By Mike Sparks
Tonight on Conversations with Mike Sparks radio show, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Raj Srivastava, affectionately known as “Dr. Raj.” He is a distinguished professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and a leading voice in digital media.
Join us this evening, Sunday November 17, from 5 to 6 PM on WGNS Radio, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, and streaming live at WGNSradio.com.
Last year, I had the privilege of enrolling in Dr. Raj’s digital media course as part of my journey back to college for a second degree in media. Dr. Raj is not only an exceptional professor but also possesses a remarkable talent for marketing. His engaging sense of humor makes his classes truly enjoyable. I distinctly remember him advising us on the first day of class, “You’re in marketing. If you want a career in this field, you must learn how to interact with people. If that’s not your strength, you might consider the accounting department down the hall.”
Dr. Raj has blended his marketing expertise with a newfound passion for content creation. What began as a simple welcome video for his students on TikTok has transformed into a platform boasting over 170,000 followers and nearly five million likes.
MTSU
After teaching for 15 years without a significant social media presence, Dr. Raj recognized the need for change while instructing his social media marketing course. With his daughter’s assistance, he created two introductory videos that collectively garnered 350,000 views, a surprising outcome for him.
“It was very odd to me,” he remarked in a Sidelines interview, as he reflected on the unexpected engagement.
Intrigued by the possibilities of TikTok, Dr. Raj started posting weekly videos in January 2021. After about eight months of consistent content creation, he set a bold goal for himself.
“In September, I decided that starting today, for the next one thousand days, I’m going to make one video,” he shared.
This commitment followed a milestone moment when one of his videos received over a million likes, attracting attention from notable figures like YouTuber Sssniperwolf and influencers from Germany and New Zealand. His follower count skyrocketed from 8,500 to 25,000 in just a week.
Realizing the vast potential for engagement on TikTok, Dr. Raj became more strategic with his content.
“I’m a marketing guy, so I decided that I’m going to create a brand,” he explained.
His brand focuses on using clean, non-vulgar audio while catering to a target audience of students aged 15 to 22. To effectively reach this demographic, Dr. Raj stays attuned to TikTok trends, which presents its own challenges.
“I’ll see videos that interest me, but I have to create content that’s trending,” he noted, acknowledging the difficulty of consistently generating fresh ideas.
Despite these hurdles, Dr. Raj is determined to build his brand further. He envisions producing videos that address college life struggles before gradually incorporating marketing-related content.
Though he may not be a household name on campus, Dr. Raj has become a star in the TikTok realm. He encourages his students to embrace TikTok as a vital professional skill, predicting that “every business in America will be advertising on TikTok.” He emphasizes the importance of storytelling as the top skill for young people today.
You can follow Dr. Raj on TikTok @drrjprof.