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Boost Social Media Skills With Online Courses

By U.S. News & World Report

In the digital age, social media skills are crucial for marketing purposes and personal branding alike, experts say.

But not everyone grew up with social media, and for some adults, using the various platforms out there doesn’t come so naturally.

“What we’re finding is there’s a large number of people out there with passion and talent but who were trained in non-digital media, or earned their degrees 10 or 15 years ago,” says Michael Weigold, director of online graduate programs at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, which offers an online master’s in social media.

That’s where online learning might come into play. There are plenty of options out there for those looking to boost their social media skills.

Whether it’s a free class or a certificate program in social media marketing, adults can turn to online education to learn how to use platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram professionally or personally. Those who already have knowledge of social media can use online education to dive deeper into the subject or pursue a career in the field.

Different types of online classes, however, provide different outcomes, and the one an online student ultimately chooses will depend largely on his or her class format preferences and desired outcomes. Here are a few categories of online courses in social media.

[Explore degree options to major in social media.]

— MOOCs and free online content: There are many resources at no charge that offer online learners basic insight into social media — but often with little to no interaction with an instructor.

For instance, through Coursera, a major provider of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, students can take free, self-paced online classes. Similarly, Ireland-based free online course provider ALISON offers several introductory courses, ranging from “Using Twitter” to “Social Networking and Viral Marketing Using Facebook.”

Free classes are readily discoverable online. For instance, the company Hootsuite, a social media management tool, offers a free course in social marketing training and another in using their flagship service.

— Paid, non-university affiliated courses and certifications: Plenty of standalone online courses in social media exist at lower prices than what an online learner might get, for example, from a college or university.

Some programs, including Hootsuite, also allow students to pay for certificates of completion if they pass an exam — similar to the Social Media Marketing Specialization certificate offered by Coursera and Northwestern University, which requires students take five MOOCs and complete a capstone project. Students can mention or display the credentials on their resumes or LinkedIn profiles.

[Discover the features you can now get by paying for MOOCs.]

On SocialMediaOnlineClasses.com, which focuses mainly on social marketing for small businesses, general membership — providing full access to courses, webinars and infographics — costs about $400 a year, with other options available. The online certification program costs almost $900 for a one-time payment, with up to a year’s access to classes, along with private coaching, among other features.

Similarly, Udemy, a marketplace for online courses, has numerous low-cost options, many for less than $25. Gregory Boutte, the company’s vice president of content, says he’s seen a surge in online classes in social media in the past few years. Udemy now offers nearly 900 .

When it comes to choosing a standalone course or certificat e program, it’s important to ask the right questions beforehand, says Maria Peagler, founder of SocialMediaOnlineClasses.com. She and other experts suggest prospective students ask to first “sample” an online class to ensure that the format is what they are looking for.

Given the constantly changing nature of social media, experts also say it’s essential to ask how frequently online course content is upgraded in a given program. In addition, non-university-affiliated online courses aren’t as likely to require live or in-person sessions as are programs offered through well-known schools, experts say.

— University certificates and degrees: Getting a master’s degree in social media not only teaches students about social media but also how to apply that knowledge to real-world situations under the guidance of a professor, says Weigold, of UF. Other schools also offer partially or fully online graduate-level degrees in the field; for instance, Southern New Hampshire University and Excelsior College both offer online MBAs with social media concentrations.

In contrast, an online certificate requires less time, is generally cheaper and focuses on more specific skills, experts say. Degrees usually offer greater insight and more advanced course opportunities.

[Learn how to choose between an online graduate certificate and degree program.]

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick also offers an online “mini-MBA” certificate in social media marketing for about $3,500. Southern New Hampshire University likewise has an online graduate certificate for almost $1,900 per course, with four required.

For Kimberly Devitt, a marketing professional living in Orlando, Florida, who’s pursuing the online master’s at UF, it’s the class discussions and student-to-student interaction in the university-affiliated program that’s benefited her the most.

“I feel like I learn just as much from my peers as I do my instructors, if not more,” she says.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

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Boost Social Media Skills With Online Courses originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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