Many small business owners possess extensive knowledge and expertise in their respective fields, which greatly contributes to their success. However, when it comes to marketing their businesses, they often lack formal education or training, leaving them with some knowledge gaps. Nevertheless, there is a straightforward solution readily available to them.
At present, the internet is abundant with information, making it possible to instantly access resources for nearly any subject you want to learn about. This is also true for marketing. To facilitate your initial steps, we have gathered a selection of free online marketing classes from reputable institutions and websites. You can even begin right away!
The Basics
For individuals who are interested in starting from the very beginning of marketing principles:
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Open Courseware program is high-quality information from a renowned and trusted institution. Their Entrepreneurial Marketing: Major Themes course is exactly what it sounds like the major themes in marketing that entrepreneurs need to know.
- For a quick overview, the Small Business Administration offers a Marketing 101 primer specifically geared toward small business owners. This is the absolute basics if you’re strapped for time.
For individuals residing in the United States, the SBA serves as a valuable source of information regarding businesses and additionally functions as a major source of financial support for small businesses based in the U.S.
- Over on Coursera, they have classes from some of the world’s top universities. Case in point, The Wharton School from the University of Pennsylvania has put up a virtual first year of their MBA program. One of those classes is the foundational “Introduction to Marketing” course. This is available until December 28th of this year currently, but if that doesn’t for work you, Coursera gives you the option to sign up for email alerts when the next session is about to begin.
- One of the leading ideas in marketing these days is the concept of inbound marketing, or creating content that actually draws an audience (and thereby potential customers) to your site and builds brand recognition. Hubspot, an internet marketing company, has an eleven-class course designed to make someone well-versed and ready to hit the ground running with inbound marketing, and it’s open to the public.
Internet Marketing
For individuals who have grasped the fundamentals and are eager to delve further into the dynamic field of online marketing…
- Alison is a Unesco award-winning online education platform with a focus on giving adults more skills for their existing jobs or to find employment. They have a great deal of information, and Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business Online is a great place to start.
- Copyblogger is a fantastic site as it often has interesting marketing commentary and ideas. They also have a well-regarded, 20-part guide to Internet marketing, aptly called Internet Marketing for Smart People.
- Last but never least, Google itself has a digital marketing course that is every bit as detailed as you would anticipate. Designed for professors or students to use, it’s split up into nine parts with choices for introductory, intermediate, or advanced levels so you can go at your own pace.
More Online Marketing Courses
ClickMinded
Course on Digital Marketing
The ClickMinded platform focuses exclusively on providing digital marketing education. The Digital Marketing Course is a package consisting of seven courses that are designed to significantly boost sales. Each course focuses on a different aspect of digital marketing, such as social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, paid advertising, sales funnels, web analytics, and search engine optimization. The courses are taught by experienced marketers from successful tech companies like Airbnb and Lyft. Individually, each course is priced at $997, but by purchasing the bundle, you can access all seven for a discounted rate of $1,997. This course not only provides theoretical knowledge but also practices what it teaches. Its webpage and sales funnels are of high quality, the platform is modern and easy to use, and the range of courses offered makes it a comprehensive digital marketing resource.
- Price: $1,997
- Time to complete: 42 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
This course is suitable for individuals who are willing to invest both their time and money to gain comprehensive knowledge in digital marketing. Taking this bundle will be beneficial as it enables the individuals to learn the intricacies of digital marketing. Moreover, after completing two courses, the bundle becomes cost-effective.
Digital Marketing Institute
The MSc program focuses on mastering the field of Digital Marketing.
The MSc Masters degree in Digital Marketing offered by the Digital Marketing Institute is a two-year distance learning program that leads to a Master of Science degree. It is the most comprehensive and time-consuming program in this guide. The aim of this degree program is not only to teach individuals how to navigate the field of digital marketing, but to become experts in the field. The program consists of advanced courses covering communication, digital strategy and planning, consumer behavior, social media, search, ecommerce, email, and mobile marketing. The program uses state-of-the-art technology and is engaging for students. The curriculum consists of a balanced combination of taught courses and real-world research and implementation. Prior to enrolling in the program, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a business or marketing-related field and have at least one to two years of experience in the industry.
- Price: $11,850
- Time to complete: Two years
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
If you are a seasoned digital marketer who wants to differentiate themselves from others, this course is an excellent option. It is important to note that this program requires significant time and financial commitment, so it is most suitable for serious and experienced students.
Digiteers
Intensive Social Media Marketing is a process that involves analyzing and implementing strategies to promote and advertise products or services through various social media platforms.
With a duration of ten hours, the Digiteers Social Media Marketing Intensive is a concentrated course solely dedicated to the topic of social media marketing. One notable aspect is that the course is conducted in real time, providing the opportunity for direct interaction with instructors and classmates. Each live session includes a Q&A segment and participatory group activities. Additionally, students receive individual guidance from an experienced trainer, a valuable resource for addressing any content, product, or brand-specific challenges.
- Price: $1,345
- Time to complete: 10 hours (four sessions of 2.5 hours each)
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: No
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
This course is recommended for anyone who wants to become proficient in social media marketing through a live online course. If you are able to attend the scheduled class sessions, you will have the opportunity to interact and engage in a manner that is not typically feasible in other online courses.
Google Digital Garage
The basics of Digital Marketing
Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course, which consists of 26 modules, is specifically designed for beginners in digital marketing and created by Google trainers. Unlike other courses in this guide that require prior training and experience in digital marketing, Google’s course provides an accessible and beginner-friendly approach to the basics of digital marketing. The course’s design and platform are user-friendly and efficient, covering a wide range of topics such as analytics, data insights, e-commerce, and social media. It is an ideal and comprehensive course for beginners. Upon completion of the 26-module course, a final exam with 40 questions is administered. If you pass, you will receive a shareable certificate that can be displayed on your CV and LinkedIn profile.
- Price: Free
- Time to complete: 40 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes, if you pass the final exam
This course is ideal for individuals who are new to digital marketing. It covers all necessary aspects, is free of charge, easy to use, and highly regarded by experts in the industry.
Udemy
Course in Digital Marketing.
Udemy’s Digital Marketing Course is a comprehensive bundle of 12 courses. Compared to other courses included in this guide, this one does a great job of breaking the program down into platform-specific modules. There are separate mini-courses on Facebook ads and Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, app, Quora, Twitter, and YouTube marketing. You also learn to make a website and navigate Google Ads. Each mini-course is broken down into bite-sized lectures under five minutes long, so the material is easily digestible and accessible. The whole course features 22.5 hours of on-demand video, but the instructors recommend watching at 2x speed if you’re eager to complete the course in half the time. The material is self-paced and broken into sub-sections, so it’s easy to go at your pace and hop around to the mini-classes most interesting to you.
- Price: $129.99, or the possibility of a big discount
- Time to complete: 22.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
This course is recommended for students who have a strong interest in learning digital marketing strategies that are tailored to specific platforms and niches.
Tips for Succeeding in an Online Marketing Course
- Consider the cost
What is the cost of online marketing classes?
The costs of online marketing courses can differ greatly. You could potentially spend nothing for a free course, or pay over $12,000 for a thorough course offered by a prestigious business school. Many paid courses provide the choice to make payments in installments instead of upfront. In addition, some courses have a monthly fee and the faster you finish the course, the sooner you can avoid paying it. If you are not interested in receiving a verified certificate upon finishing the course, you have the option to audit certain courses for free.
Is it possible for my employer to cover the cost of my course?
It is common for employers to provide reimbursement or financial assistance for professional development courses and programs for their employees. It would be beneficial to have a conversation with your boss or the HR department regarding this. It is highly probable that your employer will be willing to cover or partially cover the expenses for digital marketing training.
- Get your tech squared away
In order to engage with all the course materials, the online marketing courses mentioned in this guide do not necessitate the use of any intricate software or programs. You can conveniently access them through your web browser. However, it is essential to ensure that your computer possesses the capacity to support streaming video. Thus, having a fast and dependable wifi connection and a minimum of an i5-level processor and 8 GB of RAM is recommended.
- Use the right study resources
Included in this guide are courses that cater to experienced digital marketers. If you are seeking beginner-friendly resources to supplement your online marketing course(s), here are a couple of recommended starting points: Donald Miller’s book Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen and Jonah Berger’s book Contagious: Why Things Catch On.
Career Outlook for Online Marketing
By taking an online marketing course, you can acquire the necessary skills and strategies for various careers in the marketing field, such as content manager/strategist, SEO specialist, and digital marketing manager. Along with enrolling in online courses, it is important to develop a compelling portfolio to present to prospective employers. Moreover, there are other job opportunities associated with online marketing.
A person who plans and manages social media content and campaigns.
Social media strategists or specialists are responsible for generating and executing high-quality content across various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Additionally, they devote significant time to tracking and evaluating user engagement metrics through tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite Pro. By utilizing this data, they provide suggestions for enhancing campaigns, posts, and customer interactions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for social media strategists is $55,856 as of May 2021.
An expert in email marketing.
The tasks of email marketing specialists entail the development and implementation of email campaigns in order to market a company’s or organization’s products or services. These professionals are responsible for generating captivating content that encourages readers to take action, such as making a purchase or donation. They also conduct market research, construct emails using pre-designed layouts, enhance content with hyperlinks, and set schedules for distribution. On average, specialists in this field earn $68,363 per year and typically work for private marketing firms or in-house agencies. Additionally, they possess exceptional editing and proofreading abilities.
A copywriter who specializes in marketing.
Copywriters are responsible for producing clear and compelling text for various marketing materials and advertising channels, while also ensuring that the content aligns with the employer or client’s style and brand standards. They possess exceptional editing and proofreading skills and may also create visual elements like infographics. Copywriters are employed across a wide range of sectors, including corporations and government, and typically earn an average annual salary of $56,592.
A professional who conducts analysis and research in order to gather information about a specific market.
Market research analysts collect and assess data on customer preferences, business conditions, and other variables that can forecast sales. This data is then utilized to inform employers about a product’s current or desired target market, consumer demographics, and pricing. Analysts require strong abilities in data analysis, information technology, and decision-making. Aspiring market research analysts can anticipate a median annual salary of $63,920 in a rapidly expanding field experiencing a growth rate of 19%, exceeding the average rate.
An individual who specializes in search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO specialists increase website traffic and search engine rankings by conducting research and analyzing data. They strategically integrate commonly used keywords into websites and blogs to achieve this. Additionally, SEO specialists identify possibilities for link-building and implement paid search marketing campaigns. In the United States, the average annual salary for SEO specialists falls between $65,868 and $80,246.
Educational requirements for careers in online marketing
Although it is possible to learn necessary skills on the job, most employers in online marketing prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree or at least an associate degree. Fortunately, individuals with degrees in other fields can still be competitive for entry-level marketing jobs if they have a bachelor’s degree in any industry plus two or three marketing certifications. However, it may be difficult for someone without higher education, even with years of experience, to be promoted to mid-level or senior management. In fact, employers often prefer individuals with prestigious certifications or those who are pursuing or have obtained a master’s degree for management positions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Marketing Courses
Are online marketing courses available for free?
This guide features some of the free marketing courses available online. If you are new to marketing and want to explore various specializations, free online marketing courses are a beneficial choice. However, if you are an experienced marketer seeking to enhance your skills and knowledge, it may be wise to invest in a paid course that includes personalized feedback.
What is the average duration of an online marketing course?
Online marketing courses vary in length, ranging from a few hours to two years or longer. The majority of courses typically last around 3 to 4 months, requiring 3 to 5 hours of weekly commitment.
What steps can I take to acquire knowledge in online marketing?
Online marketing, also known as digital marketing, occurs on the Internet and other digital communication channels like email, social media, texts, and multimedia messaging. These online digital marketing courses, found in this guide, can teach individuals how to promote an existing business or assist in launching a future business. Some courses concentrate on establishing a strong foundation in digital marketing basics, while others focus on specific platforms like email or social media. The courses featured in this guide are an excellent starting point for learning digital marketing since they are self-paced, reasonably priced, and suitable for beginners.
