Module 2: Install Apps and Create Accounts
In this module, you’ll install the technology you’ll need for the course and learn more about what they are and how they’ll be used.
Zoom
If you haven't already, use the following videos to guide you through the installation process and introduce you to some of the great features you may see throughout your classroom experience!
Apps
Download and install the following apps to your computer:
Google Chrome
This is the web browser we'll be using in this course. Google Chrome has a number of tools that make it an ideal platform for digital marketing, so if you are currently using a different browser, we encourage you to switch to Chrome.
Tableau Public
When it comes time to report the results of your digital marketing campaigns, you’re going to want to impress your audience with charts and images that tell the story of your data clearly and concisely. Tableau Public is a free app that allows you to create engaging and informative data visualizations.
What Are They?
The following platforms listed below are used throughout the course. Some of the listed platforms below require that you do some preliminary setup before access can be granted.
| Platform | Units using this Platform | Access Requirements | Access Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drives | Entire Course | Google-powered email | You will be added to your class drive via your Google-powered Email. |
| Google Ads | Units 4, 5, 13, and 22 | Google-powered email | You will be added to the Google Ads class account. Your Google Ads personal account must be set up in advance. |
| Facebook Business Manager | Units 6 and 13 | Personal Facebook Account | You will set up this account in class. You need an active personal account set up in advance. |
| Twitter Ads | Unit 6 | Personal Twitter Account | You will set up an ad account in class. You need an active personal account set up in advance. |
| LinkedIn Ads | Unit 6 | Personal LinkedIn Account | You will set up this account in class. You need an active personal account set up in advance. |
| Mailchimp | Units 8 and 21 | No pre-requirements | Your personal free MailChimp account must be set up in advance. |
| WordPress | Units 11 - 24 | No pre-requirements | An account will be set up for you in advance. |
| Google Tag Manager | Unit 13 | Google-powered email | |
| Google Analytics | Unit 16 and 22 | Google-powered email | You will set up this account in class. |
| Tableau Public (free download) | Units 22 - 24 | No pre-requirements | The platform must be installed and your account should be set up in advance. |
Website and Software Accounts
Create accounts for the following services, which you'll need throughout the course. If you already have accounts on these sites, you can use those. However, you may want to create separate accounts that you can play around in and later turn into professional accounts to share with employers.
Social Media
Social media channels are one of the most important places for marketers to interact and share products with potential customers. In this course, we’ll get hands-on experience with the advertising platforms on each of the social media sites below, so you’ll need personal accounts in order to practice those skills. Don't worry about setting up advertising accounts. You will set up advertising accounts for the listed platforms in class.
Recruiters often search these sites for job candidates and you may be showing your accounts during job interviews, so be sure to use a professional username (i.e. JamieQSuarez, not ILuvMonsterTrucks or OliviasMommy). You should also provide a headshot and up-to-date contact information.
Tip: If you are creating a social media account just for the course, be sure to post on that account per week and be active. This prevents the account from possibly being flagged as inactive or a "bot account."
Slack
Slack is an online communication tool that is a forum, instant messenger, and email all rolled into one. It's a tool used by countless organizations worldwide, and you'll be using it every single day for the next six months. We will use it to send activities and assignments during class, relay important announcements, and facilitate group activities. Though there is a Slack web client, for this course you should have the program installed on your machine. You will receive a link to your class-specific channel during orientation.
Digital Marketing Tools
Sign up for the following Digital Marketing tools that you'll be using throughout the course. Again, keep the usernames professional.
- Google. You’ll use the same account for:
- Google Ads. You need to sign up for this account seperately from Google, but you can use the same login.
- Google Analytics. You need to sign up for this account seperately from Google, but you can use the same login.
- MailChimp
What Are They?
Google Drive
Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service. It allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and share files.
- Use your program-specific Google-powered email to you log into your class Google Drive. You will use your class drive for the duration of the course.
For tips on how to navigate Google Suite for the program, see the Google Suite Tutorial.
Google Ads
Google Ads (formerly known as Google AdWords) is an online platform where businesses can target and run ad campaigns to Google’s users. With close to 6 billion daily searches, Google has the ability to reach just about any audience you can think of! One of the key skills you’ll learn in this course is how to utilize Google Ads to engage potential customers through their web searches.
- You will use Google Ads to learn how to set up campaigns and strategies to implement into effective campaigns.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a powerful online tool that lets you track and analyze visitors to your website. Most digital ad campaigns will bring customers to your business’s website at some point; Google Analytics allows you to learn who they are. You can see details such as demographics, pages viewed, and actions taken on your site. You’ll learn how to use this data to evaluate your marketing campaign and design better campaigns in the future.
- Use your program-specific Google-powered email to set up your account. You will learn how to use site analytics to understand how visitors are behaving on a website.
YouTube
The future of digital marketing is rich media—ads that use video and interactivity to increase customer engagement. This includes advertisements on video sites like YouTube. Knowing the options for placing an ad before or during a YouTube video will be an essential skill in your digital marketing tool kit.
- Use your program-specific Google-powered email to you log into YouTube. You will use this platform to navigate certain activities and research in the program.
MailChimp
MailChimp is an online tool where marketers can maintain mailing lists, create newsletters or marketing materials, and automate email campaigns. This user-friendly platform will be the best tool in your toolbox for reaching customers via email, and we’ll spend a unit teaching you how.