7 Best Online Digital Marketing Courses (Free & Paid)

Online Digital Marketing Courses

Best
Overall

Click Minded

ClickMinded Digital Marketing Courses

Best Free
Course

Google Online Marketing Courses

Best for Intermediate

CXL Academy Digital Marketing Minidegree

Are you looking to boost your marketing skills and take your career to the next level? Look no further!

Online digital marketing courses are the way to go. These courses have been essential in my own personal career growth and have helped me reach new heights. And take it from me, you don’t need to have marketing experience from a renowned educational institution. Online courses will take you very far in your marketing career, as long as you implement them!

So, no matter where you are in terms of experience, investing in your education is always a smart move. This blog will look at some of the best free and paid digital marketing courses available, so you can decide which one is right for you.

What is digital marketing?

Digital marketing is the process of reaching out to, engaging, and connecting with potential customers online.

This type of marketing uses a variety of digital channels to reach out to them:

  • Social media
  • Search engines
  • Email

Digital marketing encompasses many disciplines:

  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Content marketing
  • Influencer marketing
  • Paid advertising.

It also involves creating campaigns designed to:

  • Increase brand awareness
  • Promote products and services
  • Generate leads and conversions

To learn digital marketing, there are several training courses available online. Also, many books and resources can help you understand the basics of digital marketing.

Various certification programs from universities, colleges, and professional organizations specialize in digital marketing.

These courses allow you to gain in-depth knowledge about the various aspects of digital marketing. They also teach you how to apply it to your business or career.

When looking for the best online digital marketing resources, make sure to compare

  • Course material
  • Duration
  • Cost

Benefits of getting a digital marketing certification

Here are the main eight benefits of having a digital marketing certification:

  1. It can provide an extensive overview of the industry.
  2. It equips you with the knowledge to stay up-to-date on digital trends.
  3. You can demonstrate your expertise in the field. This leads to career advancement opportunities.
  4. Digital marketing certifications provide a comprehensive understanding of market research tools and techniques. This includes:
    1. Keyword analysis
    2. Focus groups
    3. Surveys
    4. Analytics
  5. A certification gives you access to exclusive job postings and salary increases. This brings recognition of their skill sets and qualifications.
  6. Having official credentials signals to employers that you are knowledgeable about:
    1. Web design
    2. Social media optimization
    3. Lead generation
    4. Content management systems (CMS)
    5. Email campaigns
    6. Search engine optimization (SEO)
  7. You stay ahead of the competition by having insights into emerging technologies and trends.
  8. You have access to online forums. This way you obtain valuable information from experienced professionals. You can also make meaningful connections within the field. This helps keep up with the newest digital marketing trends.

Course NamePriceExperience LevelTime Commitment

Google Online Marketing Courses

FreeBeginner40 hours

Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate

7-Day Free-Trial, then $39 per monthBeginner6 months – under 10h per week

ClickMinded Digital Marketing Course

$997 per course or $1997 whole packageEntry to Intermediate3h – 6h per course

HubSpot Academy Digital Marketing Course

FreeEntry to Intermediate4h 27min

CXL Academy Digital Marketing Minidegree

$510 per course or $770 per year (access to all courses)All Levels49h 41min

Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

$273Beginner7 months – under 2h per week

Semrush Academy Digital Marketing Courses

FreeAll Levels

It depends on the course.

1. Google Online Marketing Courses

Google Online Marketing Courses

Course Info:

Google is leading the charge toward modernized digital marketing education. It provides numerous groundbreaking online courses.

Through its free digital marketing courses on its platform, Google offers numerous opportunities. Internet marketing enthusiasts can learn from the best in the business.

Google’s online courses teach everything from digital marketing analytics to techniques. You can apply these in real-life situations.

Their free course on the fundamentals of digital marketing provides a digital marketing certificate. Almost every employer in the industry recognizes and values a Google certificate.

Course Insights

Here are the marketing skills you’ll develop after attending the free digital marketing from Google:

  • Business strategy
  • Content
  • Display online advertising and Google Ads
  • Digital analytics and data insights
  • E-commerce
  • Local marketing
  • Mobile
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Social media
  • Video marketing
  • Web optimization

Pros

  • The information is structured into 26 short modules which are easy to follow. This allows you to split your study time according to your needs.
  • Google is a respectable source. A Google certification is proof you have passed some reliable tests. This is a huge plus in the eyes of future employers.
  • The courses have accreditation from the Open University and the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe.
  • If you want to take only the modules you are interested in, Google provides separate free courses on various separate topics.
  • You can follow up on the info at your own pace.

Cons

    • Without a strict time frame, this course is not suited for people who lack self-discipline.
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2. Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate

Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate

Course Info:

  • Price: $246 ($41/month)
  • Level: Beginner
  • Course Page

The Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate course offers a comprehensive 7-module program. The Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe has its signature on it.

Their curriculum focuses on SEO, email marketing strategies, and consumer behavior insights. You’ll learn a lot about marketing for social media, content marketing, Google Ads, and more.

Perfect for both newcomers and established professionals alike, these modules contain interactive content:

  • Engaging videos
  • Activity sheets
  • Real-world examples

Course Insights

Here is a list of the titles of each course in the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate program:

  • Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce
  • Attract and Engage Customers with Digital Marketing
  • From Likes to Leads: Interact with Customers Online
  • Think Outside the Inbox: Email Marketing
  • Assess for Success: Marketing Analytics and Measurement
  • Make the Sale: Build, Launch, and Manage E-commerce Stores
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed: Develop Customer Loyalty Online

Pros

  • It builds a strong knowledge of the fundamentals of digital marketing.
  • It comes with compulsory assignments and quizzes. These enhance your chances of acquiring the information at a comfortable pace.
  • You can retake the tests 3 times every 24 hours in case you don’t pass on your first attempt.
  • It teaches you to apply the skills you learned in real-world projects.
  • After completion, you have all the skills necessary to get a job as a junior professional in various digital marketing positions.
  • You gain access to a wide list of career opportunities. These include employers like Google and Wayfare (Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium).

Cons

  • Learning digital marketing period is 6 months, which is long for people who want to get a certification sooner. This is also an advantage, as it provides a solid foundation.

3. ClickMinded Digital Marketing Course

ClickMinded Digital Marketing Course

Course Info:

  • Price: $997 per course ($1997 whole package)
  • Level: Entry to Intermediate
  • Course Page

Tommy Griffith’s ClickMinded Digital Marketing Course offers an invaluable opportunity to level up your digital marketing skills.

Tommy is a proven authority in SEO and Google Analytics. He has helped countless businesses with Clickminded SEO training or SEO course to expand their online presence with his comprehensive methodology.

You can rest assured that the modules are all current. They cover everything from link-building techniques to content optimization tips and more.

Course Insights

The ClickMinded offers seven digital marketing modules you can purchase separately, or bundled:

  • Google Analytics
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Content Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Email Marketing
  • Sales Funnels
  • Paid Advertising

Pros

  • The high-quality information is comprehensive and of the utmost detail.
  • It provides an overview of the digital marketing landscape, which makes it perfect for beginners.
  • You can download the lecture quizzes, offering you the opportunity to practise at your own pace.
  • You have unlimited access to all further updates.
  • It has a business package that provides access to your entire team at a lower price.
  • It comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
  • The certification you get at the end of the program has worldwide recognition.

Cons

  • It is a bit expensive.
  • Unlike with other similar courses, you don’t have access to a digital community for experience-sharing and support.

4. HubSpot Academy Digital Marketing Course

HubSpot Academy Digital Marketing Course

Course Info:
  • Price: Free
  • Level: Entry to Intermediate
  • Course Page

With HubSpot Academy, you have access to an abundance of educational resources at no cost.

Upon successful completion of the course, you must pass a challenging exam with a minimum grade of 75%. If you achieve the requisite score, you will receive a digital certificate from HubSpot. You can print it out or display it on your website.

The HubSpot Academy digital marketing free course provides insightful details on a wide variety of online marketing topics:

    • Social media
    • Content
    • Digital marketing channels
    • Digital strategy
    • Inbound marketing

Course Insights

The HubSpot Digital marketing course has seven digital marketing professionals as teachers. They provide nine lessons:

    • Digital Marketing Fundamentals
    • Building a Content Creation Framework
    • How to Find the SEO Strategy that Fits Your Business
    • Improving Website Performance
    • Creating Quality Blog Content Your Audience Loves to Read and Share
    • How to Create a Successful Video Marketing Strategy
    • Developing a Social Media Strategy
    • Introduction to Paid Search Advertising
    • Creating a High-Performing Email

Pros

    • The certification is highly valued by employers, which enhances your chances of getting a job.

    • The info is taught by highly valued experts in the new digital marketing environment.

    • You can gain basic knowledge of the fundamentals of digital marketing in a relatively short period, as the course is 4 hours and 27 minutes long.

Cons

    • If you want more detailed information on certain topics, you have to go through the other courses. The advantage is that they are also free.

5. CXL Academy Digital Marketing Minidegree

CXL Academy Digital Marketing Minidegree

Course Info:
  • Price: $510/course or $770/year – full access (without taxes)
  • Level: All Levels
  • Course Page

The CXL digital marketing intensive course covers the full spectrum of topics. These topics include everything from SEO and content marketing to:

    • Email marketing
    • Analytics
    • Conversion optimization

This mini-degree provides a holistic view of digital marketing strategies. It teaches students how to develop and implement effective campaigns to deliver tangible results.

This comprehensive course is suited for beginners, as well as experienced marketers. It offers an in-depth understanding of emerging digital strategies and tools.

Course Insights

Here are the five courses included in the CXL Digital Marketing mini-degree:

    • Fundamentals
    • Data and Analytics
    • Customer Acquisition
    • Content Marketing
    • Final Exam – Digital Marketing

Pros

    • Members have access to a marketing library. This offers step-by-step instructions on how to take care of specific tasks quickly and easily.
    • You get access to a Facebook group where you can ask for support and interact with experts in the field.
    • It provides a full list of 90+ courses, making it easy to find what you need.
    • You can even apply for financial aid (scholarship) if you qualify. This way, you can get lifetime access to the materials without worrying about paying large sums upfront.
    • The content is well-structured and concise, with no fluff or unnecessary details – just the facts you need.
    • You can download any applicable reading material as part of their membership package.
    • You can learn at your own pace without being rushed or feeling overwhelmed.

Cons

    • You need to get 90% correct answers to pass the exam.

6. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

Course Info:

The Meta Social Media Marketing course provides a comprehensive look at all of the fundamentals of social media management and advertising.

It is not a traditional digital marketing course, as it focuses only on marketing for social media.

The meta course gives an in-depth overview of how to measure and optimize marketing campaigns across major social media platforms:

    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn

This program was developed jointly between experts from Meta and Aptly. As a result, it is industry-leading and up-to-date with the latest trends in this field.

Course Insights

This is what the Meta Social Media Marketing course provides:

    • Introduction to Social Media Marketing
    • Social Media Management
    • Fundamentals of Social Media Advertising
    • Advertising with Meta
    • Measure and Optimize Social Media Marketing Campaigns
    • Meta Social Media Marketing Capstone

Pros

    • You don’t need prior experience to enrol.
    • It provides engaging quizzes that make the learning process fun and fruitful.
    • The classes are taught by industry experts with long-term experience in teaching, as well as digital marketing.
    • It provides a comprehensive understanding of all aspects related to marketing for social media.
    • Once you complete this certificate, you will be job-ready for Social Media Marketing positions. You will be fully equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary for success.
    • The certificate is highly appreciated by contractors.

Cons

    • It takes longer to complete compared to other courses but it has the advantage of providing in-depth information.

7. Semrush Academy Digital Marketing Courses

Semrush Academy Digital Marketing Courses

Course Info:

This comprehensive digital marketing training program covers everything you need to know about online marketing.

The course material is tailored for digital marketers at all levels of experience. As a result, everyone from beginners to experts can benefit from this broad digital marketing education.

This marketing course is perfect for businesses of any size looking to improve their online presence and establish a successful digital marketing strategy.

You can learn a lot about:

    • Search engine marketing.
    • Content marketing
    • Pay-per-click
    • Social media

Course Insights

Semrush provides multiple programs for people who want to pursue a digital marketing career.

Some of these courses focus on using the Semrush marketing tools, while the others are general:

Pros

    • All the courses and certifications are free.
    • You are free to take the courses at your own pace, which is a great feature for busy people.
    • Semrush Academy has well-trained instructors, compared to other courses you can find on other platforms.
    • You don’t need any digital marketing background.

Cons

    • Some of the videos can become boring because their main target is the instructor talking.
    • The courses don’t provide practical experience.

Conclusion

It can be tricky to determine whether a digital marketing course is worth your time and money. It’s important to do your research before signing up for anything.

There are some great free online courses that can teach you valuable skills. And while there are benefits to getting a certificate, it’s not always necessary. In the end, time passes anyway – so you might as well make the most of it by learning something new!

After learning from these courses, you will be able to serve your services online, and here we land up with 8 Best Freelance Marketing Platforms To Make A Living.

Thanks For Reading.

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