I originally went through Social Media Manager School in 2013, and am an active alumni who regularly relies on the training and resources to improve, expand, and grow my business. This post is a summary and review for those who are interested in working as a social media manager or as a consultant.
Just a few short years ago, social media wasn’t something you could go to “school” for. If you were participating in social media – either for yourself or on behalf of a business – you were just learning as you went along.
And in all likelihood, if you were participating in social media as part of a business, it was probably not your sole function – or rather not what you were getting paid for. The social media duties were usually added to the Marketing Manager’s plate, or in my case, the Tasting Room Manager.
Fast forward to 2016.
Social Media is now an industry all its own. Being social media savvy is a sought after skill by many businesses hiring for a variety of positions, and social media can be a lucrative career path for someone who wants to either gain employment as a social media manager or work for themselves as a consultant.
There are many educational opportunities available now for those interested in social media as a career. Many colleges and universities offer social media course work as part of a larger online business or digital marketing curriculum, and some schools also offer certificate courses for social media alone.
But there’s another (more affordable) path to consider, and that is an online course taught by two experts in social media, Andrea Vahl & Phyllis Khare.
Social Media Manager School
When my wine clients started asking me for social media help back in 2012, I started to realize that there was more that I needed to learn about how to market a business online.
When I started looking for education around social media, the college courses I found seemed to be all theory and lacked real tangible strategy (that’s still my opinion of most btw).
My first inkling, therefore, was to attend a Social Media conference. For roughly $2000 and time away from work, I initially thought a conference was my only option to learn from pros who had the hands-on experience to teach me how to market a business using social media effectively.
I then stumbled upon a webinar for Social Media Manager School.
Social Media Manager School (or SMMS) is geared both towards individuals wanting to start a business as a Social Media Consultant and also for small businesses who need training for their staff and themselves.
In stark contrast to the $2000 price tag for a conference, SMMS has options at a fraction of the cost with lifetime enrollment (payment options available). The online course lasts 6 weeks (starting in April), but you can also go at your own pace and you have access to the trainings, course updates, and community forever.
The course material covers all the major social networks and shares strategies on engagement, growth, advertising, and even time management. If you want to be a consultant, the course also teaches you all the things you need to know to start your own business in social media.
Andrea and Phyllis work in the social media trenches, so the trainings are all actionable and very relevant.
2017 Update
I’m really happy to see some changes in 2017 – namely, there are tracks for different interests in a career in Social Media.
If you want to operate your own business and/or be a social media freelancer, there is a track for you.
There is also a track specifically for in-house employees. This is what I’m most excited about for the businesses I work with. Up until now, there wasn’t a good training option for businesses that wanted to invest in their staff and their learning.
The Community
I don’t have time to keep up with all the changes to social media. Things move at lightning speed, and there is simply no way on my own to know how Facebook ads has changed, what the new tools are to use, or how regulations are changing that affect my work.
The SMMS community does all this for me. By being connected and tapped into a network of top-notch social media professionals within their private community, I can keep focused on my work while the community keeps me updated. I went through SMMS in October of 2013, but I still frequent the SMMS community daily.
Who should enroll?
- If you want to get hired to execute on a business’s social media strategy
- If you want to give your staff access to social media training
- If you want to work as a social media consultant
While Social Media Manager School is a great investment for those who want to venture into a career as a Social Media Consultant, it is also a great investment for those who just want to do Social Media better. I very much recommend SMMS to a small business owner who tackles their own social media and/or who handles Social Media in-house. Existing consultants, like myself, also benefit tremendously by learning pro-tips on managing your social media business.
Spring 2017 enrollment for Social Media Manager School is opening soon. Sign up for more information and early access here.
Andrea Vahl & Phyllis Khare have created a great FREE resource for those interested in a career in Social Media – grab it here.
As a member of SMMS, we are also eligible to be an affiliate of the program. If you use the above link to enroll in the course, we will receive a commission, and if that’s the case – thank you!! If you have any questions about Social Media Manager School, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and ask!