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Social Media for Business Certificate (Online at your own pace)


Adult Enrichment / Business & Consumer -
Online Certificates and Courses 2025

Get in on this exciting and growing way to communicate, market and serve your customers and clients. For businesses, nonprofits, government, and other organizations. From Facebook to Twitter, blogging, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more, discover the new principles of communication that apply across all networks and how these specific social networks work and the possible uses for your organization.
Learn how social networks are used to develop a two-way communication and marketing strategy for your organization. Then find out what you can be doing, what you should be doing, and take back a plan to integrate social networks into your communication and marketing. Whether you are new to social networks or already involved, you will come away with both an understanding of social networks and practical, how-to techniques to integrate social networks into your organization or business. Your instructors are outstanding practitioners who also speak, write, and train others on social networks. 

Courses (must be taken in order):

  1. Introduction to Social Media
  2. Marketing Using Social Media
  3. Integrating Social Media in Your Organization

Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ


Class details:
Introduction to Social Media
Unit 1: Why Social Media Matters
    What is social media?
    Social media terminology
    Recent trends of digital platforms and digital users
    21st century marketing
Unit 2: The R&D of Social Media
    Developing an Umbrella Strategy
    Overview of the top social media platforms
    Researching market and industry trends
    Finding your market segment(s)
Unit 3: Preventing a Social Media Catastrophe
    The dangers of social media
    Entering virtual reality
    Engaging with unruly visitors
    Business profiles verses personal profiles
Unit 4: Getting Started
    Creating your profile
    Who, and who not, to follow on social media
    Determining the right engagement frequency
    Developing social media success metrics
Marketing Using Social Media
Unit 1: Which Platform Is Right For You
    Identify which social media platforms work best for your business
    Overview of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Nextdoor
    What content works best on each platform
    How platforms complement each other
    How social media directs customers to your website
Unit 2: Creating Your Social Media Presence
    Identify a personality to represent your company
    Creating your brand
    Authenticity behind the scenes
    Collaboration over competition

Unit 3: Connecting With Your Customers
    Human first approach
    How posts and stories create connections
    Creating a space for your people and connections
    The trouble with engagement
Unit 4: Targeting Advertising
    Social media advertisements
    Increase direct traffic to your website
    Email list
    Affiliate links
Integrating Social Media in Your Organization
Unit 1: 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
Unit 2: 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
Unit 3: Integrating Social Platforms into Your Web Site
    Discovering how web design has changed and what is needed for true integration
    Understanding elements on websites 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
Unit 4: 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
Instructor

Jo-Carolyn Goode


Avid writer, pageant lover, effective manager, and community advocate are just some ways to describe Jo-Carolyn Goode. Having a solid foundation forged by her parents and faith in God has helped shape her into the pillar of the community she is today. The Houston, Texas native is a Prairie View A&M University graduate with a B.S. in the concentration of Biology with minors in Chemistry and Dance.

Beginning her professional career with Houston Style Magazine (HSM) as an editorial intern, she worked her way through the ranks to become Managing Editor. Through a proven track record of excellent timely reporting and having a great worth ethic, Jo-Carolyn tells the stories of the everyday man to the hottest celebrities to the political power movers. While overseeing a talented team of writers and photographers, Jo-Carolyn produces the weekly print publication of HSM. She also engages readers with stellar content through magazine’s online portal and social media channels. Jo-Carolyn is also the Content Coordinator for a neighborhood magazine based in Bellingham, Washington called Lake Views Magazine.

Her communication talents move from the pages of print media to video as the producer for ‘It's National Day,’ a popular YouTube show celebrating the different national days of the world hosted by media personality TotallyRandie.

Melissa Torres


Melissa Torres is a creative marketing specialist with a focus in social media strategies and special events. She is passionate about helping small business owners build their brand and customer loyalty. Melissa also works as a recreation professional and builds annual marketing campaigns to attract locals and tourist alike to participant in summer camps that generate over a million dollars in revenue each year.

Travette Webster


Travette A. Webster serves as LERN’s Director of Communications and comes with an abundance of experience successfully promoting continuing education and lifelong learning programs through various social mediums. For over 15 years, she has worked with individuals and organizations to create and publish content on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and many others. Through robust social media engagement, Travette has helped companies to identify and grow market segments, build brand awareness, and increase customer conversion. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, with an additional focus on Organizational Design and Behavior.

OE-21310a-ugc

  Travette Webster , Melissa Torres , Jo-Carolyn Goode


Online
Sun-Sat, Feb 3 - May 2
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM

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Tu
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Min Age   18 yr.

Price: $ 495 00
OE-21310b-ugc

  Travette Webster , Melissa Torres , Jo-Carolyn Goode


Online
Sun-Sat, Apr 7 - Jun 27
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM

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Tu
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Sa

Min Age   18 yr.

Price: $ 495 00
Registration begins  
Jan. 7th at 9:00 AM
OE-21310c-ugc

  Travette Webster , Melissa Torres , Jo-Carolyn Goode


Online
Sun-Sat, Jun 2 - Aug 29
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM

Su
M
Tu
W
Th
F
Sa

Min Age   18 yr.

Price: $ 495 00
Registration begins  
Jan. 7th at 9:00 AM
OE-21310d-ugc

  Travette Webster , Melissa Torres , Jo-Carolyn Goode


Online
Sun-Sat, Sep 2 - Nov 28
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM

Su
M
Tu
W
Th
F
Sa

Min Age   18 yr.

Price: $ 495 00
Registration begins  
Jan. 7th at 9:00 AM