What I'm Learning About Social Media

At my summer internship my main responsibility is managing social media.  My knowledge of how to use social media and how it relates to overall brand management has grown tremendously during my internship.  For the past year or so I have read all about social media and studied various techniques and styles, but experience has been the best teacher.

I coordinate the social media of three different brands, which gives me an opportunity to study and learn about each brand I work with and what it stands for.  Each brand targets a different consumer, thus each brand's social media campaign must vary accordingly.  Before I started this internship I used to think that the number of followers and fans always increases and that they have a desire to engage a brand, but now I know better.  People need a reason to follow a brand on social media and before they participate or engage your brand you must first earn their trust. Since taking control of these social media campaigns, I have been doing what I can to earn the respect of users and provide them with information that will help them solve their problems and achieve their goals. As I track what links users like the most, I will be able to give followers and fans a better online experience.

It will be interesting to see the progress I make by the end of the summer.  Even though I will not be pursuing a career in social media marketing, this summer has been and will continue to be a great learning opportunity as I learn how social media is part of a consumer's brand experience.  This social media experience is a perfect way for me to learn how consumers interact with a brand and how they develop relationship with that brand.

Aaron Roecker