What does a social media manager actually do?

Written By Emily Warncken

[ AND DO YOU NEED ONE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? ]

It’s the question almost every business owner asks at some point, and if you’re reading this, chances are you’re asking it right now:

Do I actually need a social media manager?

The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It usually comes down to a combination of your time, goals, capacity and growth stage.

But before we get into whether you need one, you might be wondering what it is a social media actually does? [hint: it’s more than just chucking a post up on Instagram].


What a social media manager really does:

A good social media manager should feel like an extension of your business, not a disconnected third party posting generic content with no understanding of what you do.

At its core, social media management is about connecting your business goals to your online presence.

A social media manager typically looks after:

  • ✱ Social media strategy (what you’re doing and why)

  • ✱ Content strategy (what to post and how often

  • ✱ Brand voice ( so your content actually sounds like you)

  • ✱ Caption writing & storytelling

  • ✱ Platform optimisations (highlights, pinned content, formatting)

  • ✱ Analytics and performance tracking

  • ✱ Trend monitoring

  • ✱ Community management (comments, DM’S, engagement)

  • ✱ Paid advertising strategy (if applicable)

  • Content creation (if included , not everyone will offer this)

In short, a social media manager helps ensure your socials aren’t just active, but intentional, consistent and aligned with your business goals.

When DIY social media stops working

Most business owners don’t hire a social media manager because they “can’t post”.

More ✱ often than not, business owners come to us when they’ve hit the same wall:

  • ✱ They don’t know what to post anymore

  • ✱ Engagement has dropped or is virtually non-existent

  • ✱ The post inconsistently or only when they remember

  • ✱ Social media feels too overwhelming and stressful

This usually isn’t a creativity issue, it’s a strategy gap.

Without a clear plan, social media quickly becomes another thing sitting at the bottom of an already overflowing to-do list.

When it makes sense to hire a social media manager

You should consider outsourcing your social media if:

  • ✱ Social media is taking too much time away from other revenue generating work

  • ✱ You want consistent, on-brand content

  • ✱ Social media is at the bottom of your endless to-do-list

  • ✱ You treat your social media accounts as optional rather than strategic

  • ✱ You want strategy, not post because “I have to”

  • ✱ Social media feels overwhelming and you genuinely hate it

So… Do You Need a Social Media Manager?

If your business relies on visibility, credibility, and connection, especially in a competitive local market like Adelaide , social media is no longer optional.

But it does need to be done properly.

A social media manager gives you:

  • ✱ Clarity on what to be posting, and why

  • ✱ Consistency, so you aren’t ghosting your socials

  • ✱ Strategy led social media posting

  • ✱ And peace of mind

So you can focus on running your business, not stressing about what to post next.

If social media feels messy, chaotic or overwhelming, that’s exactly what we help fix.


Emily Warncken