For Merit standard, learners will provide a clear, accurate and well-reasoned
justification of the choices they made in the planning of the use of social media. Learners
will show a clear link to the required business objectives. Learners also need to show
that they have considered the local legal and ethical implications of the material that
they posted on social media sites. The usage data collected by learners will also assess
how effective each of their posts has been at achieving their stated aim and how
effective it has been in encouraging interaction with the audience. Learners will apply
their knowledge through selection and application of appropriate tools and techniques
to optimise the effectiveness of their future posts and other social media features.
They will make accurate and reasoned suggestions as to how the outcomes could be
improved if the task were to be repeated.
For Pass standard, learners will produce a plan that meets the business requirements
and identifies the target audience. The plan will also identify timescales and keywords,
and include a content-posting schedule. Learners will show an awareness of local legal
and ethical implications of the content they plan to post.
Learners will review their plan, and ask others such as the client/employer and
customers/audience to assist them in this process and provide evidence of their review.
Learners will select a variety of social media websites and implement their plan and
interact with their followers. Some simulation may be required in order to provide the
interaction and fellow learners can play the role of ‘customers’ for each other. Learners
can provide evidence in the form of annotated screenshots showing how they have
implemented the plan they have created.
Learners must collect and review a range of data using features such as Facebook
Insights, Google Analytics and Twitter Analytics, showing the interaction that individual
posts have created and the profile of their audience. This data will be used to optimise
their future posts, for example by adjusting the wording, content and timing of posts,
as well as demonstrating use of any other new features.