Before you send out that first tweet

Adding social media to your marketing mix is a long-term strategy that can reap great rewards. Of course it can also create an unmanageable, chaotic and unreliable brand voice that does more harm than good. In this social media class, Chris Middings explains the basics in a clear and thorough way so you know what you are getting into and can plan for success.

Social Media Policies

Creating a solid social strategy requires both internal policies and external policies. What can employees say? What are the relevant FCC guidelines? How do you manage an employee code of conduct? What is the approval process, and many more important questions are answered in this class.

What you need to get started

Getting up and running for a company is a bit more complicated than it is for an individual. Chris takes you through things like resources, content, monitoring and response time, competitors, goals, templates and training. All of which can make or break a social media campaign. He even talks you through how to get executive level buy-in if you’re the one leading the charge.

Where should you start?

There are a huge number of channels to choose from and the list is getting longer every day. This course reviews the top channels and breaks each one down. You’ll understand the advantages, audience and demographics for each so you can make an educated choice about where to best invest your time and money.

How do you know if it’s working?

Monitoring and measuring are the final steps in creating a successful social media program. Chris talks about the most used tools, including some free ones. He explains the different metrics you can use to determine engagement and how to choose the one that best aligns with your overall strategy.

If you are considering getting into social media or are looking to train and grow your staff, this is a wonderful beginner class.