Social Media Marketing Certificates Chicago, IL

Social media marketing involves the use of social media platforms to connect with audiences, promote products or services, and increase sales and traffic. The first social media platform was called Six Degrees and was launched in 1997. It was named for the theory of “six degrees of separation, ” which is the idea that a person can be connected to any other person in the world through a chain of six or fewer social connections. Other early sites included Friendster and MySpace. Social media has quickly become extremely popular. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, seven in ten Americans use it. Popular social media sites include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A unique aspect of social media marketing compared to other types of marketing is the use of data analytics. Social media sites accumulate huge amounts of data about their users, and marketers can use that data to get a better understanding of how to engage with users. For example, they can identify trends, or they can use data to understand how to make better products. They can also measure the success of their campaigns by using data analytics. A LinkedIn author explains, “Tracking your social media metrics is essential for businesses of all sizes to determine what’s working and what’s not. The data you collect can provide valuable insights into your social media performance, audience behavior, and preferences. By analyzing these metrics, you can adjust your strategy and improve your results.”

Why Become Certified in Social Media Marketing?

If you want to work in social media marketing, getting certified can be a good way to start. Most certificates are designed to give you all the skills you’ll need for an entry-level job. In many cases, you’ll even get career coaching and help building a portfolio. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) is a government agency that tracks and reports on U.S. labor market statistics. It provides data on Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers, which includes social media marketing, and predicts above-average job growth in this category. While the average job growth rate in the United States is about 3 percent, the BLS finds that Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers are likely to see 6 percent job growth over the next ten years. The agency reports that social media will be one of the key factors driving that growth. It says, “The demand for advertising and promotions managers is expected to be concentrated in industries that rely on these workers to create digital media campaigns that target customers through the use of websites, social media, or live chats.”

Overall, social media marketing has become an important type of marketing, so understanding how it works can be beneficial if you want to work in any type of marketing. Many consumers spend a lot of time on social media, meaning that marketing through social media platforms can be a very effective way to connect with them. The author of a recent Forbes article explains, “There are 4.9 billion people who use social media platforms worldwide and so having a presence on social is a good way to connect with both current and potential customers alike.” In fact, many experts believe that because social media has become so popular, every marketing strategy should now include some type of social media marketing.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Social Media Marketing Certified

All social media marketing certificate programs are unique, providing teaching styles, covering different skills, and taking different amounts of time to complete. There are many similarities too, though. Marketing strategies are a fundamental part of any type of marketing, so you’re likely to learn about this in any certificate program. You’ll also learn about a variety of different social media platforms. In addition, certificate programs often cover paid advertisements and analytics. Many also help students create portfolios that they can use in their job search.

Marketing Strategies

A marketing strategy is an important part of any marketing campaign. This involves making a plan about what your goals are, and how you plan to achieve them. When you take a social media certificate course, you’ll learn about how marketing strategy works.

About Major Social Media Platforms

There are many different social media platforms out there, and to market effectively on these platforms, you need to learn how to use them. A social media marketing certificate might cover topics like how the various sites started, how they work, and how marketers can best use them to influence consumers.

How to Use Paid Advertisements

Most social media marketing classes cover paid advertisements. Paid advertising is when companies pay money to have their brands promoted on social media sites and is an important part of most marketing strategies.

How to Use Data Analytics

Social media marketers use data in several different ways. It can help them learn about the needs of their audience, and about new trends in the market. It can also be a great way to measure the effects of a marketing campaign. Most marketing certificates include instruction on how to use data in marketing.

How to Create a Portfolio

A social media marketing certificate can help you find a job in this field, but you’ll also need a portfolio to showcase your skills to potential employers and clients. Fortunately, many certificate programs include instruction on how to create a portfolio. Students also work on projects that they can include in that portfolio.

Social Media Marketing Industries in Chicago

Chicago has a population of close to three million people, and is the third-largest city in the United States. Its busy economy includes industries like finance, business, engineering, health care, and transportation. According to a recent LinkedIn article, many major national companies have headquarters in Chicago, including Deloitte, Allstate, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Walgreens, and McDonald's. All of these businesses and companies need marketing services, meaning that you’re likely to find a wealth of social media marketing opportunities in Chicago.

This city is also known for its tech scene, which is another place where social media marketing is needed. According to the Flatiron School, “These days, Chicago is a growing tech hub where major tech companies and tech startups are embracing the future of technology.” In fact, it says, “Chicago is one of the largest tech employers in the United States.” Another thing that Chicago is known for is its financial companies. The city is a major financial hub, and is home to many national and international finance companies. In 2024, it was named a top ten global financial center by the Z/Yen Partners in collaboration with the China Development Institute.

Social Media Marketing Careers in Chicago

There are several different roles that involve social media marketing. Many of them have similarities. A Social Media Marketer specializes in marketing through social media. A Social Media Strategist also works on social media marketing, with a focus on long-term strategies and goals. Payscale provides salary estimates for numerous locations and jobs across the United States, and finds that in Chicago, a Social Media Strategist earns about $65,000 per year.

A Social Media Marketing Manager is another position that involves managing a company's marketing activities on social media. Payscale reports that the average Chicago salary for a Social Media Marketing Manager is $65,000 per year.

There are also jobs that involve marketing on other digital media in addition to social media. For instance, a Digital Marketer creates and manages digital marketing campaigns, which includes social media. A Digital Strategist also works on a variety of digital marketing campaigns, including for social media. Payscale finds that the average Chicago salary for a Digital Strategist is $73,000. A Digital Analyst analyzes and interprets digital marketing campaigns. A Digital Analyst in Chicago earns around $77,000 per year according to Payscale.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers, which includes people working in social media, Chicago has a lot of job opportunities. It places the Chicago metropolitan area in the number three position on its list of areas with the highest employment level for this profession. Marketing jobs have also made several “best jobs” lists in recent years. For instance, in a recent listing, Glassdoor ranked Marketing Manager as the 19th-best job in the United States, and placed Product Marketing Manager at number 33.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

A certificate and a certification–while they might sound very similar–are two distinct qualifications. A certificate is something that you get after you finish a specific program of study. Certificates are unique to the schools that offer them. For example, Noble Desktop offers a Digital Marketing Certificate, which includes instruction in SEO, TikTok, Instagram, and streaming. This certificate program is unique to Noble Desktop. If you get a digital marketing certificate at another school, it will cover different content. In contrast, a certification is a standardized credential that is the same no matter where you get it from. It shows that you have a certain level of expertise on the topic that you’re being certified for. In most cases, you need to pass an exam to get a certification. You may also need to complete a certain number of hours of study. Most certifications are administered by a third party.

The decision about whether to pursue a certificate or a certification depends on what your career goals are. If you don’t know a lot about social media marketing, but you’re interested in working in this field, then a certificate might be a good fit for you. Most social media marketing certificate programs cover a broad range of skills, and many are intended to prepare you for an entry-level job in the field. If you already know a lot about social media marketing, however, then a certification might be a good choice. Certifications are generally more specific and more advanced. Some people earn a certification to get a job promotion or gain an advantage over their competition.

Top Social Media Marketing Certificate Programs in Chicago

If you’re interested in a career in social media marketing, enrolling in a certificate program can be a great way to gain the skills you’ll need to find a job. Most certificate programs cover a broad range of social media marketing skills and are intended to get students ready for an entry-level job. There are several different school and class options in the Chicago area. You’ll find both in-person and online courses, in addition to part-time and full-time programs.

Digital Marketing and Social Media Advanced Certificate

This certificate is offered by City Colleges of Chicago, which has several different colleges in the Chicago area. Thirty-six credit hours in total are needed to complete the course. Tuition is $146 per credit hour for in-district City of Chicago residents, $384 for out-of-district residents, and $481 for out-of-state residents.

The program is designed to give students the marketing management skills needed for an entry-level job. Students need to take several required courses on topics such as business, marketing, data visualization, and project management. They also select one elective from either Ethics or The Legal & Social Environment of Business.

Social Media Marketing Certificate Program

DePaul University Continuing and Professional Education offers this certificate program, which was created for entrepreneurs, freelancers, marketing professionals, and nonprofit and small business staff. The class runs online and takes six weeks to complete. Tuition is $1,495. DePaul University is located less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Some of the topics covered in this class are creating and executing a social media strategy, listening and monitoring, best practices for building your brand, and measurements and analytics. Students must also complete a final project. Throughout the course, there will be guest lectures from top social media marketing professionals. Students will also analyze many real-world marketing examples.

Social Media Marketing Certificate

This certificate is offered by Noble Desktop, which is based in New York City but also offers live online classes. It is designed to teach students about trends and skills in social media marketing so that they can use this tool effectively. There are 12 class sessions, with a total of 72 hours of instruction, and tuition is $2,495. The course is licensed by the New York State Department of Education. Students get a digital certificate of completion and the option of a free retake within a year.

The course covers social media marketing skills for major platforms including Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. There are eight different units: LinkedIn Marketing Bootcamp, YouTube Marketing, TikTok Marketing, Social Media Content Marketing: Blogs & X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram Marketing Bootcamp, Facebook Marketing Bootcamp, Streaming for Social Media, and Social Media Industry & Portfolio.

Digital Marketing Certificate

The Digital Workshop Center was established in 2006 and offers several online certificate programs that take place in a bootcamp format. The Digital Marketing Certificate is a six-month program, with 100 hours of instruction overall. Tuition is $5,799, but students can receive $200 off if they pay upfront and in full. The school also offers several payment plans.

In this certificate program, students learn about using marketing analytics and creating content to target customers. The class covers conversion rates and benchmarks, best practices, Search Engine Optimization, testing, and exploring different social media channels. Students also complete a capstone project, where they work through a real-world project from concept to delivery. The class also includes career coaching, job search help, and mock interview workshops.

Digital Marketing Certificate

UCLA Extension offers several different online certificate programs, including this one in digital marketing. It is designed for both new and experienced marketers, as well as business professionals and entrepreneurs who want to get a better understanding of digital marketing. Tuition is $3,800, plus a $200 application fee, and $350 for materials and books.

Students who take this course learn about numerous digital marketing tools, how to apply best practices, how to optimize a website and create content, how to engage with various platforms, and how to track and measure effectiveness. There are two required courses: Digital Marketing and Digital Analytics. Students also choose eight elective units. In addition, the class includes an internship opportunity, which can be taken as an elective course.