It seems that almost every internet user participates in a social media website. In just 8 years, social media usage by adults online has grown 800%. Whether Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, or LinkedIn, this avenue of the online-world increasing among individuals. Accordingly, social media marketing professionals have begun to develop within marketing and advertising firms over the recent years. Their evolution spawned due to the rise in social media among businesses and companies.
Social Media is Gaining Speed
As social media is becoming more relevant in today’s society, businesses must keep up with this trend. Many marketing specialists have progressed along with this transition into social media marketing specialists. Social media marketing professionals are trained to understand how social media affects business and web traffic. Marketing strategists create and post engaging content where consumers can comment and interact with their brands.
The Role of the Social Media Specialist
Developing truly engaging and unique social media campaigns has gained significant importance for any brand as part of their strategy to develop deep engagement with their consumers. A good social media strategist that combines a creative mind with a keen understanding of consumer audiences and pop culture is fast becoming a commodity in the industry of advertising.
Responsibilities
Social media marketing specialists understand how to react to changing trends to position their clients and brands. . An article in Forbes relays, “With so many social media sites cropping up, it’s easy to spread yourself too thin. When it was just Facebook and Twitter, things were a lot simpler. Now, however, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+ and lots of smaller-but-growing competitors are becoming popular. Where do you draw the line? You can only maintain an effective presence on so many platforms” (Porat). A good Social Media Strategist is knowledgeable about the popular sites for each audience as well as the strengths and limitations of each when crafting a social media campaign that will be of most benefit to their client’s brand.
Crafting Company Culture
Specialists are talented in preserving the company image on social media. Interactive posts are critical to the brand’s online identity. Forbes continues, “Social media is, by definition, interactive. It’s essential for you to not only post regularly to your accounts but to carefully monitor any feedback you get. If you get questions or complaints, answer them promptly. If you get trolls or spammers, delete them so they don’t ruin the quality of your page” (Porat). The art of maintaining a company’s social media page is accentuated by careful attention to detail.
Qualifications
Those looking to enter this field would benefit by studying this subject. Our GSC creative track program in partnership with Miami Ad School offers a social media course, which introduces students to the use of social media for the purposes of brand communication and promotion. Graduate creative track students enrolled in this course study how marketers use social media to better serve their customers, how brands achieve authentic relationships with consumers, and how to leverage the power of these connections for the benefit of all participants.
Cultivate your Creativity at Florida International University (FIU)
The Global Strategic Communications Creative Track program leads to a Master of Science Degree in Mass Communication with a specialty in Creativity, also known as the Creative Track. This program, in partnership with world renowned Miami Ad School, is designed to tap into a student’s creative skills and strategic thinking. Learn how to develop an advertising campaign through the analysis of a brand’s issues with creative solutions that engage consumers at the deepest levels. The program combines the theoretical and academic courses of Florida International University with creative skills development courses taken at Miami Ad School, learning from instructors that are at the top of their academic and professional careers.
If you are ready harness your creative ability and strategic thinking, and earn a graduate degree from two top world renowned institutions, contact Grizelle De Los Reyes, Director of the Global Strategic Communications Creative Track program, at gdelosre@fiu.edu.
Works Cited
Porat, Shawn. “The Right Way To Build A Social Media Following For Your Company.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 14 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.
