The Ultimate Guide to Free Online Marketing Courses in 2023
Are you looking to enhance your marketing skills or explore new areas of digital marketing? Taking online marketing courses can provide you with the knowledge and expertise you need to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving field of digital marketing. In this comprehensive guide, we have curated a list of the best free online marketing courses available in 2023. These courses cover a wide range of topics, from content marketing and social media marketing to SEO and email marketing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer, these courses will help you acquire valuable skills and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
Why Take Online Marketing Courses?
The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies and strategies emerging all the time. To stay competitive in the field, it’s important to continuously update your skills and expand your knowledge. Online marketing courses offer a convenient and cost-effective way to learn new skills and enhance your expertise. By taking these courses, you can:
- Stay on top of industry trends: Online marketing courses provide you with the latest insights and best practices in the field, allowing you to stay up-to-date with the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.
- Acquire new skills: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer, online marketing courses offer a range of skill levels to cater to your needs. You can learn the basics of digital marketing or dive deeper into specific areas of expertise.
- Enhance your career prospects: Having a certification in digital marketing can significantly improve your job prospects and earning potential. Employers value candidates with formal training and certification in the field.
- Learn at your own pace: Online marketing courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. You can access the course materials anytime, anywhere, making it convenient for busy professionals.
How We Chose the Best Online Marketing Courses
With so many online marketing courses available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. To help you make an informed decision, we have carefully selected these courses based on the following criteria:
- Reputation: We’ve chosen courses from reputable brands and organizations known for their expertise in digital marketing education.
- Course content: We’ve evaluated the course content to ensure it covers a comprehensive range of topics and provides practical, actionable insights.
- Instructor experience: We’ve considered the credentials and experience of the instructors to ensure they are experts in their respective fields.
- Course effectiveness: We’ve taken into account learner reviews and feedback to gauge the effectiveness of the courses in delivering on their promises.
- Accessibility: We’ve chosen courses that are readily accessible and free of charge or offer free trial periods.
Free Online Marketing Courses by Category
To make it easier for you to navigate through the list, we’ve categorized the courses into different areas of digital marketing. Whether you’re interested in content marketing, social media marketing, SEO, email marketing, web development, online advertising, or other digital marketing topics, you’ll find a course that suits your needs.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is the practice of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and engage a target audience. These courses will teach you how to develop a content marketing strategy, create compelling content, and measure its effectiveness.
- Content Marketing Certification – HubSpot Academy
- Recommended For: Beginner and Intermediate Content Marketers and Strategists
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Approximately eight hours of content
- Course Format: 12 lessons with 54 videos and 11 quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Content Marketing Certification available after passing a one-hour exam
- More About This Marketing Course: HubSpot Academy’s content marketing certification covers storytelling, content idea generation, and content promotion. It equips you with the skills to stand out in oversaturated content platforms.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers clear and easy-to-understand lessons delivered by experienced instructors. It provides a comprehensive overview of content marketing and prepares you to create exceptional content.
- The Killer and The Poet – Copyblogger
- Recommended For: Beginner Content Strategists
- Cost: Free ebook or $449/year for an annual subscription
- Time to Complete: Less than an hour
- Course Format: Thought leadership ebook
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: None
- More About This Marketing Course: This ebook from Copyblogger provides an overview of content marketing in the context of online marketing.
- Why We Like This Course: This ebook serves as a foundation for developing your own content strategy. It’s a valuable resource for understanding the basics of content marketing.
- The Strategy of Content Marketing – Coursera
- Recommended For: Intermediate Content Strategists
- Cost: Free with a 7-day free trial or $59/month for a Coursera Plus subscription
- Time to Complete: Five weeks of study for two to three hours per week or three weeks at six hours per week
- Course Format: Five modules with videos, assessments, and readings
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Certificate of completion
- More About This Marketing Course: This course from UC Davis and Copyblogger teaches you how to use content marketing to generate leads and engage your target audience.
- Why We Like This Course: This beginner course covers general content knowledge, content strategy, customer journey mapping, and content management. It provides a comprehensive overview of content marketing.
- How to Write Web Copy That Sells – Skillshare
- Recommended For: Beginner Copywriters
- Cost: Free with a 7-day trial or $32/month
- Time to Complete: Approximately one hour
- Course Format: 17 video lessons
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: This course teaches the basics of copywriting as it relates to online marketing, with a focus on standing out in a crowded marketplace and positioning product features as benefits.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides a quick introduction to the core principles of copywriting for digital marketing. It’s a great way to learn the fundamentals of digital copywriting.
- Content Marketing for B2B Enterprises – Udemy
- Recommended For: Beginner B2B Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Approximately one hour
- Course Format: Six sections with 19 video lectures
- Prerequisites: None, but completing an introductory marketing course could be helpful
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options for the free course, but a certificate of completion is available with the paid version
- More About This Marketing Course: This course covers how to write high-converting content and launch offers that drive lead generation.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers a unique perspective on content marketing for B2B enterprises and provides practical insights for optimizing content for lead generation.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing involves using social media platforms to promote products and services, engage with audiences, and build brand awareness. These courses will teach you how to develop effective social media strategies, create engaging content, and measure social media ROI.
- Social Media Marketing Certification Course – HubSpot Academy
- Recommended For: Beginner and Intermediate Social Media Managers and Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Over five hours of content
- Course Format: Eight lessons with 38 videos and 29 quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Social Media Certification available after passing a one-hour exam
- More About This Marketing Course: This certification course covers the basics of social media strategies and tactics.
- Why We Like This Course: HubSpot Academy offers globally recognized marketing certifications, and this course provides a comprehensive overview of social media marketing.
- How to Use TikTok for Business – Udemy
- Recommended For: TikTok Beginners
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Almost two hours of content
- Course Format: 36 video lessons
- Prerequisites: Access to a smartphone
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options for the free course, but a certificate of completion is available with the paid version
- More About This Marketing Course: This course teaches you how to create a TikTok Pro account and set up marketing campaigns on the popular social media platform.
- Why We Like This Course: TikTok is a rapidly growing social media platform, and this course provides a great introduction to using it for business purposes.
- Diploma in Social Media Strategy – Alison
- Recommended For: Beginner Social Media Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: 10-15 hours
- Course Format: 14 learning modules with videos, quizzes, and online chat support
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: CPD-accredited diploma available for a fee
- More About This Marketing Course: This diploma course covers social media strategy, community management, and social media customer service.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers a comprehensive foundation in social media marketing, with a focus on social media strategy and community management.
- Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate – Meta BluePrint
- Recommended For: Beginner Social Media Marketers
- Cost: Free with a 7-day free trial or $59/month for a Coursera Plus subscription
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Course Format: Self-guided course
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Shareable certificate available upon completion
- More About This Marketing Course: This course provides an introduction to social media marketing using the Meta Business Suite (formerly known as Facebook Business Manager).
- Why We Like This Course: This course is offered in multiple languages and provides a professional-level introduction to social media marketing.
- Social Media Analytics – Quintly
- Recommended For: Beginner Social Media Analysts
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Course Format: Online social media analytics course with videos, text, and useful assets
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: This course offers a comprehensive overview of social media analytics, goal-setting, and reporting.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides a deep-dive into social media analytics, helping marketers understand how to measure the success of their social media campaigns.
- Social Media Quickstarter – Constant Contact
- Recommended For: Beginner Social Media Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Varies, self-paced learning
- Course Format: Collection of comprehensive blog posts on social media marketing
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: This course offers practical information about marketing your brand on major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Why We Like This Course: This course is a valuable resource for beginners looking to learn about social media marketing across multiple platforms.
- Become a Social Media Marketer – LinkedIn Learning
- Recommended For: Beginner Social Media Marketers
- Cost: Free with a one-month trial or $19.99/month for an annual subscription
- Time to Complete: Just over six hours of content
- Course Format: Compilation of videos from various online teachers
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: LinkedIn certificate of completion
- More About This Marketing Course: This course provides an introduction to social media marketing on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as strategies for measuring social media ROI.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides a comprehensive overview of social media marketing on major platforms and covers topics such as strategy development and content creation.
SEO Marketing
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving a website’s visibility on search engines. These courses will teach you how to optimize your website for search engines, conduct keyword research, and analyze SEO performance.
- SEO Training Certification – HubSpot Academy
- Recommended For: Beginner SEO Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Four hours of content
- Course Format: Six lessons with 26 videos and five quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: SEO Certification available after passing a one-hour exam
- More About This Marketing Course: This course covers all aspects of SEO, from on-page optimization to SEO reporting.
- Why We Like This Course: HubSpot Academy’s SEO Training Certification provides a comprehensive overview of SEO best practices and equips you with the skills to optimize your website for search engines.
- SEO Training Course by Moz – Udemy
- Recommended For: Intermediate SEO Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Almost four hours of content
- Course Format: 18 video lectures in seven sections
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options for the free course, but a certificate of completion is available with the paid version
- More About This Marketing Course: This course from Moz delves deeper into technical SEO topics, such as site audits and structure.
- Why We Like This Course: This course covers a range of SEO skills, from the basics to more advanced strategies. It provides practical insights for improving your website’s SEO performance.
- SEO Specialization – Coursera
- Recommended For: Advanced SEO Marketers
- Cost: Free with a 7-day free trial or $59/month for a Coursera Plus subscription
- Time to Complete: Flexible schedule, but the recommended timeline is three months, 10 hours per week
- Course Format: Five-course series with lectures, readings, and assignments
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Option to complete a career certificate
- More About This Marketing Course: This specialization from UC Davis covers all aspects of SEO, from understanding how search engines rank websites to advanced topics like local SEO and influencer relationships.
- Why We Like This Course: This specialization covers a wide range of SEO topics and is suitable for advanced learners looking to deepen their understanding of SEO.
- SEO Toolkit Course – Semrush
- Recommended For: Intermediate SEO Marketers Using Semrush
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Two+ hours of content
- Course Format: Eight sections with video lectures, practical assignments, and test assignments
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Certificate of completion available
- More About This Marketing Course: This course is specifically designed for users of Semrush, a leading SEO tool. It teaches you how to use Semrush’s reports and tools to boost your SEO strategy.
- Why We Like This Course: This course combines SEO and Semrush-specific training, providing practical insights for using Semrush to improve your SEO efforts.
- Online SEO Training – Yoast
- Recommended For: Beginner SEO Marketers Using WordPress
- Cost: Free or $99/year for Yoast SEO Premium
- Time to Complete: Varies by course, approximately five hours for the “Learn HTML” course
- Course Format: Combination of video lectures, readings, and quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Certificate of completion available
- More About This Marketing Course: Yoast’s SEO training courses focus on SEO for WordPress websites and cover topics like HTML, CSS, and WordPress-specific SEO strategies.
- Why We Like This Course: Yoast’s SEO training courses are comprehensive and cover a range of SEO topics. They are especially useful for WordPress users looking to optimize their websites for search engines.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a highly effective way to engage with your audience and promote your products or services. These courses will teach you how to create compelling email campaigns, write engaging copy, and measure the success of your email marketing efforts.
- Email Marketing Certification Course – HubSpot
- Recommended For: Beginner and Intermediate Email Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Four hours of content
- Course Format: Nine lessons with 31 videos and nine quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Email Marketing Certification available after passing a one-hour exam
- More About This Marketing Course: This certification course covers the basics of email marketing, including email design, copywriting, and contact management.
- Why We Like This Course: HubSpot Academy’s Email Marketing Certification provides a comprehensive overview of email marketing best practices and equips you with the skills to create effective email campaigns.
- Think Outside the Box Email Marketing – Google on Coursera
- Recommended For: Beginner and Intermediate Email Marketers
- Cost: Free with a 7-day free trial or $59/month for a Coursera Plus subscription
- Time to Complete: Approximately 25 hours of content
- Course Format: Four sections with 38 videos, 37 readings, 20 quizzes, and five assessments
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: This course is included in the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate
- More About This Marketing Course: This course from Google Career Certificates covers email marketing strategies, testing and optimizing email campaigns, and tracking email success.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides a comprehensive overview of email marketing and covers a range of topics, from strategy development to performance tracking.
- Email Marketing Unlocked – Neil Patel
- Recommended For: Intermediate and Advanced Email Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Approximately four hours of content
- Course Format: Five video lectures, templates, and worksheets
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: This course from Neil Patel covers advanced email marketing strategies, including calculating the lifetime value of emails and testing and optimizing campaigns.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides practical insights for improving your email marketing campaigns and offers templates and worksheets to help you apply what you’ve learned.
Web Development and Site Design
Having basic web development and design skills can be invaluable for marketers, allowing you to create and manage websites and landing pages. These courses will teach you the fundamentals of web development and design, including HTML, CSS, and graphic design principles.
- Web Development Courses – CodeAcademy
- Recommended For: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Web Developers
- Cost: Free for some courses, $17.40/month for CodeAcademy Plus and access to all courses
- Time to Complete: Varies by topic, for example, the “Learn HTML” course takes approximately nine hours
- Course Format: Written lessons, projects, and quizzes
- Prerequisites: None, but may vary by course
- Certificate Availability: Certificates available with paid plans
- More About This Marketing Course: CodeAcademy offers a range of web development courses, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, and Python.
- Why We Like This Course: CodeAcademy’s web development courses are comprehensive and suitable for beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners. They offer a hands-on learning experience with projects and quizzes to reinforce your knowledge.
- Learn to Code Awesome Websites in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Course – General Assembly
- Recommended For: Beginner Web Developers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Course Format: Projects with instructional slideshows
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: General Assembly’s Dash provides an interactive format for learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript through building and practicing.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers a hands-on learning experience for beginners looking to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It provides a solid foundation in web development.
Online Advertising & PPC
Online advertising and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns can be an effective way to reach your target audience and drive conversions. These courses will teach you how to create and optimize online advertising campaigns, conduct keyword research, and measure campaign performance.
- Digital Advertising Certification – HubSpot Academy
- Recommended For: Beginner Digital Advertising Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Over three hours of content
- Course Format: 10 lessons with 34 videos and 10 quizzes
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Digital Advertising Certification available after passing a one-hour exam
- More About This Marketing Course: This certification course covers all aspects of digital advertising, including social media advertising, paid search, and journey-based advertising.
- Why We Like This Course: HubSpot Academy’s Digital Advertising Certification provides a comprehensive overview of digital advertising strategies and tactics. It equips you with the skills to create effective digital advertising campaigns.
- PPC University – WordStream
- Recommended For: Beginner Pay-Per-Click Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Course Format: Ebook guides
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: WordStream’s PPC University offers a series of ebook guides that cover various aspects of pay-per-click advertising on platforms like Google and social media.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides comprehensive guides on pay-per-click advertising, making it a valuable resource for beginners looking to learn about different advertising platforms.
- PPC Fundamentals – Semrush
- Recommended For: Beginner and Intermediate PPC Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Over three hours of content
- Course Format: 36 sections of PPC training with videos and tests
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: Certificate of completion available
- More About This Marketing Course: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to pay-per-click advertising, covering topics such as campaign optimization and landing page creation.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers a structured approach to learning PPC fundamentals and provides practical insights for optimizing PPC campaigns.
- Copywriting 101: Crafting Your First Ad Campaign – Skillshare
- Recommended For: Beginner Advertising Copywriters
- Cost: Free with a 7-day trial or $32/month
- Time to Complete: Almost an hour of content
- Course Format: Seven video lessons
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options
- More About This Marketing Course: This course teaches the basics of crafting ad copy for various platforms, including digital, TV, and radio ads.
- Why We Like This Course: This course provides practical insights for writing effective ad copy and covers various advertising platforms.
- Affiliate Marketing for Beginners – Udemy
- Recommended For: Beginner Affiliate Marketers
- Cost: Free
- Time to Complete: Over three hours of content
- Course Format: Seven video lectures and free resources
- Prerequisites: None
- Certificate Availability: No certificate options for the free course, but a certificate of completion is available with the paid version
- More About This Marketing Course: This course covers the basics of affiliate marketing and provides insights for building successful affiliate websites.
- Why We Like This Course: This course offers a comprehensive introduction to affiliate marketing and provides practical tips for building successful affiliate websites.
Additional Information
When choosing the right online marketing course for you, consider your level of expertise, specific areas of interest, and career goals. Some courses are more suitable for beginners, while others cater to intermediate or advanced marketers. It’s also important to consider the time commitment required for each course and whether you prefer self-paced or instructor-led learning.
Remember, completing an online marketing course is just the first step. To truly master the skills and knowledge gained from these courses, it’s important to apply what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios. Experiment, analyze results, and continuously adapt your strategies to stay ahead in the dynamic world of digital marketing.
Now that you have a comprehensive list of the best free online marketing courses in 2023, it’s time to choose the courses that align with your goals and start learning. Whether you’re looking to enhance your content marketing skills, master social media marketing, or improve your SEO and email marketing strategies, these courses will provide you with the knowledge and expertise you need to succeed in the digital marketing field. Happy learning!
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