Social Media Manager Training: Tips for New Managers
Originally published February 18, 2012 · Updated Oct 2026 · By Black Box Social Media
Quick answer: Good social media manager training covers two things: strategy (which platforms and content formats will actually start conversations with your audience) and tools (the skills and software to publish, engage and measure efficiently). Black Box Social Media recommends that new managers learn engagement tactics like photo and video campaigns first, then build a simple, repeatable system for running every account.
Have you just been named your company's new social media manager, with no idea what that means or what to do next? Then you're probably looking for social media manager training, fast.
Social media marketing is tricky. With billions of people on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms (Meta alone reported 3.60 billion daily users across its apps in June 2026, and YouTube users upload more than 20 million videos a day on average, as of April 2025), you'd think getting your message out would be simple. But all those eyeballs bring a lot of competition, and a social media manager is only as good as their training. So what should that training cover?
What strategy should social media manager training cover?
Start by asking: what's the best way to connect with people? Social media is much more than posting and asking people to buy. It's about engaging people, listening to their responses and communicating in the best possible way. What will spark interaction: photos, contests, videos, all of the above?
Photos are one of the simplest wins for many local businesses:
Real estate agents can photograph happy buyers in front of their new home, with the agent's sign in the yard, and invite the buyers to share it. That's a recommendation and an ad in one.
Sports teams can photograph fans in the stands, post the photos and invite fans to tag and share themselves, which builds buzz around every home game.
Restaurants can share customers' photos (with permission) and encourage them to tag and share.
These are just Facebook and Instagram ideas; Pinterest and other platforms open up more. What kind of photo campaign could you create to increase engagement? More ideas: how to increase your social media engagement.
Why should training include video marketing?
Video is one of the most overlooked skills for new social media managers, and one of the most powerful. Many people would rather watch a how-to video than read instructions, and video is a great way to interact with customers. User-generated video contests work well too. A sports team, for example, could ask fans to submit short videos explaining why they're the team's biggest fan, with prizes for the best entries. Imagine doing something similar for your product. See our Video & YouTube hub.
What tools and skills does a social media manager need?
The biggest tool is education. Most people don't know what they don't know, and there are far more possibilities in social media marketing than most people realize. Anyone using social media for their own business, or overseeing it at work, should get some training. Two essentials:
Education: Take a social media course, ideally one with video lessons. Video training is more visual and easier to keep current, which matters because platforms change constantly. Each platform's own business help center and training (such as Meta Blueprint, Meta's free online business training) is a good place to start.
A management tool: If you're active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and more, logging in to each one several times a day gets tedious, and your social media starts running you. Use a social media management tool that lets you run all your posting and engagement from one place. See 3 top social media management tools.
What's the bottom line for new social media managers?
Many people thrown into the social media manager role underestimate how much strategy and education the job takes. They assume it's something any 14-year-old could do from a phone, but there's much more to it. Give yourself a fighting chance: get trained so you understand what's possible, then use an all-in-one tool to engage efficiently. If your company wants expert help alongside your new manager, our growth consulting team can coach them, and our Meta advertising team can run the paid side.
FAQ
What should a new social media manager learn first? Strategy: which platforms your audience uses and what kinds of posts (photos, videos, contests) get them to engage.
What tools does a social media manager need? A scheduling and engagement dashboard, platform analytics, and basic photo and video editing tools.
Where can I get social media manager training? Start with free training from the platforms themselves, then add a structured course with video lessons or work with an experienced consultant.
Ready to talk it through?
Want a second set of eyes on your own plan? Black Box Social Media has been known for Meta advertising since 2010 and has managed over $250M in ad spend for growth-focused brands. Book a 30-minute strategy call and we'll show you where the biggest wins are.
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