Social Media Influencers

High School

Take English and speech classes to develop your oral and written communication skills. Business, finance, mathematics, and accounting courses will provide you with the skills needed to run a business and manage one’s finances. It’s important to take as many computer science classes—especially Web development and digital design—as possible in order to become tech savvy. Social studies and government courses will teach you about how the world works and current events.

Postsecondary Education

You do not need a college degree to work as a social media influencer, but any postsecondary training that helps you to develop your business, financial management, analytical, problem-solving, and communication and interpersonal skills will be useful. Additionally, earning a degree in your specialty (fashion, culinary arts, business, etc.) will provide you with an additional level of expertise that will be useful in communicating about your interests. It will also make you seem more trustworthy and  knowledgeable. For example, an influencer who has a degree in culinary arts will be much more convincing when offering his or her opinion of a restaurant or high-end kitchen range than someone who does not have such a degree or a background in the food industry.  

Certification

The online learning platform Udemy offers a certificate in social media marketing. Visit https://www.udemy.com/course/certificate-in-social-media-marketing for more information. Colleges and universities offer certificates and classes in marketing, social media marketing, and related topics.

Other Education or Training

Classes in marketing, search engine marketing, social media writing, and other topics are offered by the American Marketing Association, eMarketing Association, Internet Marketing Association, SEMPO, and other organizations.