This course explores how social networks are changing media consumption patterns and shows how digital communication requires innovative marketing strategies. You’ll learn how to use multimedia tools to create content and gain an overview of common social media channels, legal frameworks, and content marketing—including practical examples and exercises. In addition, you’ll gain insight into digital marketing—the course covers market research, target audience analysis, and communication strategies, as well as various forms of marketing and the use of web analytics and chatbots.
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Certificates: Certificate "Social Media Manager"
Digital Marketing" certificate -
Additional Certificates: Certificate "Image editing with Adobe Photoshop CC"
Certificate "Graphic Design"
Certified Social Media Manager" certificate
Certified Content Marketing Manager" certificate -
Examination: Praxisbezogene Projektarbeiten mit Abschlusspräsentationen
Certified Social Media Manager:in
Certified Content Marketing Manager:in -
Teaching Times: Full-timeMonday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (in weeks with public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.)
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Language of Instruction: German
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Duration: 16 Weeks
Graphic design
Design software, AI and modern design workflows (approx. 2 days)
Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign at a glance
Affinity Suite: Photo, Designer and Publisher at a glance
Creative Cloud Libraries, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Color and Adobe Stock
AI in the design process: Firefly, generative tools, prompting
Opportunities, limits and areas of application of AI
Basics of graphic design (approx. 2 days)
Art vs. design
Design disciplines, design principles and design process
Design thinking and idea development
Design laws of perception
Visual flow and arrangement
Figure-ground relationship
Shape and color (approx. 2 days)
Point, line, surface and shape
Format and proportions
Color theory and color effects
Contrasts, harmonies and color concepts
Color in the context of brand, effect and legibility
Images (approx. 3 days)
Image quality and image formats
Pixel and vector graphics
Visual language, visual impact and visual storytelling
Research, brainstorming and mood boards
Images in corporate communication
Basics of image editing and AI-supported image development
Image rights/rights of use
Typography and layout (approx. 3 days)
Font classification and font selection
Reading typography, detailed typography
Typographic hierarchies
Workflow in layout design
Type area and design grid
Developing and evaluating layout concepts
Overview of file output (print, digital)
Corporate and brand design (approx. 1 day)
Corporate design vs. corporate identity
Logo design, signet and word/image mark
Color, form and typography systems in brand identity
Style guides and consistent design systems
Accessibility (approx. 1 day)
Basics of accessible design
Design criteria for accessible communication (e.g. legibility, contrast, color selection)
Digital media and cross-media (approx. 1 day)
Basics of digital publishing and responsive design
File formats for web, app and social media
AI-supported content adaptation for various channels
AI-based layout optimization for mobile designs
Project work (approx. 5 days)
To consolidate the content learned
Presentation of the project results
Social media management expertise with AI
Social Media in the Workplace (approx. 2 days)
The Role of Social Media in Corporate Communications (Internal/External)
Opportunities/Risks, Guidelines, Dos and Don’ts
Job Descriptions, Roles, and Interfaces (Marketing, PR, HR, Legal, Support)
Processes and Approval Workflows (Governance)
Social Media Strategy (approx. 3 days)
Development of a Social Media Strategy
Strategy Components: Three-Phase Model and (SMART) Goals
Target Audiences/Personas, Positioning
Current Situation Analysis/Audit/Resources
Selecting Channels and Defining Channel Roles
Content Methods (Editorial Calendar, Topic Clusters, Content Pillars)
AI-powered Research and Planning: Keywords/Hashtags, Trend Analysis, Hook Variations, Tone/Brand Voice, Prompt Library
Performance Measurement/Analysis of Measures
Social media channels (approx. 5 days)
Strategic importance and possibilities of social networks
Basic algorithm logic, user structure, format mix
Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp channels incl. Meta Business Suite (planning/publishing)
TikTok (short video logic, UGC/creator, trends vs. brand)
YouTube (shorts/longform, search logic)
LinkedIn/Xing (B2B, employer branding, social recruiting)
Pinterest (trends)
Overview: Twitch, Threads and X (status, classification and use case)
Social Media Management (approx. 2 days)
AI in social media: Tool map, use cases, limits, quality assurance (human-in-the-loop)
AI in communities: response suggestions, topic clustering, sentiment
Social media tools (planning, production, publishing, moderation)
Community management (netiquette, crisis management/shitstorm)
Paid social and campaign management (approx. 3 days)
Planning social media marketing measures,
Define campaign goals (awareness/traffic/leads/conversions) and creative logic
Target group/targeting basics
Budgeting and test design (A/B)
Social commerce
Influencer/creator marketing
Optimization and learnings
Online law for social media (approx. 2 days)
Recognizing legal pitfalls
Copyright, rights of use, licenses
Data protection (GDPR) and tracking (cookies/consent)
Right to a name, trademark law
Liability for own and third-party content
Labelling obligations (including advertising/influencers)
EU frameworks at a glance: DSA and EU AI Act
Classifying AI content legally/ethically (labeling, misleading, rights)
Project work, certification preparation and certification examination (approx. 3 days)
Content marketing expertise
Content and Editorial Work in the Age of AI (approx. 3 days)
The Use of AI in Journalism
Editorial Work and Editing
Journalistic Research Techniques and Online Research
Journalistic Standards
Structures and Workflows in Newsrooms
Writing Workshop and Writing Exercises
Tone and Writing Tailored to the Target Audience
Text Types and Digital Content Formats
AI in Content Marketing (approx. 2 days)
Using Generative AI in Content Marketing
Prompt Engineering for Content Processes
AI-Assisted Research and Idea Generation
AI-Assisted Copywriting and Optimization
The “human-in-the-loop” principle
Building Efficient AI Workflows
Opportunities and Limitations of Generative AI
Fundamentals of Content Marketing (approx. 4 days)
Developing and Documenting Strategies
Planning Projects
Defining Goals and Setting KPIs
Analyzing the Target Audience and Developing Personas
Customer Journey and the “Messy Middle”
Storytelling in content marketing
Omnichannel Communication and Touchpoint Management
Content Strategy Models (Hero-Hub-Hygiene Model, FISH Model)
Content Audit and Inventory Assessment
SEO, GEO, and AI Visibility (approx. 2 days)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO-Optimized Content Creation
Understanding search intent
Structured Content and FAQs
Topic clusters and semantic content
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Generative AI Optimization (GAIO)
Visibility in AI Search Systems
Content Distribution and Email Marketing (approx. 2 days)
Effective Content Distribution
Designing Landing Pages for Maximum Effectiveness
Successfully Using Corporate Blogs
Brief Introduction to WordPress
Planning and Managing a Blog
Email Marketing
Newsletters and Automation
Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Strategies
Analysis and Performance Measurement (approx. 1 day)
KPIs in Content Marketing
Introduction to Web Analytics and GA4
Understanding Dashboards and Reports
Measuring the Success of Campaigns
Basics of A/B Testing
Law (approx. 2 days)
Legal Aspects of AI Use
EU AI Act – Basics
Internet Law
Copyright and AI
Tracking and Consent Management
Liability for Own and Third-Party Content
Labeling and Transparency Requirements
Project work, certification preparation and certification examination (approx. 4 days)
Digital Marketing
Fundamentals of Marketing (approx. 2 days)
Market Research and Analysis
Target Audience Analysis, Customer Insights
AI-powered Market and Competitive Analysis
Limbic Map and Other Target Audience Analysis Models
Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Journey
4Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion)
Pricing and Sales Strategy
B2B and B2C
Communication Strategy and Channels
Digital Marketing and Content (approx. 5 days)
Marketing Formats and Media Advertising
Content Marketing, Storytelling
Content Production with Canva and AI Tools
Image, Text, and Presentation Creation
Content Management Systems (CMS)
SEO/SEA and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
Google Ads and Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
Mobile Marketing
Display, affiliate, and viral marketing
Retargeting and Remarketing
Social Media Marketing
Community Management and Editorial Planning
Email and Newsletter Marketing
Cross-Channel and Cross-Media: The Optimal Marketing Mix
AI-Powered Campaign Planning and Content Creation
Web Analytics, Data-Driven Marketing, and Social Media Monitoring (approx. 3 days)
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
Monitoring Processes
Social Media Monitoring
Web Analytics
Google Analytics
Big Data, Smart Data, and Data-Driven Marketing
First-Party Data and Second-Party Data
Segmentation and Personalization
AI-powered Analysis of Marketing Data
Chatbots and Dialogue Design (approx. 1 day)
Rule-Based Chatbots and AI-Powered Chatbots
Dialogue Design, Tone, and User Guidance
Lead Generation and FAQ Scenarios
Chatbots in Customer Service and Marketing
Opportunities and Risks of AI Chatbots
Performance Measurement, Conversion Optimization, and Budgeting (approx. 4 days)
Metrics, Billing Models, and Key Performance Indicators
Buyer’s Journey, Customer Decision Funnel, AIDA Model, After-Sales
Landing Pages and Conversion Funnels
Fundamentals of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Methods and Tools for Usability Measurement and Optimization
4Rs (Recognition, Relevance, Reward, Relationship)
Budgeting for Digital Marketing Initiatives
An Overview of CAC, ROAS, and Customer Lifetime Value
Legal Framework (approx. 2 days)
Copyright, Personality Rights, and Rights of Use
Disclosure Requirements on the Internet
Trademark, Competition, and Freedom of Expression Law
Legal Limits on Unlawful Advertising
Data Protection in Digital Marketing
Legal Aspects of Using AI Tools
Attribution and Rights of Use for AI-Generated Content
Project work (approx. 3 days)
To consolidate the content learned
Presentation of the project results
Changes are possible, the course content is updated regularly.
Upon completion of the course, you will be proficient in the professional use of Affinity for modern image editing and will also have a basic understanding of design and visual communication, enabling you to effectively create designs, advertisements, and presentations. You will be familiar with the terminology and strategies of social media management and content marketing, and you will be able to evaluate content from both a professional and legal perspective, present it to a wide audience, create campaigns, and plan and design blog posts.
After completing the course, you’ll also be familiar with key digital marketing strategies, channels, and tools. You’ll be able to analyze target audiences, plan digital marketing initiatives, create content, and evaluate campaigns using appropriate metrics. Furthermore, you’ll be able to effectively use AI tools for research, analysis, content creation, campaign planning, and data evaluation, and critically assess their results. You’ll be familiar with terms and methods such as social media marketing, SEO/SEA, Google Ads, content marketing, email marketing, web analytics, AI in marketing, the 4Ps, and the 4Rs.
The field of social media marketing has grown considerably in recent years and marketing specialists with specialist knowledge in this area are in high demand. Possible areas of employment include advertising and internet agencies as well as communication and marketing departments of industrial and commercial companies in all sectors of the economy.
Didactic concept
Your lecturers are highly qualified both professionally and didactically and will teach you from the first to the last day (no self-study system).
You will learn in effective small groups. The courses usually consist of 6 to 25 participants. The general lessons are supplemented by numerous practical exercises in all course modules. The practice phase is an important part of the course, as it is during this time that you process what you have just learned and gain confidence and routine in its application. The final section of the course involves a project, a case study or a final exam.
Virtual classroom alfaview®
Lessons take place using modern alfaview® video technology - either from the comfort of your own home or at our premises at Bildungszentrum. The entire course can see each other face-to-face via alfaview®, communicate with each other in lip-sync voice quality and work on joint projects. Of course, you can also see and talk to your connected trainers live at any time and you will be taught by your lecturers in real time for the entire duration of the course. The lessons are not e-learning, but real live face-to-face lessons via video technology.
The courses at alfatraining are funded by Agentur für Arbeit and are certified in accordance with the AZAV approval regulation. When submitting a Bildungsgutscheinor Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, the entire course costs are usually covered by your funding body.
Funding is also possible via Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF), Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) or regional funding programs. As a regular soldier, you have the option of attending further training courses via Berufsförderungsdienst (BFD). Companies can also have their employees qualified via funding from Agentur für Arbeit (Qualifizierungschancengesetz).