The Best Free Online Courses for Digital Marketing
The most exciting part of building a business is the beginning when you’ve decided to take that idea in your head and put it down on paper. You come up with a cool name, brainstorm your mission, design a pretty website, and set up all of your social media accounts. Now comes the hard part—getting the word out and continuing to evolve and inevitably change your strategy when necessary. Whether you’re selling a product, service, or content, promotion is a key pillar of success. Some of us prefer learning as we go while others seek more formal education. That’s the beauty of the best free online courses for digital marketing—they check off both boxes.
All of these tutorials divulge useful information that you can read and/or watch on your own time. Plus, not having to pay for them is icing on the cake. Keep reading to check out some of our favorites and if you haven’t already, schedule a binge session of the free BlogHer video library. We’re constantly recruiting some of our favorite creators who love teaching the tactics that lead to their success.
WordStream Growth Academy
WordStream’s hub for small businesses and marketing agencies contains multiple free video training courses that cover the basics of online advertising, generating leads with Google and Facebook Ads, and e-commerce strategies for selling more products.
WordSream PPC University
WordStream’s PPC (short for “pay per click”) learning hub is equally beneficial, with an overwhelming amount of resources for learning all there is to know about pay-per-click marketing. Standout topics include keyword research, paid social media hacks, and a “growth hacker’s guide to search engine marketing.”
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Google Digital Garage has quickly turned into one of my favorite places for picking up new digital skills, including marketing. This beginner-level course includes 40 hours of video tutorials, all created by Google trainers, that you can watch at your own pace.
Social Media Quickstarter
Constant Contact’s social media training for beginners contains a series of documents that you can work through at your own pace. Each contains step-by-step instructions for getting set up for success on each platform. For instance, the Facebook link directs you to 18 more tutorials that cover everything from scheduling posts to analyzing insights to running ads.
Internet Marketing for Smart People
You don’t have to be a tech genius to master internet marketing. The “CopyBlogger method” breaks digital marketing into four pillars (Relationships, Direct Response Copywriting, Content Marketing, Have Something Worth Selling) across a 20-part course to make the learning process less daunting.
Diploma in E-Business
Alison’s free online course, specifically for e-commerce brand owners, teaches its students how to design, create, and run a website with an expert marketing plan. You’ll also learn how to use Google Analytics, Google AdSense, and Google Webmaster.
Content Marketing Certification
HubSpot Academy’s free certification course will teach you the skills necessary to not only create an effective content marketing plan but how to maintain a consistent strategy. The course contains 12 lessons and 11 quizzes over 56 videos that total just over six hours in run time. Work at your own pace and walk away with a stronger marketing muscle.
Digital Marketing Basics
This free Udemy course is a time-sensitive back-to-basics tutorial for those who are completely new to digital marketing or need a tiny jolt for their current efforts.
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