Further education in Digital Marketing are being planned for this Fall by two organisations in Ireland I have come across (one of them I already work  with as a member of their faculty).

DCU have launched a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing.

The Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) has announced their Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing and follows the success of their 12 week programmes and their Boot Camps that have been running for the last 18 months.

I don't know much about the programme with DCU, but as someone who has worked with the DMI since their first programmes started, let me share a little of what I know about their programme.

The programme commences on September 21 2010 and you need to apply by 15 August 2010.

The programme is a 1 year part time programme with two semesters of course work and requires the completion of two individual digital marketing projects. The programme requires attendance on two evenings a week, three hours per evening and at 2 Saturday tutorial/workshops throughout the year.

Here is a summary of the curriculum:

• Digital Marketing Fundamentals
• Customer as King in Digital Media
• Digital Marketing Channels
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Digital Marketing Management

To apply for the Postgaduate Diploma in Marketing you must meet the minimum admissions requirements:

• you must hold a recognised third level honours degree (minimum of a lower second class honours degree)  along with at least 2 years working in an appropriate industry sector
• you must  have significant and suitable work experience in a marketing (or associated) role.

Yes one programme is accredited currently by a third level institute and the other isn't - so the choice is yours. I do know from one of the founders of the DMI, Ian Dodson, that they are in discussions about the formal recognition of their programme through a third level institute.

How do you choose which programme to attend?

Well in my personal experience when studying for programmes in other areas I find that taking the time to get to know the orgnanisations, understanding their apporach and getting clear about the outcomes you can expect does help. I also have spoken to people who have attended previous programmes to get a sense of what the organisation of the programme and the capabilities of the faculty are like in terms of their teaching style and experience. Cost, duration, location and timing have also been a factor for me to consider.

At the end of the day though I have focused on my personal motivation to study for the programme and looked at the curriculum that best fits my personal and professional needs.

How do you choose which programmes and training you attend?

Here is a terrific opportunity for people looking to develop their skills in digital marketing and also for small businesses in Ireland who want to get their businesses online.

The programme is called WebActivate.

Listen to my podcast about the programme here:

At the moment the programme is taking registrants from people through to the 16 July 2010 - they mention on their website that applications are particularly welcomed from people who are unemployed with an existing educational attainment of NFQ level 6, 7, or 8. You will receive 6 weeks ‘In-Centre’ training following which you will spend 12 weeks with 3 different SMEs creating websites and coaching the employees of the SME's on how to maximise business through online channels.

During the work placement you will attend their designated training centres one day a week for classes, ongoing mentoring and coaching from the Webactivate trainers. You will be equipped with a Notebook computer, software and 3G broadband, all of which are provided through the WebActivate programme. Find out how to register HERE.

The curriculum includes modules in:

• Internet Publishing
• Marketing
• Social Media Marketing

Certification includes a suite of FETAC component modules with 4 credits at NFQ Level 6.

If you are an SME WITH NO WEB PRESENCE AT THE MOMENT then I also recommedn that you check out the programme and benefit from the skills that people will be learning. You will receive access to support by providing a workplacement to one of the participants of the programme. There are no fees or charges for the SMEs providing work placements in the programme. The programme will serve small to medium businesses in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and you can register online here.

At a programme yesterday I decided to demonstrate live podcasting with Audioboo.com.

Unfortunately the wifi connection at the hotel was not great for uploading in real time. So I had to upload it today.

The question for the group was what were their thoughts on social media marketing - in just one word.

Here is their feedback.

For fast podcasting on the move check out Audioboo.com - podcasting with ease!

What one word would you use to describe what you feel about social media marketing?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you missed my free webinar earlier this week on the 7 essential steps for profitable podcasting you can access the replay HERE.

UPDATE 7 APRIL 2010: YOU CAN ACCESS A 20% DISCOUNT AS A MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY AS I AM ONE OF THE ORGANISERS OF THIS EVENT - JUST USE "SOCIALAPRIL" WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR PLACE

UPDATE 8 APRIL 2010: An additional speaker has been added:  Donal Rice of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, NDA, will be talking about 'Making online audio & video accessible to all - how to reach a bigger audience'

I'm just off a conference call planning an event that the Social Media Working Group of the Irish Internet Association are working on - all about online video and audio.

If you are considering exploring using video and audio content as part of your communications and marketing this is a must attend event as the case studies and companies represented I am sure will inspire you. We'll be talking about planning, production, distribution, monetisation and measurement of online audio and video.

The event is taking place in Dublin on 22 April 2010.

Here's the outline of the programme:

13.30 - Welcome and introductions

13:40 - Lucy Campbell, Marketing Manager will be talking about the RTE Player (if you have not downloaded it to your iPhone yet I highly recommend you do so)

14:10 - Aoife Mahon and Gina McCrudden will be talking about online audio podcasts at RaboDirect and the impact to their business

14:40 - Fred Caballero of Channelship will be talking about creating online videos on a budget for your small business

15:40 - Peter O'Neill of Mason Hayes and Curran will be talking about the legal considerations of online audio and video and their podcasts they have been recording and distributing for their legal practice

16:10 - Making online audio & video accessible to all - how to reach a bigger audience - Donal Rice, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, NDA

16:40 - Sebastien Missoffe of the YouTube EMEA team talking about the benefits and tips of using YouTube as part of your online video distribution including the options for advertising on YouTube

17:00 - Panel Q&A

Oh did I mention there are also going to be some prizes of high definition video cameras - more details to be announced on that soon.

How much will it cost? Well just €45 for members of the IIA and €75 for non members. (Remember to use 'SocialApril' to avail of the 20% discount on these fees).

I've been using online video and podcasts in my business for the last 5 years and I've found that they not only assist me in lead generation but also have resulted in bottom line profit for my organisation. So will you join me if you're looking to boost your business using these platforms.

Believe me online video and podcasting has never been as easy and inexpensive as it is today.

All the details of how to book the online video and podcasting workshop are online at the IIA website.