Social Media Marketing

Certificate

Course Details

Course Code	SG_BSOCI_S06
Level	6
Duration	1 semester
Credits	20
Method of Delivery	Online
Campus Locations	Sligo
Mode of Delivery	Part Time

How to Apply

How to Apply

Course Overview

This courses is Free or 90% Funded under the Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI).

This 13 week part-time online programme aims to equip you with the practical skills to research, plan, create, publish and analyse social media content that will engage with your customer and help you to stand out on social media. This includes familiarising you with social media software used by marketing professionals to identify and target custom market segments. You will have the opportunity to explore multiple social media tools and techniques used by marketing executives to manage and measure the influence and success of your own social media campaigns.

You will study three modules over 13 weeks: Social Media Software and Analytics (10 credits), Content Creation (5 credits) and Digital & Social Media Planning (5 credits).

The course content is tailored for social media marketers at a beginner/intermediate level.

The objectives of the programme are to:

Use contemporary social media marketing tools and platforms to achieve business objectives
Learn practical tactics to ensure success i n social media marketing using engaging and interesting content.
Integrate online marketing and social media with existing marketing activities in marketing plans
Apply digital tools and platforms to create and measure the effectiveness of promotional campaigns.

Course Details

Year 1

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Social Media Software and Analytics This module teaches learners how to use social media software as a marketing tool to connect and engage with their target audience. Students are taught how to engage with social media analytical software and how to use the data for marketing decision making. Learning Outcomes 1. Navigate contemporary social media software. 2. Engage with social media features. 3. Engage with social media analytical tools. 4. Identify the advantages of using social media analytical software for marketing decision making.	10	Mandatory
1	Content Creation The module will equip the learner with the practical skills to research, plan, create and publish a various of digital content using popular PC and mobile applications using accepted design guidelines. The learner will review digital content to monitor trends and identify best practice. They will understand the role of creativity and basic design guidelines plus how best to plan and apply these to digital content creation. Finally the learner will explore the various social and digital platforms available and how best to publish and promote digital content across these platforms. Learning Outcomes 1. Plan and researchhow to create digital content. 2. Apply accepted design guidelines for content creation. 3. Create graphic and video content using a number of popular PC and mobile applications. 4. Publish digital material to a number of sources including blogs, social media and email platforms.	05	Mandatory
1	Digital and Social Media Planning This module will equip the learner with the necessary skills to plan, research, implement, record, analysis and control a digital marketing campaign delivered across a number of digital platforms encompassing legal and ethical considerations while incorporating popular management applications. Learning Outcomes 1. Examine the stages involved in developing a digital marketing campaign. 2. Apply correct legal and ethical considerations to the development digital marketing campaigns. 3. Identify digital audience and market segments. 4. Evaluate the various applications and tools that are available to aid the automation and project management of digital marketing campaigns.	05	Mandatory

Recommended Study Hours per week

There are three modules, with a total of four live lectures every week. For part-time online learning, it is recommended that to allow for 4-6 hours per week per 5-credit modules to your studies.

Examination and Assessment

All modules on this programme are assessed using 100% continuous assessment. The continuous assessment varies from MCQs to project work.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

No attendance required

Progression

This special purpose award will support ( but not be sufficient in itself) a successful student in progressing to entry onto L6/L7 Programmes – exemptions may be warranted depending on the programme.

Download a prospectus

Undergraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

The Atlantic Technological University Sligo Campus has policies in place which are fully implemented to allow for access to a full range of learners to include:

The second level school leaver on the basis of Leaving Certificate performance only where minimum Institute entry requirements for L6 programmes will apply.
Non-standard applicants – any applicant on the basis of non-standard circumstances that would include, but not exclusively, maturity, other qualifications and disability. The implementation of this policy is reflected in the increased diversity of our student cohort.
Recognition of Prior Learning ( RPL) – applications for exemptions/advanced entry will be considered in line with the RPL policies and procedures. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions/ credit for some parts of the programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work or career. Further information is available at www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie
Applicants should possess a basic level of digital literacy. You would be expected to be comfortable in working with Windows ( or similar, e.g. MacOS) and Microsoft Office ( or similar, e.g. Open Office), the latter to an introductory standard such as described by ECDL Base modules.
In addition, international students, whose first language is not English, will be required to prove their English competency through previous examination results, recognised English language tests such as IELTS ( 6.5 or equivalent required) and through oral communication skills at interview.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €1500

This course is Free through Springboard+

Further information on fees

Careers

Industry Demand for Social Media Marketing Skills.

This course will equip you with the skills required to succeed in Social Media Marketing. With social media platforms showing a consistent increase in account ownership in Ireland (Ipsos MRBI, 2019), and users spending up to 2.5 hours everyday across multiple social media sites, its influence on consumer decision making is soaring and cannot be ignored (Smart Insights, 2020).

The North West Regional Skills Forum (2018), SMEs Houses of the Oireachtas (2019), National Skills Strategy 2025 and Future Jobs Ireland (2019) have all published reports highlighting the industry demand for digital and social media marketing skills.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

This course is very practical in nature and is aimed at those who may currently be undertaking a small amount of social media marketing duties but need to gain the skills to be able to build, manage, monitor and report on the success of their social media marketing activity.