He’s one of the top three followed marketing professor on Twitter, has written eight business books and is currently proposing his ninth. He, Chuck Martin, professor at UNH and CEO of NFI Research, will be teaching a new marketing class that will be offered in the first trial run of UNH’s first J-term.
MKTG 598, Topics/ Social Media in Marketing, will explore the dramatic growth and usage of social media in marketing in business today and also the impact of social networking on media, spending, and marketing to shoppers. The class will be held Monday and Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and is worth two credits for its three week duration.
“We’re going to go through all the social media platforms,” said Martin, such as Linked In and Youtube, and also how to develop a marketing strategy using social networking.
Dr. Peter Lane, Chair and Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Technology at UNH, said that the course is the latest in a series of new electives with the purpose “to offer UNH students the most up to date set of skills that they need to be successful.”
At the same time, said Lane, the course is also open to anyone who may have an interest in marketing, starting their own business, working with student organizations and non profit organizations, or anyone looking to learn about social media.
Martin also said the fact that anyone from the community can take the class is an advantage. “There is a huge market for people who have experience and understanding of social media,” said Martin.
Martin said that the course was created for the J-term because there are no other social media courses, and also said it is probable that the class will become a summer course and then part of the fall 2010 course list.
“Social media is really, really big in business right now,” said Martin. “Even if the business doesn’t want to do anything in social media they have to because their clients and customers are connecting in these ways.”
Because social media is impacting all aspects of business and all kinds of business, said Martin, anybody in marketing needs to understand social media.
“They don’t need to like it, but understand it,” said Martin.
Senior Joe Shartzer, a Business Administration major with a dual option in Management and Marketing, is considering taking the j-term marketing class. According to Shartzer, he has discussed social media often in marketing classes, including in his current Marketing Research class with Martin, but has never taken a class focused solely on social media.
“The initial thing that interested me about the class was the new-ness of it all,” said Shartzer.
Despite the huge increase in social media usage, said Shartzer, there are few classes or seminars on it, and textbooks don't really exist on the matter because it's so recent.
Shartzer said he is not completely sure if he will take the class due to limited time and financial constraints.
“Like many students, I'm not sure I can afford another class in a new term,” said Shartzer. “I am looking at getting the class sponsored by a company I might work for.”
According to Shartzer, any students who are interested in social media or market research could greatly benefit from taking a course with Martin.
“Chuck is clearly an innovator and leader in the field -- his insight on the future of social media is extremely, extremely valuable,” said Shartzer.
Shartzer’s relationship with Martin has even opened up job opportunities that would not exist otherwise.
“He is just really, really good. Credentials speak better than I ever could,” said Shartzer.
Lane said he also has confidence in Martin’s placement as professor of MKTG 598.
“Professor Martin is a real valuable member of our department,” said Lane. “He’s a great person to help us kick off this course.”
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