It’s INSANE how much some people are charging to teach the absolute basics of social media marketing. There are ZERO reasons why you should pay a random internet marketer 3,871 anymore than a few hundred dollars for their intro-level social media marketing course. Seriously, there are so many resources out there that are FREE!
Here is a non-exhaustive list of courses to take to learn more about social media marketing. Too many options can be overwhelming, so just start with ONE! Choose whatever is important to you (time, knowledge level, credentials to throw up on your LinkedIn) and just pick one of these free courses to complete. You will be 100% better off than you were a week before, I promise! These resources are a great place to build your foundational understanding and practical skills in social media marketing.
Free Social Media Courses to Take Today
1. LinkedIn Learning Social Media Marketing Foundations
This course is a great starter spot to launch from, and it’s just under an hour long and led by Brian Honigman, Marketing Consultant, New York University, Adjunct Professor.
This course is a beginner-level course and covers the following topics:
Defining social media marketing
Social media strategy
Publishing on social media
Interacting with customers
Selling on social media
Measuring social media activities
Innovating with social media
The few downsides of this course are that there is no certification, its beginner-level status, and its generic social media strategy (Not very imaginative or creative!).
2. HubSpot’s Social Media Certification
HubSpot has become a powerhouse in content marketing, course 2 and 3 are delivered by HubSpot. Their courses are thorough, informative, and well done. This course is just over 4 hours long, offers 40 videos, and almost 30 quizzes, and gives a good overview of all the major platforms. It is designed to help you attract customers, and partners, and build brand loyalty. As a result, you’ll gain a good foundational level of social media marketing upon completion.
Again, this is a beginner-level course but also great as a refresher for more specialized marketers or even business owners.
It covers essential topics social media content creation, how to measure ROI, increasing reach, and social listening.
3. Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
This course is great for learning and understanding paid and organic search and how to optimize web pages. Again, this a great resource that will help you master the basics of digital marketing. With 26 units all created by Google trainers, it teaches you how to turn knowledge into action. Indeed Google is a superpower in the world of marketing and SEO and this should be at the top of your list to complete!
One of the main benefits of this course is that you receive a digital certification that looks great on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
4. Constant Contact’s Social Media Quickstarter
This is a beginner-level video-based training that offers clear step-by-step instructions that will guide you into building your social media presence across all of the major social media platforms.
At the end of each lesson, Constant Contact gives you 10 relevant blog posts to refer back to. This is AMAZING! This course focuses on connecting your email marketing with social media marketing. So it’s a good one for all the eCommerce peeps out there!
5. eMarketing Institute Social Media Marketing Course
Firstly, this beginner-level course offers a go-at-your-own-pace, elearning text-based experience based on a 165-page ebook. For one thing, it includes a final exam comprised of 50 questions, a certificate of completion, and quality information. Founded in Copenhagen in 2014, eMarketing Institute is on a mission to allow anyone to get their beginner’s certifications in the field of digital marketing, regardless of income level.
Additionally, it covers a wide array of content and lays a wonderful foundation to build upon.
If you have time to dedicate to learning and the motivation to follow through any one of these courses is worth completing. Your goals should lead you toward the most appropriate course. Or maybe start small with the shortest one! Just pick one, and go for it.
Autumn 