Diploma Program
This program can be offered at the campus(es) below. Please contact the campus of your choosing for program availability and delivery methods.
View Campus Availability
View Delivery Methods
Distance (Online)
Employment Rate
80%
*Jan-Dec 2023, CDI College;
At CDI College, the 100% Online Social Media and Web Marketing diploma program offers comprehensive training to kick-start your career as a social media and digital marketing expert! The program focuses on major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as content marketing and social media strategy.
Our programs are licensed by the Private Career Colleges Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education.
Student Success Strategies
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and study techniques to help foster effective learning and a positive educational experience. This course explores two components of learning styles, Multiple Intelligence-based theory and Personality Spectrum – MBTI-based theory, and how learning styles and personality types affect learning. The course will cover the importance of values, their relationship to goals and goal setting. Strategies for setting personal goals, prioritizing tasks, managing time, and the stress that results from study or work situations will be explored and practiced through active participation in learner-centred activities. Effective study habits, techniques for preparing for tests and productive note taking strategies are key topics of this course that will provide the students with the necessary skills and attitudes to be successful in school. Having a sound understanding of financial, money, credit and debt matters and their implication on our lives is critical knowledge to have. Students taking this course will benefit from completing the Financial Management Workshops, which provides comprehensive coverage of financial and money management skills that will allow them to better save, budget, and manage their money and financial situations.
Microsoft Outlook
This course explores information management using Microsoft Outlook 365. It will present the Microsoft Outlook application interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of an e-mail application, scheduling and calendars, contact lists, creating forwarding and managing messages. This course relies heavily on hands-on practical activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
Microsoft Word
This course introduces the students to word processing with Microsoft 365: Word. Relying very heavily on a hands-on practical training approach, students learn by doing through skills based simulations, training and assessments. The course starts with an overview of Microsoft 365 where you will learn about the common features of the Office applications and file management fundamentals. The course then focuses on the core features of Microsoft Word where students learn proper document formatting, organization and editing using the tools and features of the ribbon. The course will then continue with more advanced topics such as working with tables, lists, objects, templates footnotes and endnotes and mail merges. Finally, the course will explore the collaboration features of Word that allow users to share and collaborate on documents through the use of track changes, sharing and reviewing and the use of OneDrive.
Microsoft Excel
This course introduces the students to spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel 2016. Relying very heavily on a hands-on practical training approach, students learn by doing through skills based simulations, training and assessments. The course starts with an overview of spreadsheets and how to use the common features and functions of Microsoft Excel. The course then focuses on the core features of Microsoft Excel where students learn how to enter and format data and use the various functions and formulas to manage and manipulate the data. The course will then continue with more advanced topics such as performing quantitative analysis with logical, lookup and various mathematical and financial functions. Depicting data visually is an important feature of Excel. Students will learn how to work with charts in Excel to produce a variety of different charts based on data housed in a spreadsheet. Finally students will learn to handle large volumes of data with DataSets and tables.
Effective Business Writing
The workplace of the twenty-first century demands excellent communication skills. The focus of this course is on learning writing techniques that ensure effective business communication.
Statistics
This course provides students with the opportunity to review fundamental mathematical skills and apply them in a variety of business contexts. Students will learn fundamental statistical concepts and processes such as working with data, determining probabilities, variance, means, standard deviations, sampling processes and basic regression analysis
Digital Marketing Fundamentals
In this course students will learn the key concepts of digital marketing. The course will explore the importance of branding, audience reach and demographics in the marketing strategies. Students will learn how to utilize analytics and the importance of goals as part of the marketing processes. The course will explore the importance of domain names, keywords and how to leverage Search Engine Optimization strategies. Pay Per Click, Online marketing, email marketing and budgeting are also discussed within the context of this course.
Strategic Web Design
In this course, students will be able to create a search engine-friendly website. Students will be introduced to the website planning process, and discover the web design tools, principles and strategies that will allow them to design create and publish a fully functional web site. Students will become familiar with web hosting principles and integrate social media effectively on their websites. Topics include publishing fundamentals, graphic design principles and the creative aspect of web design, website security and analytics, Integration of e-commerce components such as shopping carts, Customer Relationship Management and loyalty programs. Finally, students will learn to integrate multimedia, online advertising and streaming channels to their websites.
Introduction to Social Media
This course provides the student with an overview of social media its evolution and how it has come to occupy such an important role in how companies do business and connect with their customers. The course will explore how social media can be integrated into a company’s traditional and online marketing initiatives. Students will learn how to leverage social media and its tools to implement reputation management, customer service, marketing, contests and other strategies. The importance of defining and setting goals as well as identifying the appropriate key performance indicators will be covered. The course will provide an overview of the various social media platforms, examine their similarities and differences and these can be leveraged for different marketing initiatives. Students will learn how to plan a social media persona and explore the fundamental features and functionality of the different platforms such as hashtags, sharing, and tagging.
Content Creation
Content posted to social media platforms is potentially viewed by millions of viewers. It is imperative that the content is appropriate and meets the goals of the posting. This course will explore the different types of content that is posted to social media. Students will learn to write as their online persona and explore the different writing styles. The do’s and don’ts of writing are examined to ensure content has the desired effect. Students will learn to write with the purpose of responding to criticism and manage reputation. Finally students will learn how to write for marketing purposes including sales and lead generation. This course is rooted in the exploration of the use of Google AdWords to create keywords and ad copy configurations resulting in winning ad copy and pay-per-click campaign optimization.
Content Outreach
In the social media world, going viral is a good thing! The goal of creating content and posting it to social media platforms is to have it go viral. This course focuses on the techniques and methods and strategies used to create content that is shareable with the intent of having it go viral. Students will learn sharing and collaborative strategies, hashtags and the creation of contests specifically to achieve the intended goals.
Social Media Aggregators and Monitors
Knowing what people and competitors are saying about you and your business is crucial information that allows a business to react and respond to trends, public image and ultimately make important decisions that impact the business as a whole. In this course students will discover how to capture what others are saying about you and your business. The course will explore the different social media tools and software available to aggregate and find what others are saying. Students will learn how to capture KPI’s, sentiment, followers, negative content and complaints.
Facebook is without question one of the most recognized and used social media platform. It goes without saying that it is an extremely important if not crucial platform when it comes to social media marketing initiatives. This course will provide a more in depth look at Facebook the platform, its role, its use, tools and its features in particular how these lend themselves well to social media marketing initiatives. Students will discover Facebook blueprint curriculum and certification paths. The course will explore the concept of organic posts versus promoted posts and advertising in relation to Facebook.
This course will provide a more in depth look at the Twitter platform, its role, its use, tools and its features in particular how these can be used for social media marketing initiatives. The course will explore the concept of organic posts versus promoted posts and advertising in relation to Twitter. Students will learn how to implement marketing strategies and initiatives using Twitter as the deployment vehicle, use twitter to reach and maintain a community and reach influencers and other members to grow a community. The course also explores how to create and manage Twitter Ads and build a content creation strategy.
This course provides an overview of the Instagram Platform and its primary function as a mobile photo and video sharing service. Students will learn how marketing initiatives work in the Instagram platform. The course will explore and compare organic posts, promoted posts and advertising in the Instagram platform. This course will explore how to use Instagram to build your brand with the power of pictures
Other Platforms - Snapchat, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc.
The purpose of this course is to provide the students with an overview of additional Social Media platforms. Students will be provided with an overview of the function role and tools associated with a variety of newer or more specialized social media platforms including SnapChat, Reddit, LinkedIn and others. By gaining an understanding of the target audiences for these platforms, students will learn when to use these platforms and what types of marketing initiatives can be supported by them. Students will discover and explore the advertising opportunities within each platform.
YouTube
YouTube is the most popular video sharing platform. This offers a multitude of possibilities for businesses to efficiently expose and display their products directly to potential customers globally. This course will explore in greater depth the marketing potential attached to YouTube. Students will start by exploring the features and use of industry standard video editing software allowing them to gain skill in the production and editing of video sequences that can be used within the YouTube platform. Students will explore the platform, its function, role, its features and tools and in particular how these can be leveraged for marketing strategies. Students will discover Google YouTube curriculum for YouTube ads and how it is used. Finally, the course will explore organic videos versus promoted videos versus advertising in relation to YouTube.
Analytics
Digital data analytics is used to gain insights into consumer behaviors with data being collected from all forms of digital internet traffic. By analyzing data, students will gain insights into marketing effectiveness and assess potential business opportunities in the internet space. Students will study measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of digital data to understand and optimize marketing channels. In this course, students will utilize digital data tracking systems for data usage and marketing metrics, interpreting results so that they can create, convert and enhance customer relationships.
Social Media Marketing Strategies
After completing this course, students will be well-versed in how to use the right social media platform(s) and how to best utilize the features offered by each platform to enable them to help corporations to reach their target audience and achieve their goals. Seven channels are examined in-depth: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp, and Pinterest. For each of the channels, the course will explore the following aspects:
Introduction to Search Engine Marketing
This course will introduce students to the content and skills needed to build effective search engine marketing campaigns including Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Search Engine Optimization I
In this course students will learn how to use SEO best practices by examining how to build a website and mobile websites, to take advantage of key words, category hierarchies that have great and appropriate Google friendly contents, and use methods that make ranking effective.
Search Engine Optimization II
In this course students will learn the importance of proper keyword research and related tools. The course will explore how to effectively nitrate keywords into content and pages within a site. Students will gain an understanding of the limitations of search engine optimization and how to tie into search engine marketing through buying keywords and planning an SEM strategy for highly competitive keywords that you want to show up for.
Search Engine Marketing
This course will explore the use of keyword research and trends to help strategize a search engine marketing plan as part of a digital marketing strategy. Students will learn how a robust competitor analysis is a key component to understanding the competition that you know versus those competing on your keywords that may not even be in the same vertical as you are. The course will examine the different types of bidding strategies and how to define and set goals and key performance indicators. Students will learn to plan a search engine marketing strategy and track its success using budgets and return on investment approaches. Various search engine marketing platforms will be presented to discover their similarities and differences and students will explore the different targeting options including demographics, location and remarketing. Finally, the course will provide an overview of automated bidding software tools and Google AdWords certification curriculum.
Content / Display Marketing
This course focuses on content and display marketing and its relation to Search Engine Marketing. Content / display marketing will be examined in comparison to Search Engine Marketing to identify similarities and differences. Students will learn how to integrate a content / display plan as part of a digital marketing strategy. Different content / display platforms will be presented, compared and contrasted. The course will continue to explore Google AdWords curriculum and certifications.
Video & Multimedia Marketing
This course continues to explore marketing initiatives with a focus on Video and multi-media marketing. Video/multi-media marketing will be presented and compared to content and display marketing highlighting the similarities and differences. Students will learn how to integrate a Video/multi-media plan as part of your overall digital marketing strategy. The common video and multimedia platforms will be reviewed, compared and contrasted. The use of Google and YouTube AdWords will continue to be explored.
CRM & KPI Reporting
This course focuses on the importance of tracking search engine marketing initiatives and the tools and processes used to properly track them. Goal setting and defining the appropriate KPI’s will be reinforced. Students will learn the importance of tracking ROI and how to properly do this. Customer Relationship Management software, what they do, how they are used and the various CRM tools will be presented. Students will gain a more detailed perspective of Web Analytics, what Web Analytics do and the different Web Analytics tools that are available. Finally, students will learn how to tie all the analytics and reporting tools together through API’s and dashboard software.
Digital Strategy and Planning
This course will provide the student with the know-how to effectively plan, budget and resource social media marketing campaigns. Students will develop the skills to create a social media marketing strategy. Everything from budgeting, personnel selection and analytics, to reputation management and social customer service is covered in this course. Students will be able to integrate the use of Google AdWords and Google Analytics as part of a complete social media solution.
Social Media Final Group Project
This course will provide the students with the opportunity to integrate their acquired knowledge and skills to create a social media strategy for a company of choice. Students will be required to create a variety of social media profiles and integrate them into an online/offline strategy.
Career & Employment Strategies
In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market.
Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online.
Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews.
This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview:
Social Media and Web Marketing Work Experience
This field placement will prepare students for their transition to the workforce. The practicum will be completed in a business/marketing environment working under the supervision of experienced personnel. Students are provided with a description of duties he/she will perform on the job. At the end of the placement, the practicum host will provide an evaluation of the student and the student will provide the college with an evaluation of the placement.
Social Media and Web Marketing Capstone Project
This is the capstone project component of the Social Media and Web Marketing program, which is the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills from the classroom portion of the program to practical situations typically encountered in a digital marketing environment. The variety of tasks to perform as part of the capstone project will be aligned to a typical working environment and real life situations.
Admission
Benefits of this program
Employment Opportunities
Admission
Benefits of this program
Employment Opportunities
Gain a distinct advantage by earning industry-recognized certifications that validate your expertise and skills in key areas such as digital marketing, project management, and CRM. Our program prepares you to succeed, whether you're advancing, switching careers, or starting your own business. Invest in yourself and join a community of certified professionals shaping the digital economy.
Our extensive network and reputation for excellence ensure that graduates are in high demand in today's competitive job market. Prepare to excel in sought-after roles with renowned companies and unlock limitless career opportunities. Elevate your career trajectory and secure your future with our program tailored to meet the demands of industry leaders.
CDI College South Calgary stands out for its exceptional instructors and supportive administrative staff, who have been instrumental in my journey as a student. Their assistance has been invaluable from guiding me through the enrollment process to providing access to modules and books.
Jose Y.
Business Program Graduate
I am thrilled to share that my experience with CDI College has been nothing short of amazing! The modules are top-notch, and the instructors are truly excellent. I highly recommend CDI College to anyone looking to advance their career, make a career change, or learn a new skill. CDI College...is definitely the place to be!
Frank B.
Business Program Graduate
