Will Job Market Dip Affect Social Media Positions?

Steve Rubel thinks so. In his latest article entitled "Three Internet Careers That Soon Won't Exist" he makes a claim that even though we have been relatively safe and even enjoying a measure of job security here in the social media sphere, it may come to an end as digital media knowledge becomes a necessary skill as part of any position. Positions like the online ad salesperson may be the first to go as clients begin testing and purchasing the automated networks and bypassing the media buyers altogether.
We at Sway have been predicting this for quite some time and so have Shoutlet to take us into the new age, but if you are thinking of hiring an online social media manager or are one, here are a few things to look for:

1) Broaden Your Horizons: Know more than just blogs. Know how to set up, maintain, design, and write blogs. Know the best blogs in the industry and how they have risen to the top. Know how it relates to "regular media" like newspapers and TV. In other words, cross training on all aspects of social media is now becoming necessary. It's not just knowing about how to purchase Pay Per Click, but knowing the context in which it will work that keeps your knowledge relevant.

2) Brush Up On Your PR Skills: Automated online is becoming the norm and the luster has worn off of media buying. With millions (literally) of places to put your ads, knowing the perfect placement is key. Relationships with vendors is still important but the right placement can save you or your company a bundle of money and time. Paying bloggers to promote your product is tacky, knowing how to make them want to write about your product is brilliance.

3) Dust off Your Crystal Ball : Know the trends before they happen and be able to nimbly guide your company while large agencies take weeks to catch on. It's easier than it sounds. Read the industry media and while it may be difficult to predict upcoming trends, staying reasonably on top of them will keep you ahead of most of the rest.