Overview of the Certification
Brands are quickly figuring out that if they want to be successful, they need to be on social media. With changes in algorithms for all major social media platforms, it is easy to become irrelevant and obsolete. Organizations today spend a considerable portion of their advertising budget because of the dwindling attention span of social media users. Without a sound social media strategy, the message won’t reach across the table.
It isn’t as simple as showing ads on every platform. It is important to understand what social media to use because that determines that Target Group views your products. If there is a mismatch, your advertising efforts would have become futile. Having a social media certification shows your employer that you are serious about the field of digital marketing. It also shows commitment and dedication because you went and got a certification in the niche. It also showcases your ability in handling social media campaigns of the organization.
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Eligibility for Social Media Certification
There are no eligibility criteria for this certification. In fact, most certification providers don’t even require you to write a social media certification exam after the certification training. But, the more reputed the training provider is, the more valuable the certification. There are numerous training providers for social media certification. Some providers are
Social Media Certification Training Providers
Digital Marketing Nanodegree with Udacity
This three-month program was created with some of the biggest names in tech, including Google, Facebook, and Hootsuite. It’s designed to kickstart your career as a digital marketer. After the course, you’ll also have career support from Udacity to connect with prospective employers like Amazon and IBM. You’ll also have a digital marketing portfolio of your completed projects to show them. It costs $999. The course covers
- Marketing Fundamentals
- Content Strategy
- Social Media Marketing
- Social Media Advertising with Facebook Blueprint
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) including audit
- Search Engine Marketing with Google Ads
- Display Advertising
- Email Marketing
- Measure and Optimize with Google Analytics
Hootsuite Academy
Hootsuite Academy offers a range of practical courses and industry-recognized certifications to make you a better social media marketer. This certification course requires you to pass an optional exam to get certified. It costs $199 and has some free courses as well. The course covers
- Introduction to Social Media Marketing
- Optimizing Your Social Media Profiles
- Social Media Strategy from A to Z
- Growing Your Advocate Community
- Content Marketing Fundamentals
- Social Advertising Fundamentals
Twitter Flight School
Twitter Flight School was created to help agencies use the platform successfully. They made it available to everyone in 2016. The Marketing Leadership flight path is designed to help businesses achieve their Twitter goals, grow their audiences, and analyze their data. This course is free but tailored towards optimizing twitter use for business purposes. The course includes
- Twitter 101
- Ultimate Guide to Content Planning
- Meeting Campaign Objectives
- Reaching the Right People
- Marketing Plays with Twitter
Social Media Marketing through LinkedIn Learning
On LinkedIn Learning, you’ll find nearly 60 social media marketing courses (comprising over 1,600 video tutorials) at every level, beginner to expert. A benefit of Lynda’s massive catalogue is you can find some unique courses here for specialized skills and industries. LinkedIn Learning may not have the cachet of some other industry-accredited certificate programs, but it’s a great option if you’re looking for flexible, self-directed learning on a broad range of topics. It costs 25 USD for the access to LinkedIn premium which includes certifications also. The courses cover
- Social Media Marketing Foundations
- Social Media Marketing: Managing Online Communities
- Social Media Marketing for Small Business
- Social Media Marketing with Facebook and Twitter
- Marketing on Twitter
- Marketing on Snapchat
- Marketing on Facebook
Boot Camp Digital
Their Social Media Certification offers over 70 hours of online video instruction on platform-specific marketing techniques. It also provides downloadable resources and tip sheets to help you implement effective tactics and strategies quickly. Content in this program is updated regularly to keep up with evolving platforms and industry trends. A special benefit of this program is the weekly one-on-one sessions with a qualified trainer, where learners have the opportunity to ask questions specific to their business or industry or get help with a tricky topic.
Graduates receive an industry-recognized certification, as well as a professional endorsement on LinkedIn. Boot Camp Digital also offers certifications in digital marketing and SEO. It costs 997 USD. The course covers
- Social Media Strategy
- Facebook Marketing
- Facebook Ads
- Instagram Marketing
- Twitter Marketing
- LinkedIn Marketing
- Pinterest Marketing
- Blogging
[ Read: 15+ Smart Digital Marketing Apps for Freelancers This Year ]
Blueprint with Facebook
Getting certified through Blueprint shows employers that you’ve developed advanced Facebook advertising skills, including targeting audiences, managing ads, and measuring campaign performance. Courses are broken down into short, specific modules, allowing you to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the platform.
All courses are free. This means you can go beyond the required curriculum for Blueprint Certification and delve into additional courses on Messenger and Instagram. Facebook takes their certification seriously. They recommend at least six months of experience with Facebook advertising in a professional capacity before even taking the exam. This certification is valid for a year after getting it. It costs up to 150 USD depending on the certification. The courses include
- Instagram for Business
- Understanding Campaign Performance with Ads Manager
- Targeting: Core Audiences
- Closing the Deal with Conversions
- How to Drive Actions Online, in Stores, and in Mobile Apps
- Brand Best Practices
Content Marketing Institute
Closing the ads gap with creative content is one of the top social media trends for 2019. Unlike most of the other certifications, CMI isn’t focused on platform-specific tools or techniques. Instead, it focuses on developing your brand’s story and voice, and translating that into compelling and distinctive visual content. The pace of the program is self-determined. Materials are available for one year after registration. Once you complete all required courses and quizzes, you’ll receive your certificate. It costs anywhere between $600 and $1000. The course includes
- Killing Marketing
- Purpose & Focus
- Audience Vs. Buyers
- What’s the Story?
- Measure by Design
- Story mapping
Social Media Certification Salary
The average Social Media Marketing and Communications Manager salary in the United States is $102,193 as of April 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $86,119 and $124,199. The average salary for a Social Media Specialist is $14.06 per hour in the United States. An Experienced Social Media Manager earns an average salary of $63,294 per year, with the top earners reaching $97K.
