In today’s digital age, mastering online marketing is crucial for business success. And this cuts across all business spheres. For some, it’s on how to grow your small business. For others, it’s how to understand the marketing jargons your marketing team always say. For another set, since they own the business but have people running their marketing, they also need to know one or two things so they are in the loop with their marketing progress. Fortunately, there are numerous free courses available that can help business owners enhance their digital marketing skills. Here’s a list I find very informative of the top 10 free digital marketing courses that can provide valuable insights and practical knowledge to boost your online presence. Note that some of these courses are not even directly marketing courses but they will definitely set you up right for every aspect of your marketing so you can be well rounded.
If you prefer to be trained privately or personally, read on, you’ll see how to do that with Me. Or if you want members of your staff to undergo some basic digital marketing training that would give them clarity on their ways of increasing sales for the company, read on till the end.1. Google Digital Garage: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Google’s comprehensive course covers all aspects of digital marketing, from SEO to social media. With 26 modules and a certification upon completion, this course is perfect for beginners and those looking to refresh their skills. Everyone who cares for digital marketing should at some point do the Google Digital Garage course. It’s very eye opening and maybe, just maybe, you’ll see why marketing is quite an interesting and fun filled field.
Key Features:
– 40 hours of content
– Interactive quizzes
– Real-world examples
– Accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University
2. HubSpot Academy: Inbound Marketing Certification
HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing course is ideal for business owners who want to attract customers through valuable content and experiences. This course covers inbound marketing strategies, content creation, and conversion optimization. If you are wondering why Hubspot is here, let me tell you why. For most businesses, Inbound marketing is how you’re sure you always have a steady stream of interested leads.
Key Features:
– 6 hours of video content
– Practical exercises
– Industry-recognized certification
3. Facebook Blueprint
For businesses looking to leverage Facebook and Instagram for marketing, Facebook Blueprint offers a series of free courses. These cover everything from creating a business page to running effective ad campaigns. Facebook blueprint will help you understand the whole Meta platform. And since you will be using it quite often as a business person – Facebook and Instagram, you should learn up all you need directly from them.
Key Features:
– Self-paced learning
– Courses for various skill levels
– Regular updates to reflect platform changes
4. Coursera: Digital Marketing Specialization by University of Illinois
While Coursera charges for certificates, you can audit this comprehensive specialization for free. It covers digital marketing analytics, strategy, and channels over six courses. If you also fancy a certificate, then you should know that Coursera as a platform is highly regarded and their certificates are worth it. After doing that certification, you should take a look at some of the courses I created on the Coursera platform. These courses are quite practical and will help you understand what to do exactly.
Key Features:
– University-level content
– Hands-on projects
– Peer-reviewed assignments
5. SEMrush Academy
SEMrush offers a variety of free courses covering SEO, content marketing, and PPC advertising. Their courses are particularly useful for those wanting to improve their website’s search engine rankings. Why is this important? SEO is how you get seen by people who need the services you offer. If you understand the basics, you will help to set your business right on its footing.
Key Features:
– Video lessons and quizzes
– Certification exams
– Taught by industry experts
6. WordStream’s PPC University
For business owners interested in pay-per-click advertising, WordStream’s PPC University provides free courses on Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and general PPC strategies.
Key Features:
– Beginner to advanced levels
– Actionable tips and strategies
– Regular updates to reflect industry changes
7. Alison: Diploma in E-Business
This free course covers various aspects of e-business, including digital marketing strategies, social media marketing, and e-commerce fundamentals.
Key Features:
– 6-10 hours of content
– Self-paced learning
– Certificate available (for a fee)
8. Constant Contact’s Social Media Quickstarter
This resource offers a series of free, self-guided lessons on marketing your business through various social media platforms. It’s perfect for business owners new to social media marketing. Social Media is one fun place business people usually restrict their learnings to. It’s worth giving a shot. You would totally love the lessons there.
Key Features:
– Platform-specific guides
– Step-by-step instructions
– Practical tips for immediate implementation
9. Canva Design School
While not strictly a digital marketing course, Canva’s Design School offers free lessons on creating visually appealing content for your marketing efforts. This is crucial for engaging audiences across various digital platforms. With the way Social media trends are moving, the rise of images, videos and multimedia is on the rise. With Canva, you will learn how to create multimedia formats that will help give visibility to your business.
Key Features:
– Video tutorials
– Practical design challenges
– Applicable to various marketing channels
10. LinkedIn Learning: Online Marketing Foundations
LinkedIn offers a month-long free trial, during which you can access this comprehensive course. It covers the fundamentals of online marketing, including web analytics, email marketing, and online advertising.
Key Features:
– 4.5 hours of content
– Taught by industry expert Brad Batesole
– Quizzes and exercise files
What if you prefer Private or Personal Digital Marketing Training?
These free digital marketing courses offer business owners a wealth of knowledge to enhance their online marketing efforts. By investing time in these resources, you can develop a strong foundation in various aspects of digital marketing, from social media and content creation to SEO and PPC advertising.
Remember, the digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, so continuous learning is key. These courses provide a great starting point, but it’s important to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in the field.
As you work through these courses, try to apply what you learn to your business immediately. Practical application will help reinforce your learning and could lead to immediate improvements in your digital marketing efforts.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies and tactics. What works for one business may not work for another, so use these courses as a guide to find the best digital marketing approach for your unique business needs.
And, if you’re the business person who prefers to have someone take them through some of these modules privately or to train members of your staff on the appropriate digital marketing tricks and tips for faster business growth, then reach out to Emmanuel Ibekwe via my contact page here.
By taking advantage of these free resources and consistently applying your newfound knowledge, you’ll be well on your way to mastering digital marketing and growing your business in the online world.