Our New Plan to Educate 1 Million Social Media Professionals for Free by 2017

Demand for social media education is at an all-time high. Every day, more and more jobs demand an understanding of how to leverage social media for business. In fact, jobs that require social media skills have increased by 89 percent, making social media one of the top ten fastest growing job trends, according to job site Indeed.

At Hootsuite, we decided to tackle this head-on with a new plan to educate one million social media professionals by 2017. Today, we’re thrilled to announce our brand new online social media education resource. It’s called Podium. And it’s free.

Meet Podium: Your Path to Stronger Social Media Skills

“The role of social media in driving business has seen a huge shift in the past few years, and with that shift we’re seeing a growing skills gap,” says Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes. “Across the board, workers not only need to develop these newly required digital skills, but also need to prove and showcase their expertise in a competitive marketplace.”

That’s where Podium comes in. With more than ten million users, Hootsuite has a unique understanding of what it takes to be successful with social media. This free education platform will help people develop modern social media skills that they can immediately put to work. Podium also offers an industry-recognized certification in social media marketing, giving users the opportunity to showcase credible, sought-after skills to employers and clients.

• Six Podium courses and 40 videos, for free – These short, tactical videos offer tips and strategies on the fundamentals of social media marketing, including content marketing and social advertising
• A self-paced education experience – Online and on-demand, students can learn at their own pace
• A community forum – Ask questions and learn from other experienced professionals
• Hootsuite Certification in Social Media Marketing – Recognized credentials from the industry leader in social media
• Listing in public Social Media Professionals directory – Certified professionals gain visibility with prospective employers and clients

We’re already hearing from our first users that Podium is a game-changer. “After landing a job as a Social Media Content Designer for lululemon, I quickly realized that despite being a champion for social I needed to take my game to the next level,” says Malin Otmalm, a Social Media Content Designer for lululemon. “The free social media education offered by Podium got me to that next level, and in as little as one day.”

Podium also helped Jonathon Litchfield, owner of the Litchfield Shop in Vancouver, BC, get to the next level as a small business owner. “It’s tough to find the time to learn about social media and how to make the most of it,” he told us. “This program delivered the quick hits and need-to-knows about social media marketing and showed me exactly how I can use it to grow my business. Absolutely invaluable.”

Whether you’re a job-seeker, a freelancer, a social media manager, or someone who just wants to hone their online skills, the social media world is yours for the taking. Let’s get started.

Start My Free Social Media Education

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