The best digital marketing courses teach designers more than fundamentals. They teach today's most important skills. And we know about many digital marketing job openings. So how do you land an interview, and what are the best digital marketing courses to help build a portfolio?
Digital marketing, or online marketing as a whole, refers to using online and digital technologies in order to promote a brand, business, product, or service. But within digital marketing, there are many niches to get into — social media marketing, email marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), and more. And if you want to become a digital marketer, you’ll want to pick a few niches in which to become an expert.
But just how exactly does someone learn digital marketing? Our community at Hackr knows. Digital marketers regularly submit the best digital marketing courses for review, and we chose our favorites. We evaluated the most valuable digital marketing courses to find the best options. Here's where to get started.
Top Digital Marketing Courses - Editor’s Picks:
- [Google Digital Garage] Fundamentals of Digital Marketing- Best Free Beginners Course with Certificate
- [Coursera] Social Media Marketing Specialization - Best for Students Who Want to Become Social Media Marketers
- [Udacity] Digital Marketing Nanodegree Program- Best Digital Marketing Course Overall
In this guide, we’ve included ten of the best online marketing courses for your consideration. We carefully curated this list to include courses at various difficulty levels, price ranges, and durations to ensure you have a wealth to choose from.
Best Digital Marketing Course: Top 10 Contenders in 2024
1. [Google Digital Garage] Fundamentals of Digital Marketing - Best Free Beginners Course with Certificate
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Google
- Level: Beginner
- Free or Paid: Free
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: 40 hours with 26 self-paced modules
- Requirements: A computer and a working internet connection
Why Enroll In This Course?
It’s hard to argue with free — this course from Google Digital Garage comes to you at no cost and provides a high-quality education to help you make a career change (or boost your current career!). This interactive course covers the basics of digital marketing over 26 self-paced modules. At the end of the course, you will earn a recognized certificate that you can put on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Why We Chose This Course
We included this as it is one of the best courses on digital marketing for beginners. The fact that it’s from Google and provides a recognized certificate upon completion also adds to its already insane value as a free program!
Pros
- 100% Free
- Recognized certificate of completion for your resume
- Self-paced
- Final exam
Cons
- Best for beginners
2. [Simplilearn] Professional Certificate Program in Digital Marketing- Best Certification Prep Course
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Purdue University; Official Partner Meta
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Also receive a voucher for the Meta Blueprint certification exam
- Duration: Six months
- Requirements:
- Applicants for admission must have either two years of experience in the field or any bachelor’s degree
- A marketing background is beneficial but not required
Why Enroll In This Course?
The Professional Certificate Program in Digital Marketing is a Simplilearn Bootcamp powered by Purdue University in partnership with Meta. Joining this six-month bootcamp will gain you a certificate of completion and a voucher to take the Meta Blueprint certification exam at a later date. Passing this certification exam will gain you one of the world’s best and most popular professional certifications in the digital marketing field.
Why We Chose This Course
Not only is this intense bootcamp one of the best courses in digital marketing, but it also prepares you for the Meta Blueprint certification assessment later on. It’s a pricey investment that can pay off in dividends since it prepares you for your future career in the field.
Pros
- Certification prep
- Covers the basics and goes into more advanced topics
- Intensive
Cons
- Expensive
3. [Udemy] Social Media Marketing MASTERY 2024 | Ads on 10+ Platforms
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Course Envy
- Level: Beginner+
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: 10.5 hours of video-on-demand
- Requirements:
- A computer and internet connection, you may also want a mobile device that can handle the various social media platforms
- A desire to learn
Why Enroll In This Course?
No matter your background, enrolling in this social media marketing-focused course can help you execute your digital marketing goals. This course is in contention for best online marketing course — especially if you’d like to learn how to market on ten different social media platforms.
Why We Chose This Course
This course is relatively easy and self-paced, allowing you to learn in your free time. You gain a certificate of completion at the end, but the most important aspect is that you’ll be able to begin implementing marketing strategies on your platforms of choice.
Pros
- Affordable
- Teaches you how to market on various social media platforms
- Self-paced
Cons
- Udemy certificates aren’t always employer-recognized
- Social media marketing is a fast-changing field, so frequent continuing education is required
4. [LinkedIn Learning] Master Digital Marketing - Best Learning Path for Beginners
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Various creators, see here
- Level: Beginner+
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: 23 hours of content on demand
- Requirements: A computer with internet access
Why Enroll In This Course?
This LinkedIn Learning course isn’t actually a course — it’s a learning path containing various courses to help you master digital marketing. Enrolling will help you learn the fundamentals to prepare you for success.
Why We Chose This Course
We included this learning path to help you start from the very beginning and learn the fundamentals of digital marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization, and various other digital marketing tools. You’ll even learn a bit more about marketing in augmented reality!
Pros
- Relatively affordable LinkedIn Learning subscription
- Earn a certificate
- Covers unique topics like augmented reality marketing
Cons
- Some of the courses on the path could use some updating
5. [Coursera] Social Media Marketing Specialization - Best for Students Who Want to Become Social Media Marketers
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Randy Hlavac; Northwestern University/Coursera
- Level: Beginner
- Free or Paid: Paid; financial aid available
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: Approximately 7 months with 2 hours of learning weekly
- Requirements: Paid
Why Enroll In This Course?
This beginner-level course is a premium product in Coursera’s catalog. It’s a digital marketing specialization focused on helping learners become expert social media marketers by the end of the program. Beyond learning the fundamentals of social media marketing (SMM), students must finish a capstone project to further cement what they’ve learned.
Why We Chose This Course
With how rapidly social media (and, therefore, SMM) evolves, you constantly need to stay updated to ensure your strategies remain relevant. This specialization receives quarterly updates, so you can revisit it at any time. The course is also offered by Northwestern University, ensuring quality.
Pros
- High-quality course with a recognized certificate
- Teaches students how to establish a social brand
- Updated every quarter to ensure content is current
Cons
- Requires a Coursera Plus subscription
6. [Udacity] Digital Marketing Nanodegree Program - Label/Ribbon
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Various instructors, see here
- Level: Beginners+
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: Three months at ten hours of learning weekly
- Requirements: No prior experience is required; basic computer/internet knowledge is recommended
Why Enroll In This Course?
This Nanodegree program covers the basics of digital marketing and allows students to choose electives for specialization. Every course in the program concludes with a project for practical experience. Students learn from the best and receive even more benefits, like career services and technical mentor support.
Why We Chose This Course
In our opinion, Udacity’s Digital Marketing Nanodegree Program is the best course for digital marketing overall. This program is intensive, but when done, students receive a certificate that’s highly recognized in the industry. Udacity is well-known for the quality of education they offer, and this program is no exception.
Pros
- High-quality course
- Earn a certificate recognized by most employers
- Projects for every course to enhance your learning
- Various electives available
Cons
- Expensive
- Intensive and may require more focus and time commitment
7. [Udemy] Digital Marketing Masterclass - 23 Marketing Courses in 1 - Best All-in-One Course for Digital Marketers
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Phil Ebiner, Diego Davila, Video School
- Level: Beginner
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: 42.5 hours of video-on-demand
- Requirements: No prior experience in marketing required; Readiness and willingness to learn and take action
Why Enroll In This Course?
If you want to dip your toes into the world of online or digital marketing, this masterclass can teach you the basics of the industry. You won’t learn much on the deeper and more complex topics, but at its price, it’s hard to argue value!
Why We Chose This Course
Courses on Udemy tend to be on the affordable side, and this masterclass is no exception. Although it presents somewhat basic information and a few of the videos contain outdated information, students can easily establish a foundation in digital marketing at an incredibly affordable price.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Covers practically everything you need to know to succeed
- Regularly updated
Cons
- Best for beginners
- Some complaints about a few of the subjects being out of date
8. [Coursera] Digital Marketing Specialization - Best for Earning Credit for a Future MBA
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: University of Illinois - Aric Rindfleisch, Kevin Hartman, Mike Yao, Vishal Sachdev
- Level: Beginner
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: Approximately 8 months at 5 hours of learning weekly
- Requirements: A computer or mobile device and an internet connection
Why Enroll In This Course?
If you would like to learn more about digital marketing and data as it relates to this form of marketing, including analytics, then this specialization on Coursera is an excellent choice. This is also the best digital marketing online course if you’d like to earn credits for an MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign later on.
Why We Chose This Course
This course is 100% online and a bit more intensive than the other Coursera specialization listed above. However, it’s an excellent option for those who want to become digital marketers while working on their future degree.
Pros
- Gain credit for an MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- High-quality program prepares students for a future career
- Earn a recognized certificate
Cons
- Much more intense, not the best for those who cannot commit the extra time for learning
9. [Simplilearn] Digital Marketing Specialist Master’s Program - Best Bootcamp for Aspiring Digital Marketers
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: Simplilearn, co-created with Facebook
- Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Free or Paid: Paid
- Certificate: Yes
- Duration: Self-paced; enrolling grants you one year of access
- Requirements: A computer or mobile device and internet connection; a high school diploma or undergraduate degree
Why Enroll In This Course?
This Simplilearn Master’s Program isn’t a master’s degree, it is an intensive bootcamp designed to prepare you for an eventual career in digital marketing. Taking this bootcamp will prepare you for everything you need to take a couple of the most popular professional digital marketing certification exams. Beyond the included courses, there are also some electives to help you better prepare for your career.
Why We Chose This Course
For us, this bootcamp is seriously in contention for best online digital marketing course for those who want to be career ready when they finish. You earn a certificate recognized by employers in the industry when you finish.
Pros
- Intensive, teaches you everything you need to learn to become a digital marketing pro
- Electives allow you to choose your specialty
- Self-paced, you have one year to complete your program
- Professional certification prep
- Master’s certificate AND a certificate for every completed course
Cons
- Expensive
- May require too much commitment for some learners with busy schedules
10. [edX] Digital Marketing Analytics: Tools and Techniques - A Fantastic Course for Learning SEO, PPC, and Digital Marketing Analytics
Key Information
- Instructor/Course Creator: University System of Maryland, University of Maryland; Michael Trusov, Liye Ma
- Level: Beginner
- Free or Paid: Audit for free or pay for the verified track to earn a certificate
- Certificate: Yes, only for paid verified track — free audit track does not offer a certificate
- Duration: Four weeks at three to five hours of learning per week; self-paced
- Requirements: A computer or mobile device with an internet connection
Why Enroll In This Course?
This course will teach students how to leverage the leading tools of the trade, including the various approaches to the analysis of digital marketing data. Joining this course will prepare you to learn search engine optimization strategies and paid search (pay-per-click or PPC) strategies for success.
Why We Chose This Course
We included this self-paced course as it’s a fantastic option for those who want to learn more about SEO and PPC strategies. Another thing that many learners don’t realize is that digital marketing often involves a ton of data, which will then require analytics — which you can learn more about here.
This course is available via the verified track, which will earn you a certificate of completion. However, you can also learn everything in the program for free via the audit track, although that means you will no longer earn a certificate or be able to participate in graded exams and assignments. Another thing to remember is that the audit track limits the amount of time you have available to learn this course, so you’ll need to go fast!
Pros
- Available to audit so you can learn everything for free
- Self-paced, though a bit more intense than other programs
- High-quality course from the University of Maryland and the University System of Maryland
Cons
- Doesn’t teach you everything about digital marketing, so you’ll need to enroll in other courses, too
How We Selected the Best Digital Marketing Courses Online
We considered a variety of factors as we began putting together this list of online digital marketing classes. One of the first and most important considerations is that each course must be clear and easy to follow. They should be able to present information in a concise way, going straight to the point instead of going around a series of convoluted points that confuse the whole experience.
We looked at the platform each course is on to ensure quality. Not all course platforms are created equally, which is why we only included courses from respected platforms. The course authors were also considered to ensure that the digital marketing course you enroll in was made by an authority on the subject.
We also looked for courses that would offer certificates of completion or professional certificates. Although employers likely won’t recognize all of the certificates equally, you can still include them in your resume.
Some other factors we looked at were cost, difficulty level, duration, and a few other things like the presence of exercises or quizzes to test and cement knowledge.
Tips for Succeeding in an Online Marketing Course
Taking online classes for digital marketing can be a great way to set yourself up for a future career in the industry. Courses are usually created in a way that presents lessons and information in a clear flowing manner. The best online digital marketing courses have planned syllabuses that have the lectures and activities laid out in the way that makes the most sense, helping learners pick everything up chronologically.
There are a few things you can do that can improve your chances of getting the most value possible out of your courses. Here are just a few of them.
Consider Course Costs
Online digital marketing courses come in a variety of price ranges, many of them cheaper than the others. For example, you might be able to find courses for less than a $20 one-time purchase on platforms like Udemy or even LinkedIn Learning. However, depending on the platform, you may end up paying upwards of $500.
If you seek digital marketing training online, one of the best things you can do is to narrow your choices down to courses that fit into your budget. You might also be able to reach a little further and extend your budget by trying to secure a few of the financial aid opportunities available on some platforms like Coursera.
Also, ask yourself — could your current employer pay for your online courses? This option won’t always make sense for everyone, but if you have an employer that provides certain educational benefits, you might consider taking advantage!
Better yet, we compiled all the latest digital marketing jobs. Take a look at what's available and apply.
Make Sure You Have All the Requirements Ready
If there’s one good thing about digital marketing classes, it’s that you won’t need any crazy technological specifications to enroll. Unlike programming or design courses, courses on digital marketing will typically only require you to have an adequately powerful computer, access to the internet, and likely a mobile device (like a phone) that will allow you to install and use some of the popular social media apps of today.
Do Some Extra Learning on the Side
Following your course is usually enough to teach you what you need to know to get started as a digital marketer. However, it may also benefit you to do a bit of extra learning on the side. You can do a few things to supplement your learning:
- Follow other digital marketers and authorities on the subject. Often, these credible professionals will dispense valuable nuggets of advice for free. Some may even offer free reads or signal boost other courses and resources you might benefit from reading.
- Keep updated on the latest and greatest trends in digital marketing. You can do this by joining forums, subscribing to YouTubers, and as we said previously, following authorities on the subject.
- Read books! There are various digital marketing books available for different levels of learning. Some are great for beginners while others are meant more for experienced learners. Either way, as long as you’re reading recently released or updated books, you should be able to glean new information that can help your future career!
- While you take your course on internet marketing, you might want to consider learning more about copywriting — at least if it’s not already included in your course’s curriculum. As a digital marketer, it’s likely you’ll work with a copywriter or do a bit of copywriting yourself, which is why knowing how it works and what to do can be quite beneficial to you.
Take Notes
While you take your digital marketing courses online, you might want to take notes just as you would in a classroom setting lecture. Taking notes can be a great way to have a reference for when you need to recall something quickly. Making digital notes is great on its own, but you may benefit more from manually writing on paper — as some studies show, the act of writing on paper can lead to stronger brain activity and improved information retention.
Practice
If your course has them, it’s a good idea to do the exercises available to ensure you cement your learning further. However, you may also want to practice what you can on your own. You can also accept smaller jobs or lower-paying positions to garner experience early on.
Digital Marketing Courses Breakdown
|
Course |
Description |
Certificate |
Key Information |
|
|
Best Free Beginners’ Course with Certificate |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best Certification Prep Course |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best for Budding Social Media Marketers |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best Learning Path for Beginners |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best for Students Who Want to Become Social Media Marketers |
✔ |
|
|
[Udacity] |
Best Digital Marketing Course Overall |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best All-in-One Course for Digital Marketers |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best for Earning Credit for a Future MBA |
✔ |
|
|
|
Best Bootcamp for Aspiring Digital Marketers |
✔ |
|
|
|
A Fantastic Course for Learning SEO, PPC, and Digital Marketing Analytics |
✔ |
|
Conclusion
Enrolling in the best digital marketing course can help fast-track your learning and put you on a quick path to starting a new career. Whether you have some experience in the past or are starting from scratch, there is a perfect course or class for you to take.
We hope that our list of recommendations has helped you find the perfect course for your needs. Think we missed one that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments!
Do you feel ready to start looking for work in the field? Check out some of the top digital marketing interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your job search!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Digital Marketing Is Best for Beginners?
There are several types of digital marketing, some of them more beginner-friendly than others. If you’ve never done any digital marketing before, some of the less challenging ones to begin learning are content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. SEO or search engine optimization can also be somewhat on the easier side to grasp.
2. Which Is the Best Course in Digital Marketing?
With so many fantastic courses available, it’s challenging to pinpoint just one that stands out as the best. Our curated list above contains ten of the best available. Choose a course that suits your budget and learning level for the best results.
3. Which Digital Marketing Has the Highest Salary?
You can get a lucrative salary depending on which field of digital marketing you go into and your seniority. Chief growth officers and VPs of marketing can earn upwards of $300,000 per year.
4. Are There Free Online Marketing Courses?
There are many free online marketing courses online. Check platforms like Udemy or audit courses for free on Coursera. You won’t gain a certificate, but you’ll at least learn! Be wary of “gurus” who are trying to sell you courses, often their free content is just a way to funnel you into a future purchase.
