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Learn social media marketing

Marketing professionals harness the power of social media to share branded messages, influence consumer purchases, promote grassroots efforts, and more. A course in social media marketing can prepare individuals for work in this evolving field.

What is social media marketing?

Social media marketing is a broad term that refers to online marketing campaigns and efforts implemented through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This marketing discipline often combines social media management, or the act of building large organic communities on social sites, with social media advertising designed to funnel new followers into those communities. Social media marketers leverage engagement with their brand’s followers to promote products, services, or ideas.

With a talented social media strategist at the helm, digital campaigns can be highly effective. An effective social media expert working for a brand will carefully manage social media accounts, communicate directly with followers, and keep a close watch over social media analytics.

To learn the ins-and-outs of social media optimization or to build a career in social media services, many aspiring practitioners will pursue some kind of social media training. This might take the form of comprehensive social media certification programs or individual social media marketing courses.

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Social media marketing course curriculum

A social media marketing course can teach learners how to develop a social media marketing strategy, create a budget, schedule content, drive engagement, measure the results of a social media campaign or effectiveness of other social efforts, and much more. Courses may last a few weeks or be taken as part of an advanced digital marketing degree program.  

Some courses are tailored to learners looking to pursue careers in areas such as e-commerce, product management, marketing analytics, public relations, or content marketing. Regardless of niche, social media course curricula are designed to reflect the evolving nature of digital marketing, equipping learners for the real world.

People who excel in social media marketing courses and related careers typically share a unique combination of skills, often transferable and relevant in fields such as business and data analytics or advertising. They tend to be strong communicators and they possess an ability to write clearly and succinctly, which helps when posts are limited in character count. Basic marketing know-how is also helpful to have, while an aptitude for learning online tools quickly and efficiently enables professionals to stay on top of emerging trends in the industry. Finally, social media marketing professionals possess analytical skills and a knack for interpreting data and synthesizing reports.

Jobs in social media marketing

For creative souls, salespeople, or those interested in community management, social media marketing can provide fulfilling and flexible professional opportunities. Millions of companies have a presence on social media which means aspiring practitioners can pursue jobs in a variety of sectors. Depending on the role, a professional may be tasked with creating content or crafting brand personas. Gaining knowledge through an online social media marketing course can help individuals decide which role to pursue within the field.

Learn social media marketing best practices and strategies with edX courses.

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