A Brief History of LinkedIn Established in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and launched in 2003, LinkedIn began as a vision to create a platform specifically tailored for professionals. With its user base reaching a million within its first year, LinkedIn soon distinguished itself from other social networks by emphasizing on professional networking rather than personal Read more »| Intro to Social Media
A Brief History of TikTok: TikTok, initially launched as Douyin in China in 2016, entered the global market a year later. In 2018, after acquiring the app Musical.ly, TikTok merged its platforms, quickly capturing the hearts and screens of millions, especially Gen Z. Known for its short-form videos, catchy soundtracks, and user-friendly editing tools, the Read more »| Intro to Social Media
The Acquisition and Rapid Growth In 2012, Facebook made a strategic move by acquiring a burgeoning photo-sharing app, Instagram, for approximately $1 billion. This acquisition signaled the potential and importance of visual-based social platforms in the ever-evolving digital landscape. The purchase not only bolstered Facebook’s portfolio but also ushered in an era of rapid growth Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Facebook Facebook: Pioneering a Digital Revolution From the hallowed halls of Harvard to practically every corner of the globe, Facebook’s journey is nothing short of iconic. Whether you’ve been captivated by the dramatization of its inception in “The Social Network” movie, or pored over early interviews of a young Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s revolutionary impact on Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Discussing Twitter is a necessity, even if its demise seems imminent. The platform’s significance in communication, news sharing and societal movements since its establishment remains noteworthy. Essentially, we should analyze it during two eras: before Elon Musk (BM) and after his acquisition (AM). Presently viewed as a colossal disaster under Musk’s ownership, Twitter’s integrity has Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Introducing Avinash Kaushik’s “See, Think, Do, Care” framework – a snappy, innovative strategy to understand your customer’s journey and align it with your social and digital content. Imagine it as a cycle that your customers are constantly flowing through, with each stage reflecting a different state of mind, a different need, a different level of Read more »| Intro to Social Media
I have been using the DISC (D-I-S-C) method for many years in various classes, ranging from event planning to social media marketing. This technique is not only helpful for understanding how to communicate with customers, coworkers, colleagues, or family members but also enables us to know ourselves better. Early in my career at General Motors, Read more »| Intro to Social Media
I like to bring in the Harvard Business Publishing case “Amazon in 2023” by Sunil Gupta and Margaret Rodriguez to give students a solid, real-world example. Abstract: Amazon kicked off its journey in July 1995, selling books online. Fast forward to 2020, and it’s a digital behemoth raking in over $280 billion in yearly sales. Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Course Project: Social Media Strategy Throughout this semester, you’ll develop a social media marketing strategy for a specific company or department within the university. You’ll pick a client/company (real or fictional), focusing on an organization with a decision-maker for whom you’ll design the marketing strategy. No need for actual access to the organization – ‘client’ Read more »| Intro to Social Media
This resource can also be found in MERLOT, and OERCommons. It has been endorsed by Open Illinois and selected to be included in the Open Illinois Collection. This resource was also selected for review by the MERLOT Business Editorial Board, who gave it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. “As a business Read more »| Intro to Social Media
So, remember when COVID-19 hit and the world turned upside down? Yeah, me too. We had to change the way we lived and worked in the blink of an eye. And boy, did we realize how vital social media and digital platforms were for our professional and personal lives. Just think about companies like Zoom, Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Introduction to Social Media is an Open Educational Resource (OER). This means the book is free (It was a good joke, right?). When Dr. Joshua Daniel became Director of First Year Composition in June of 2020, one of the first things he did was survey instructors and students to learn what they thought of the Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In the iconic TED talk by Ed Ulbrich on how Benjamin Button was brought to life, a profound journey of innovation, collaboration, and persistence was unfolded. Taking inspiration from the dedication and creativity of that team, we’ve curated a guide to craft your own social media strategy. Just as Benjamin Button’s face was a masterpiece, Read more »| Intro to Social Media
For those aspiring to forge a career in social media, this chapter’s for you. While organizations like Social Media Tulsa excel in project management and event-based social media, the journey for beginners can be a roller-coaster. Decoding the Social Media Myth It’s a misconception that success in social media revolves only around fluency with platforms Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In the age of digitization, businesses are increasingly turning to social media to amplify their reach. While boosting follower counts is one metric of success, true growth is driven by fostering deeper connections and active interactions. This chapter delves into the importance of engagement and how it plays a pivotal role in elevating your brand’s Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Remember when we chatted about analytics tools? Many of those tools can also help schedule content. I’ll add one more recommendation, The Social Media Time-Trap We all know the charm of social media for businesses. But, without some discipline and cool tools, you’ll be endlessly scrolling instead of strategizing. Been there, done that! Two big Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, myriad social media platforms beckon businesses and content creators. While tempting to plunge into every platform available, a wiser strategy revolves around the essence of your message—the content itself. Instead of spreading too thin, take a content-first approach, which means prioritizing your message and then tailoring it to each platform Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In the infancy of the digital age, the competition between emerging social networks often seemed like a zero-sum game: one network’s gain was another’s loss. Fast forward to today, and the digital landscape has radically evolved. With an array of platforms, users now enjoy the luxury of choice, and businesses have multiple avenues to market Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Navigating your path through the terrain of social media marketing can seem daunting, particularly when deciding which social media platform is most suitable for your business. You’ve defined your objectives; you may be aiming to hone your skills as a social media marketer for an enterprise or leveraging your knowledge to boost your startup’s growth. Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In the modern digital landscape, there’s a saying: “If it can’t be measured, it can’t be managed.” This holds particular resonance in the realm of social media, where the sheer volume of data can be dizzying. Yet, tucked within this deluge of data are the golden insights that can steer campaigns to success and refine Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In the complex world of marketing, social media has emerged as a powerful tool, greatly influencing tactics and strategies. Businesses are constantly urged to invest in social media marketing, leaving many to question why it garners such emphasis amidst a plethora of alternatives. Unveiling the benefits of social media for businesses, we shall explore the Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Some people are confused about social media, but it’s essential to understand that social marketing has been around for a long time. Digital and social media marketing are not new philosophies; they are traditional practices adapted to new tools. Historically, business was conducted in social settings like door-to-door sales or marketplaces. These gatherings allowed people Read more »| Intro to Social Media
“If you make the opportunity, you’ll be the first in the position to take advantage of it.” – Biz Stone Co-Founder of Twitter let’s dive into the realm of social media competitive analysis. As a business, you’ve got competition, those pesky folks selling similar products or services as you, targeting the same crowd. With e-commerce, Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Creating Buyer Persona Let’s talk about creating customer personas! A customer persona is like a character sketch of your perfect customer. You base it on actual data from your current customers and research into your target market. Knowing your customers’ needs, wants, and pain points helps you tailor marketing and sales strategies that really click Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Get ready for this chapter, “Do You Even Google?”, where we dive into the significance of search engine optimization (SEO) and how it impacts everything we do online. Our main goal? Make sure our social media posts and website content are super easy to find. Let’s not forget platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Read more »| Intro to Social Media
In this section, we’ll dive into the art of crafting a rock-solid social media strategy that’s custom-made for your business. But first things first: let’s nail down what type of business you’re running. Are you in the apparel game, living that lifestyle brand life, flexing your creative muscles, schooling folks in education, or hustling in Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Social media is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of online platforms and tools that allow users to connect and share content with each other. The history of social media is long and complex, but it can be traced back to the early days of the internet. One of the earliest examples of Read more »| Intro to Social Media
While we’re learning Marketing concepts, let’s talk about the Marketing Mix. Even though the marketing world has gone digital, this “old-school” concept is very relevant today . We’re talking about the 4 P’s of Marketing. First, who do we have to thank for this? Neil Borden first came up with the term Marketing Mix, but Read more »| Intro to Social Media
The 4 P’s of Marketing Mix and how to master it in today’s world (Template). (n.d.). Angle180. https://www.angle180.com/insights/4-ps-marketing-mix American Marketing Association. (n.d.). Definitions of Marketing. American Marketing Association. https://www.ama.org/the-definition-of-marketing-what-is-marketing/ Aslam, S. (n.d.). Facebook by the Numbers: Stats, Demographics & Fun Facts. Omnicore. https://www.omnicoreagency.com/facebook-statistics/ Beltis, A. (n.d.). How Long Should Blog Po...| Intro to Social Media
This book is aimed at managers, business owners, marketing managers, and aspiring social media marketing interns and managers. I will assume that however accomplished in your own field – baker, developer, teacher and that even as successful business owners, you approach the topic of social media marketing as a beginner. Even if you are a Read more »| Intro to Social Media
Youtube: The World’s Second Largest Search Engine | Intro to Social Media