This paper shows the value of an online personal learning network or community in educational innovation. It shows how theories and best practices from service and product innovation, as well the theories of learning communities, were applied using social media to facilitate the grant proposal and course development processes for a new course in social media marketing. The innovation theory and practices discussed, and the example of their application in a higher-education environment, will help guide educators to (1) create learning networks and communities and to (2) use those communities to innovate in their curriculum and classrooms.