I really believe J560 Online Public Relations through the IUPUI School of Journalism should move from an elective status to being a required class.

This class is for all students, even those who think they have mastered social media because they are already active on multiple platforms. I was one of those students and realized halfway into the semester that I really did not know it all. I still don’t, but realize we should always be students, even after graduation.

Being a lifelong student is critical to keeping up with the ever changing world of online public relations. So here is what you can learn over 12 weeks in 12 simple statements:

1. It’s the best environment for learning how to brand oneself in the age of social media.
2. If you don’t know your personal brand, this class will bring you many steps closer to figuring that out.
3. It will challenge you to step up your social media game in a real world environment.
4. You will learn how to have meaningful online conversations with people you don’t know.
5. You will learn that video is king and needs to be a regular part of your social media posting schedule to increase your influence online.
6. You will learn how to integrate many different social media platforms into your personal branding experience.
7. You will be a huge step ahead of your peers who have not taken this class.
8. You will have created some new professional habits that you will want to integrate into your daily life going forward.
9. You will groan at the social media postings quota at the beginning of the semester, but be excited to keep up the schedule when the class is complete.
10. You will increase your social media clout. Be sure to sign up at www.klout.com at the beginning of the semester to begin measuring your social media influence. 
11. You will learn why Google Plus is becoming the “it girl” and how it is important to your personal branding adventure.
12. You will have a great time and meet some great people along the way!