10 Great Free Courses for Online Marketing

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Marketing is everywhere, no matter where you look or what you buy. There are marketing strategies at play when you walk into the grocery store, when you shop online, and when you go on social media. Especially during a pandemic when so many people are working from home, it is perhaps the most important way you can approach marketing. Online marketing or digital marketing is also something you can accomplish working remotely with design programs like Photoshop or InDesign.

Featured Programs

Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

There are many different facets to online marketing that you need to learn, including things like knowing your audience and understanding products. The courses below will help you learn everything you need to know about online marketing, all while being 100-percent free for you! This means your pockets stay padded and you can have all the tools you need to start a new career path!

We’ve scoured the web for the most helpful and thorough free marketing courses using a methodology we developed that weeds out courses that are just OK and leaves only the best. If you have ever been curious about learning online marketing, keep reading the list below for ten great free online course options.

Ranking 10 Great Free Courses for Online Marketing

1. Digital Marketing Specialization

Provided by University of Illinois via Coursera

Coursera is one of the most trusted and widely-respected MOOC (massive open online course) networks on the internet and is typically a one-stop-shop for whatever you want to learn. This is certainly the case for this best digital marketing specialization, which is hosted by the University of Illinois. The University of Illinois is a public research university and has 90,000 students across three campuses. Instructors include Kevin Hartman, who is a visiting professor at the university and Head of Analytics at Google. Nearly half of the students who completed this specialization began a new career after finishing, and you can too!

There are 7 courses in this specialization, one of them being a culminating capstone project. Other free digital marketing courses include subjects like digital media and marketing principles, digital marketing analytics in theory and practice, and marketing in an analog and digital world. Students will understand the motivations behind data collection and learn how to evaluate and apply appropriate web analytics tools and techniques. The specialization takes approximately 8 months to complete, and there is a shareable certificate available upon completion, which could be shared with employers or on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 8 months

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Learn from one of the most widely-trusted platforms
Finish specialization with a culminating capstone project

Cons:

Longer course, takes 8 months to complete

2. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Provided by University of Maryland via edX

edX, similar to Coursera, is a MOOC platform that frequently partners with preeminent US institutions and universities due to its trusted nature as a learning website. For this course, edX has partnered with the University of Maryland to create this digital marketing course, which takes students through all of the fundamental elements of digital marketing that they need to know to get started. This course is entirely free for edX users and takes about four weeks to complete, and you can add a verified certificate directly from the university for a fee of $499.

There are six different units you’ll learn from throughout the course, including topics like digital marketing strategy, inbound and outbound marketing, multi-sided platforms, and marketing mix modeling. The free online digital marketing course is taught by P.K. Kannan and Lingling Zhang, two professors in the marketing department at the University of Maryland. They are more than qualified to teach this course and will be a great resource to you if you decide to complete it. By the end of the digital marketing course with certificate, you will have learned how to navigate the new online – offline landscape of marketing, how to formulate networks, and how to advertise on mobile or fixed devices.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes (with $499 fee)

Time to Complete: Approximately 4 weeks

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Offered by a preeminent US university
Learn about the emerging digital landscape

Cons:

Certificate costs $499

3. Master Digital Marketing

Provided by LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networking sites on the internet, designed to connect individuals with employers and jobs suited to their skills. LinkedIn Learning is an extension of the networking site where users can join for a subscription-based fee and access a wide variety of professional learning courses designed to move them forward in their career. While LinkedIn Learning does typically require users to pay for their membership, they offer a promotional free month of membership for new users, giving you plenty of time to start or complete one of their courses.

This free digital marketing course is comprised of 25 different learning items or videos that make up a total of 37 hours of content. Throughout the free online course, you will learn the fundamentals of digital marketing, how to use social media in your marketing strategy, and identify how to use a site’s SEO (search engine optimization) principles. Learning items include how to optimize your marketing strategy for different apps (Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok), SEO keyword strategy and link building, and essential training with Google ads. While the course will be locked behind a paywall after your 1-month trial, you can always get started on some essential skills.

Cost: Free Try a free trial for Linkedin Learning.

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Approximately 37 hours

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Provided by the leading professional networking site
Learn about SEO optimization and optimizing your marketing for different apps

Cons:

Content is locked behind a paywall after 1-month free trial

4. The Complete Online Marketing And Advertising Course

Provided by Alison

This free online course from Alison is one of the shorter ones on the list, coming in at only 1.5 to 3 hours of total work to complete. This is more of a crash course in marketing and advertising, providing users with the fundamentals they need to get started on their own or pursue more educational content. Alison is a free, online educational platform that focuses primarily on workplace-related skills, pushing users to move forward in their professional career. There are more than 17 million registered users on the site and more than 2,000 free courses available for students to pursue. The site offers a variety of courses and certificates, and there will certainly be one that fits your needs.

There are 7 primary learning objectives throughout this short course, including funnel building, lead generation, LinkedIn advertising, banner ads, Twitter timeline ads, and search ads. These are the 7 most important areas, according to Alison, and will help you get on your feet in terms of starting your own digital marketing business. The purpose of this course is to take the complicated subject of digital marketing and make it simple, so you can get a firm grasp on where to go next in your professional career.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 1.5 to 3 hours

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Breaks down digital marketing in a simple and digestible way
Doesn’t require a massive time commitment

Cons:

More of a crash course, only takes 1.5 to 3 hours

5. SMstudy® Digital Marketing Associate Certification Course

Provided by Udemy

Udemy is an online educational platform that is similar to online shopping in the sense that instructors are permitted to create and upload their own courses to the site, making it easy for users to choose a class based on the skill level and time constraints. Instructors can also choose whether to make their courses free or paid, and there is a wide variety of both on the site. SMStudy, the organization hosting the course, is a global accreditation body for sales and marketing certificates. This associate certification course is sure to get you well on your way to working in digital marketing, and it certainly won’t be a waste of your time.

The free online digital marketing course contains 28 high-quality video lessons for you to follow along with, covering a variety of topics like the history of digital marketing, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, email marketing, and marketing with social media. You will receive a free certification from SMStudy upon completion of the course, which can be shared alongside your resume, with employers, or on social networking sites like LinkedIn. SMStudy has educated more than 400,000 students since their conception, and are one of the most trusted marketing resources.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 2.5 hours

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Hosted by an incredibly trusted and reputable marketing resource
Doesn’t require a massive time commitment

Cons:

More of a crash course, only takes 2.5 hours

6. Getting Started With Digital Marketing

Provided by Future Learn

This course from Future Learn only takes three weeks to complete and gives users all of the main concepts and techniques needed to succeed in digital marketing. Future Learn is one of the most well-known MOOC platforms, and for a good reason. Future Learn offers courses on a rotating basis, partnering with a variety of institutions and only offering their courses for a limited time. 717 people have already enrolled in this digital marketing course, so the sooner you enroll, the better! There is a $74 fee to enjoy the extra benefits of this course, which include things like direct communication with the instructor and a certificate of achievement.

Throughout the free online course, you will learn the most effective techniques to create a successful digital marketing strategy. The topics covered in the course include understanding the purpose of content marketing, inbound and outbound channels, buyer personas, importance of user experience, analytics fundamentals, and becoming a strategic thinker. By the end of the free digital marketing course, you will be able to understand the core principles and purpose of digital marketing, understand the buyer’s journey and use it to your advantage, and understand SEO.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes (With $74 fee)

Time to Complete: Approximately 3 weeks

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Offered in partnership with the digital marketing institute
Incredibly thorough and engaging course

Cons:

Certificate does not come free with the course

7. Digital Marketing With Google Ads Taught By A Former Googler

Provided by SkillShare

Google Ads are one of the most integral parts of digital marketing in the modern age, because Google is everywhere! Mastering Google Ads is one of the keys to mastering digital marketing, and this course from SkillShare is sure to help. SkillShare is an online learning community where users can engage with as many courses as they like, but many of them are locked behind a SkillShare Premium subscription paywall. This course is one of those, and while you would normally need to pay a fee to access the course, the site offers a 14-day free trial to get started on whatever course you’d like.

Throughout the free online digital marketing course, you will learn about topics like how to create your Google Ads account, how to create your search engine marketing campaign, how to advertise on YouTube with video ads, and how to know your return with internet advertising. There is even a culminating project at the end of the course that encourages you to create and explore your own Google Ads campaign. By the end of the class, you will feel confident in creating your own Google Ads campaign, as well as mastering digital marketing as a whole.

Cost: Free (with 14-day free trial)

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Approximately 2 hours

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Focuses specifically on Google Ads / YouTube Ads
Taught by an expert in the subject

Cons:

Certificate does not come free with the course

8. Digital Marketing Certification Online

Provided by Shaw Academy

Shaw Academy is a privately-owned, online educational website based in Ireland that provides users with a variety of free, pre-recorded lectures and certifications. Typically, Shaw Academy asks users to pay around $70 a month to access the full extent of their online certification courses. However, currently they are offering one month of learning entirely for free for new users. You can choose the schedule and pacing of your online course, as well as work on your courses in offline mode.

This free online course has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Shaw Academy, and is certainly designed to give you all the tools you need to pursue a new career in digital marketing. There are four modules in the course, including topics like reaching the target market, the world of Google Ads, tracking and measuring marketing efforts, and the importance of mobile marketing. The free trial allows you to get through the entire first module for free, which encompasses your diploma in digital marketing.

Cost: Free (for four-week free trial)

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 4 weeks

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Provides you with a diploma
4.9 out of 5-star rating

Cons:

Course is stuck behind a paywall after four-week free trial

9. Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

Provided by Facebook via Coursera

As previously mentioned, Coursera is one of the most widely-recognized MOOC platforms that offers both free and paid classes and certifications. This course is offered by Facebook and gives you all of the necessary tools to launch a digital marketing career on the site. No degree or prerequisites are required for this course, which is taught by Coursera top instructor Anke Audenaert. Over 10,000 students have already enrolled, so time is ticking for you to get started! You will also earn a shareable certificate when you complete the course, which is a resource that can be added to a resume or professional profile.

By the end of the free digital marketing course, you will understand your target audience and how to captivate them by using a Facebook Ads Manager campaign. You will also be asked to create a brief that includes the assets for your ad campaign, and you will understand how to establish and keep a social media presence.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 7 months

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Provided by one of the internet’s most widely-respected MOOC platforms
Goes in-depth regarding Facebook marketing and advertising

Cons:

Focuses specifically on Facebook advertising

10. Digital Marketing Strategy

Provided by University of Edinburgh via edX

This free digital marketing online course on edX is hosted by the University of Edinburgh, which edX has partnered with to create this exciting course. This class is specifically designed for those who have their own business or who plan on starting their own business, so they can effectively market their product or service. For a fee of $199, you can add a verified certificate from the University of Edinburgh after you’ve completed the course.

During the course, you will learn about the landscape of digital marketing and how it impacts the business world as a whole as well as your personal business. You will also learn about how to maximize your business opportunities while minimizing your risk as a business owner. By the end of the course, you will also be able to apply your new marketing techniques to future business ventures.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes (With $199 fee)

Time to Complete: Approximately 8 weeks

Curriculum: Beginner

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

Start anytime and go at your own pace
Provided by one of the internet’s most widely-respected MOOC platforms

Cons:

Certificate does not come free with the course
Designed for business owners specifically

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Courses for Online Marketing

Online marketing is something that you encounter every single time you step on the internet. Whether it’s through your phone, laptop, or any other mobile device, marketing is something you will never be able to remove yourself from. Anytime you want to buy a product, you are faced with marketing tactics that will persuade or deter you from buying it. This is why every single business uses marketing strategies, and why it is such a promising and profitable field to get into.

If you have been curious about pursuing a digital marketing degree or career, look no further than these exciting, free online courses. Any one of them will help you become more successful in your future marketing endeavors, and below we have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about these courses.

Who Should Take A Free Online Marketing Course?

Marketing is something that anyone can learn, especially if you already own or have access to the internet and electronic mobile devices. Since online marketing specifically can be done entirely from home, there are really no limiting factors or restrictions on who can learn how to pursue a marketing job. That being said, there are certainly things that, if you already have background knowledge with them, would help you in a marketing course. If you have previously studied any kind of business or advertising degree, that would obviously make it a lot easier for you to learn the material. However, don’t let this deter you, because anyone can learn marketing!

What Can I Gain From A Free Online Marketing Course?

When you work in marketing, you can end up having a lot of very successful clients and opportunities, and therefore become very successful yourself. A free online marketing course will give you all of the tools you need to start pursuing these dreams, as well as prepare you for the real-life aspects of your future marketing job. There are many enticing, profitable careers you can pursue with a marketing certification, including:

Market research analyst: A market research analyst is responsible for researching the intended audience for the campaign, gathering information about them in order to understand what will appeal to them. This will include looking at internet habits and determining their likes, dislikes, interests, and more. Typically, market research is done through things like focus groups, studies, and surveys.
Brand manager or product manager: A brand or product manager would typically assume a lot of the responsibility behind the image of a brand or brand family, and they are typically compared to small business owners for this reason. It is a brand manager’s job to ensure that functions like promotions and research are properly carried out to benefit the marketing strategy.
Advertising manager: Advertisers work in all aspects of marketing, from the conception of a marketing strategy or idea to it being carried out in real life. Compensation is often based on performance when it comes to advertising, but they can often be more suited to someone with creative tendencies.

How Long Do Free Online Digital Marketing Courses Take?

Online digital marketing courses typically vary in their length based on the type of material and topics being covered. However, since many of them are offered by collegiate-level institutions, they will often cover an entire semester or the equivalent of a typical semester. Some smaller courses offered by individual professors can span a few weeks or even just a few hours for a crash course. Typically, though, in-depth digital marketing courses will take at least a couple of months to complete.

Are Free Online Digital Marketing Courses Worth It?

Online digital marketing courses are most definitely worth it for anyone interested in pursuing them. Since the internet is the place where you encounter most, if not all, digital marketing, it only makes sense that you would learn about it on the internet as well. Digital marketing isn’t something that requires a lot of tools to get started, so once you start learning about it, you can set off on your own to start your own business or obtain clients.

It cannot be emphasized enough that since all of the courses on the list above are entirely free, you have nothing to lose by at least attempting to complete them! Even if you find that you aren’t actually interested in the material, you haven’t lost any money by investing in an expensive online course. Instead, you can explore the material in your free time while keeping your pockets lined. If that isn’t the best of both worlds, we don’t know what is!

Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.