8 Platforms to Find Courses for Digital Marketing That are Perfect For Beginners

May 12, 2021

When it comes to learning how to grow your business online, there is no shortage of free courses for digital marketing to help you do that.

Digital marketing is a constantly changing field and it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends, techniques and strategies. That’s why courses are such a valuable resource for people who want to improve their digital marketing skills.

How Do I Start Learning Digital Marketing?

To start learning digital marketing, it’s essential to start with a solid foundation. Begin by familiarising yourself with the core concepts and principles of digital marketing through free online resources, blogs, and introductory articles.

Once you have a grasp of the basics, you can then explore more specialised topics and practical applications.

How Long Does It Take To Learn Digital Marketing?

The time it takes to learn digital marketing can vary significantly, depending on factors like your knowledge and experience, the depth of expertise you’re looking to achieve, and the specific areas within digital marketing you want to specialise in.

Learning the basics of digital marketing concepts and strategies can typically be done in a few weeks to a couple of months. Introductory courses for digital marketing are designed to cover fundamental principles and offer a broad overview of various digital marketing channels. It can be a great starting point for those new to the field.

Beyond the basics, your goal should be to become more proficient in specific areas of digital marketing , such as social media marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO), or paid advertising (PPC). Specialised courses generally span a duration of three to six months, depending on the level of knowledge you aim to achieve, so you should be ready to commit to several months of focused learning.

If you aspire to become a digital marketing expert and master advanced techniques and tools, the learning journey will take you at least year or more. At this stage you should be combining advanced courses, certifications, and hands-on projects to gain a deeper understanding and practical experience in your chosen area of digital marketing.

Obviously learning digital marketing doesn’t end with completing courses. It’s one of the most fast paced industries, meaning that you have to learn continuously and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.

How Can I Learn Digital Marketing Skills For Free?

You can learn digital marketing skills for free by using the various online resources available. Here are some effective ways to learn digital marketing without spending money:

Digital Maketing Blogs

Many websites and blogs offer free tutorials and articles on various digital marketing topics. Platforms like HubSpot, Moz, Neil Patel’s blog, and Content Marketing Institute are full of valuable insights, guides, and how-to articles.

YouTube Videos

YouTube is a treasure trove of digital marketing tutorials. You can find video content covering a wide range of topics, from SEO and social media marketing to email marketing and content creation. Some popular channels to follow include Ahrefs, Neil Patel, and Brian Dean.

Online Courses for Digital Marketing

There are many online learning platforms that offer free digital marketing courses. You can use platforms like Google Digital Garage, Coursera and edX, and LinkedIn Library to find courses on digital marketing fundamentals and learn from industry experts directly.

Social Media Groups and Forums

Joining digital marketing-related groups on platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and LinkedIn can provide you with a supportive community of professionals. These groups often share resources, insights, and answer questions.

Email Newsletters

Subscribe to newsletters and email lists of reputable digital marketing websites and influencers. They often send out valuable tips, updates, and free resources directly to your inbox.

Content Creation and Practice

The best way to learn digital marketing is through practical experience. Start a blog, create a YouTube channel, or manage social media accounts for personal or fictional businesses.

Practical experience goes a long way when it comes to learning digital marketing.

Library Resources

Don’t overlook your local library. Many libraries provide access to free online courses and digital marketing books. Check with your local library or explore their digital resources.

Open Source Tools

Familiarise yourself with open-source digital marketing tools like WordPress for content management, Canva for image editing, and Mailchimp for email marketing. These tools are free to use and offer valuable hands-on experience.

Can Digital Marketing Be Self Taught?

Yes, digital marketing can indeed be self-taught. In fact, more than half of all digital marketers are self taught.

With all of the online resources available today, anyone with an interest in digital marketing can acquire the skills needed to thrive in this field. For example, Neil Patel, one of the most successful digital marketers in the industry, began his career entirely self-taught.

Where To Find Online Courses For Digital Marketing

Here are 8 reputable platforms that can help you learn digital marketing. You’ll find many high-quality online courses covering various aspects of digital marketing suitable for different skill levels.

These platforms offer valuable resources, expert guidance, and opportunities to gain practical skills, helping you start your digital marketing journey with confidence and expertise.

1. Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage has a range of free online digital marketing courses, which are designed to help grow your business or advance your career.

The Digital Garage covers topics like fundamentals of digital marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO), content development and social media strategy among others – all with a strong emphasis on how these pieces work together to produce successful campaigns.

You can see all of the available courses here.

2. SEMRush Academy

SEMRush Academy offers free courses for digital marketing, which are perfect for learners of all levels.

The courses offer a world-class education and have been put together with the help of experts in their respective fields. They have shared their insights and techniques that you can use to supercharge your own digital marketing strategy.

You can see all of the available courses here.

3. HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy is one of the best place to improve and your inbound and outbound marketing skills. You can find courses that will teach you how to get started with digital marketing followed by more advanced strategies and techniques.

HubSpot Academy’s courses are fully interactive, meaning that they include videos, quizzes, slide decks, assessments and more! This makes them easy to follow and learn more effectively.

You can see all of the available courses for digital marketing on HubSpot Academy here.

4. OptinMonster University

OptinMonster University is excellent for anyone who wants to learn more about how to increase the conversion rate of their website.

Their courses offer step-by-step guides on getting started with email marketing, increasing website traffic, and turning your visitors into email subscribers and loyal customers.

Some of their best courses for digital marketing include:

  • How to Create a Lead Magnet
  • How to Get Started With Email Marketing
  • How to Reduce Cart Abandonment

You can see all of the available courses here.

5. LinkedIn Learning

Many of the courses on LinkedIn Learning offers are focused around helping you learn how LinkedIn can be used as a tool in your digital marketing efforts.

Some courses can also help you build other important skills such as remotely managing a team, finding a job, and coping with new stressors.

There are currently 8 learning paths which you can explore here.

6. Alison

Alison is one of the world’s largest free learning platforms for education and skills training. They offer courses for digital marketing on everything from coding to design and much more.

If you’re looking to pick up some new skills quickly, you’ll find short certificate courses with an average completion time of just 2-3 hours. For a more in-depth learning experience you will find diploma courses with 8-10 hour completion time, as well as advanced learning paths that can take up to 20 hours to complete.

You can browse through the marketing courses here.

7. edX

edX is an online learning platform which aims to offer access to high-quality education for everyone. It allows you to learn and take courses from more than 160 member universities.

You can even find courses for digital marketing from top universities worldwide such as MIT, Harvard and Stanford.

Find their full list of programs and courses here.

8. SkillShare Online Marketing Classes

Skillshare has plenty of online courses for digital marketing on offer. There are a number of great courses made for beginners on topics like how to create an effective email campaign, the fundamentals of SEO, tips for creating a digital marketing strategy and much more.

You can explore their full list of classes here.

In Conclusion

You can use this list of platforms offering free courses for digital marketing to learn new skills, advance your career or continue to grow your business online.

It’s possible to learn everything from how to code, the fundamentals of SEO to creating effective email marketing campaigns — there is a free course on every aspect of digital marketing.

If you found any courses or platforms that we haven’t included please comment below. Thanks for reading!

Need help with your digital marketing? Ambition Digital is a 5-star rated digital marketing agency in Edinburgh, UK. Contact our team of experts to see what we can do to help your business.

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Gatis Viskers

I am the Founder & CEO of the award-winning digital marketing agency, Ambition Digital. With my holistic approach to digital marketing, which combines data-driven strategies, creativity, and cutting-edge technology, I am proud to have been recognised in numerous industry-leading publications.

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