Podcast: Social Media Expert

Over the years, podcasts have increased in popularity, with influencers, athletes, and others using them to share their thoughts online. For our podcast assignment, Amelia and I interviewed Kenya Merricle, a senior graphic design major with a marketing minor who has interned and worked in Ohio Northern's University's Office of Communication & Marketing for the past two years. Given her experience in content creation for ONU's social media platforms, she was a fitting "social media expert" to speak with. 

Her daily tasks involve managing multiple platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and, Tiktok, as well as creating both traditional design work and social media graphics. She works closely with the marketing team to discover trends, write posts, and ensure that content remains consistent across all platforms, especially during important on-campus events like Welcome Weekend. During this time, she creates various graphics, YouTube thumbnails, and social media posts. 

To stay organized and manage the workload of creating content and managing projects, her office used platforms such as Wrike and, Kenya relies on Google Calendar to track her deadlines. Given ONU's large audience, including athletics, undergraduates, and law, her team conducts market research and trend analysis, specifically looking at what trends and content larger schools are following and creating. Their team meets regularly, planning their content strategy and what platforms they will use for posting this content.

Over the years, certain platforms have become more effective, highlighting the shift in social media trends. In the past, Instagram was the best platform to boost engagement but, Tiktok has become more effective for reaching new audiences. The social media team embraced this change, using creative ideas to drive both views and engagement to this platform. 

Overall, this interview provided valuable insights into how social media can build both personal and professional brands as well as emphasize the importance of content planning and expanding a brand's awareness.