While a company’s social media was once regarded as less important than other aspects of its business, with managers trusting social media posts and website duties to interns, that’s all changed dramatically. Today, social media managers and social media skills are in high demand.
In our ultra digitized world, companies have become increasingly aware of the importance of their social media and online presence and are looking to improve their search engine optimization (SEO). This, in turn, can help ensure high visibility with online searchers to attract followers and grow brand recognition across major social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and to use analytics to drive online strategy. Social media is no longer an extra: it’s a necessary part of marketing that requires specialized knowledge and skills to do effectively.
University of Phoenix Helps Professionals Tackle Social Media for Business
Rising to meet this demand for increased social media skills and job opportunities, University of Phoenix now offers professional development courses in social media marketing that closely align with employers’ most sought-after skills. There are three tracks available: Web and Search Engine Marketing, Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing. Each track contains three online, self-directed, non-credit courses that take about 30 hours each to complete and can be taken at a student’s own convenience and pace. Students are granted one-year access to each course.
As courses are completed, students receive a certificate of completion. The courses also help prepare students to sit for industry exams such as Google Analytics IQ Certification. The University’s professional development tracks allow adult workers to fast track their skill building in order to quickly gain and demonstrate social media skills. “These courses align to in-demand skills and professional industry certification exams that can help participants demonstrate job skills needed to effectively manage social media platforms,” said Mukund Sudarsan, vice president general manager of Professional Development at University of Phoenix.
Help Prepare for New Social Media Job Opportunities with University of Phoenix Professional Development Tracks
Social media roles are expanding across industries with social media marketing roles alone increasing by 75 percent from one year ago, according to research by Emsi Burning Glass, a leader in labor market analysis. University of Phoenix’s three professional development tracks in social media marketing can help prepare students for a number of different roles overseeing, producing and analyzing online content.
The Web and Search Engine Marketing track can prepare students for jobs as web marketing specialists, SEO/SEM managers and web marketing analysts, among other roles. The track includes a course in search engine optimization where students learn how to use analytics, keywords and Google Ads data to drive visibility. A course in Google Analytics focuses on interpreting data, creating goals and applying techniques of segmentation and remarketing while the Inbound Marketing course gives students sought-after skills in attracting and retaining customers using social media alongside content and email marketing.
The Digital Marketing track prepares students for jobs such as digital marketing specialists, digital marketing managers and digital marketing strategists. In addition to taking courses in SEO and social media marketing (SEM), students learn the ins and outs of paid social media marketing, Google Analytics, Google Ads and inbound marketing.
The Social Media Marketing track prepares students for careers as social media specialists, social media managers, social media strategists and similar roles. Students will take a course in social media marketing essentials to learn how to tailor marketing campaigns to different platforms and analyze their performance. In another course in paid social media marketing, students learn how to measure success of paid social media marketing efforts, how to outline a strategic campaign and how to advertise on various platforms and measure effectiveness. This track also prepares students to take the Facebook Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification exam.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is committed to advancing the educational goals of adult and nontraditional learners and to helping students navigate career options and degree programs that best suit their interests. The University’s professional development tracks are aligned with the needs of numerous in-demand career skill sets including digital marketing and social media. Each program offers flexible start dates and online classes. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.