This course is part of the Social Media Marketing Specialization

4.6
stars
4,047 ratings

Randy Hlavac

151,844 already enrolled

Offered By

Social Media Marketing SpecializationNorthwestern University

About this Course

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The “What Is Social?" MOOC is for business owners, executives, and marketing professionals who want to significantly improve their abilities to grow their social strategy using effective, proven methodologies. This hands on, "how to" program won’t just tell you how to grow your professional persona using social – you will actually do it! This course is the first in the six-course specialization, Social Media Marketing: How to Profit in a Digital World. 
While the course can be audited for free, paid learners will receive additional content beyond the course basics. For MOOC 1, the toolkit includes a special video from Alessandro Acquisti on Big Data and a set of studies done by IBM on engagement and social marketing strategies with bottom-line profits. 

This course has been designed to give you the tools, insights, knowledge, and skills to immediately impact your organization. In addition, we will help you network with thought leaders in social.  After completing this course, you and your organization’s staff will be able to position, engage, and grow relationships with the consumers of highest value to you.

Today, we are living in a period of massive disruption. New technologies are changing the way people engage with each other and with the organizations that interest them. This course will start you on the path to growing your own social strategy using effective, proven methodologies.

Additional MOOC 1 faculty include: 
* Judy Ungar Franks (President, The Marketing Democracy, Ltd. & Lecturer, Medill Integrated Marketing Communications, Northwestern)

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 1 of 6 in the

Social Media Marketing Specialization

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Social Marketing
Social Network
Social Media Marketing
Social Media

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 6 in the

Social Media Marketing Specialization

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.69/5 (452 Ratings)

Randy Hlavac

Northwestern University & CEO of Marketing Synergy, Inc

240,220 Learners

13 Courses

Offered by

Northwestern University

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(27,215 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Introduction to Social Marketing

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 24 min), 6 readings

7 videos

Introduction6mCourse Overview3mWelcome to Social Media Marketing 20203mThe Capstone Project2mOptional Resource Book you might find useful2mHow the Capstone Program Works1mBrief [but Important] Announcement on the IBM Cloud System4m

6 readings

Welcome to Course 1 in the Social Marketing Specialization10mGrading and Logistics10mMeet Your Instructors10mSocial Marketing Toolkit Pt. 1 - Three Misconceptions of Social10mCourse Bookstore10mSpecial Toolkits for Paid/Financial Aid Learners10m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Social Trends

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 39 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

The Business of Social

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 42 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Social Overview

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 45 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

The 3 M's of an Effective Content Strategy for Social Media Marketing2mThe 3 M's of Effective Content Strategy - Focusing on Markets5mThe 3 M's of Effective Content Strategy - Focusing on Messages3mThe 3 M's of Effective Content Strategy - Focusing on Media6mSocial Networks and Communities5mWhy Social Communities Form2mUnderstanding Social Communities6mHow to Position Yourself as a Brand Authority6mDeveloping your Social Media Tools for the Networking Assignment6m

4 readings

Developing the Social Assets to Develop Your Personal Brand10mQuestion for Discussion10mDownload the Lecture Video Slides10mWhat Comes Next?10m

2 practice exercises

Quiz 330mNetworking & Tracking Assignment6m

Reviews

4.6

1065 reviews

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1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM WHAT IS SOCIAL?

by NGNov 29, 2015

I enjoyed this class and found it challenging. I am new to the social media world and found this class to be a great motivator to sign up for new social media sites I have never considered before.

by SSAug 5, 2020

Amazing course which open you upto to more avenues to build your personal brand. It helped me realise that you can be an influencer not only in social media sites but also through other mediums !

by MGMar 3, 2016

Amazing information given, with great assignments to supplement my learning. Will definitely advise anyone interested in learning more about digital marketing to check out this course and more!

by KPJun 24, 2021

It was exciting and insightful. The assignments and materials are so engaging. Must take course for social-media marketers. I was not sure what my goal is until I gone through this course.

View all reviews

About the Social Media Marketing Specialization

In a 2018 survey of businesses, Buffer found that only 29% had effective social media marketing programs. A recent survey of consumers by Tomoson found 92% of consumers trust recommendations from other people over brand content, 70% found consumer reviews to be their second most trusted source, 47% read blogs developed by influencers and experts to discover new trends and new ideas and 35% used blogs to discover new products and services. Also, 20% of women who used social considered products promoted by bloggers they knew. Today, businesses and consumers use social media to make their purchase decisions.

Created in 2014, this Specialization is updated every quarter to ensure you are receiving the most up-to-date training. The Social Media Marketing Specialization is designed to achieve two objectives. It gives you the social analytics tools, and training to help you become an influencer on social media. The course also gives you the knowledge and resources to build a complete social media marketing strategy – from consumer insights to final justification metrics. In each course, you will also receive special toolkits with timely information & when you pay for the Capstone, you receive a market planning toolkit. Each of the individual courses can be audited for free. To see more, visit each course: 1-What is Social?, 2-The Importance of Listening, 3-Engagement & Nurture Marketing Strategies, 4-Content, Advertising & Social IMC, 5-The Business of Social.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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What is Social?

About this Course

Skills you will gain