Digital Marketing is a dynamic industry and it’s sometimes challenging to keep up with the pace. However, certifications are one of the best ways to keep yourself relevant in the industry. And if you are already certified, keep a close tab on the expiry date and make sure to get recertified. Keep yourself relevant – That’s the mantra.
Most agencies and companies looking for digital marketing talent emphasize prior job experience; if you cannot show that on your resume, you should get certified immediately. That will give you a shot to compete.
There are multiple certifications out there and it can get confusing which one you should pursue. That’s precisely why I’ve put together the top 10 digital marketing courses for you in 2023.
Here’s the list.
1. Google Analytics certification
Digital marketing and Google are almost synonymous with each other. You will be delighted to know that they offer a host of free certificates that are widely credible in the industry. One of them is the Google Analytics certification. Google Analytics is one of the most popular analytics software out there which allows you to measure your campaigns and analyze data. Recently Google announced an upgrade to the existing version known as universal analytics, and by mid-2023, they will sunset the current edition. This gives you a unique opportunity to learn and get certified in the new version. There are 70 multiple-choice questions that you need to answer correctly to get the certificate.
Before you attempt the exam, go through the courses at Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics
Head over to – Google Analytics Academy
Fees: Free
Time to complete: 5 – 7 hours
2. Google Ads certification
Search engine marketing is one of the quickest ways to get traffic to your site and Google is the biggest search engine in the world! Get the hint?
Duh!! That was easy, right? Google has its own courses on Search engine marketing and honestly, it’s more than enough to get you started. There are a bunch of videos which you can learn from before attempting the exam which is a series of multiple-choice questions. And apart from search, there are separate courses for Google Display, shopping and video. I recommend getting started with a search certification and then scaling up for more.
You must score above 80% to pass the exam.
Head over to – Google Ads certification
Fees: Free
Time to complete: 4 hours for each module.
3. Meta Blueprint Certification
Facebook has come a long way since its inception in 2004. It boasts 1.49 Billion users and is the biggest social media platform today. Over the years, Facebook has transformed and acquired other companies like WhatsApp and Instagram. The company was recently restructured and now the parent company known as Meta is embarking on an ambitious project to build its own Metaverse. It’s an immersive platform where you can literally do anything and become anyone.
All of this makes the platform a lucrative option for businesses to advertise their brand and reach their target audiences.
As a digital marketer, knowledge of these platforms can increase your credibility and take you one step closer to that dream job. Meta’s website offers various certification options to choose from according to your requirements and skill level. For example, the Meta-certified Digital Marketing Associate Course measures foundational competency in creating, managing and reporting on ads across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, and this course is ideal for entry-level marketers, students and job seekers. The Spark AR creator professional certification on the other hand is ideal for Creatives, Media Buyers, Account Sales, Account Managers, and Account Executives. You should check out which course is the best fit for you and your career.
You also get to take practice tests and online courses before you take the exam, and there is even a study guide which you can download and follow.
All the courses award you with a certificate on successful completion and depending on the course, some are valid for 1 year, while others are valid for 2 years. You can recertify up to 6 months prior to the expiry of the existing certificate.
Head over to – Meta Blueprint Certification
Fees: USD 99 to USD 150 – The actual cost may differ by country
Time to complete: Depend on you.
4. HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
At the core of every marketing strategy lies content and no matter how many changes or new iterations of digital marketing come and go, the right content will always sustain. And this makes content marketing an essential part of the digital marketing ecosystem.
Recruiters are always looking for talent who can articulate their words and ideas to tell powerful stories that entice their audiences.
As a digital marketing professional, you need to know the essentials of content marketing and Hubspot is the best place to learn these skills. The course is taught by Justin Champion who has more than 8 years of digital marketing experience.
It covers topics like:
- The power of storytelling
- Building a content creation framework
- Planning a content creation strategy and many more.
For successful completion, you have to pass an exam which can take up to an hour to complete.
Head over to – Hubspot Academy
Fees: Free
Time to complete: 4 – 6 hours (14 Lessons)
5. Google Digital Garage: Digital Marketing Course.
Google’s Digital Garage is a free one-stop solution to learning the basics of Digital Marketing. They have partnered with a few of the world’s most reputed universities and education providers to build courses that are for everyone who wants to learn relevant skills.
Along with Digital Marketing which is a certification course, they also provide courses on career development and Data.
The digital marketing section has 32 courses to choose from, for example, Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, Get a business online and connect with customers over mobile among others. The completion timings also depend on the courses, and while some run for an hour, others can take almost 40 hours to finish.
I recommend you start with the fundamentals of digital marketing course and scale your way up.
This course helps you to master the basics of digital marketing and is accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University.
It consists of 26 modules which are full of practical exercises and real-world examples to turn knowledge into action.
What’s better is that you are awarded a certificate upon successful completion and that surely adds credibility to your resume. Employers always appreciate it when candidates show an inclination towards learning.
Head over to – Google Digital Garage
Fees: Free
Time to complete: Depends on the course.
Thank you for listing these certifications. I am strongly interested in the Google Digital Garage and the Meta Blueprint Certification. They seem to be more in line with what I am interested in doing and in line with what I have done in the past.
I have received Google Africa Digital Skills certification and LinkedIn Learning Certification. I am always looking to improve my skills set. I really enjoyed your blogs. I would love to keep reading your writing.