Goal: Develop hands-on proficiency with the five core social media platforms that employers require for community management and social media roles
Set Up Professional Accounts: Create business/creator accounts on all major platforms
- Instagram: Switch to business account in settings
- TikTok: Apply for creator account (requires 1,000+ followers or phone verification)
- Facebook: Create a business page and link to personal profile
- LinkedIn: Optimize your professional profile with relevant keywords
- Reddit: Create account and join 10+ communities related to marketing, social media, and your target industries
Learn Platform-Specific Features: Spend 2 hours on each platform exploring tools
- Instagram: Master Stories, Reels, IGTV, and shopping features
- TikTok: Practice using effects, trending sounds, and editing tools
- Facebook: Explore Groups, Events, and Creator Studio
- LinkedIn: Test Articles, Newsletters, and Live video
- Reddit: Learn posting rules, karma system, and community guidelines
Study Algorithm Patterns: Analyze what content performs well on each platform
- Follow 20+ successful accounts in marketing/business niches on each platform
- Screenshot high-performing posts and identify common patterns (timing, format, hooks)
- Use native analytics tools to understand peak engagement times
Practice Content Creation: Create 5 test posts on each platform
- Use Canva templates for graphics
- Write captions following each platform's best practices
- Test different post types (photos, videos, carousels, text posts)
If your TikTok creator account is rejected: Use phone verification instead of follower count requirement
If LinkedIn posts get low engagement: Post during business hours (9 AM - 5 PM) on weekdays and include industry hashtags
If Reddit posts are removed: Read each subreddit's specific rules carefully and avoid self-promotion in your first 10 posts
You'll know you're done when: You can confidently navigate and create content on all five platforms
- You have active business/creator accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit
- You can create a post with image/video on each platform in under 5 minutes
- You understand what content gets engagement on each platform based on your research
- You've practiced using native editing tools and understand posting best practices for each platform
Ready for next step? You now have the platform proficiency employers look for - time to develop your content creation capabilities.