This certificate is currently offered by request only. The next available class will begin 2/5/2024 and run until 4/26/2024. Please contact our office at ce@greenriver.edu or 253-333-6030 for assistance in registering for this course.
Discover how businesses are using social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogging and more to communicate, market, retain and serve customers and clients. Explore the top sites and determine possible uses for your organization. Develop a two-way communication and marketing strategy that utilizes social networks, and obtain how-to techniques for integrating social networks into your organization. For businesses, nonprofits, government and other organizations.
THE PROGRAM
The Social Media for Business Certificate is offered through our partner, Learning Resources Network, Inc. (aka UGotClass). It is composed of three, month-long courses:
1. Introduction to Social Media – 1 month
How Marketing has Changed and Where Social Networks Fit?
- How is marketing changing?
- Who is your customer & where are they online?
- What role does content play?
- What are the trends on the horizon?
Where to Start? Strategy, Listening, & Accounts
- Start with a plan: Developing a social media marketing strategy.
- Where does listening & engagement fit into strategy?
- Learning to use some basic tools
- How are organizations using social media?
What Do Social Networks Fit in Your Business?
- General overview of social sites that may fit your marketing goals.
- Where are your customers and how are they using social media?
- How to set up social network profiles?
- Can you measure the return on your investment?
Using Facebook to Promote Your Brand and Engage Your Customers
- The Basics of Facebook: Personal & Business Applications
- How to Set-up Your Facebook Page
- Using Content and Posts to Boost Engagement
- Case Studies on How Businesses Use Facebook
2. Marketing Using Social Media – 1 month
Social media as two-way communication
- The customer-business relationship
- The power of viral marketing
- Building customer loyalty with social media
- Using social media to brand your organization
Creating, marketing and communicating using Blogs
- How blogs got started
- Writing blogs for work and business
- Marketing and promoting your blog
- Business strategies for blogs
How to use Twitter
- Uniqueness of Twitter
- Creating tweets and messages
- Doing research and information gathering with Twitter
- Integrating Twitter with other publicity
LinkedIn: a social media for professionals
- Why businesses and professionals use LinkedIn
- How LinkedIn distinguishes itself among social networks
- Getting connected with LinkedIn
- Case studies and examples of business and professional uses
3. Integrating Social Media in Your Organization – 1 month
Running a Community and Creating Your Own Social Network Using Ning
- Online Communities and Creating Your Own Social Network with Ning
- Top 5 Considerations When Starting a Social Network
- What Goes into Build a Great Social Network
- What is an online community manager
- What is Ning and How to Use the Platform
- Examples of Companies Using Ning
What Tools to Use for Your Organization
- What tools and platforms will help get content on the web
- Readings on top new tools to consider
- How to select which tool to use
- How video fits into online marketing
- Organizing and collaborating with Google products
- How to take advantage of mobile and local in applications and search
Integrating Social Platforms into Your Web Site
- Discovering how web design has changed and what is needed for true integration
- Understanding elements on web sites that increase interaction, engagement, search engines findability
- Learn best practices for website usability and landing page design
- Discuss how your sites compare and generate next steps that will improve your business
Developing a Manageable Work Flow: Time, Resources, Policies, and Trends
- Developing a Manageable Work Flow
- Time and Resources: How do you know where to spend your time?
- Target Social Media Influencers to Boost Traffic and Sales
- Is Your Company Ready for Social Media or Are They Holding You Back?
- Trends - What's Next or Are We Still Working on Last Year's Trends?
- Social Media Policies and Planning For A Crisis
HOW IT WORKS
An invitation into the online classroom will be emailed to you the Wednesday before the class begins. The subject of the email invitation will be "Lern – Classroom Invitation". Please click to accept the invitation, and from there you will create a password and will be able to access the classroom. If you haven't received an invitation by the Thursday before the course begins, please forward your confirmation email to info@ugotclass.org, and a staff member will resend your invitation.
Once inside the online classroom, here's what you can expect:
Participate When You Want
The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.
What You Will Do
Each course is composed of several units. For each unit, you will:
- Access the online readings
- Listen to the audio presentation for the unit and view the slides
- Take a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
- Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self-quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.
Discussion
The discussion for each unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time, day or night. Your instructor will log into the discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants. We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each day to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.
COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
1. Make at least one comment every week in the discussion.
- The comment should show thought and be more substantive than just “Yes, I agree.” There is no length required for comments.
- Replies to other comments and responses to other participants count as comments (in most cases your instructor values replies and responses as comments).
- Questions and online discussion facilitative comments also count as long as there is some thought to them.
2. Take the self-quiz at the end of every unit.
- You must score 80% or higher.
- You may retake any self-quiz as often as you need to get to the 80% score.
Completion Timeline
- The requirements should be completed by the last day of the course.
- Individual instructors may extend the deadline upon request.
- If, for any reason, you are not able to complete the requirements during the course, UGotClass will provide you with their Course Transfer Option. The course Transfer Option allows you to retake any or all of the same UGotClass online course at a future offering within the next 12 months at no extra cost.
RECOGNITION
A pdf Certificate of Completion is issued by Learning Resources Network, Inc. and will list Green River College as its partner organization.
HELP
Once the program has started, please direct all questions to info@ugotclass.org
