The Internet as we know it today began in the early 1990s. During the last two decades it has grown to become an integral part of many people’s everyday lives. The Internet started out as a place to exchange information, but has now become one of the top ways for companies to reach potential customers. Traditional forms of advertising, such as print ads, billboards, direct mail, flyers, and product testing events, are still used by businesses; however, social media tools and programs are increasingly relied on to “get the word out” about a particular brand or service. Facebook and Twitter are just two of the tools used as a cost-effective way to connect with those already familiar with a product, but also to convince others to buy a company’s products or services. The increasing affordability and wide accessibility of computers and smartphones have increased the amount of time an average user spends on the Internet and using social media. In fact, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reports that 79 percent of Internet adult users used Facebook in 2016, up from about 65 percent in 2012. Instagram and Pinterest were the next most popular social media platforms, with 32 and 31 percent of adults using them, respectively.
The rapid growth of social media sites and tools on the Internet has created demand for workers who are experts in social media. These workers perform a wide range of duties, from seeking to raise their company’s position on search engine results to contacting bloggers to convince them to review their company’s products, monitoring chat rooms, and steering negative conversation back to the positive.
- Actors
- Advertising and Marketing Managers
- Animators
- Art Directors
- Artist and Repertoire Workers
- Artists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Bloggers
- Book Editors
- Broadcast Engineers
- Camera Operators
- Cartoonists
- Chief Information Officers
- Choreographers
- Cinematographers and Directors of Photography
- Circus Performers
- Clowns
- College Professors
- Columnists
- Comedians
- Comic Book Writers
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Copy Editors
- Copywriters
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Dancers
- Data Processing Technicians
- Database Specialists
- Demographers
- Digital Advertising and Marketing Workers
- Digital Agents
- Digital Designers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Disc Jockeys
- Editorial and Research Assistants
- Editors
- Fashion Illustrators
- Fashion Writers and Editors
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Film and Television Directors
- Film and Television Editors
- Film and Television Extras
- Film and Television Producers
- Food Writers and Editors
- Foreign Correspondents
- Fund-Raisers
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Green Marketers
- Illustrators
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Journalism Teachers
- Literary Agents
- Magazine Editors
- Magicians
- Makeup Artists
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Mobile Software Developers
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Journalists
- Music Producers
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Music Video Directors and Producers
- Music Video Editors
- Musicians
- News Anchors
- Newspaper Editors
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Online Reputation Managers
- Photo Editors
- Photographers
- Photojournalists
- Podcasters
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Press Secretaries and Political Consultants
- Production Assistants
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Professional Hackers
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Publicists
- Publicity Photographers
- Radio and Television Announcers
- Radio and Television Program Directors
- Radio Producers
- Reporters
- Science and Medical Writers
- Screenwriters
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Singers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Songwriters
- Sports Broadcasters and Announcers
- Sports Photographers
- Sports Publicists
- Sportswriters
- Stage Production Workers
- Stunt Performers
- Talent Agents and Scouts
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Telemarketers
- User Experience Designers
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Video Game Testers
- Webmasters
- Wireless Service Technicians
- Writers