“Real Women, Real Work” is a Darling series about everyday women who work in various fields including business, entertainment, science and education. We want to get to know the WHY behind their WHAT and get an inside look into different industries.
Meet Amanda Bartha, Anthropologie’s Social Media Marketing Coordinator. Anthropologie is owned by mega-fashion brand URBN, the parent brand for other big names in fashion including Urban Outfitters, Free People, Terrain, BHLDN, Nuuly and Menus & Venues. Today, Amanda manages Anthropologie’s massive social media following with more than four million followers on Instagram alone. Darling got to sit down with Bartha to learn about how she turned social media management into a career and learn more about her everyday work routine at Anthropologie.
What was your career goal or ambition when you were younger?
I never was the type of person who knew what she wanted to be at a young age. I actually bounced around quite a lot when choosing my major in college. When I started my college career, I was majoring in Exercise Science, with the hope of going into PT school.
Yet, after my first chemistry class, I knew it was not for me. I spent a lot of my free time in college watching random YouTube lifestyle influencers. It always fascinated me how they branded themselves, as well as how they got to work closely with other brands they organically loved. Four major changes later, along with a lot of overthinking, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business marketing.
Four major changes later, along with a lot of overthinking, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business marketing.
Tell me about your professional journey and how you got where you are.
I grew up living in a small beach town in Cape May Court House, NJ. It was about 10 minutes away from the sandy shores of Stone Harbor and Avalon. Growing up in a small town, it was really easy for me to constantly dream big. I spent most of my college summers working part-time as a waitress meeting people from all over who would come to the shore on vacation.
I was also given the opportunity to work part-time as an intern with a few different companies. These companies included small, local marketing businesses, as well as a few larger scale businesses closer to the city. I enjoyed my internships, but I always knew something was missing.
As soon as my work days were done, I spent my down time catching up on different fashion and beauty trends. I was always researching the next best thing, the best product or the best look. This is when I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in the fashion or beauty industry.
After I graduated college, with a B.A. in Business Marketing, I spent the summer applying to as many fashion-related internships as possible. With that goal in mind and the summer coming to an end, I decided I was going to move to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. With no internship locked down and only my small savings from my summer waitressing gig, I took on the city with big dreams.
I took on the city with big dreams.
After a couple months of applying to as many different positions at Philly’s fashion destination, URBN (the company that owns Anthropologie), I finally heard back from my recruiter. The marketing internship position I originally applied for was given to someone else, but they had another opening as a social media intern for Anthropologie. I took it immediately.
I spent about four months as an intern, and I was then asked to join the team full-time as the Social Media Coordinator. I now work full-time in a career I grew up spending my free time pursuing. To this date, I have been with the company almost two years.
What does a regular work day look like as the Social Media Coordinator at Anthropologie?
As the Social Media Coordinator at Anthropologie, my regular work day consists of making sure all of our social channels are being scheduled and planned correctly on a daily and weekly basis. I work closely with both our Design Team and Copy Team to ensure our social vision for upcoming Instagram stories and posts are being executed.
I also spend a lot of my day on our Instagram platform, gathering all of our assets, scheduling our posts, as well as posting them to the channel as well. When the day-to-day tasks are complete, the team is always working together to strategize new ideas for upcoming campaigns and holidays.
How do you separate your personal versus professional social media time?
When I first started, this was a challenge for me. I would be on social media for work all day. When I got home, I would continue to be on it for personal use. However, after a couple months, I rarely found myself on my own social media platforms at the end of the day. I like to “turn off” as much as possible when I’m not working. It helps me creatively and mentally when I go back to work.
I like to “turn off” as much as possible when I’m not working. It helps me creatively and mentally.
What’s one thing you have learned in your role as the Social Media Coordinator?
One thing I’ve learned as the Social Media Coordinator at Anthropologie is how important it is to have a strong and growing community as a brand. This aids tremendously when planning social campaigns.
How does Anthropologie work with influencers to promote products across social media?
Working with influencers creates new, existing and long-term relationships with our community. Creating and maintaining these relationships are extremely important as a brand to organically promote products on influencer’s platforms, as well as on our own.
What’s the most fun part of the job? What is the most challenging?
The most fun part of my job is being surrounded every day with such creative and inspiring people. I have learned so much about the industry in such a short amount of time. Working in social media means you are constantly evolving, which also means, not every day is the same.
The most fun part of my job is being surrounded every day with such creative and inspiring people.
I love the variety. It always keeps the job interesting! Also, I get to bring my dog to work every day, so what’s not to love about that!
The hardest part I would say is that you’re always “turned on.” With the luxury of social media being such an evolving platform also comes the downside of never being able to completely shutoff.
In three words, how would you describe your role?
Creative, evolving and innovative.
What advice do you have for young women who are interested in working in social media coordination?
Apply for internships in the field as early as possible and as often as possible. If a company you want to work for is coming to your campus to speak, then go! Bring your resume and introduce yourself. A face-to-face conversation will go a long way when you begin to seek out positions.
Building your network is so fundamental. Even if no one else is doing it, be the one to start. Just because you didn’t get the first job you applied for, doesn’t mean you don’t try again.
Be persistent. Immerse yourself in as much experience and knowledge in the field as possible. Social media is a field that is constantly looking for the next new thing and “what’s trending.” Becoming confident in your ideas and taking charge of them both stem from your knowledge and experience in the industry, as well as the platform itself.
Knowing what you know now about career and life, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Worry less. I spent a lot of my younger years worrying about the future (if I was going to get a job out of school and where I was going to end up.) Everyone is on their own path, at their own pace. The biggest thing to remember is that you will end up where you need to be, when you need to be there.
You will end up where you need to be, when you need to be there.
Learning to not be afraid of that unknown was one of my biggest obstacles. One quote I constantly held onto as I was growing up was, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” — Babe Ruth.
Do you have interest in a career in social media marketing? You can follow Bartha’s journey on Instagram.
Image via Amanda Bartha
