4 Indispensable Resources For Digital Marketing Professionals | Social
As digital marketing professionals, we’re inundated with companies offering us certification after certification. Some cost a lot of money, such as a digital marketing mini-MBA. Others are cheap, such as courses on Udemy. There are also those that are free.
While a degree from a respected university looks nice, they can cost upwards of $5,000. You may have one and love it. However, it’s not worth it for most people due to the ever-changing nature of the industry and the overabundance of free resources.
We’ve compiled a list of the best so that you don’t have to go digging.
1. Google’s Academy for Ads
Google offers hundreds of videos. Many are included in certification courses, while others are supplementary.
Getting certified familiarizes you with the Google programs either you or your colleagues us all the time. They do not make you an expert in Google products. That’s something only experience can provide.
The free certifications Google offers are:
- Mobile Sites
- Digital Sales
- Google Shopping
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification
- AdWords Search
- AdWords Display
- AdWords Video
- AdWords Mobile
If that list looks intimidating to complete, it can be. It took me a while to wrap my head around the idea, so you’re not alone.
2. HubSpot Academy
While HubSpot is not a free program to use, the company offers 14 different certification courses for free.
Certifications form HubSpot Academy:
- Social Media
- Inbound
- Inbound Marketing
- Inbound Sales
- Content Marketing
- Sales Enablement
- Email Marketing
- HubSpot Sales Software
- HubSpot Marketing Software
- Growth-Driven Design
- Growth-Driven Design
- HubSpot Contextual Marketing
- HubSpot Agency Partner
You may have noticed that a few are HubSpot specific, but most are not. The tips you learn in the company’s courses can be applied to any digital marketing strategy.
3. Facebook Blueprint
Facebook Blueprint is an invaluable resource for those who advertise on Facebook and Instagram. Reading through the varied courses is highly recommended. Sitting for the 200 dollar test that is only good for one year is not.
For those unsure where to start, Facebook Blueprint’s All Content Learning Path will guide you through the many lessons. You’ll learn how to boost posts, best practices, how to use business manager, and a lot more.
4. Bing Ads
Honestly, this is not where most people spend their ad money. However, Microsoft has made the program so much like Google AdWords that there’s no reason not to become a Bing Ads Accredited Professional as well.
Even though there is an abundance of knowledge available for free on the internet, it’s important to acknowledge that sometimes paying 10 to 40 dollars makes sense simply to have the information organized in one location. Udemy and Mediabistro specialize in these types of classes and usually have discounts on them.