Social Media Specialist application for
Opry Entertainment Group

 Cover Letter

Dear Hiring Manager,

As an avid lover of live entertainment and a passionate employee when it comes to the digital marketing world, I was thrilled to come across the position of Social Media Specialist for Opry Entertainment Group. With over five years of experience working in social media under my belt and a strong desire to find a company I’d be proud to be a part of, I am eager to show how I could be the best fit to help carry on the Opry’s rich traditions in the digital space.

During my time in Nashville, I have had the privilege of working for The Nations Brewing Co. and Big Machine Distillery, where I gained valuable insights in catering to both local and tourist audiences. This experience taught me the importance of understanding the unique needs and preferences of different target audiences, allowing me to tailor content and strategies accordingly. I am confident that my expertise in engaging diverse audiences will translate seamlessly to Opry Entertainment Group, as I aim to connect and engage with fans from all walks of life.

As a fast learner with a diverse range of skills in the digital marketing world, I am ready to adapt and acquire any necessary new skills to excel in my role as a Social Media Specialist. I have a lot of experience shooting and editing photo and video content, and my background in journalism has greatly helped sharpen my writing skills. Additionally, I have already gained valuable experience in the live entertainment industry through various jobs, including an internship at Echostage venue in DC. I believe I am the perfect candidate who is proficient in all the skills it takes to succeed as a social media manager.

I’ve always been inspired by the role the Grand Ole Opry and Ole Red has played in the Nashville hospitality industry and the larger music industry as a whole. Working for a company that I would be proud to be a part of and motivated to advance in is of the utmost importance to me, and I believe Opry Entertainment Group would provide the career path I’ve been searching for since I graduated college.

I am confident that my creativity, adaptability and passion makes me the ideal candidate for this job opening. I’d love the opportunity to prove that I have the hands-on experience and skills it takes to succeed as a Social Media Specialist in an ever-changing digital world. To be a part of a company with such rich history and endless potential would be a dream come true.

Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the possibility of joining the Opry Entertainment team and contributing to its continued success.

-Kevin Pan | 7/9/23

application continued below

Job Description

Generate, edit, and publish daily social media content across various platforms that drive the social community into action by liking, sharing and commenting on social media content as well as attending events, opting in, visiting in-person, and purchasing participation for shows, tours, retail, and other initiatives.

I currently generate, edit and publish all social content for The Nations Brewing Co. brands – typically 15-20 posts/week across five accounts. The content posted encourages our digital community to engage with our accounts or encourages our followers to purchase products or visit our locations.

Execute on editorial calendar incorporating historical milestones, current campaign initiatives, newsworthy announcements, partner interaction and sharing, performance coverage, etc.

My current responsibilities include creating a social schedule each month that ensures we have a steady balance of social content that covers ongoing marketing campaigns, upcoming announcements, company milestones and more.

Plan compelling content ideas for both the OEG brand and artists performing on the stages. Collaborate with other internal departments for logistics, film and photograph content before, during and after performances. Write compelling copy in brand voice for social engagement; edit video/images into short, viral segments and post content in appropriate timeframe.

I am currently responsible for writing copy for all our posts at my current job. My background in journalism has helped me find a consistent tone of voice that fits each account’s brand. I also work with other departments as needed for content. Although I am responsible for shooting and editing the majority of content, I work closely with our design team for social graphics and also reach out to external partners for collaborations as needed.

Actively manage social media community by engaging with fans and other relevant external accounts, responding to questions and inquiries, and rewarding key contributors through surprise and delight moments.

My daily responsibilities include commenting on posts we’re tagged in, replying to comments, responding to direct message inquiries, reposting story tags and more.

Monitor competitors and social and digital marketing trends to identify and implement new opportunities, tactics, techniques, digital tools and platforms.

As part of my job, I keep an eye on accounts run by our direct competitors and frequently analyze their posts to see if we can implement strategies that were successful for them. I also use social media personally on a daily basis, which has greatly helped in keeping up with trends as they arise.

Continuously improve by capturing and analyzing the appropriate social data/metrics, insights and best practices. Share results with management and partners, then act on the recommendations.

Each month, I compile analytic reports for our marketing team to better understand how we perform digitally. These reports help us identify our areas of strength and where there is room for improvement.

Collaborate with other internal departments (customer service, artist relations, brand management, analytics, operations, etc.) to manage reputation and coordinate actions.

I frequently work with our sales team, brewery team, general managers and more to ensure that we are doing our best to help them meet their goals and vice versa.

Perform other duties as assigned.

I’d be happy to take on any challenges outside the direct scope of social media. At my past jobs, despite being brought on for a social media position, I’ve been able to assist elsewhere including building/managing websites, shooting commercials, photographing products, setting up at events and more. I’d love to talk about everything I can bring to the table.


Experience

2+ years experience in social media marketing or as a digital media specialist, social media coordinator, or similar role

I’ve worked in social media during all four years of my time in college, including managing an Instagram account that posted daily content to over 30,000 followers. Since graduating, I’ve run social media accounts for Big Machine Distillery and The Nations Brewing Co.

Demonstrable social networking experience and social analytics tools knowledge

I have extensive experience creating content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter. I also use or have used tools such as Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Tweetdeck.

Technical experience with content management systems and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere, etc.)

I am very experienced with the Adobe Creative Suite, especially in Premiere, Lightroom and Photoshop which I have been using on a near-daily basis for the last eight years. Additionally, I have experience using After Effects, Indesign and Illustrator. 

Experience creating and editing photo and video content and copywriting in a brand voice

My primary job responsibilities include shooting and editing photo and video content across five brand accounts and writing all the captions for each post.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent writing, editing, presentation and communication skills

Before I pursued a career in marketing, I spent four years working out of a professional, student-run newsroom. My responsibilities there included writing multiple articles each week that involved gathering information and presenting it in a format that was easy to understand, all while working with other departments in the newsroom.

Knowledge, use, and extensive experience with social media platforms

I’ve been a daily user of Instagram and Twitter for over a decade, and I frequently use TikTok, Reddit and more recently Threads whenever I have time. I’ve also worked in paid social media positions since the start of my freshman year of college.

Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to providing high-quality work

As someone whose daily responsibilities include shooting and editing photo and video content, attention to detail and producing high-quality work has always been a big part of my job.

Positive attitude and customer-oriented

Working as a social media specialist has allowed me the opportunity to interact with potential customers on a daily basis. I have extensive experience bringing a positive attitude to these interactions at all times.

Strong multi-tasking and organizational abilities

Each week, I’m typically working on shooting, editing and scheduling multiple social media posts while also interacting with our digital community, managing our websites and more. I have no problem balancing multiple tasks as needed.

Ability to work independently and with a team

I have experience working in a newsroom and where staff members from various departments all came together to produce a single story. I’ve also worked on multiple projects where I was responsible for pitching the concept, writing the script, shooting the content, editing, and finally writing copy and scheduling the final product.

I’d love to talk more about how valuable of a team member I believe I can be and also what I can bring to the table when working independently. Feel free to reach me at 301.801.1253 or by emailing thenextbigming@gmail.com.

 Thank you for your consideration.