Top 12 Communications Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's fast-paced and interconnected business landscape, an effective Communications Manager is pivotal to an organization's success. Highlighting a robust set of skills on your resume can set you apart by demonstrating your ability to craft compelling messaging, manage diverse media channels, and lead strategic communication efforts that align with organizational goals.

Communications Manager Skills

1. Copywriting
2. SEO
3. Analytics (Google Analytics)
4. CRM (Salesforce)
5. Social Media (Hootsuite)
6. Email Marketing (Mailchimp)
7. Public Speaking
8. Project Management (Asana)
9. Graphic Design (Adobe Creative Suite)
10. Video Editing (Final Cut Pro)
11. Content Management (WordPress)
12. Digital Advertising (Google Ads)

1. Copywriting

Copywriting is the craft of creating persuasive and engaging written content aimed at promoting or selling a product, service, or idea, essential for a Communications Manager in shaping brand messaging and achieving marketing objectives.

Why It's Important

Copywriting is crucial for a Communications Manager as it enables the creation of compelling, clear, and persuasive messages that effectively engage target audiences, drive brand awareness, and achieve organizational communication objectives.

How to Improve Copywriting Skills

Improving copywriting involves honing your ability to craft compelling messages that resonate with your audience. As a Communications Manager, focusing on the clarity, brevity, and persuasiveness of your content is essential. Here are concise steps to enhance your copywriting skills:

1. Understand Your Audience: Deeply understanding your target audience allows you to tailor your message. Use audience research tools like HubSpot to gain insights.

2. Practice Clear and Concise Writing: Aim for simplicity and clarity in your writing. Tools like Hemingway App can help you make your content more readable.

3. Study Copywriting Formulas: Familiarize yourself with proven copywriting formulas such as AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action). Copyblogger offers resources and guides on these techniques.

4. Test and Optimize: Use A/B testing to see what works best. Tools like Optimizely can help you test different versions of your copy.

5. Keep Learning: Continuously educate yourself on copywriting best practices. Websites like Copyhackers offer courses and tips specifically for improving copywriting skills.

By actively applying these strategies and leveraging the right tools, you can significantly improve your copywriting effectiveness.

How to Display Copywriting Skills on Your Resume

2. SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a strategy used to increase a website's visibility in search engine results, aiming to attract more organic traffic by optimizing content and structure according to search engine algorithms.

Why It's Important

SEO is crucial for a Communications Manager as it enhances online visibility, drives targeted traffic, and increases brand awareness, ensuring effective communication and engagement with the target audience.

How to Improve SEO Skills

Improving SEO involves a multifaceted approach focusing on content quality, keyword optimization, and technical website enhancements. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Keyword Research: Identify relevant, high-traffic keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website's content, titles, and meta descriptions.

2. Quality Content: Create valuable, original content that addresses your audience's needs and questions. Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines emphasize content quality and E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

3. Optimize Website Structure: Ensure your website has a clear, logical structure with a mobile-friendly design. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test can help evaluate your site’s mobile layout.

4. Improve Page Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and enhance your website's loading times.

5. Internal Linking: Strategically link to other pages within your website to help search engines understand your site structure and content hierarchy.

6. Backlinks: Gain quality backlinks from reputable sites within your industry to boost your site's credibility. Tools like Ahrefs can help analyze your backlink profile.

7. Social Media Engagement: Promote your content on social media platforms to drive traffic and improve your site’s visibility.

8. Regular Updates: Consistently update your website with fresh content to keep your site dynamic and engaging for both users and search engines.

9. Use Analytics: Monitor your site's performance with Google Analytics and Google Search Console to understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement.

10. Local SEO: For local businesses, optimize your Google My Business listing and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is consistent across all online platforms.

By focusing on these areas, Communications Managers can significantly improve their website’s SEO, driving more organic traffic and enhancing online visibility.

How to Display SEO Skills on Your Resume

3. Analytics (Google Analytics)

Google Analytics is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic, providing insights into user behavior, engagement, and conversion rates, essential for a Communications Manager to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and content.

Why It's Important

Google Analytics is crucial for a Communications Manager as it provides data-driven insights into audience behavior, enabling targeted communication strategies, optimizing content, and measuring the effectiveness of campaigns to maximize engagement and achieve communication objectives efficiently.

How to Improve Analytics (Google Analytics) Skills

To improve your use of Google Analytics as a Communications Manager, follow these short and concise steps:

1. Set Clear Objectives: Identify what you want to track based on your communication goals (e.g., user engagement, conversion rates). This helps in focusing on the metrics that matter. Setting Goals in Analytics.

2. Understand Your Audience: Use Audience Reports to understand demographics, interests, and behavior. Tailor your communication strategies based on these insights. Audience Reports Overview.

3. Use Segmentation: Segment your data to analyze specific groups of users. This can provide deeper insights into specific target audience behaviors. About Segmentation.

4. Custom Dashboards and Alerts: Create custom dashboards for a quick overview of key metrics. Set up alerts for unexpected changes in data. Custom Dashboards, Custom Alerts.

5. Analyze Traffic Sources: Understand where your traffic is coming from to optimize your communication channels. Focus on channels that drive the most engagement. Traffic Sources Reports.

6. Monitor User Behavior: Use Behavior Flow and Event Tracking to see how users interact with your content. This can guide content improvement strategies. Behavior Flow, Event Tracking.

7. Leverage Conversion Tracking: Track conversions to measure the effectiveness of your communication campaigns. This helps in understanding what drives users to take desired actions. Conversion Tracking.

8. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Stay updated with Google Analytics features and best practices. Google Analytics Academy offers free courses. Google Analytics Academy.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your use of Google Analytics, making your communication efforts more effective and data-driven.

How to Display Analytics (Google Analytics) Skills on Your Resume

4. CRM (Salesforce)

CRM, notably Salesforce, is a customer relationship management platform that helps Communications Managers streamline communication, manage customer interactions, and track engagement across various channels, ensuring targeted and effective messaging.

Why It's Important

CRM (Salesforce) is crucial for a Communications Manager as it centralizes customer data, streamlines communication efforts, enhances customer engagement, and enables personalized and efficient interactions, ultimately improving customer relationships and driving business growth.

How to Improve CRM (Salesforce) Skills

Improving CRM, particularly Salesforce, involves strategic steps that enhance its functionality, user adoption, and data quality. Here's a concise guide tailored for a Communications Manager:

1. Customize for Relevance: Tailor Salesforce to fit your organization's specific communication needs. Use custom fields and objects to track relevant data and Page Layouts to present it effectively.

2. Automate Communication Workflows: Implement Process Builder or Flow to automate routine communication tasks, such as follow-up emails or social media posts, enhancing efficiency.

3. Integrate with Communication Tools: Use Salesforce AppExchange to find and integrate with essential communication platforms (e.g., Mailchimp for email marketing, Slack for team communication) ensuring a seamless workflow.

4. Enhance Data Quality: Adopt standard procedures for data entry and maintenance. Use tools like Duplicate Management to keep your CRM data clean and reliable, which is crucial for effective communication.

5. Train and Support Users: Provide comprehensive training and resources to ensure your team knows how to use Salesforce effectively. Regularly gather feedback to address issues and improve adoption.

6. Leverage Analytics for Insights: Utilize Salesforce Reports and Dashboards to gain insights into your communication efforts, helping to tailor strategies for better engagement.

7. Stay Updated: Salesforce continuously evolves, so keep abreast with the latest features and best practices to leverage new tools and functionalities that can enhance your CRM strategy.

By focusing on these areas, a Communications Manager can significantly improve the impact and efficiency of their organization's use of Salesforce.

How to Display CRM (Salesforce) Skills on Your Resume

5. Social Media (Hootsuite)

Social Media (Hootsuite) is a comprehensive tool that allows Communications Managers to schedule, manage, and analyze posts across multiple social media platforms from a single dashboard, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization's social media strategy.

Why It's Important

Social Media (Hootsuite) is important for a Communications Manager as it streamlines the scheduling, management, and analysis of content across multiple social media platforms, enabling efficient and targeted communication strategies, enhancing audience engagement, and providing valuable insights into campaign performance.

How to Improve Social Media (Hootsuite) Skills

Improving your use of Hootsuite as a Communications Manager involves strategizing content, analyzing data, and streamlining engagement. Here's how:

1. Content Calendar: Plan and schedule your content efficiently. Utilize Hootsuite’s Planner to organize posts across all platforms, ensuring consistent and timely publication.

2. Analytics: Leverage Hootsuite Analytics to track your performance. Analyze data to understand audience behavior and preferences, refining your strategy accordingly.

3. Engagement: Use Hootsuite’s streams to monitor conversations, mentions, and messages. Engage promptly with your audience to build relationships. Check out tips on improving engagement for strategies.

4. Automation and Integration: Automate repetitive tasks and integrate other tools with Hootsuite for efficiency. Explore Hootsuite integrations to enhance your social media management capabilities.

5. Learning and Adaptation: Stay updated with the latest social media trends and Hootsuite features. Enroll in Hootsuite Academy for courses and certifications to sharpen your skills.

By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your social media management, save time, and achieve better results.

How to Display Social Media (Hootsuite) Skills on Your Resume

6. Email Marketing (Mailchimp)

Email marketing, particularly through platforms like Mailchimp, involves sending targeted and personalized messages to a list of email subscribers to promote products, services, or content, aimed at achieving marketing goals such as brand awareness, engagement, or sales conversions. It's a crucial tool for Communications Managers to maintain direct and personalized communication with their audience, analyze campaign performance, and refine marketing strategies.

Why It's Important

Email marketing, particularly through platforms like Mailchimp, is crucial for a Communications Manager as it enables targeted, personalized communication with a broad audience, facilitates direct engagement and feedback, and drives measurable results in promoting events, updates, and campaigns effectively.

How to Improve Email Marketing (Mailchimp) Skills

To enhance your Email Marketing with Mailchimp, follow these concise strategies:

1. Segment Your Audience: Target emails based on behavior, preferences, and past sales. Mailchimp's guide on segmentation helps tailor content for relevance and engagement.

2. Personalize Content: Use merge tags for personalization. Personalized emails have higher open rates. Learn about merge tags.

3. Optimize for Mobile: With most emails opened on mobile devices, use responsive design. Mailchimp offers mobile optimization tips.

4. Test and Analyze: Use A/B testing for subject lines, send times, and content. Mailchimp's A/B testing guide can significantly improve your email performance.

5. Engaging Subject Lines: Create compelling subject lines to boost open rates. Here's how.

6. Automate Email Campaigns: Set up automated emails for welcome series, birthdays, and other triggers. Explore Mailchimp's automation features.

7. Regularly Clean Your Email List: Remove inactive subscribers to maintain a healthy open rate. Mailchimp's advice on managing low-engagement contacts is essential.

By implementing these strategies, you'll ensure your email marketing campaigns are effective, engaging, and continuously improving.

How to Display Email Marketing (Mailchimp) Skills on Your Resume

7. Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of delivering a structured and intentional message to a live audience, often crucial for a Communications Manager to effectively convey information, influence public perception, and engage stakeholders.

Why It's Important

Public speaking is crucial for a Communications Manager as it enhances their ability to effectively convey messages, engage with diverse audiences, and build trust and credibility for themselves and their organization. It also strengthens leadership skills, facilitating better team and stakeholder management.

How to Improve Public Speaking Skills

Improving public speaking, especially for a Communications Manager, involves honing specific skills and techniques to communicate effectively and confidently. Here are concise steps with inline linking for further exploration:

1. Practice Regularly: Regular practice can significantly improve your comfort and effectiveness in public speaking. Consider joining a group like Toastmasters International for structured practice and feedback.

2. Know Your Audience: Tailor your message to the interests and understanding of your audience. This involves researching your audience beforehand, which can be learned in detail at MindTools.

3. Structure Your Content: A clear structure keeps your speech focused and helps the audience follow your message. Learn more about structuring your presentations at SkillsYouNeed.

4. Master Non-Verbal Communication: Non-verbal cues like eye contact, gestures, and posture play a crucial role in engaging your audience. Explore techniques at Verywell Mind.

5. Engage Your Audience: Use stories, questions, and interactive elements to keep your audience interested and engaged. Techniques can be found on Forbes.

6. Handle Nervousness: Learn strategies to manage public speaking anxiety, such as deep breathing and positive visualization. Helpful tips are available at American Psychological Association.

7. Seek Feedback and Reflect: After each speaking opportunity, seek constructive feedback and reflect on areas for improvement. Continuous learning is key.

8. Utilize Technology: Familiarize yourself with presentation software and tools that can enhance your delivery. Explore options and tutorials on websites like Prezi or Canva.

Improving public speaking is a journey of continuous learning and practice. By incorporating these strategies and exploring the provided links, a Communications Manager can significantly enhance their public speaking skills.

How to Display Public Speaking Skills on Your Resume

8. Project Management (Asana)

Project Management in Asana for a Communications Manager involves organizing, tracking, and managing communication projects and campaigns from initiation to completion within a centralized platform. It facilitates collaboration, scheduling, and the monitoring of tasks and deadlines to ensure timely and effective communication strategies.

Why It's Important

Project management tools like Asana are crucial for a Communications Manager as they streamline task organization, enhance team collaboration, and ensure timely and effective execution of communication strategies and projects, ultimately optimizing workflow and productivity.

How to Improve Project Management (Asana) Skills

To improve project management in Asana as a Communications Manager, focus on the following strategies:

1. Define Clear Goals: Begin by setting clear, achievable goals for your projects. This ensures everyone is aligned from the start. Setting Goals in Asana.

2. Customize Workflows: Tailor Asana workflows to match your team's specific needs. Utilize templates and custom fields for better tracking. Customizing Asana.

3. Integrate Tools: Connect Asana with other tools you use for communication, like Slack or email, to streamline workflows. Asana Integrations.

4. Regular Updates: Keep your team informed with regular project updates and changes. Use Asana’s update features for consistent communication. Communicating in Asana.

5. Review and Adjust: Regularly review project performance and adjust strategies as needed. Use Asana’s reporting tools for insights. Project Reporting in Asana.

Implementing these strategies can significantly improve project management efficiency and effectiveness for a Communications Manager using Asana.

How to Display Project Management (Asana) Skills on Your Resume

9. Graphic Design (Adobe Creative Suite)

Graphic Design, particularly utilizing Adobe Creative Suite, encompasses the creation and manipulation of visual content to communicate messages effectively. It involves using tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to craft visuals for branding, marketing, and multimedia communication, essential skills for a Communications Manager to oversee and guide impactful storytelling and visual strategy.

Why It's Important

Graphic Design, particularly through Adobe Creative Suite, is essential for a Communications Manager as it enables the creation of visually compelling and brand-aligned materials. These tools support the effective conveyance of messages across various media, enhancing audience engagement and helping to achieve communication objectives efficiently.

How to Improve Graphic Design (Adobe Creative Suite) Skills

Improving your graphic design skills, especially in Adobe Creative Suite, is essential for a Communications Manager. Here's a concise guide to help you enhance your abilities:

1. Learn Fundamentals: Start with understanding the basics of design principles like typography, color theory, and composition. Adobe offers a comprehensive guide to get you started.

2. Master Adobe Tools: Focus on mastering key Adobe Suite applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Adobe's tutorials are great for beginners and advanced users.

3. Practice Regularly: Practice is crucial. Work on real-life projects or daily challenges. Websites like Behance allow you to showcase your work and get feedback.

4. Stay Updated: Graphic design trends evolve. Follow design blogs and websites like Adobe Create Magazine to stay updated on the latest trends and techniques.

5. Seek Feedback: Join online forums or communities like Reddit’s r/graphic_design to share your work and receive constructive criticism.

6. Learn from Experts: Platforms like Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning) offer in-depth courses on Adobe Creative Suite taught by industry experts.

7. Get Certified: Consider obtaining Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) certification to validate your expertise and commitment. Information on certification can be found on Adobe's official certification page.

By following these steps and dedicating time to learn and practice, you'll significantly improve your graphic design skills in Adobe Creative Suite.

How to Display Graphic Design (Adobe Creative Suite) Skills on Your Resume

10. Video Editing (Final Cut Pro)

Video editing, specifically in Final Cut Pro, involves cutting, arranging, and enhancing video clips to create polished and cohesive visual content, essential for a Communications Manager to effectively convey messages and engage audiences across various media platforms.

Why It's Important

Video editing, especially with tools like Final Cut Pro, is essential for a Communications Manager as it enables the creation of high-quality, engaging content that effectively conveys the organization's messages, enhances brand visibility, and engages the target audience in a visually compelling way.

How to Improve Video Editing (Final Cut Pro) Skills

Improving video editing skills in Final Cut Pro as a Communications Manager involves a blend of mastering technical skills, understanding storytelling, and keeping up with the latest trends and features. Here are concise steps and resources for enhancing your video editing prowess:

1. Familiarize with Basics: Start with understanding the workspace, tools, and basic editing functions. Apple's official guide is an excellent place for foundational knowledge.

2. Master Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up your editing process by mastering Final Cut Pro keyboard shortcuts. Refer to this comprehensive shortcut guide to enhance efficiency.

3. Explore Advanced Features: Dive into advanced features like color correction, audio mixing, and effects. Ripple Training offers detailed tutorials on advanced editing techniques.

4. Learn Storytelling: Understanding the art of storytelling is crucial. Study storytelling basics and how to apply them in your edits. Pixar's Khan Academy course on The Art of Storytelling can be very insightful.

5. Stay Updated: Final Cut Pro is regularly updated. Keep yourself updated with the latest features and trends by following forums and blogs like FCP.co.

6. Practice Regularly: Practice is key to improvement. Set yourself projects or challenges to apply new techniques and refine your skills.

7. Feedback and Critique: Join online communities such as the Final Cut Pro Subreddit to share your work, get feedback, and learn from others.

8. Attend Workshops and Webinars: Look for workshops, webinars, and online courses that can provide new insights and techniques. Websites like Lynda and Udemy offer comprehensive courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels.

By following these steps and utilizing the resources provided, you can significantly improve your video editing skills in Final Cut Pro, thereby enhancing your effectiveness as a Communications Manager.

How to Display Video Editing (Final Cut Pro) Skills on Your Resume

11. Content Management (WordPress)

Content Management in WordPress is the process of organizing, creating, and publishing digital content on a website using the WordPress platform. It allows a Communications Manager to efficiently manage blog posts, pages, media files, and other content types to ensure consistent and effective communication with the audience.

Why It's Important

Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress are crucial for Communications Managers as they streamline the creation, management, and publishing of digital content. This enables effective, consistent communication across various platforms, enhancing brand visibility and engagement without requiring advanced technical skills.

How to Improve Content Management (WordPress) Skills

Improving content management in WordPress for a Communications Manager involves a strategic approach centered around efficiency, consistency, and engagement:

1. Optimize for SEO: Use tools like Yoast SEO to improve your site's visibility and search engine rankings by optimizing your content, images, and meta descriptions.

2. Leverage Analytics: Utilize Google Analytics to track visitor behavior and content performance, enabling data-driven decisions to enhance user engagement.

3. Content Calendar: Implement a content calendar to plan, schedule, and publish your content systematically, ensuring a consistent flow of high-quality posts.

4. Use Visual Builders: Tools like Elementor or WPBakery allow you to design stunning pages with ease, improving the aesthetic appeal of your content without needing deep technical skills.

5. Optimize Performance: Speed up your site with caching plugins like W3 Total Cache and image optimization tools such as Smush, enhancing user experience and SEO.

6. Content Audit: Regularly review your site's content to identify outdated or underperforming posts. Tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider can help streamline this process.

7. Security Measures: Protect your content with security plugins like Wordfence Security to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

8. Backup Regularly: Ensure your content is safe by using backup solutions like UpdraftPlus to automatically save your site's data and allow easy restoration.

9. Engage with Your Audience: Incorporate plugins like Disqus or wpDiscuz to foster community and feedback through comments.

10. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest WordPress features and best practices by following reputable sources like the WordPress News section and WPBeginner.

Adopting these strategies will enhance your WordPress content management, making your website more attractive, engaging, and user-friendly for your audience.

How to Display Content Management (WordPress) Skills on Your Resume

12. Digital Advertising (Google Ads)

Digital Advertising, specifically Google Ads, is a platform for promoting products, services, or brands online through targeted advertising, enabling businesses to reach potential customers based on their search queries, web behavior, or demographics, effectively driving traffic and engagement.

Why It's Important

Digital advertising, particularly Google Ads, is crucial for a Communications Manager because it enables precise targeting and measurement of ad performance, ensuring that promotional efforts reach the right audience efficiently and effectively, thereby optimizing the communication strategy and maximizing return on investment.

How to Improve Digital Advertising (Google Ads) Skills

Improving digital advertising, particularly Google Ads, involves a strategic approach focusing on optimization and analysis. Here are concise steps for a Communications Manager:

1. Keyword Optimization: Continuously research and update your keyword list for relevance and competitiveness. Use Google's Keyword Planner for insights.

2. Ad Customization: Tailor your ads to match user intent. Incorporate strong call-to-actions (CTAs) and use ad extensions to enhance visibility and click-through rates.

3. Landing Page Relevance: Ensure your landing pages are directly relevant to your ads. High relevance increases conversions and improves your Quality Score, affecting ad ranking and costs.

4. Utilize Audience Targeting: Segment your audience for more personalized ad experiences. Use Google Ads' audience targeting options to reach your ideal customers.

5. Monitor and Optimize Campaigns: Regularly review campaign performance. Use Google Ads’ analytics to adjust bids, refine targeting, and pause underperforming ads.

6. A/B Testing: Continuously test different elements of your ads (e.g., headlines, descriptions, landing pages) to see what performs best. Implement the winning elements for better results.

7. Stay Updated with Google Ads Innovations: Google frequently updates its platform. Stay informed about new features and best practices through the Google Ads Blog.

Implementing these steps will help refine your Google Ads strategy, leading to improved performance and a higher ROI.

How to Display Digital Advertising (Google Ads) Skills on Your Resume