape.

As a Social Media Analyst, you’ll spend your days digging into data, tracking engagement metrics, and identifying opportunities for growth. You’ll work closely with marketing teams to develop strategies that drive engagement and increase brand awareness. It’s a high demand career that lets you combine your love for social media with your analytical skills to make a real impact in the digital world.

Uncover Trends and Insights

Social Media Analysts have the power to uncover hidden trends and insights within vast amounts of social media data. By analysing user behaviour, engagement metrics, and audience demographics, they can identify emerging trends, predict consumer preferences, and inform marketing strategies to stay ahead of the competition.

Create Viral Campaigns

Social Media Analysts play a key role in creating viral campaigns that capture the attention of millions of users worldwide. By understanding what resonates with audiences and leveraging creative storytelling techniques, they turn basic content into trends that spark conversations, drive engagement, and ultimately go viral.

Influence Brand Perception

Social Media Analysts have the ability to shape brand perception and reputation through strategic social media management. By monitoring conversations, sentiment, and brand mentions, they can identify opportunities to enhance brand image, address customer concerns, and build strong relationships with followers, ultimately influencing how the brand is perceived in the digital space.

Social Media Analysts are wanted across a wide range of industries, as businesses of all shapes and sizes look to harness the power of social media to connect with their audience. From fashion to finance, there’s a role for Social Media Analysts in almost every sector.

• Fashion and Beauty
• Technology and Startups
• Entertainment and Media
• Healthcare and Wellness
• Travel and Hospitality
• Not For Profit and Advocacy

To excel as a Social Media Analyst, you’ll need a mix of technical know-how, creative flair, and analytical skills. From understanding algorithms to developing show stopping content, it takes a diverse skill set to thrive in this dynamic field.

• Data Analysis
• Content Creation
• Social Media Management
• Market Research
• Copywriting
• Critical Thinking

To become a Social Media Analyst, studying certain STEM subjects can provide you with a strong foundation and valuable skills for success in the field of digital marketing and analytics.

Business Studies

Understanding the fundamentals of marketing, consumer behaviour, and business strategy is essential for a career in social media analysis. Business studies will teach you about market research, branding, and advertising principles, which are crucial for creating effective social media strategies.

Media Studies

Media studies will help you understand the role of media in society and the principles of effective communication. You’ll learn about different forms of media, including social media platforms, and how they influence public opinion and behaviour. This knowledge is valuable for creating engaging and impactful social media content.

Computer Science

In today’s digital age, technical skills are essential for a career in social media analysis. Studying computer science will give you the technical skill to navigate digital tools and platforms, understand algorithms, and conduct data analysis. You’ll learn programming languages, database management, and other technical skills that are relevant to social media analysis.

English

Strong writing skills are crucial for creating compelling social media content that resonates with audiences. Studying English will help you fine tune your writing skills, including grammar, style, and tone. You’ll learn how to bring together engaging captions, tweets, and posts that capture attention and drive engagement on social media.

Mathematics

Mathematics provides the analytical skills needed to interpret data and measure the performance of social media campaigns. You’ll learn about statistics, probability, and data analysis techniques that are used to track metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversion rates. Mathematics will also help you understand algorithms and algorithms used by social media platforms to rank content and target ads.

Psychology

Understanding human behaviour and motivation is essential for creating effective social media strategies. Studying psychology will give you insights into the factors that influence consumer behaviour, such as emotions, attitudes, and perceptions. You’ll learn how to use psychological principles to underpin messages and content that resonate with your target audience on social media platforms.

Your day to day tasks could look a little like this:

Analyse trending topics across social platforms
Explore what’s trending on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, helping brands stay relevant and engage with popular conversations.

Track the success of viral marketing campaigns
Monitor data from social media campaigns, seeing how many likes, shares, and comments a post receives, and measure its overall impact.

Create reports on audience behaviour
Use tools like Google Analytics and social media insights to uncover how different audiences interact with content, helping brands refine their strategies.

Work with influencers to boost brand visibility
Collaborate with influencers to help a brand reach new audiences, analysing how effective influencer partnerships are.

Explore social media sentiment
Analyse how people feel about a brand or product based on their comments, reviews, and interactions, providing valuable insights for the company.

Experiment with creative content ideas
Test new content styles, formats, and messages to see what resonates most with different audiences, helping the brand stand out online.

In Australia, several individuals have made significant contributions to the field of social media analysis and digital marketing:

Catriona Pollard
Catriona is the founder of CP Communications, a social media and PR firm. She is known for using social media analytics to boost client visibility and engagement across multiple platforms.

Penny Baldwin
Penny is a digital marketing strategist who helps businesses understand their audience through data-driven insights. Her expertise has supported brands in improving their social media performance.

Jessica Ruhfus
Jessica is the founder of Collabosaurus, a platform that connects brands for collaborations. Her work in analysing brand partnerships on social media has made her a key figure in digital marketing.

Ryan Bonnici

Ryan Bonnici is a prominent figure in the Australian digital marketing landscape, known for his expertise in social media strategy and analytics. As the former Director of Marketing at HubSpot, Ryan has helped numerous companies leverage social media data to drive growth and achieve business objectives.

Taryn Williams

Taryn Williams is the founder and CEO of The Right Fit, a leading talent platform connecting brands with influencers and content creators. With her deep understanding of social media analytics and influencer marketing, Taryn has built a successful career helping brands navigate the complex world of digital advertising and social media strategy.

Adam Ferrier

Adam Ferrier is a renowned consumer psychologist and marketing strategist, known for his innovative approach to understanding human behaviour and decision-making. As the founder of Thinkerbell, Adam combines psychology with data analytics to create effective marketing campaigns that resonate with audiences and drive results.

From creativity to adaptability, here are some essential traits for excelling in this role:

Personality Traits

• Creative
• Adaptable
• Strategic
• Collaborative
• Curious
• Analytical

These traits enable Social Media Analysts to think outside the box, adapt to changing trends, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and approach data analysis with a curious and analytical mindset. By embodying these traits, Social Media Analysts can unlock the full potential of social media platforms and drive meaningful results for their brands and clients.

A degree in marketing, communications, or digital media is an excellent starting point for aspiring Social Media Analysts. Here are some options:

• Bachelor of Marketing
• Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media)
• Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
• Bachelor of Media and Cultural Studies
• Bachelor of Arts (Advertising)
• Diploma in Digital Marketing

But which is right for you? Let’s look a little closer:

Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
This course at Curtin University covers essential marketing skills, including social media strategy and analytics, preparing students for roles in digital marketing and social media analysis.

Bachelor of Media and Communication (Digital Media)
Offered by Murdoch University, this degree focuses on digital content creation, social media engagement, and analytics, equipping students with the tools needed for a career in social media analysis.

Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
This course from The University of Western Australia (UWA) provides a foundation in marketing principles, with specific modules dedicated to digital marketing and social media analytics.

Being a Social Media Analyst is all about blending different areas of knowledge. You might study marketing to understand consumer behaviour, psychology to tap into people’s emotions, or data analytics to track trends and insights. By combining degrees or exploring interdisciplinary studies, you’ll gain a unique perspective that sets you apart in the competitive world of social media.

Studying to become a Social Media Analyst is a daily digital adventure! You’ll learn everything from understanding the psychology behind social media behaviour to mastering the latest digital tools and platforms. Topics like content creation, audience engagement, data analysis, and strategic planning will form the foundations. By the time you graduate, you’ll be armed with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the vibrant world of social media marketing.

Getting content experience is key to becoming a successful Social Media Analyst. Consider opportunities at marketing agencies, volunteering for social media campaigns, or even starting your own blog or YouTube channel. By testing and trialling different techniques, you’ll gain valuable experience, while building your skills and making valuable connections in the industry.

Not sure if traditional university is the right path for you? No worries! There are alternative pathways to becoming a Social Media Analyst:

Vocational Training and Certifications

For those looking to specialise quickly, vocational courses and certifications offer focused training.

• Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication
  This course provides practical skills in digital marketing, content creation, and social media strategy, helping students enter the field as social media analysts.
• Google Analytics Certification
  This certification teaches the skills needed to analyse website and social media traffic, essential for understanding audience behaviour and campaign performance.

Micro-Learning and Online Courses

For flexibility, online platforms offer specialised courses in social media analytics.

• Social Media Marketing with Facebook Blueprint
  Learn how to use Facebook’s tools and analytics to improve brand engagement and grow online communities.
• Digital Marketing and Social Media Analytics
  This course covers the core skills of social media analytics, including tracking performance, audience behaviour, and improving content strategies.

Workplace Experience or Training

Seek out entry level positions at marketing agencies, social media firms, or digital startups. You’ll learn the ropes while getting paid to work in the industry.

Western Australia

In Western Australia, opportunities for Social Media Analysts are on the rise as businesses increasingly turn to digital marketing. Local agencies like Bonfire and organisations such as Tourism Western Australia are actively seeking Social Media Analysts to track social trends and optimise online campaigns. The Department of Education also offers opportunities to analyse social media engagement and help build a strong online presence for public services.

Australia-Wide

Across Australia, Social Media Analysts are in demand in a wide range of industries, from fashion and beauty to finance and healthcare. Social Media Analysts can find roles in leading tech and marketing firms. Companies such as Canva and Commonwealth Bank hire Social Media Analysts to monitor online performance and refine digital marketing strategies. Media companies like ABC also employ analysts to track viewer engagement and shape content distribution across social channels.

Global Opportunities

Globally, the demand for Social Media Analysts continues to grow. In Silicon Valley, companies like Facebook and Google rely on Social Media Analysts to optimise engagement and measure the success of global campaigns. In Europe, digital marketing agencies such as We Are Social offer roles in social media analysis, while in Asia, companies like Alibaba are recruiting experts to help expand their social media reach.