Companies are now investing in digital marketing as a major business tool to promote their brand, connect with their target customers, sell, and gather market insight. But the world of digital marketing including social media is always changing. Algorithms are constantly being updated to respond to the varying behaviour of the market. Technology also plays an important role in how they are managed. If you want to be in this field, you need to keep up with what’s new and what's trending.

There is no end when it comes to learning and the only limitation to what you can do is when you stop learning. You’ll find having a qualification in social media marketing will give you the right foundation on techniques that can be used to implement a successful campaign for your company. Not to mention, a host of other benefits too if you do get on board a recognised course such as the Diploma of Social Media Marketing.

Here are just some benefits as to why a qualification in social media marketing can assist you to become a successful social media professional:

1. Social Media Skills In High Demand

Australia has a huge requirement for digital marketing professionals including social media marketing managers and strategists. Uncovered in a Social Media Report by Sensis, the demand is a result of the steady investment being placed by Australian businesses on social media as a tool that will help them increase their sales. Businesses are in need of people who have the expertise to utilise its power to reap brand recognition which then leads to profit.

Social media marketing professionals are highly sought after and while you may think that there are already a lot of them out there, know that the current demand actually exceeds the current number of qualified candidates. So what better time to start a social media marketing course than now for it will give you the advantage amongst those who are aiming to enter the field - plus it can help you land a job faster than most hopefuls!

2. Increase Your Value To Employers

Since there is a limited supply of social media marketing professionals in the job market, businesses are willing to pay more for a qualified candidate. These professionals along with other digital marketing specialists are among the highly valued and the highest paid in a company. And if you have many years of experience as a social media marketing manager with a good track record of successful marketing campaigns, then you can even negotiate your own desired rate.

Here is another reason why earning a recognised qualification can make you a valuable member of a company. By finishing your social media marketing course, you acquire the following skills which make you a one-stop-shop for someone who can do both brand and business development:

• Community management by creating a loyal following for a brand
• Relationship management by engaging with customers
• Creating blogs, images, polls, videos, and other social media activities
• Writing short posts, press releases, and articles
• Sales and lead generation
• Customer service by responding to customer comments and questions
• Analysing data gathered through your social media reports
• Budget management in the case of implementing social media ad campaigns.

3. Your Career Can Be Taken Across Many Industries

Did you know that being a social media marketing professional is a gateway to a broad range of career options? Why? Because social media is just one of the many facets of digital marketing and other areas that you can explore are:

• SEO
• Email marketing
• Paid Search
• Online PR
• Content marketing
• Affiliate marketing
• Marketing automation
• E-Commerce

These channels along with social media are all closely linked to each other. Specialists of each channel are sure to encounter the other channels and so the trend is for them to keep on learning and upgrading their digital marketing know-how. Successful professionals go on to become Digital Marketing Managers, Head of Digital Channels, Director of Digital, even Chief Marketing Officers or CMOs.

On the other hand, you will not have to worry about transferring to a new job from a different sector because social media nowadays is being universally practiced in marketing and sales by different industries. Social media use is at its highest across major sectors in Australia as reported again by Sensis in their June 2016 Social Media Report.

4. Learn From Industry Experts

Embarking on a social media marketing course means being mentored by some of the most influential and most experienced social media marketing experts. Most courses offered by colleges and universities include this benefit as no one else would be able to give a better insight but those who have already done it. Rather than just reading about them and their works, a course that was specially designed by them will make your whole learning experience more comprehensive, engaging, and credible. Learning from industry experts is also an assurance that your course teaches you concepts and ideas that have been tried and tested already.

5. Social Media Is Vital To Small Businesses

If working for an employer is no longer part of your next career plan and you are leaning towards starting your own business, be aware that a qualification in social media marketing will continue to play an important role in your next endeavour. Growing a startup entails doing a lot of marketing with minimum expenses, so traditional advertising is not going to be the best option for you. This is where your social media marketing skills will come in. Reach your target market faster and easier with minimum investment.

Social media is universally known to assist businesses organically to reach their target audience. The cost of social media advertising through these channels are considerably low compared to traditional advertising such as print, radio, TV, and billboards. When you have learnt how to properly manage social media for your small businesses, there will be no overhead costs of hiring a specialist.

6. Gain A Nationally Accredited Social Media Marketing Diploma

With the ever-changing practices and information available in this line of work, there will always be new things to learn. Successfully completing an accredited diploma and being able to add it to your resume is a sure way to catch the attention of a prospective employer who is looking to grow his or her business with help from a qualified social media professional. On the other hand, if you are currently employed, a qualification will enable you to improve your standing within the industry. It will enable you to advance your career and move up as a Social Media Manager or a Digital Marketing Head within a company.

So while there are a lot of great resources online that you can read and master, be assured that studying the Diploma of Social Media Marketing will ensure that what you learn is in line with industry standards and is recognisable within the business world.

Become a qualified social media marketing professional with Australia’s first nationally accredited social media marketing diploma. Request a brochure here. Or if you prefer to speak to a Course Advisor, call us on 1300 236 364.