With good reason, business is one of the most popular majors for college students. Unlike more specialized degrees, a bachelor’s in business administration offers opportunities to advance a career in almost any industry or business sector.
Technology impacts nearly every aspect of business, making tech an essential part of business education. For example, the online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing program from Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Southeastern) blends a business and marketing foundation with the in-demand technical skills employers seek.
The program helps students “develop the analytical, financial, communications and decision-making skills and technical competencies needed to succeed as a marketing professional.” As a result, students graduate with essential business technology know-how, including the ability to leverage and manage social media.
How Do Social Media Skills Enhance a Business Degree
When you think of technology, social media may not be the first topic that comes to mind. But technology is not just about computers and coding. Social media significantly impacts how businesses of every size connect with customers to fuel growth.
Salesforce found that orders from a social-referred channel grew by 50% in the last three months of 2020. Additionally, consumers reported spending 45% more time on social media. According to Sprout Social, 80% of business executives emphasized the importance of investing additional resources in social media marketing.
How Social Media Relates to Business Technology
Let’s say you are the business manager for a brick-and-mortar retailer. One of your main goals is to help the business meet its objectives. This focus means keeping an eye out for changes to improve growth and revenue. Take consumer trends, for example. Visual Objects reports that 76% of consumers check out a company’s online presence before visiting in person.
Many businesses have websites, but it takes more than that to build the digital presence that drives success. Companies are increasingly reliant on social media to stay competitive. Business and marketing professionals with technology training can leverage social media and help companies thrive. Examples of social media best practices are as follows:
- Understand your audience. Business success depends on connecting with the right audience. A target market analysis is the first step. Who wants your product? Who is most likely to buy it? How old are they? What are their interests? Where are their pain points? What social media channels are they on, and when? Analytics tools take the guesswork out of this crucial step in marketing.
- Use social media optimization (SMO). Optimization is an ongoing process for any company that wants to improve performance. Social media searchability is one example, which begins with researching keywords that align content with target audience search terms. Optimizing YouTube videos, for example, could be as simple as adding target keywords to the title.
- Pay attention to social media metrics. The return on investment (ROI) of social media is measured in many ways. Conversion rates, for example, reveal how many customers act in desired ways, such as engaging in “call to action” clickable links and buttons. Comparing conversion rates across channels helps identify areas for improvement. Tracking metrics can improve strategic decision-making, including budget decisions.
- Improve user experience (UX). Investing in UX strategy can improve customer satisfaction, build loyalty and increase revenue. A good UX can even result in cost savings. Adding AI-powered chatbots to social media channels can help with all of this. Conversational chatbots can quickly resolve customer complaints and questions, boosting employee productivity in other areas. Chatbots can also generate leads and increase sales 24/7.
What Job Options Does a Business Tech Degree Support?
Graduates with a BBA in Marketing can consider various careers, including those that require an understanding of how to leverage technology tools and manage social media. Examples follow, with salary information from Glassdoor (updated in December 2021).
- Marketing manager ($77,796)
- Social media manager ($52,429)
- Information systems technologist ($84,875)
- Research analyst ($70,927)
- Advertising ($72,962)
- Brand manager ($77,255)
Knowledge of social media technology is a critical business competency. Whether you are interested in marketing, retail, finance, healthcare or another industry, a business degree emphasizing skills in technology and social media can help you land the job you want.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online BBA in Marketing online program.