Google’s Digital Garage: What I Learned and my first impressions

Recently, I decided that I wanted to become more proficient at digital marketing as this is something that I have dabbled in, been interested in and yet had not gone fully into the entire range of digital marketing.

Of course, I have done email and social, however, I have never threaded the entire Digital Marketing space together into one unit. So I decided I needed to change and change fast.

What is Google’s Digital Garage?

Google’s Digital Garage is an on-demand online learning resource, that allows you to learn at your own pace and with your own focus. There is an entire range of different courses, some even come with certification.

Personally, I decided to go with the flagship course “Fundamentals of Digital Marketing”. The reasons are noted above. Plus it comes with certification (excellent) and was put together with the OU. Now, that is a mighty combination, the world's most powerful search engine combined with the University that invented e-learning before e-learning was a “thing”.

First impression

After signing up, I have to say that Google appears to have put together a very high-quality package. The design for the webpage is on brand with the entire Google Apps range (good work brand people!) and it is sleek, simple and easy to use.

The course is broken up into 26 modules that cover a wide range of topics that include everything from social media, to paid advertising through to analytics and digital marketing planning.

What did I learn?

My first session within Google's Digital Garage covered modules one and two of Google's digital garage - Introduction to Digital Garage and The Online Opportunity.

Both videos informed, yet did not patronize, which was jolly good. Below I have outlined my key learnings and notes.

Module One: Introduction to Digital Garage

• Online is an ever-changing and evolving space due to content creators, businesses and developers.
• Google Digital Garage is a wonderful way to learn about this online digital space.?
• It can help you get your business online, help you find a new job and can provide you with certification as well on completion.?

Module Two: The online opportunity?

• Digital has transformed our daily lives.
• The video uses an example of a mechanic, who uses referrals and word of mouth to make sales.
• The mechanic has no digital presence, but wants to “go digital”.
• One of the biggest benefits of being online is benefiting from the opportunity of being found on Google and search engines.
• Being online means you are visible when people search. The example used covers people looking for mechanics in Swansea.
• Another benefit of being digital and being online is the opportunity that this affords regarding insight as well as advertising.
• Advertising - Search advertising can be for particular terms and for location.
• Analytics tools allow insight into what people have been doing on your website.
• Many digital tools are free and easy to use.
• For many businesses the biggest challenge is not using the digital services available, it is the creation of a plan to use them all, or the tools and services they need to use.
• Most digital plans include Scope, technology & content, cost & time. These will be covered in a later module.

Summing up: Closing the garage door

My first session within Google's digital garage had no earth-shattering lessons, however, it was a nice gentle easing into the online learning process and great for covering the basics and getting up to speed with the online learning process.

I will keep you posted as I go further into the world of digital marketing. However, I will start with the fundamentals first.

If you are interested in Digital Marketing and how to get started in the right way, visit Google Digital Garage.