20 Best Social Media Marketing Courses to Take Online [Free & Paid]

Taking a social media advertising course will assist you to level-up your current abilities or jumpstart a profession in marketing management. And it is a good time: In response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 10% rate of job growth is anticipated for social media advertising managers from 2020 to 2030.

That will help you stand out out of your competitors within the hiring course of, in addition to really feel fully assured in your potential to carry out in your social media function, you may wish to take a social media course and perceive the fundamentals of digital advertising.

However which social media coaching packages are well worth the funding? On this weblog put up, I am going to cowl a few of the finest social media advertising programs which might be accessible at the moment.

Social Media Coaching Programs For Newcomers

I keep in mind the primary time I hit “publish” on a social media put up for a shopper. I used to be a public relations scholar with an internship the place I used to be mainly the one member of the advertising workforce. Fairly a welcome to the {industry}.

That was ten years in the past, however I nonetheless keep in mind the victorious feeling of pulling off my first social media advertising campaigns at that internship.

Loads has modified, however I‘m nonetheless studying — and all social media professionals are nonetheless on this studying journey with you. That’s why I‘m so excited so that you can begin studying at the moment.

Many of those programs are fully free and provide an industry-recognized certification. Let’s leap into the way to construct an efficient social media technique with these newbie programs.

1. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google

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Creator: Google

Platform: Google Digital Storage

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Higher perceive digital advertising fundamentals throughout all kinds of disciplines, together with social media advertising.

Google’s digital advertising certification has over 300,000 college students and contains two social media modules to jumpstart your social media advertising information. It additionally gives digital marketing courses in cellular advertising, search engine optimization, content material advertising, and net optimization.

The programs clarify paid and natural search and educate you the way to develop search-engine-optimized net pages.

Studying the way to optimize pages for search on a preferred search engine (at no cost) appears like a win-win. On the completion of the course, you may obtain a digital certificates you’ll be able to add to your LinkedIn profile and resume.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to grasp a wide selection of digital advertising fundamentals, equivalent to search optimization, content material advertising, and native advertising
• The right way to get began with social media should you’ve by no means completed it earlier than
• The right way to set objectives on your chosen social media platforms
• The right way to create a sustainable long-term social technique

Advisable for:

As a result of this course covers every part associated to digital advertising, it’s beneficial for true newbies who’ve by no means been in advertising earlier than and who’d wish to be taught a little bit of every part (together with social media advertising).

2. Social Media Specialization by Northwestern College

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Creator: Northwestern College

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught every part you’ll want to get began in social media advertising.

Coursera is a good instructional useful resource for newbies and those that are new to the world of social media advertising.

This course by Northwestern College teaches you the social methods you’ll want to develop your attain and develop your followers. It touches upon social listening and lead nurturing, which most different programs don’t contact upon.

That is necessary as a result of lead nurturing is usually related to electronic mail advertising, nevertheless it can be completed (and must be completed) over social media.

You’ll be taught:

• What social media is
• Why you’ll want to create a social listening technique
• The right way to implement nurturing methods in your social media advertising

Advisable for:

Due to its concentrate on lead nurturing and its foundational modules, we advocate this course for non-marketing professionals and early-stage founders who’re all in favour of beginning a social media technique to develop their buyer base.

3. Social Media Marketing Course by Acadium

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Creator: Acadium

Platform: Acadium

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Get a full understanding of social media advertising whereas creating real-world expertise in an apprenticeship.

Acadium is an apprenticeship and mentorship program — there are a variety of classes inside the social media advertising course that you could take earlier than, after, or throughout your apprenticeship.

The programs provided cowl an array of social media advertising matters, together with the way to arrange profiles in your chosen platforms and the way to save time as you scale your social media efforts.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to get began with the most well-liked social media platforms, together with Fb, X, and Instagram.
• The right way to publish posts.
• The right way to stand out out of your rivals.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for true newbies who not solely want a basis of social media advertising usually, but in addition mentorship from Acadium’s group of mentors. As a result of it presents extremely fundamental information, we don’t advocate it for present entrepreneurs or social media managers.

4. Social Media Marketing Foundations by Brian Honigman

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Creator: Brian Honigman

Platform: LinkedIn Studying

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught the foundations of social media advertising, with a concentrate on viewers concentrating on and business-to-customer interplay.

This foundational course by Brian Honigman, a advertising marketing consultant, presents comparable content material to the opposite beginner-level programs on this record, with a particular concentrate on interacting with clients by means of your online business’ most well-liked social networks.

It additionally contains instruction on utilizing social media for gross sales and experimenting along with your strategies.

You’ll be taught:

• What social media advertising is.
• The right way to use social media for buyer interactions.
• The right way to attribute metrics to enterprise outcomes.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for advertising professionals, salespeople, and repair professionals who wish to take a customer-centric strategy to your organization’s social media technique.

5. E-Marketing Specialization by the College of California, Irvine

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Creator: College of California, Irvine

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Begin with the fundamentals after which scale as much as paid promoting and develop a mobile-first advertising technique.

This social media coaching covers the basics of social media, however accelerates to cowl extra advanced matters like digital promoting and making use of testing and analytics to your technique.

A singular a part of this course is mobile-first advertising — you may be a really priceless member of your advertising workforce should you can deliver these recent insights by U of C into your technique.

You may be taught:

• How to decide on which advertising channels to focus your technique on.
• The basics of utilizing social analytics instruments.
• The fundamentals of mobile-first advertising.

Advisable for:

Entrepreneurs trying to make use of social media to enhance the remainder of their digital advertising technique.

6. Social Media Marketing by The Open College

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Creator: The Open College

Platform: The Open College

Value: ​​£200.00 (roughly $250)

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught to create social media partaking content material that can assist your model obtain its advertising objectives.

It is a paid course that permits you to be taught at your personal tempo whereas nonetheless interacting with co-learners.

The primary module covers big-picture matters like person journey mapping and deceptive information, which is a singular focus for a newbie course.

One of many factors of this on-line course is “What differentiates nice social media?”

The eagerness and experience actually shine by means of with an overview this in-depth.

You may be taught:

• The right way to map the person journey.
• Drawbacks and dangers to totally different social media platforms.
• What separates nice social media content material from simply good content material.

Advisable for:

Given how a lot materials this course covers, social media managers or new social media workforce members may actually profit from this coaching.

7. Social Media Marketing by Nice Studying

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Creator: Nice Studying

Platform: Nice Studying

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Discover the potential that group and model advocates have in your social technique.

Beginning with the fundamentals, this course shortly ramps as much as focus on the extra sophisticated aspect of social media, equivalent to storytelling, cross-channel campaigns, and leveraging chatbots.

This course additionally touches on group administration and dealing with model advocates to raise your social media presence.

You may be taught:

• Planning and content material publishing.
• Fundamentals of promoting and marketing campaign monitoring.
• Fundamentals of fostering group.

Advisable for:

With 1.5 hours of coaching, it is a nice newbie course for anybody who must dip their toes within the social media world however is not instantly creating and executing their very own technique.

8. Social Media Marketing in Practice Specialization by the Digital Advertising Institute Creator: Digital Advertising Institute

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Creator: Digital Advertising Institute

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Free

One-Sentence Abstract: Perceive what content material stands out on social and the way to get your viewers to interact.

The primary half of this social media coaching focuses on the basics and creating a content material technique. Then, the course dives into particular person platforms. It covers Fb, Instagram, Snapchat, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

With an emphasis on breaking by means of the noise, storytelling, and constructing relationships with viewers, this course helps viewers craft social media posts that additional their general advertising plan.

You may be taught:

• How person conduct is altering, and the way entrepreneurs can adapt to fulfill customers the place they’re.
• Particular alternatives and challenges of particular person platforms.
• The right way to use the client’s journey to create content material that influences viewers.

Advisable for:

Budding digital entrepreneurs who need platform deep-dives earlier than committing to a particular social channel.

Social Media Administration Coaching For Mid-Profession Professionals

I‘ve completed social media for native authorities workplaces, nation-wide organizations just like the American Purple Cross, and numerous purchasers.

One factor I’m certain of? Platforms won’t ever cease altering, and I am going to by no means be completed studying and bettering my abilities. Social media coaching is supposed for professionals in any respect ranges, not simply newbies.

Particularly for the reason that job of a complete social media workforce is usually given to at least one particular person in under-staffed organizations. Digital entrepreneurs must frequently upskill simply to maintain up.

With these sources, you are able to do so from house and sometimes at no cost. Let’s dive into these sources.

9. Social Media Certification by HubSpot

Creator: HubSpot

Platform: HubSpot Academy

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Learn to create an inbound social media advertising technique.

HubSpot’s social media certification course is a strong program designed that can assist you appeal to clients and companions, and construct model loyalty. As a result of social media is the important thing to inbound advertising, this course ties within the two ideas seamlessly.

The course is versatile sufficient so to work on it in your time. It covers important matters equivalent to measuring ROI, extending attain, social media content creation, and social listening.

You may additionally choose to take particular classes inside the HubSpot Academy course — as an example, this one on Social Media Advertising.

We even have an extremely easy-to-use social media management tool that can assist you to set all of those concepts in movement.

Get a glimpse right here:

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to develop a social media marketing strategy to generate model consciousness for your online business.
• The right way to use social media listening to search out out what works finest on your followers.
• The right way to prolong your attain on social and leverage influencers to draw new audiences.
• The right way to get essentially the most out of your social media investments.

Advisable for:

As a result of this course instantly jumps into social media technique, we advocate it for brand new social media advertising managers who’ve not too long ago been promoted from a junior-level function. Some expertise in social media is beneficial.

10. PPC University by WordStream

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Creator: WordStream

Platform: WordStream

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Study social adverts on the most important platforms together with Instagram, Fb, YouTube, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and LinkedIn.

WordStream presents the mandatory instructional sources to develop a robust understanding of social media commercials.

This contains social media adverts on a wide range of platforms equivalent to Instagram, Fb, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

There’s additionally details about why and the way to promote on social media, in addition to schooling about finest practices whereas promoting throughout these platforms.

Lastly, you may study social media ad metrics and social purchasing — this manner, you’ll be able to successfully measure your success in addition to attain your viewers when and the place they’re able to make a purchase order.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to get began with pay-per-click advertising throughout all kinds of platforms, together with social media.
• The right way to create a social advert technique on your most well-liked platform.
• Why you must spend money on social media adverts.
• The right way to measure your success with advert metrics.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for social media advertising managers who’re all in favour of launching a paid ads strategy on social media.

It’s additionally an ideal match for you should you choose to be taught at your personal tempo by studying written guides (versus watching movies).

11. Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate by Google

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Creator: Google Profession Certificates

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Learn to go from having no digital advertising presence to constructing a loyal buyer base on-line.

This course could also be labeled “newbie” on Coursera, however we‘ve listed it within the intermediate class because of its depth and breadth.

With greater than 150 hours of coaching supplies, Google’s coaching course of takes college students from zero expertise to producing leads, analyzing information, making gross sales, and fostering buyer loyalty on-line.

For context: should you spend ten hours every week working by means of this coaching, it would take you greater than six months to finish. Profitable college students will get a complete understanding of creating a profitable social media technique.

You may be taught:

• The right way to create partaking content material that turns “likes” into leads.
• What social analytics to make use of to construct a loyal buyer base.
• The right way to construct long-lasting relationships with viewers.

Advisable for:

This social media coaching goes means past social media alone. It‘s very best for anybody who’s accountable for being a one-person advertising workforce.

12. Foundations of Marketing Analytics Specialization by Emory College

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Creator: Emory College

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught what information issues when constructing and adapting your social media methods, and the way to use it to your benefit.

This social media coaching program by Emory has a robust concentrate on information and analytics.

This course doesn’t concentrate on particular person social media platforms however as a substitute teaches you the way to use advertising information and analytics to achieve insights and make choices.

With a nine-hour mannequin particularly on social media analytics, college students will learn to use social media listening platforms in addition to assess information and make choices.

You may be taught:

• What are surveys, and the way can they be leveraged to enhance your social technique.
• Which analytics must be used to information your technique, and the way to leverage social listening.
• The right way to use advertising information to forecast shopper pursuits.

Advisable for:

Digital entrepreneurs who’ve already tried beginner-level social methods and now need assistance analyzing information, making choices, and creating a content material technique with certainty.

13. Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO by the College of California, Davis

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Creator: College of California, Davis

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught concerning the extra advanced aspect of social media advertising, like influencer advertising and superior content material methods.

Influencers dwell on social media, however partaking with them isn’t a newbie initiative.

This course teaches you the way to construct profitable relationships with influencers.

Moreover, it teaches extra superior content material methods that assist additional search engine optimization and enhance web site site visitors.

Together with video coaching, this course additionally comes with dialogue prompts and assignments to assist college students perceive the fabric.

You may be taught:

• What potential social media has for driving web site site visitors.
• How influencers can bolster an organization’s on-line visibility along side different social initiatives.
• Perceive your target market on a deeper stage.

Advisable for:

Entrepreneurs who’re able to work with influencers and develop web site site visitors.

14. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content by the College of Pennsylvania

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Creator: College of Pennsylvania

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Perceive viral content material and how one can leverage predictable patterns in your personal social technique.

“Why did THAT put up go so viral?!” It’s a thought each digital marketer has had. Now we are able to lastly get some solutions on this course by the College of Pennsylvania.

The course description shares that word-of-mouth data is 10x as efficient as typical promoting, and course Module 3 explains how entrepreneurs can achieve affect to enhance model visibility.

You may be taught:

• The psychology behind social networks and the way they unfold on social media.
• What all viral concepts have in frequent.
• The ability of phrase of mouth, and the way to harness this in your social media technique.

Advisable for:

Manufacturers who’ve their target market, provide, and funnel discovered, and are prepared for the (LOTS of) eyeballs.

Social Media Advertising Coaching For Entrepreneurs

Within the age of personal branding, we’re all entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs take this on in a proper capability once they‘re accountable for their very own enterprise technique.

Whether or not you’re concentrating on one particular social media platform otherwise you wish to mobilize all your social media accounts to assist unfold your message, these programs will assist.

15. Online Advertising & Social Media by the College of Maryland

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Creator: College of Maryland

Platform: edX

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Study internet advertising, sentiment evaluation, and social community evaluation.

On edX, you’ll be able to decide lessons that fit your pursuits and save lessons to seek advice from later. There are a number of enterprise matters you’ll be able to take lessons on.

This course from the College of Maryland focuses on internet advertising, and particularly on social media promoting.

Plus, it contains instruction on information evaluation so to make knowledgeable choices when refining your social technique over time.

You’ll be taught:

• Which platforms you’ll be able to promote on.
• The right way to measure the success of your campaigns.
• The right way to analyze your chosen social media networks.
• The right way to delve into Huge Information on your social efforts.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for social media entrepreneurs who’d wish to launch an promoting technique. As well as, we advocate it for brand new social media analysts who want a robust basis in social information evaluation.

16. Digital Marketing 101 by Boot Camp Institute

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Creator: Boot Camp Institute

Platform: Boot Camp Digital

Value: $197/12 months or $97/month

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Study digital advertising and work by means of a complete part on social media advertising and technique.

Digital Advertising 101 by Boot Camp Institute is an impactful, video-led coaching that takes you on a deep dive into the fundamentals of digital advertising and utilizing it for social media. That is beginner-level coaching and will be accomplished in six hours.

Boot Camp’s clientele contains Nike, NASA, GE, and Georgia-Pacific, and the platform provides consumers limitless one-year entry as soon as bought.

It gives a digital advertising template, ROI data, benchmarking, and a bonus-free digital instruments course.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to get began with digital advertising throughout a wide range of mediums and channels.
• Why you must create a social media technique.
• Which social media developments to keep watch over.

Advisable for:

Due to its generalist strategy, we advocate it for non-marketing professionals who’d wish to be taught all digital advertising methods, together with social media advertising.

17. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, Social Media, and E-Commerce by The Wharton College

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Creator: The Wharton College, College of Pennsylvania

Platform: edX

Value: $585

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Advertising course designed for enterprise professionals.

Wharton‘s course is taken into account an intermediate dive into the intersection of digital advertising, social media advertising, and ecommerce. It’s a self-paced, six-week class that requires three hours of your time every week.

This course is structured particularly for advertising professionals, small enterprise house owners, and customers who wish to know social media strategies. You may learn to produce advertising campaigns which might be efficient for your online business.

Be aware: This course is obtainable in dwell cohorts. You’ll want to attend for enrollment to open.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to use demographics and behaviors to create a digital technique.
• The right way to work together with clients and potential consumers throughout a number of channels.
• The right way to leverage instruments and ways to power-up your digital advertising.
• The right way to delve into new media platforms, together with social media.

Advisable for:

Whereas it is a foundational course, we advocate it for skilled enterprise professionals who’d wish to develop their talent set to incorporate advertising abilities and ways.

18. The Strategy of Content Marketing by College of California, Davis

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Creator: College of California, Davis

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Intermediate

One-Sentence Abstract: Be taught concerning the energy of integrating your content material advertising and social media advertising methods.

Social media advertising is a kind of content marketing, and this course might help you weave each right into a extra complete technique.

On this on-line class provided by the College of California, Davis, you may learn to create a content material advertising technique and develop an understanding of the ecosystem surrounding that technique.

Ample time will even be spent engaged on strategic writing and framing.

The various kinds of content material advertising will likely be reviewed, together with how they’re integral to social media advertising. There are 5 weeks price of fabric paired with movies, workouts, readings, and quizzes.

You’ll be taught:

• What the content material advertising ecosystem is.
• The right way to use the “7A Framework” to power-up your content material.
• The right way to tailor your content material to every part of the client’s journey.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for social media entrepreneurs who’d wish to strategy social media advertising with a content-centric perspective.

19. Social Media Marketing Masterclass by Mark Timberlake and Philomena Timberlake

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Creator: Mark Timberlake and Philomena Timberlake

Platform: Udemy

Value: $129.99 one-time charge or $16.58/mo

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Learn to construct a social media advertising technique and schedule on your distinctive enterprise.

Relatively than an entire stage one course in social media, this providing is a masterclass on the topic, uniquely centered round moral digital advertising strategies.

You may learn to arrange a robust advertising technique and a schedule that aligns with engaging in enterprise objectives.

You may additionally dive into how social media advertising integrates with your online business, electronic mail advertising, and constructing a web-based group. This course will be accomplished in 20 hours, and provides you a certificates of completion at its finish.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to create actionable content material in your web site and social media.
• The right way to leverage social media communities to extend model consciousness.
• Which social media platforms you should use to market your online business.
• The right way to use your cellphone for social media images.

Advisable for:

This masterclass doesn’t cowl simply social media advertising, however search engine optimization and running a blog. For that cause, we advocate it for brand new entrepreneurs who’d wish to develop their talent set as they dive into their new function.

20. Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate by Meta

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Creator: Meta (Fb)

Platform: Coursera

Value: Free

Talent Stage: Newbie

One-Sentence Abstract: Study social media advertising and promoting strategies from Meta.

Meta’s social media advertising certificates contains the necessities you’ll want to jumpstart your social media advertising information, with added coursework on promoting.

It additionally presents a Meta-centric strategy, so if you realize you’d wish to promote on Fb and Instagram, that is the best course for you.

You’ll be taught:

• The right way to create a social media administration technique.
• The right way to start social media promoting on Meta’s platforms.
• The right way to measure the outcomes out of your efforts.

Advisable for:

We advocate this course for professionals who wish to get foundational information in social media advertising and who know they’ll be investing into Meta’s social media platforms.

Discover Your Preferrred Social Media Advertising Course

Which social media coaching course appeals to you essentially the most? It is wonderful what number of free programs are at our fingertips (with no graded assignments or concern of not understanding the reply).

Social media advertising will be extraordinarily highly effective when completed proper.

Understanding the way to apply the simplest and up-to-date methods will assist you to stand out from different social media entrepreneurs and strategists so you’ll be able to propel your profession.

So, determine the best course on your expertise stage, funds, and objectives — then get began studying.

Editor’s observe: This put up was initially printed in November 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.