The Top 10 Must-Have Digital Marketing Courses Online for 2023

Intro

Keeping your digital marketing skills up to date is one thing.

Taking online courses with actionable content, now that’s pure gold 🥇

The traditional college marketing curriculum is mostly based on theory and doesn’t provide enough specifics on succeeding in a particular marketing lane.

People usually only learn marketing in college because they think it will help them get a better job.

But that’s not the only path.

You can work for yourself instead of making someone else rich. 💰

Knowledge is only powerful if you apply it to the right situation at the right time.

So, put your thinking cap on and decide which course will help you achieve the next level in your career or business.

What are the top online digital marketing courses in 2023?

I’ll cover online courses from various digital marketing disciplines that provide actionable content you can use right away.

1. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Hosted by:

Google Digital Garage - Skillshop

Curriculum:

This free course is jam-packed with 40 hours worth of video lessons on how to take a business online and then increase your visibility through search, social media, mobile, and advertising.

It also walks you through tracking and measuring web traffic, selling products or services online, and taking your business global.

There are quizzes after each of the 26 modules.

You can take a free assessment with 40 questions to earn a certificate at the end of the course.

Credibility:

It’s Google. 🥸

Learning from the same company that owns 92% of search traffic worldwide is a critical first step to establishing yourself as someone who understands the basics of digital marketing work.

One of the benefits of teaching everyone about digital marketing is that people are more likely to spend money on Google Ads and become loyal users of their other products.

Certification

The Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University accredit this Google digital marketing certification and are recognized by employers globally.

2. Content-Led SEO

Hosted by

Brian Dean and SEMrush

Curriculum

Brian teaches you advanced content and backlink techniques supported by videos and downloadable worksheets to apply your knowledge completely for free.

28 sections are oozing, with about 7 hours of valuable lessons.

Including bonus topics on:

• Advanced outsourcing strategies
• Small business PR secrets
• The foundation of copywriting that sells
• Seven secrets of most effective copywriters
• Using SEO tool automation
• How to scale content production
• How to scale link-building
• OXFORD SUMMER SCHOOL

I went through the entire course last year and thought it was 8 out of 5 stars.

I honestly couldn’t believe this was free at first.

Credibility

Forbes recognizes Brian Dean as an SEO expert, and Ahrefs recognized his former site, Backlinko as the world’s best SEO blog.

He’s also built a phenomenal free SEO hub to learn advanced strategies in a well-organized reading format.

Brian has an up-and-coming course called SEO That Works 4.0 this year that you can join the waiting list that is definitely not for everyone price-wise at $499 per month (a car payment).

Certification

Earn your certificate from SEMrush Academy, recognized by the search community all over the world.

3. Strategic Social Media Marketing Certification Course

Hosted by

Hootsuite Academy

Curriculum

Current and aspiring marketing leaders can learn social media more strategically with 20 hours worth of video lessons, interactive text-based learning, supplemental readings, quizzes, and the final exam.

The course covers:

• Research and Planning
• The POEM Model and Converged Media
• Content Creation
• Influencers and Advocates
• Social Media Management
• Social Media Governance
• Implementation and Measurement

The course and certification is a one-time fee of $999 because it’s kinda like taking a formal university class with access to lessons for 1 year.

Credibility

Syracuse University’s famous S.I. New House School of Public Communications

created the content of this course.

Hootsuite claims that its alumni have come from Procter and Gamble, Safeway, Pfizer, Legg Mason, and more.

Certification

The digital certification will be from Hootsuite, and you can add it to your LinkedIn profile.

4. Content Marketing University

Hosted by

Content Marketing Institute - University

Curriculum

Six admirable content marketing instructors teach leaders how to level up their skills with lessons that are kept up-to-date on a regular basis in this 30-hour masterclass.

There’s one year from registration to learn in-depth about planning, audience, story, channels, process, conversation, and measurement topics.

It will be a $995 investment, and if you’re a non-profit or edu, you might be able to get a discount.

Credibility

Content Marketing Institute is a pillar resource for 215,000+ content professionals.

Certification

CMI will provide the certification.

5. Email Marketing Mastery

Hosted by

DigitalMarketer

Curriculum

This active course guides you in every aspect of the email marketing path and teaches you how to turn your email audience into responsive buyers.

There are a whopping 74 video lessons in 10 key topics covering all aspects of:

• Email and the customer value journey
• What to know about email
• The psychology and science of email
• Building an email list
• Developing an email calendar and funnel
• Five foundational email campaigns
• How to monetize your list
• How to do copywriting and design
• Measuring your email marketing
• Iterating and improving

It will be a $495 investment.

Credibility

World-class instructors who are digital marketing masters and business practitioners share their tested and proven strategies with email marketing.

Certification

DigitalMarketer will provide a certification that you can print or display on LinkedIn.

6. Ultimate Affiliate Marketing Course for Beginners

Hosted by

Udemy

Joshua George

Curriculum

Josh shows you exactly how he profits from affiliate marketing with step-by-step walkthroughs, not theories.

Course content includes:

• Making money from affiliate marketing
• Validating affiliate marketing niches
• Creating product review content that generates commissions
• Making sales via email marketing
• Strategy for finding profitable niches
• Building a niche affiliate website
• Ranking an affiliate site on the first page of Google
• Generating sales without a website or email list

There are 130 lessons and 20 hours of watch time in total.

The course normally costs $89.99, but sometimes you can get it on sale for $10.99.

Credibility

Josh owns an award-winning digital marketing agency in the United Kingdom called ClickSlice, which is heavily focused on SEO.

His course is a best seller with a 4.7-star rating from 1,952 reviews out of 9,005 students.

Certification

Udemy supplies a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

7. Mobile Marketing Strategy

Hosted by

LinkedIn Learning Keitha Maciel

Curriculum

There are a lot of factors that go into crafting a mobile marketing strategy that works.

Learn about:

• Laying the Mobile Marketing Strategy Foundation
• Applying marketing strategy 101: considerations to mobile
• How to attract your ideal mobile clients
• Developing a mobile marketing plan
• Successful mobile marketing campaigns
• Third-party partners, legalities, and strategy next steps

Credibility

Keitha Maciel is a marketing leader, strategist, brand builder, and speaker.

She currently works as Head of Marketing for ComplyAdvantage.

Certification

Get rewarded with a LinkedIn certificate of completion.

8. 2023 YouTube Ads & Video Marketing

Hosted by

Udemy

Alex Genadirik

Curriculum

Participate in this hands-on video course that walks you step by step on how to start your very own local video marketing agency.

Learn from 51 lessons (around 4 hours of watch time):

• Intro on YouTube Ads and selling with Ads
• Setting up the first YouTube ad and explaining every ad element
• How to write a script for a direct sales video (commercial)
• Adding calls to action
• How to film your sales video or commercial
• Video filming equipment
• Strategy for extra traffic: YouTube ads + YouTube SEO
• Beginner tips on background and lighting for video
• How to get good audio

It also includes 12 downloadable resources.

You can snag this with a deal for only $9.99, but even the regular price of $59.99 is still cheap.

Credibility

Alex is an entrepreneur who sells stuff online with video marketing and YouTube ads.

He’s taught over 100,000 students how to use video marketing strategies to supercharge their businesses.

Certification

Udemy supplies a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

9. Conversion Optimization MiniDegree Program

Hosted by

CXL

Curriculum

Become a winner at conversion rate optimization with a mini-degree from CXL.

Get paid top dollar and work however you like as a top 1% CRO expert.

Learn from 12 instructors covering every angle on:

• Building and running a world-class optimization program
• Mastering a/b testing
• Following playbooks to apply what you’ve learned
• Networking and getting peer support from the CXL private community
• Getting certified and hired with their help

There are 5 tracks, 20 segments, and 38.5 hours of watch time in total.

Access this and 90+ other courses for $1,499 per year, $529 per quarter, or $289 monthly.

Credibility

The course is taught by the top 1% of conversion experts: Peep Laja, Momoko Price, Roger Dooley, Michael Aagaard, Megan Kierstead, Andre Morys, Fredi Pike, Ben Labay, Georgi Georgiev, Ton Wesseling, Chad Sanderson. and Brian Cugelman.

Certification

CXL Institute provides a certificate of completion for becoming an Optimizer.

10. PPC University

Hosted by

Wordstream

Curriculum

PPC University teaches concepts on basic to advanced search and social media strategies so that you can win at your job or grow a business.

Wordstream's free courses include:

• PPC 101
• PPC 102
• Advanced PPC
• Social Ads 101
• Facebook Ads

Credibility

Wordstream is recognized as an authority on all things Pay-Per-Click advertising.

Certification

There is no certification available.

Wrap up

There are tons of digital marketing courses available online.

The best course for you will depend on your skill level and what you want to improve.

If you’re a beginner to digital marketing, then Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing is a smart starting point.

I recommend the Conversion Optimization MiniDegree Program for marketers who want to be in high demand or the Ultimate Affiliate Marketing Course if you’re looking to monetize your skills.

No matter the program you choose, make sure to do your research and read reviews before enrolling.