A conversation with Gofaone
Over the last two decades, social media has developed into the main source of information for a huge percentage of the world’s population, influencing their opinions, choices and beliefs on every topic imaginable.
The vast majority of us, especially the younger generation, spend much of our time glued to and interacting through our screens.
While most of us see it as just that, a communication medium, some, the likes of Gofaone Modise, saw the opportunity to make money.
Biding her time between Botswana and neighboring South Africa, the impressive 25-year-old is a certified social media manager and podcaster.
The Voice caught up with Modise to unpack social media management and find out exactly what it entails…
Kindly introduce yourself.
Good day.
My name is Gofaone Modise, a social media manager and podcaster.
I am currently 25, turning 26 in June.
I am from Mochudi village – however, I was raised in Palapye.
I am from a family of five, with two loving parents and two siblings.
I am the middle child.
I am currently studying International Studies at DePaul University in Chicago.
What exactly does a social media manager do?
A social media manager is someone who is responsible for managing a company’s social media channels to increase brand awareness, engage with customers and promote products or services.
Their job typically involves creating and curating content for social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others.
They also monitor social media conversations and respond to comments and messages, analyze social media metrics to track engagement and reach, and create social media strategies to meet business objectives.
Additionally, they may also manage social media advertising campaigns and collaborate with other departments within the company, such as marketing and customer service.
Quite a lot then! But what qualifies you to be the certified social media manager you are?
It typically involves completing training or courses related to social media marketing and management.
There are various organisations and online platforms that offer social media manager certifications, such as Hootsuite, Hubspot, and the Digital Marketing Institute.
To become certified, you may need to complete specific courses, pass exams, and demonstrate your practical skills through assignments or projects.
Additionally, having a strong understanding of social media platforms, digital marketing, content creation, and analytics can also be beneficial in becoming a successful social media manager.
What inspired you to take this path in life?
Social media was becoming a huge thing, and I was curious about ways of monetizing it.
I then discovered the world of social media management.
Give us a glimpse into a typical day in the office for you.
The day may begin with planning the day’s tasks, reviewing social media metrics and engagement data, collaborating and coordinating with other team members, such as graphic designers, writers, and video editors, to ensure that their content is cohesive and aligns with a brand’s overall strategy.
How long have you been doing this for and are you making enough money to sustain you?
I have been practicing as a social media manager for three years now.
Yes, there is enough money in social media management to sustain me.
Any notable clients or projects you have worked with/for?
Yes, although I’m currently not inclined to specify.
However, I can assure you that my experience has provided me with valuable insights and skills that I bring to each new project I work on.
Let’s talk about your podcast, ‘Conversations with Gofaone’ – what’s it all about?
‘Conversations with Gofaone’ is a podcast that contains a series of interviews with people who are experts in their fields and/or industries, about the work they do and provide ways in which listeners can benefit.
Targeting young professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals with a knack for knowledge and personal development, various topics are featured on this show to cater for this wide range of listeners.
This includes: real estate, finance, marketing, personal development and more.
Of all the forms of media, why a podcast?
Conversations via podcasts are built around an online community thus enabling brands to get feedback from consumers they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.
Further, it is effective for brand awareness and shared value.
Mention two individuals who have played important roles in the building of your brand.
My mentor, a life and business coach called Coach David Ini Grace and my community of friends and family.
Can’t truly name them all, they’ve been highly influential!
What project or task do you consider the most significant accomplishment in your career to date?
I’m currently working on it, which is the Forbes Women’s Summit edition of my podcast.
The collaboration is something I’m truly grateful for.
Sounds exciting! What can listeners expect?
I’ll be highlighting esteemed women from the panelists at the Forbes Women’s Summit, their accomplishments hoping to inspire other women in Africa.
Best of luck with that; on the other end of the scale, what challenges have you encountered in building your brand?
Botswana has a relatively small population and market, which means that I struggled to reach a broader audience and build a significant following.
Additionally, there were limited resources and opportunities available for me to showcase my skills and build my personal brand.
However, fortunately, due to Botswana’s growing digital economy, the good outweighs the bad.
For businesses, what are some of the big ‘do not’s’ when it comes to social media?
Don’t: ignore negative comments, post irrelevant content, post inconsistently, use too many hashtags and ignore analytics.
How many hours a day are you on your phone/computer?
Over 10 hours.
Is that healthy?
Not necessarily but working out and meditating helps.
How do you strike a balance between life on screen and actually living out life with the ones around you?
Because I work for myself, it’s a little difficult to strike a balance, especially since business is still in its infant stage.
I try my best to engage meaningfully with my loved ones though.
What are your thoughts on TikTok for business?
TikTok can be an excellent platform for businesses to engage with their audience, build brand awareness, and showcase their products and services in creative and innovative ways.
However, it’s essential to create content that aligns with TikTok’s fun and entertaining culture, and to tailor your approach to your target audience.
Do you think social media will save/kill newspapers?
Social media has undoubtedly disrupted the traditional newspaper industry, but whether it will save or kill newspapers is a matter of debate.
On one hand, social media has enabled newspapers to reach a wider audience and engage with readers in new ways.
Newspapers can use social media to promote their articles, interact with readers, and drive traffic to their websites.
Social media can also provide a platform for citizen journalism, enabling individuals to share news and stories that traditional media outlets may overlook.
On the other hand, social media has also led to a decline in traditional newspaper readership and revenue.
Many people now get their news from social media platforms, which can prioritize sensational or ‘clickbait’ content over quality journalism.
This has led to concerns about the spread of misinformation and the decline of reliable news sources.
What advice would you give to a young person looking to cash in on social media?
Youth looking to make money through social media may look into social media management or marketing, online branding and influencing online.
What other jobs have you done in the past?
I have previously served as an insurance broker and administrative assistant.
What are some of your hobbies?
Reading, tennis and swimming.
Where to from here?
To the top!
And finally, Thank God It’s Friday, what do you have planned for this weekend?
My work is honestly my life, so I will be travelling for work this weekend.
