Invest in yourself: Free digital marketing courses and resources

#NeverStopLearning

Many professions require you to keep up to date with recent developments to remain competitive. Digital Marketing for sure is one of those fast-paced industries where it is mandatory if you want to stay ahead of the curve or even just remain in the game.

A while ago I've compiled a list of some of my favorite, free online courses you can start today and which will keep you busy for weeks to come. They range from SEO to social media, email marketing, inbound and content marketing to platform-specific lessons. Some come with neat certifications that will look awesome on your office wall and resume. All will make you more knowledgeable and more employable.

So, who are these courses for? Well, if you are a digital newbie, they will help you get an overview and provide many paths to deepen your knowledge. If you are a marketing pro, you already know how valuable it is to avail of material from industry-leading vendors. If you are a CMO, they will help you understand what your teams are dealing with. If you are a business, this is the stuff that can give your brand the digital advantage it needs to smoke your competition. Enjoy!

Google Resources:

Google’s search and advertising business relies on knowledgeable professionals to use their tools. Agencies (and individual users) have always been big fans of Google’s free Ads and Analytics courses. Not too long ago they move to a new home in Google's Skillshop. But did you know about ‘Primer’ their neat mobile app for learners on the go? Or their ‘Digital Garage’ certifications?

There are countless topics to choose from (including Google brands like YouTube) and the quality is high while the content is reasonably easy to digest. For SEO, check their ‘Beginner Guide’ which is essential reading not just for beginners, trust me. Don’t pay 3rd parties when you can learn from the source directly.

Salesforce Trailhead:

Can be somewhat platform-specific (after all, Salesforce is its own cloud universe with an ever-growing infrastructure and own career market), but actually comes with a ton of general digital marketing, business, and leadership knowledge up for grabs. Earning badges will keep your competitive spirit up (hello, Ranger!) while you complete modules around the various Salesforce platforms or writing skills, public speaking, marketing automation, etc. I do love the fact Trailhead comes as a handy app for learning on the go.

Check out some guided learning paths and find the trail that's right for you. Their paid section Trailhead Academy delivers in-person and virtual learning experiences delivered by experts. Certifications are not free but essential if you want to build up your Salesforce career.

Semrush Academy:

An authority in SEO and competitor analysis, the Semrush platform has become a favorite among many digital marketers. While some of their courses are tailored towards their fairly complex (and ever-growing) set of tools, there are others that are general enough and valuable even if you don’t work with their solution. To become a digital marketing pro, explore the Semrush Academy right now.

HubSpot Academy:

Another great asset in your digital learning toolbox! Some courses are restricted to actual HubSpot users, many are not. Start browsing around here. Their inbound certification is a must-have, but the company keeps adding courses and their ‘classics’ updated. Renew every year and don’t forget to list them on your LinkedIn profile. Marketing, sales, social media, and design courses are all part of the learning options.

Facebook Blueprint:

Complexity and value for marketers and businesses alike on and from the largest social network. Again, avoid paying 3rd parties for training courses by going to the source. Facebook Blueprint will give you a solid understanding of their ad and business ecosystem. The platform offers eLearning, in-person courses, and valuable certifications. From ads to analytics, these courses will keep you busy but will be very worth your time and effort.

Twitter Flight School:

If you want to get the most out of your Twitter presence and/or advertising, Twitter Flight School will help you take off. Simply log in with your Twitter credentials and start learning. This is not just for marketers to get the basics down, but also for senior leaders who want to elevate their personal brand.

LinkedIn Learning:

The largest professional network has a variety of online courses to teach users the ins and outs of their advertising and recruitment solutions, all of which are free. There is a second dimension to LinkedIn learning, which is free for LinkedIn premier account holders and used to be called Lydia. So while not technically free, one could argue a LinkedIn subscription is worth the money for this LinkedIn Learning library alone.

Pro tip: you can always ‘test’ LinkedIn’s premier subscriptions for one free month per year. Time it right and you have 4 weeks access to amazing courses for free. The topics cover all imaginable business and self-development areas, not just ‘digital skills’ and reviews make it easy to pick the most valuable ones. You can also follow pre-designed learning paths that align with your career goals. Certifications look great on your LinkedIn profile.

Hootsuite Academy:

The popular social media management tool offers free training (plus paid certification courses) to help marketers beef up their social media skills. Check out their learning library here. Many courses are free. Some certifications come at a cost but are certainly worth the investment if you are serious about a career in social media. Like the other resources mentioned here, the course completion will upgrade your online resume. Focus here is social marketing, social selling, and advertising.

There are literally hundreds of free eLearning tools available and this list is just a small sample to get you started.

Backlinko, QuickSproud, MOZ, Marketo, and many others offer incredibly valuable material. And for the programmers among you, there’s a whole world of code academies out there, too. Now go ahead, get learning, get certified, and pimp your CVs! As always, your feedback and comments are welcome. If you find this article interesting, why not share it with your network. Happy learning!