Course Information

  • Course Fee:

    $299 USD

  • Skill Level:

    Intermediate

  • Class Duration:

    2H

Course Introduction

For financial services sales professionals, social media can play a critical role in targeting and engaging with clients and prospects. We know that social selling helps you to better understand your customers which, in turn, contributes to better leads, bigger deals and richer relationships.

But regulations surrounding the use of social media in financial services, combined with a lack of knowledge about social media best practices means social selling is an underutilized tactic for financial advisors and other FSI professionals.

Course Curriculum

  1. Lesson 1: Why Social Selling Is Important for Sales Professionals

    Course Level: Beginner

    Learn the opportunities and benefits of using social media to drive value, and evaluate key ways to grow and nurture your business.

    Take the Course

    • Lesson 1: Why Social Selling Is Important for Sales Professionals
    • 1.1 The Value of Social Media for Sales Professionals
    • 1.2 Why Social Selling Matters for Sales Professionals
    • 1.3 Thinking Through Your Professional Brand *NEW*

  2. Lesson 2: Looking the Part On Your Social Media Channels

    Course Level: Intermediate

    Learn about the various networks and tools needed for successful social selling, and understand how each of these tools can be used together to maximize impact.

    Take the Course

    • Lesson 2: Looking the Part On Your Social Media Channels
    • 2.1 Looking the Part On Your Social Media Channels
    • 2.2 Getting Your Social Selling Toolbox in Order
    • 2.3 Looking the Part: Twitter
    • 2.4 Looking the Part: LinkedIn
    • 2.5 Looking the Part: Facebook Business and Personal Pages
    • 2.6 Looking the Part: Instagram *NEW*

  3. Lesson 3: Researching and Planning

    Course Level: Intermediate

    Learn how to identify the research and planning needed in social selling; create an effective social listening strategy; and use Hootsuite to carry out social selling research and planning activities on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Business Pages.

    Take the Course

    • Lesson 3: Researching and Planning
    • 3.1 Researching and Planning
    • 3.2 Where to Start with Researching and Planning
    • 3.3 Researching and Planning by Network: LinkedIn
    • 3.4 Researching and Planning by Network: Twitter
    • 3.5 Researching and Planning by Network: Facebook Business and Personal Pages
    • 3.6 Researching and Planning by Network: Instagram *NEW*
    • 3.7 How Hootsuite Helps with Research and Planning (Optional)

  4. Lesson 4: Social Prospecting and Engaging

    Course Level: Intermediate

    Learn how the insights gained during the research and planning phase will be leveraged for prospecting and engaging with leads.

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    • Lesson 4: Social Prospecting and Engaging
    • 4.1 Social Prospecting and Engaging
    • 4.2 How to Get Started with Prospecting and Engaging
    • 4.3 How and Why You Should Share Social Content
    • 4.4 Reaching Out - Best Practices for Direct Messaging
    • 4.5 Incorporating Social into Your Daily and Weekly Routine *NEW*
    • 4.6 How Hootsuite Helps with Prospecting and Engagement (Optional)
    • 4.7 Hootsuite Amplify for Sales Professionals (Optional)

  5. Lesson 5: Financial Services Program Introduction

    Course Level: Intermediate

    Learn the major IIROC, FINRA, and SEC regulations affecting social selling activities in the financial industry, and understand the financial and professional consequences of violating these regulations.

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    • Lesson 5: Financial Services Program Introduction
    • 5.1 Social Selling in Financial Services (Introduction)
    • 5.2 Setting Yourself Up for Success: Financial Services
    • 5.3 Industry Use and Opportunity for FinServ Sales Professionals
    • 5.4 Mitigating Risk in Your Organization
    • 5.5 [OPTIONAL] Financial Services and Social Media Success

  6. Lesson 6: Social Prospecting & Engagement in Finance

    Course Level: Advanced

    In this lesson, you’ll learn how the insights gained during the research and planning phase will be leveraged for prospecting and engaging with leads.

    Take the Course

    • Lesson 6: Social Prospecting & Engagement in Finance
    • 6.1 Social Prospecting & Engagement in Finance
    • 6.2 Best Practices for Listening & Research: Financial Services
    • 6.3 Best Practices for Outreach & Engagement: Financial Services
    • 6.4 Learning From Other’s Mistakes

  7. Lesson 7: Social Selling Regulations for Financial Services

    Course Level: Advanced

    In this lesson, you’ll learn the major IIROC, FINRA and SEC regulations affecting social selling activities in the financial industry, and understand the financial and professional consequences of violating these regulations.

    Take the Course

    • Lesson 7: Social Selling Regulations for Financial Services
    • 7.1 Social Selling Regulations for Financial Services
    • 7.2 Social Media Regulations for Financial Services

  8. Hootsuite Social Selling for Financial Services Certification Exam

    Price: $299

    Take our exam now to earn your official certification—proving your expertise to employers and clients.

    Get Certified

What you get with your Hootsuite Social Selling for Financial Services Certification

  • Industry-leading certification Industry-leading certification showing you have the necessary skills and expertise to drive better sales results using social media in the Financial Services Vertical
  • A permanent online certificate to showcase your expertise that you can link to from your blog, website, and any other online profile.

How you get your Hootsuite Social Selling for Financial Services Certification

Get your Social Selling for Financial Services Certification by passing a 50-question online exam testing your knowledge of the core principles of using social media in sales, based on Hootsuite’s online Social Selling for Financial Services course.

This comprehensive series of easy-to-follow video tutorials teaches sales professionals how to build a professional, trustworthy online presence. These videos cover everything from setting up effective social media profiles to tactics for finding and engaging with leads, all while remaining compliant with financial regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

$299 USD.

No. Once you pass the exam, the certification is yours foreverNo. Once you pass the exam, the certification is yours forever

The exam is based on the Social Selling for Financial Services courseware that teaches the best practices for using social media in the sales process while remaining compliant with financial regulations. We recommend reviewing the course before attempting the exam.

It's a 25-question timed online exam.        

The minimum passing grade for the exam is 75%.


You’ll have 45 minutes to complete the 25-question exam.

Yes. If you’re confident in your social selling skills, you can go straight to the certification exam.

The Hootsuite Academy team creates exams following established instructional design best practices. More information can be seen here.