Small business owners are always acquiring new knowledge on the go. Whether you are embarking on your business journey or have had multiple businesses in your career, there always appears to be fresh information and various ways to acquire it. Acquiring knowledge can aid in the expansion of your business and conserve resources, enabling you to handle additional tasks instead of outsourcing them to others.
Learning the skills necessary to enhance the success of your business through small business courses is both effective and convenient. However, if you are unsure of where to begin, finding the suitable course might appear challenging. There is an abundance of online small business courses available, and thorough research is essential in discovering the right one for you. Moreover, some of the top-notch courses for small business proprietors are offered at no cost, providing comprehensive knowledge on a range of business subjects such as small business management, marketing, accounting, and beyond.
What courses are available for free online?
You have access to hundreds of free small business training programs and courses. The courses you choose will be based on your specific needs and existing skills. There is a wide range of free small business courses available, catering to different levels of expertise in various business areas such as finance and accounting, marketing and digital marketing, supply chain logistics, human resources, employee engagement and development, and others.
If you need assistance in using business software such as CRM systems, social media management programs, and payroll software, you can find online courses to help you with that. For instance, if you are interested in learning how to effectively use Mailchimp, you can join Mailchimp Academy, which offers interactive courses to help you obtain certifications and enhance your understanding of the software.
Before enrolling in a course, it’s important to think about the specific skills you require. Certain small business owners may be interested in acquiring comprehensive knowledge on cost-effective marketing strategies, whereas others may need to focus on developing their abilities in personnel management and payroll system utilization.
Benefits of taking an online small business course
Information for small business owners is more accessible than ever, thanks to the many courses available online. Now, you no longer need to enroll in classes at your local community college or university to gain the valuable skills you need to grow your business. Instead, by taking an online small business course, aspiring entrepreneurs can:
- Learn new skills: You can learn everything from how to use analytics to learn more about your customers to how to manage payroll for new employees. All you have to do is find courses online that can help you learn new skills based on your unique needs.
- Save money: Free online courses for small business owners can help you save money while learning instead of paying for expensive training through universities. Instead of spending money on learning, you can put your money towards something that can help the business grow.
- Learn on their own schedule: Online small business management classes allow you to go at your own pace to effectively learn the material. Of course, depending on what you need to learn and how fast, you may choose to take an accelerated course online, which may have deadlines.
- Better understand their industry: Taking online small business courses that focus on your industry can help you learn more about it. Since not all businesses are the same, you can learn effective marketing techniques designed for B2B, B2C, e-commerce, and service-based businesses.
Where to find small business courses online
There are several methods to discover free online courses for small business owners. One method is conducting a search on Google for free or paid business classes. You can also be more specific based on the specific skills required. For instance, if you want to learn about digital marketing for B2B businesses, you can search for “free B2B digital marketing courses online.”
You can explore various course options on some of the most popular online business education websites.
- SBA Learning Platform: The US Small Business Administration Learning Platform offers many different business development programs ranging from business planning to marketing to help you learn how to get your business off the ground.
- Coursera Business Programs: Coursera is an open online learning platform that offers online courses, certifications, and degrees in various subjects, including business. Here, you can find courses on everything from marketing analytics to social media management and brand alignment.
- SkillShare: SkillShare is another online learning community where you can find courses in the form of online videos. These courses are not accredited, but they can help you learn valuable skills like e-commerce essentials, business processes, and growing your social following into a business.
- Future Learn: Future Learn has business courses from accredited universities to help you learn skills in analytics, business strategy, entrepreneurship, and even marketing and CRM.
- Google Digital Garage: Google Digital Garage is geared towards entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to learn more about digital marketing and online businesses. Here, you can find free courses on how to promote your online business and help customers find you online.
There are various online business course providers available for small business owners. Additionally, courses are also offered directly by colleges and universities. Harvard Business School, for instance, provides free online lessons covering topics such as business essentials, leadership, and business management for business owners.
Best free online courses for small business owners
The type of online courses you should take will depend on the skills you think you’re lacking. For example, many business owners may know a lot about innovation and marketing but don’t know anything about leadership or managing employees. To help yourself figure out what online courses you should take, write a list of all your skills and try to find areas that could use improvement. If there’s something you’ve never done before, write it down and find a course that can help you develop the necessary skills to help your business become more successful. A few of the best free online courses for small business owners include:
Udemy provides SEO Training facilitated by Moz.
Have you ever tried doing your own SEO? Or do you just need to go through the fundamentals because you can’t outsource it?
SEO does not necessarily have to involve cloak and dagger tactics, although it sometimes may.
Moz organizes SEO into small, understandable pieces of information that anyone can grasp in its complimentary online course.
Receiving information from Moz is enjoyable due to their conversational style.
The course is designed for individuals in your position and is aimed at you. It is free and self-paced, with an approximate duration of 3.5 hours.
After finishing, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the meaning and functioning of SEO, as well as its potential benefits for your business. Additionally, a certificate of completion will be provided to you.
Google offers Adwords Academy and Digital Garage.
PPC advertising is an additional aspect of advertising. If your click rate is 2% or lower, there is room for improvement; and if your AdWords Quality Scores are less than 7, it is likely that you are paying more per click than necessary.
Perhaps you have attempted it in the past, but lacking a proficient understanding of the platform, it can prove challenging to achieve a measurable return on investment through PPC advertisements. It is now crucial to approach this matter with utmost seriousness.
Google AdWords provides the greatest amount of exposure for PPC advertisers when it comes to the largest search engine available.
Google provides free fundamentals training through their AdWords academy. Additionally, Google offers more advanced courses in related disciplines for those who wish to further enhance their knowledge.
By following the thought process step by step, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of PPC advertising, the functionality of Google AdWords tools and user strategies, and how they can contribute to the success of your business.
If you prefer to think sequentially, you can rephrase the given text such as: Google’s Digital Garage presents an alternative avenue, providing complimentary instruction on various digital marketing subjects that include SEO, advertisements, and the creation of online stores.
To rephrase the text “WordStream PPC University” while maintaining the same meaning, step by step, you can say: 1. The educational institution known as “WordStream PPC University”
WordStream is a business that offers support and improvement for PPC campaigns. In addition to these services, they have a PPC University where they provide free, high-quality courses. These courses cover a range of topics including PPC 101, PPC 102, Advanced PPC, and Social Ads 101.
This resource is an excellent option to the Google AdWords Academy. It provides numerous examples and contextual information, aiding in connecting the dots and understanding the overall concept while learning.
After completing the five hours of self-paced learning, you will have acquired the skills to generate a dynamic new PPC campaign that will enhance your business.
HubSpot’s inbound marketing approach
Because it is highly recommended, the HubSpot Inbound Marketing course is considered a valuable free resource for business owners included on this list.
The course is designed for individuals who have no prior experience in digital marketing and it requires a total of five hours to finish. The course consists of easily understandable classes and covers a wide range of topics.
- Inbound Fundamentals
- Creating Content and Blogging
- Amplifying Content with Social Media
- Landing Pages
- Enticing Clicks
- Email Marketing
After you complete the 12 classes and one exam, in addition to the knowledge base, you will receive a certification.
GFC Learn Free offers courses on Social Media Marketing.
GFC Learn Free provides excellent tutorials in Social Media Marketing, and it doesn’t cost anything, just like its name implies.
Social Media marketing is experiencing growth and becoming increasingly popular among businesses worldwide.
Facebook advertising offers a wide range of targeting options that allow you to tailor your ads to specific age groups, genders, locations, interests, and more.
The GFC tutorials go beyond solely teaching advertising on Facebook, as they cover the advertising platforms of Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn, which all boast substantial user engagement figures.
You can choose the number of tutorials you want to do, and each tutorial takes only 10 minutes at the minimum.
Having a basic understanding of how these platforms function is helpful as they primarily focus on the advertising aspects.
If you are new to these social media platforms, they offer basic tutorials either through their iOS or Android Smartphone apps or during the online sign-up process.
Step-by-step thinking, rephrase the following text while retaining the same meaning: Tutorials for Creating Custom Images and Graphics on Canva. Rephrase: Tutorials are available on Canva for creating custom images and graphics.
Now that we have acknowledged the importance of producing high-quality content, both through personal efforts or by seeking assistance from professional content marketing services, let’s consider the impact of visuals in advertising. Can’t a picture be highly valuable in conveying a message?
Without a doubt, custom images and graphics enhance high-quality content by interrupting lengthy information dumps in articles. Additionally, they give the article a more appealing appearance to attract readers. In the realm of social media, excellent images are essential.
Canva is an exceptionally outstanding provider of customized image and graphic creation, and it is incredibly user-friendly.
With amazing customization capabilities, their website and iOS/Android app enable your advertising to stand out on the screen.
Additionally, their design school offers a variety of tutorials that are not only free but also easy to comprehend, with the majority only requiring five minutes of your time. These tutorials will assist you in producing impressive graphics and imagery for your business.
If you’ve found Adobe’s Photoshop too complicated and want something easier, give Canva a try. It’s perfect for beginners and will add some visual pep to your marketing strategy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the duration of online small business courses?
Online small business courses vary in duration, ranging from short courses that can be completed in a few hours to courses that require more than 100 hours of study. Although you have the flexibility to learn at your own pace in most online courses, it is important to allocate sufficient time to successfully complete the courses and fully absorb the knowledge they offer.
Whether you have the flexibility of working at your own pace or are constrained by set deadlines, the duration of a course is directly proportional to its complexity. Many online business courses provide information on the time required to complete them and the specific lessons covered. These details will assist you in evaluating the suitability of a course based on your available time. Prior to enrolling in an online business course, it is important to review your schedule to ensure that you can allocate sufficient time to acquire the necessary skills for success.
What is the cost of online small business courses?
You can locate free online small business courses by conducting research or considering the course providers mentioned in this article. If you desire additional choices, you also have the option to pay for courses. The cost of your small business courses will be determined by the provider, the specific course, and the presence of an instructor. Typically, courses with instructors are pricier since the instructor requires compensation.
If you are unsure about whether a small business course is suitable for you, it would be helpful to start by taking a free course before progressing to a more advanced level. While there are free advanced courses available, you may have to pay for comprehensive training depending on the specific skills you wish to acquire.
Free courses can provide you with the essential skills necessary for learning. These newfound skills can then be implemented within your organization to foster success. Once you have evaluated their usefulness, you can consider enrolling in further courses to acquire additional skills that can aid your business.
Is it possible for me to receive certificates through participating in small business training programs?
You have the opportunity to acquire certificates by completing training programs and online courses. These certificates can be included on your resume to enhance your job prospects in the future and showcase your proficiency in a specific skill. Obtaining certificates from online training can also aid in negotiating a higher salary or securing a competitive job. However, if you run a small business, there is no need to prioritize including certifications on your resume since your main objective is the growth of your own business rather than seeking employment elsewhere.
What is the process for determining which online courses to take?
The courses that are most suitable for small business owners depend on their existing skill set, industry, and objectives. Your level of knowledge in digital marketing might already be extensive, but you may lack expertise in leadership and management. It is important to consider all the various skills that a business owner should possess, including effective communication with teams through strong management and leadership abilities.
If you are a business owner who handles multiple departments within an organization, you have the opportunity to learn additional skills such as accounting and human resource management. Acquiring knowledge in various business areas can be beneficial when starting a business with a small number of employees, as it aids in establishing and expanding your venture. As your business grows, you can eventually delegate certain responsibilities to other professionals whom you hire.