Marketers and communicators may be looking to learn a new skill set or brush up on their knowledge during a sustained stay-at-home period. The good news is, there are lots of free or low-cost resources out there to help communications professionals learn something new, and some even offer certifications you can proudly display on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Here are a few of our favorite online marketing courses and resources:
Analytics
Google Analytics Academy
Google offers a wealth of free resources to learn Google Analytics, one of the most valuable tools a digital marketer has at their disposal to shape their company’s marketing strategy. Newbies can start with Google Analytics for Beginners and move on to Advanced Google Analytics, which will discuss more advanced techniques for analyzing website data.
After you’ve completed these two courses, you’ll be ready to take the Google Analytics Individual Qualification exam. It’s completely free, valid for 12 months, and shows clients and potential employers that you’re proficient in using Analytics.
Content Marketing
Hubspot Academy
HubSpot has lots of tools on its website for marketers to learn new concepts and advance their skills. Visit HubSpot Academy for a virtual, well, hub of educational content ranging from single lessons to courses on content strategy, SEO or business blogging. You can become certified in HubSpot’s CMS or sales software, or more general topics like content marketing, social media and inbound sales.
SEO
Moz SEO Learning Center
If you’re new to search engine optimization, there’s no better place to start than Moz. The SEO Learning Center has a series of videos on SEO essentials, a beginner’s guidebook and tons of free content organized by topic so you can delve deep into the technical aspects of local search, link building and keyword research.
Business and Leadership
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Premium members get access to hundreds of courses on various business subjects, skills and software. From management and leadership training to how to become a better writer, there’s something for everyone who wants to focus on professional development during this time.
Public Relations
PRSA Webinars
The Public Relations Society of America offers valuable resources for members, including free webinars roughly twice a month on high-level communications topics like crisis communications, corporate reputation and of course, PR strategy and execution. Members can also listen to past webinars on demand.
Design
The Futur
The folks behind The Futur want to reach one billion creatives with their content, focused on creative skills like typography, graphic design and branding. They’ve also got content on business fundamentals to help entrepreneurs succeed at starting their own business. Shop their courses or take advantage of hours of free video content, blog articles, downloadable templates and more.
Branding
On Brand Podcast
Nick Westergaard hosts On Brand, a marketing podcast about the art and science of brand building. He talks with the industry leaders behind Ben & Jerry’s, Adobe, Whole Foods and other beloved brands, who share their insights on the importance of messaging, relevance and other important issues facing marketing professionals today.
Got a favorite resource that’s helped you sharpen your marketing and communications skills? Share with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Photo via The Futur’s instagram