Hootsuite announced the launch of of a new online education program called Podium, aimed at helping people develop skills for getting more out of social media for business.

A spokesperson for the company tells WebProNews, “As one of the top 10 fastest growing job trends, training in social media is essential for success in today’s job market. With 10 million plus users, Hootsuite has a unique understanding of what it takes to be successful with social media and Podium reflects our continued commitment to helping social media professionals grow their business and excel in their careers.”

Podium gives users certification in social media marketing so they can showcase “credible” and “sought-after” skills to employers and clients.

There are six courses consisting of forty short videos with tips and strategies. The courses include: Introduction to Social Media Marketing, Optimizing Your Social Media Profiles, Social Media Strategy – from A to Z, Growing Your Online Community, Content Marketing Fundamentals, and Social Advertising Fundamentals.

“Demand for social media education has grown rapidly and Podium is the only online social media education program offering all of its education content for free,” the company says. “In fact, jobs that require social media skills have increased 89 percent, making social media one of the top ten fastest growing job trends, according to job site Indeed. Indeed’s Chief Economist, Tara Sinclair emphasized that training in these cutting edge skills is needed to succeed in today’s labor market.”

The courses allow users to learn at their own pace, but they can also ask questions and learned from others in the community forum.

Image via Hootsuite