A brilliant entrepreneur and digital marketer does not settle for less, for better – or for mediocrity.
A brilliant entrepreneur is not perfect, but always a work in progress. To reach the top, a lot of learning has to take place, and a lot of lesson has to be learned.
The Internet, in its wondrous and infinite realm, offers a wide array of digital marketing courses to help neophytes and the seasoned ones as well in the industry. These courses are offered by online academies, personalities and universities specializing in digital marketing, who are in their best interests, look forward to educate others who wish to be successful in the field.
Read also: Social Media Marketing Strategies That You Should consider in 2019
Among these courses are free and paid, and with an amount of dedication, motivation and passion – to learn is definitely a wise decision and a valuable investment.
Free Digital Marketing Courses
1.) Marketing in a Digital World

This course, offered by the University of Illinois, is a part of the 7-course Digital Marketing Specialization. It examines the role of the Internet, and digital tools such as smartphones and computers in changing the shift and trend in marketing.
Throughout the course, you will learn about how new digital tools are emerging to be useful for branding and how various digital tools are available to persuade customers, to effectively distribute products, and to set the right price of products of services.
2.) Quicksprout University

Quicksprout University is offered by bestselling author and renowned online marketer, Neil Patel. The course focuses on traffic generation strategies, and is definitely the only online traffic school you need to enroll in.
Among the many things you will learn include SEO, link building, content marketing, paid advertising, conversion optimization and reputation management. With this free course, you will have access to 30+ videos, 30+ transcripts and 3 ebooks. The course caters to all business needs, particularly unlimited traffic generation and conversion tutorials for newbies and professionals alike.
3.) Inbound Marketing Certification

In this free course, one will learn how to attract website traffic and convert them into leads through the effective use of inbound marketing. The course is one of the highly recommended courses in HubSpot Academy, with lessons covering the basics of inbound methodology from marketing to sales to service.
Lectures include fundamentals of inbound marketing, and strategies in attracting strangers, converting visitors, closing leads and delighting customers. The course also comes with free marketing tools to help you practice your inbound knowledge.
4.) Pay Per Click University
Pay Per Click University, which is offered by WordStream is definitely the one-stop school you have to go to if you want to learn about PPC or paid search marketing. Given the complex nature of PPC, this course offers you organized and manageable classes of PPC to teach both basic and advanced PPC strategies, all in easy formats.
PPC University also offers you tools and resources that can be of useful help such as search marketing webinars, PPC analysis, free guides, e-books and white papers all about PPC and other web marketing topics.
5.) Google Digital Marketing Course
Google has a free digital garage aimed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and students comprehend the complexity of digital marketing. Upon signing up, you will receive an online learning plan of 26 digital marketing topics. At the end of the course, you will obtain your Google certification.
Some of the things to look forward are comprehensive overview of digital marketing, AdWords fundamentals, display advertising, search advertising, mobile advertising, video advertising, shopping advertising, analytics, tools and practices, and Google My Business.
6.) Google Analytics Academy
Google’s Analytics Academy will help students learn about Google’s measurement tools to grow one’s business using intelligent data collection and analysis.
The courses included are basic features of Google Analytics for beginners such as creating an account, implementing tracking codes, and analyzing reports, advanced Google Analytics such as data collection, processing and configuration, Google Analytics 360, and E-Commerce Analytics.
7.) Diploma in E-Business
This free course offered by Alison, will help entrepreneurs gain knowledge of what online marketing is and how to implement successful online marketing strategies. At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to build an online marketing plan, promote one’s business online, and improve website landing pages to increase conversion rates.
It also teaches in detail how to use Google tools such as Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Google AdSense, and Google Webmaster. Campaign tracking, writing great content, revenue metrics analysis, choosing the right keywords, and digital measurement are among the many things that will be learned as well.
Free Social Media Marketing Courses
1.) What is Social?

This course is for marketing professionals and entrepreneurs who want to grow their revenue by improving their social media strategy through the use of strategies that are proven to be effective. The course, which is a part of a six-course specialization, Social Media Marketing: How to Profit in a Digital World, is offered by Northwestern University.
The course will give you an insight to social marketing, social trends, the social in real-time and consumer focused perspective, and the difference among social networks. The course works like an interactive textbook, where you can also access help from peers and brainstorm ideas together.
You can get some audio materials and course content for free, but a course certificate is only available if you purchase the entire course and enjoy all the content.
2.) Social Media Quickstarter
This online course puts things simply. It offers to help newbies and professionals in attracting and retaining customers in social media. The Social Media Quickstarter gives a step-by-step instruction on how one’s social media presence can be made known all over the Internet and eventually gain something from it.
The course, offered by Constant Contact Inc., allows you to choose which social media network you wish to learn about and is definitely the 101 guide to your social media marketing inquiries.
3.) Introduction to Social Media Strategy
This 45-minute class aims to help you create the perfect social media strategy suitable for your business. It focuses on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and how to improve brand awareness and site traffic to these networks through the use of social media tools, like Buffer.
The course is offered by Brian Peters, a digital marketing strategist at Buffer – a leading social media analytics tool.
At the end of the class, you are expected to be able to choose the right social media platforms, create effective content, use tools like Buffer to analyze posts, and execute a Facebook advertising plan.
4.) Social Media Monitoring

This course, consisting of 46 lectures, will take you to the world of social media networks exactly where your potential customers are. Offered by Udemy, this course will help you learn to construct the right keywords, validate keyword phrases, curate content, find online influencers, and learn the different monitoring strategies in sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
This free course, which targets marketers, sale professionals and business entrepreneurs, also offers a lifetime full access, a certificate of completion, and social media monitoring tools and services.
5.) Social Media Ethics
Image from Alverniavernia University Online
This course, still offered by Udemy, is not just important but necessary for digital and social media marketers. More than social media marketing strategies, it emphasizes through 11 lectures the importance of using social networks in the right and ethical way.
Some lessons to be learned from the course include good netiquette, understanding defamation, discrimination and harassment, what ethical use of social media is as defined by the law, and the risks associated with confidential information.
6.) Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking Up Clients
Image from Search Engine Journal
Aside from providing the effective strategies for social media marketing, this course will help you learn how to acquire clients and customers through effective social media marketing.
The main aim of the course is for you to successfully utilize Facebook groups, Niche forums, Forums, and Youtube to pick up clients in no less than 48 hours. It teaches you how to market yourself with a minimum amount of pitches and without looking so pushy and annoying. It also gives you the idea that you don’t need to have thousands of subscribers, followers, or friends to acquire a client.
7.) [BONUS] 30-day Writing Challenge

This is not an online course but many digital marketing experts suggest taking this challenge to improve one’s content writing skills. This challenge will basically help you work with anything that’s bothering you and get favorable results.
In the case of digital marketing, you can use the 30-day Writing Challenge to study, learn, and practice writing about more effective headlines, attractive first sentences, engaging dialogues, captivating salescopy, and maybe brainstorm about possible eye-catching blog topics.
The rules are yours for this challenge. The only exception is that you should consistently do it every day.
Paid Digital Marketing Courses
1.) Distilled U

With over 133 hours of advanced HD video content and interactive modules, this online university is your must-go to if you want to learn everything about search marketing.
Beginners can start with Search Engine Basics and work their way on to different modules. Professionals may take the courses in any order they like. Some courses are Interactive Search Operator Basics, On-Page Optimization, Technical SEO, Keyword Research, Link Analysis and Competitor Research.
As you move on, you will tackle topics like outreach, linkbait, content strategy, and video and SEO tools that will surely take your SEO skills to the next level.
Enroll now for just $40 with monthly plan and $33 with annual plan.
2.) Market Motive
Image from Gallery Systems
Market Motive is a leading online Internet marketing training for people who want to learn more about the current and latest digital strategies.
Upon signing up, you will get access to downloadable workbooks, webinars, and other resources. You will also have hands-on experience with case studies and projects, and have a chance to interact with faculty experts through exclusive forums.
Some courses include web analytics, social media marketing, conversion optimization, pay per click advertising, search engine optimization, mobile marketing, email marketing, content marketing and Google AdWords.
Enroll now for the Foundation Program for $499 or the Advanced Program for $1,999.
3.) B2B LinkedIn Launchpad Training Series

This training series utilizes the power of LinkedIn as an effective social network for delivering B2B content. It will teach you the strategies for finding your audience and starting a conversation to nurture new leads.
Using LinkedIn tools, features and applications, and with lead generation strategies, this social network will give you benefits more than you can imagine.
A series of 5 pre-recorded webinars will teach students how to attract leads, convert leads into clients, generate brand awareness, and engage referral partners and candidates.
Buy the entire training course for $247.
4.) Conversion Optimization Training Program

This course, offered by CXL, gives you every little thing you need to know about successful conversion strategies. It presents methodology, tools, and mindset to anyone aspiring to be a certified conversion optimizer, and make any website prosper.
The course is designed to be completed in 12 weeks, but if you don’t have the time, you can also take 12 months to finish it. The course is divided into 5 tracks with 35+ courses all together. The topics include the fundamentals of conversion, conversion research, testing strategies, optimization strategies, and conversion optimization program management.
Enroll now for $299 monthly, or $2,500 annually.
5.) ClickMinded
Used by more than 8,702 digital agencies, marketers and entrepreneurs, this course teaches students how to drive more traffic from search engines like Google, Amazon, Pinterest, and Youtube.
It is divided into 8 sections, with multiple lessons each. The lessons include an introduction to SEO environment and organic search, keyword research, document relevancy, technical optimization, link building and authority, and steps in starting a new site that is SEO-friendly.
For $497, you will have access to videos, slides, resources, links, worksheets and quizzes throughout the course.
Paid Social Media Marketing Courses
1.) Social Media Marketing Mastery

This course is one the many courses designed especially for social media marketing and advertising. It allows students to master online marketing on different social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google and many others.
At the end of the course, students are expected to create high quality paid ads on all social media platforms, use web 2.0 blogs to increase traffic, optimize LinkedIn profile to grow business, and to effectively use Google Business to boost search engine optimization.
For $199.99, you can have access to a 9-hour lecture video, 18 articles and 4 supplemental resources.
2.) Instagram Marketing 2018

This course will exclusively teach students how to attract followers, convert followers to buying customers, and expand brand awareness through the social media platform, Instagram.
Updated with the latest Instagram features, the team behind this course will guide you in utilizing these functions to improve your account and your business.
By the end of this Instagram management and marketing course, one should be able to know the most effective strategies to grow real followers and convert them into successful buyers and loyal fans of the brand.
Get this course for $199.99 and have access to 5-hours lecture videos, 2 articles, and 20 supplemental resources.
3.) Facebook Ads and Facebook Marketing Mastery 2018

In this 11 hour course, students will learn a considerable amount of information regarding Facebook marketing.
It starts with the basics of Facebook Ads, and instructions on how to create a sales funnel on the social media site. As you move along, you will learn in-depth knowledge about Facebook pages, pixel, engagement, reporting, and insights.
The instructor also updates the course regularly to respond to queries posed by students. By the end, one is expected to lower ad costs on Facebook, but at the same time master Facebook Marketing all at once.
Get this course for $199.99.
4.) Youtube Ads: Step by Step Guide to Youtube Ads that Convert
image source: Search Engine Journal
If you want to learn effective Youtube marketing, you have to get yourself enrolled in this course.
The course introduces you to everything about Youtube Ads and Google Adwords. It also guides you in creating a successful Youtube campaign and maneuver advanced settings to get the most clicks to your video.
For $199.99, you will have access to 1.5 hour on-demand video tackling about setting up a Youtube ad, and building it to gain more clicks and exposure than in radio, print or TV ads.
Read also: Top Social Media Marketing Trends that Local Businesses Should Not Ignore in 2019
The list of digital and social media marketing courses might go on, but it’s up to you to decide which one to take. In deciding, always consider things carefully and determine what aspect of marketing your business strongly needs.
As an entrepreneur, never take for granted the benefits that can be gained through learning. Instill in yourself the love for continuous learning, and you will see good results.
Don’t consider yourself to be a pro, because by doing so you just prove yourself to be lacking in so many ways. Find time to widen your knowledge. Trust me, it’s not gonna hurt.
There’s still a lot to learn.