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Best Digital Marketing Courses Compared

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Today, running a successful online business requires savvy digital marketing skills. The internet is packed with endless digital marketing courses and it takes some digging to discover the best course for your needs. We spent dozens of hours comparing hundreds of courses to bring you some of the best digital marketing courses in the market. We found the best option for most to be Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course due to its comprehensive curriculum and affordable price point. 

The Best Digital Marketing Course for Most

Udemy Logo

Udemy's The Complete Digital Marketing Course

Best for Most

Comprehensive and inexpensive, Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course covers 12 digital marketing core skills in 22.5 hours of video. All for only $149.99.

Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course is easily the most comprehensive digital marketing course on the market. It comprises 12 modules covering all the essential aspects of digital marketing over 22 hours of on-demand video content. The course is highly interactive and provides plenty of real-life examples of digital marketing in practice to make it even easier for you to follow. 

The creators of this course, Daragh Walsh and Rob Percival, are digital marketing experts who have collectively taught over three million students. It’s safe to say, you’ll be in great hands. So if you want to learn how to grow a business online from scratch or get hired as a digital marketing expert, this course is the one for you. 

The Best Digital Marketing Courses to Consider

  1. The Complete Digital Marketing Course (Udemy) – Best for Most
  2. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google) – Best for Beginners
  3. Digital Marketing Specialist (Simplilearn) – Best for Advanced Learning
  4. Social Media Marketing Mastery (Udemy) – Best for Social Media Marketing
  5. Internet Marketing for Smart People (Copyblogger) – Best for Bloggers and Freelancers
  6. HubSpot Academy – Best Free Digital Marketing Resource 

When It Makes Sense to Invest Into a Digital Marketing Course

In today’s online world, digital marketing is a very important skill not only for marketing professionals but business owners and entrepreneurs as well. 

Digital marketing courses are vital for anyone serious about running a successful business online. They can help you to drive more traffic to your website, run your first social media ad campaign, and write content that sells. In a nutshell, they’ll equip you with the confidence and knowledge to promote your business online the right way from the get-go.

So in our opinion, as soon as you’ve decided to launch an online business, it makes sense to invest in a digital marketing course. If you can’t afford one of the paid courses listed below, there are plenty of free resources to get you started. 

A few other moments where it will make sense to invest in a digital marketing course include:

  • When you’ve started a new job or been promoted to a new position that has significant digital marketing responsibilities (or you’d like to do this within the next year)
  • When your marketing skills have come up short in a recent performance review
  • When you’re pivoting from full-time employment to entrepreneurship or freelance work
  • When your company is gearing up to launch a new product or expand its reach into new audiences

#1 – The Complete Digital Marketing Course (Udemy) — The Best for Most

Udemy Logo

Udemy's The Complete Digital Marketing Course

Best for Most

Comprehensive and inexpensive, Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course covers 12 digital marketing core skills in 22.5 hours of video. All for only $149.99.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of all major facets of digital marketing, stop your search. The Complete Digital Marketing Course by Udemy is the one for you. With over 580,000 students enrolled and very high ratings, this course is the top choice of online digital marketing courses. 

The Complete Digital Marketing Course is a comprehensive 12-part course covering digital marketing essentials such as market research, SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and more. It’s a thorough curriculum taught by Daragh Walsh and Rob Percival, who are both experts in the digital marketing realm. 

It’s perfect for complete beginners and suitable for all business types including digital products, physical products, services, B2B, and B2C businesses. The course will deliver:

  • 22.5 hours of on-demand video lectures
  • 12 modules with real-life practical examples
  • Quizzes, assignments, and checklists built into each section to solidify learning
  • Lifetime access to course updates
  • Access on mobile and TV devices
  • Udemy Certificate of Completion ready for download

By the time you’ve finished the course, you can expect to be able to confidently develop a digital marketing strategy, grow an online business from scratch, and understand how to create effective content for any online platform. 

The Complete Digital Marketing Course is available for a one-time purchase of $149.99. However, Udemy often offers special promotions or considerable discounts on the course for new Udemy students. 

Not sure if it’s the one for you? That’s fine! This course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there is no risk of getting started right away

#2 – Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google) — The Best for Beginners

Google Logo

Google's Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Best for Beginners

If you’re just getting started with digital marketing, there’s no one better to learn from than Google. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing offers over 40 hours of beginner-level training, and it’s 100% free.

What better way to learn about digital marketing than from the one that sets the rules by which digital marketers must abide? Google’s free course, Fundamentals of Digital Marketing covers everything you need to know to get your business up and running in the online space. 

More than 300,000 people have already gained this qualification. The fact that it’s free to take and incredibly comprehensive makes it a perfect option for beginners who aren’t sure if digital marketing is the career for them. 

Over 40 hours of learning, you can expect to cover:

  • Analytics and data insights
  • Business strategy
  • Content marketing
  • Display advertising
  • Ecommerce
  • Email marketing
  • Social media marketing
  • Web optimization

In total, there are 26 modules, created by expert Google trainers, that are packed full of practical takeaways and real-life examples to help you put your plans into action. Once you complete the modules, you’ll need to pass a 40-question exam to get certified. 

The best thing about this course? Not only is it completely free with lifetime access, but you’ll also walk away with a globally recognized certification to show potential employers. 

Sign up for Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing for free today!

#3 – Digital Marketing Specialist (Simplilearn) — The Best for Advanced Learning

Simplilearn Logo

Simplilearn's Digital Marketing Specialist

Best for Advanced Learning

Ready to take your digital marketing skills to the next level? This in-depth Simplilearn course gives you over 200 hours of training for the Online Marketing Certified Professional exam.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive education on career-changing skill sets in digital marketing, look no further than Simplilearn’s Digital Marketing Specialist program. This course is a Master’s program that deeply covers 8 core disciplines of digital marketing. 

It’s a Master’s program that covers everything you need to know in SEO, pay-per-click, social media, conversion and strategy, web analytics, and content, mobile, and email marketing. 

This course is not for those looking for a quick debrief on digital marketing though–it is lengthy and comprehensive. It not only teaches you about the concepts of each discipline but also teaches you the tools associated with that area. 

Some other key highlights of the course include:

  • Access to over 35 expert instructor-led classes carried out over 200 hours of learning
  • 45+ projects and case studies to work through
  • Downloaded workbooks
  • Simulation exams and quizzes
  • Monthly mentoring sessions
  • An Online Marketing Certified Professional (OMCP) exam voucher worth 395 USD on completion

Unlike other digital marketing courses, you won’t have lifetime access to the course materials and will need to complete the course within 1-year. With this in mind, if you don’t have adequate time to dedicate to this learning, you’re better off going with a different course.

The Digital Marketing Specialist program is not cheap. You can expect to pay a one-time fee of $1,499. However, it’s important to note that this course can take you from complete beginner to digital marketing expert in four months. We’d call that a worthy investment. 

If you agree, enroll today!

#4 – Social Media Marketing Mastery (Udemy) — The Best for Social Media Marketing

Udemy Logo

Udemy's Social Media Marketing Mastery

Best for Social Media Marketing

Social media is a major part of digital marketing, so why not capitalize on it by taking a social media marketing course? This Udemy course gives you lifetime access for just $149.

While all great digital marketing courses include the basics of social media marketing, if you want to truly capitalize on social media, a specialized course is a must. 

Udemy’s Social Media Marketing Mastery takes students from A to Z on all social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tumblr, WordPress, Blogger, and more!  

You’ll learn basic principles in creating highly targeted ads that will convert. You’ll also be armed with clever social media advertising strategies to help build your business that won’t break the budget. 

This course also includes:

  • 9.5 hours of on-demand video
  • 36 articles detailing in-depth social media marketing strategies
  • 28 downloadable resources to put your learning into action
  • Full lifetime access allowing you to refresh your learning with every social media update

One of the things we love most about this course is it will also give you the learning and context you need to understand which social media platforms are right for your business. This means you can focus your energies on the platforms that will provide you a return on investment, instead of spreading yourself across multiple platforms. 

Social Media Marketing Mastery is suitable for any skill level and can be completed at your own pace. It usually costs $149 to enroll, though Udemy often offers amazing discounts on this course. You can get started risk-free for 30-days here

#5 – Internet Marketing for Smart People (Copyblogger) — The Best for Bloggers and Freelancers

Copyblogger Logo

Copyblogger's Internet Marketing for Smart People

Best for Bloggers & Freelancers

Are you a blogger, copywriter, or freelance marketer? Join Internet Marketing for Smart People to start upleveling your freelance business--it’s free with your Copyblogger membership.

Copyblogger has been a leading website in content and digital marketing advice since 2006. Its purpose is to teach freelancers and entrepreneurs how to write persuasive content that delivers results. 

With this in mind, if you’re a blogger or freelancer looking to brush up on your digital marketing skills, Copyblogger’s Internet Marketing for Smart People is a great option for you. This course compiles the best digital marketing content relevant to freelancers on the site into an actionable plan, delivered right into your inbox. 

Internet Marketing for Smart People will teach you about the four pillars of online marketing success. These are relationships, direct response copywriting, content marketing, and having something worth selling. Downloadable eBooks are also available to help you delve into the topics it teaches. 

Although Copyblogger alludes that the Internet Marketing for Smart People course is free, you’ll need to sign up to Copyblogger Pro to gain full access to the material. Copyblogger Pro is $495 per year but also comes with $600 worth of foundational training, action-oriented accountability exercises, and a vibrant community. 

Not sure if it’s worth it? You can sign up to Copyblogger Pro risk-free for 30 days.  

#6 – HubSpot Academy — The Best Free Digital Marketing Resource

Hubspot Logo

Hubspot Academy

Best Free Digital Marketing Resource

If budget is a concern, look no further than the marketing geniuses at HubSpot Academy. They’ve developed dozens of topic-specific digital marketing courses, many with certifications, and all for free.

HubSpot is a household name in the marketing industry. It’s a renowned software provider for marketing, sales, and customer service. HubSpot also offers a range of free digital marketing courses that also include globally recognized certifications on completion. 

The HubSpot Academy offers a range of certified online digital marketing courses covering topics such as inbound, content, email, and social media marketing. Not worried about the certification? Then you can also learn about SEO, blogging, and advertising on Instagram and Facebook. 

In a nutshell, there is a ton to learn from HubSpot digital marketing experts. And because all courses are created in-house, it’s easy to continue from one course to another with lessons that are clear and consistent. 

Although HubSpot Academy courses are beginner-friendly, they are quite short and sweet. With this in mind, these courses are most suitable for those with experience in the digital marketing industry who want to brush up on the latest industry trends. 

Browse all of the free HubSpot courses and certifications here. 

Methodology for Choosing the Best Digital Marketing Course

There are many different aspects of digital marketing to be covered if you want to truly succeed in the online marketplace. 

If you’re a complete beginner, you’re likely looking for a course like Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course to equip you with the basics. But if you’re more experienced in the digital marketing realm and are looking to further your knowledge in specific areas, finding the right course to facilitate this can be challenging. 

So when you are conducting your own research, keep in mind the following methodology that we used to determine the best digital marketing courses in the market. 

Teacher Expertise

There are hundreds of thousands of courses you can take on the internet. Just about anyone can create and sell their own course, regardless of their expertise. 

With this in mind, our number one recommendation is to choose a course that is created and led by a true industry professional. This person should have a proven history of experience within the digital marketing realm and have the accolades to back them up. 

Furthermore, if you want to learn about social media marketing, make sure the course is led by a social media marketer and not a content creator. Or if you want to learn about SEO, learn from an expert in SEO and web optimization, rather than someone who specializes in social media. 

Undertaking learning from an industry professional will also give your qualification more credibility with potential employers. 

Course Topic(s) 

As you’ve seen here today, there are many different realms of digital marketing. If you’re new to the field altogether, you’ll want to start with a broad course that covers every aspect. 

But if you’re already experienced in the realm of digital marketing and want to learn more about a certain concept, it’s important to consider the topic of your chosen course. Although overarching digital marketing concepts are the same, the delivery differs depending on your delivery method. 

For example, if you want to get better at email marketing, there is no use in sharpening your SEO skills. And if you want to improve your content marketing, taking the time to learn about social media ads won’t be of much help. 

Take the time to consider the course curriculum and whether or not it is going to suit your needs before enrolling in the course.

Course Duration and Time Commitment

Another thing that is important to consider is how long the course will take and whether or not you’re required to commit a certain amount of time to your learning each week. 

Most of the courses mentioned here today offer lifetime access. This means that you can learn at your own pace and access the material whenever you like. But some courses are more structured and require you to complete certain parts of the course within a deadline.

Make sure that you choose a course that fits with your time constraints so your investment in a digital marketing course is not wasted. 

Udemy Logo

Udemy's The Complete Digital Marketing Course

Best for Most

Comprehensive and inexpensive, Udemy’s Complete Digital Marketing Course covers 12 digital marketing core skills in 22.5 hours of video. All for only $149.99.

Summary

At the end of the day, the best digital marketing course for you depends completely on your goals, previous experience, and time constraints. 

For some, a comprehensive, yet broad course like The Complete Digital Marketing Course by Udemy absolutely ticks all the right boxes. For others, access to free learning such as the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google or any of the HubSpot Academy courses will be more convenient and budget-friendly. 

But for those looking for more in-depth or targeted learning, courses like Simplilearn’s Digital Marketing Specialist and Udemy’s Social Media Marketing Mastery are more suitable. And for bloggers, you can’t go wrong with Copyblogger’s Internet Marketing for Smart People.

Regardless of which course you choose, don’t forget to consider our methodology to help you dial in on what’s most important to you in your digital marketing course. 


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