Social (Media) Expertise

By Lindsay Anderson ‘04

“You’ve heard the old phrase ‘it’s who you know,’ well, now there’s a phrase, ‘it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.”

Bradley alumna Kerianne Melott ’06, recently Skyped with Marketing Instructor Heidi Rottier’s Social Media Marketing class and began her discussion with those words of wisdom.

Melott, the social media director at eHarmony.com in Los Angeles, told students about her Bradley experience and how a life-changing trip to L.A. as a student launched her career. That trip gave her the opportunity to network with a number of key L.A. influencers, and she landed a job offer before graduation.

“Your network is very important,” Melott said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out. Build those relationships – you never know when an opportunity may arise. Competition in the industry is kind of rough, stand out as an applicant. Differentiate yourself, be authentic and be confident.”

Students in the class were excited to have a prominent alumna as a guest speaker.

“Guest speakers are very informative, and it’s wonderful to get an opportunity to get to ask them what a regular work day is like in social media - an insight into a professional’s life,” said Cordelia Murphy ’16, a Social Media Marketing minor from Marseilles, Illinois.

As director of eHarmony’s social media, Melott oversees the company’s social media channels with a team that includes social media specialists, a data analyst, a bilingual specialist as well as smaller teams in London, England, and Sydney, Australia, which help with strategy and direction.

“My favorite aspect of the class is learning how social media plays a role in business,” said Brittany Street ’16, a Social Media Marketing major from Elk Grove Village, Illinois. “Before the class, I knew it was important, but in this class, I see how it is used, how big it is, and how many different platforms can be utilized.”