Sunshine Coast business owners seeking to improve their social media presence have been invited to a new kind of social networking event at USC tomorrow (Wednesday 18 July).

Fifteen students studying a subject in USC’s popular Social Media Minor will showcase their digital skills to local business owners who are considering employing freelancers to launch, organise or manage their social media activities.

USC Lecturer in Public Relations Dr Karen Sutherland decided to stage the evening event after noticing strong demand across the region for social media support.

“USC students work with real clients in three out of four of our social media subjects,” she said. “Whenever I put a call out to the Sunshine Coast business community for clients, I am inundated. This year more than 80 local businesses registered in less than three days.”

Dr Sutherland said this response could indicate that many business owners lacked the time required to produce content, engage on social media and keep up with its many changes.

“Business owners want to focus on what they do best – building their business,” she said.

“This event will help to achieve two goals: it will support Sunshine Coast businesses to achieve success; and it will help USC students to continue to build their professional experience.”

Dr Sutherland said six students from the Social Media Minor had already been employed to help local businesses with their social media requirements.

“Opportunities to gain industry experience also will be a key feature in a Social Media Major and Bachelor of Communication (Social Media) that we plan to introduce in 2019,” she said.

Information about this degree and many others will be available at USC’s annual Open Day at its main at Sippy Downs from 9.30am-2pm on Sunday 22 July. For more details, go to www.usc.edu.au/open-day

- Michelle French