Digital marketing is crucial for anyone looking to promote products and services online. According to Coursera’s 2024 job skills report, it’s one of the fastest-growing tech skills.

This article highlights seven of the best digital marketing courses in 2024.

Why Learning Digital Marketing is Crucial in 2024

The digital marketing industry has been buzzing in recent years. In 2024, one of the exciting trends is the use of generative AI in automating digital marketing tasks. Despite these advancements, the demand for digital marketers remains high, offering a promising career path. According to Glassdoor, digital marketers can earn between $50k-93k/year, making it a lucrative career choice. This dynamic industry is creating numerous job opportunities in various fields, including:

Content Marketing: Creating and distributing engaging content to attract and retain customers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing websites and content to rank higher in search engine results.

Social Media Marketing: Building and managing a brand's online presence across social media platforms.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Managing paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads.

Email Marketing: Crafting and sending targeted email campaigns to nurture leads and drive conversions.

Analytics and Data Analysis: Measuring and analyzing marketing performance to make data-driven decisions.

To thrive in these roles, you'll need a strong foundation in key digital marketing skills, including:

Content creation and copywriting: Ability to write compelling and informative content.

SEO best practices: Understanding how to optimize websites for search engines.

Social media management: Building and engaging communities on social media platforms.

PPC advertising: Managing and optimizing paid advertising campaigns.

Email marketing: Creating effective email campaigns and managing email lists.

Data analysis: Interpreting and using data to inform marketing decisions.

How We Selected These Courses

To ensure you have access to the most valuable resources, we meticulously curated this list of courses based on the following criteria:

Relevance: The course aligns with the current digital marketing landscape and covers in-demand skills.

Accreditation: The course is recognized by industry experts and provides valuable certifications.

Reviews: The course has received positive feedback from previous students, highlighting its effectiveness.

Industry Recognition: The course is endorsed by reputable organizations or platforms.

We gathered information from various sources, including course platforms, industry experts, and student reviews, to provide a comprehensive overview of each option.

The Top 7 Digital Marketing Courses to Take in 2024

1. Google Digital Garage - Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

If you're just starting, Google Digital Garage offers a solid foundation in digital marketing. This free course covers the basics, including SEO, SEM, and social media. With 40 hours of content and practical exercises, it’s perfect for beginners who want to turn knowledge into action.

Key Topics: Google business listing, local marketing, SEO, SEM, social media marketing, content marketing, marketing research, email marketing, display ads, data analysis, web analysis, e-commerce, global marketing.

Duration: 40 hours

Cost: Free

Certification: To get the certification you need to complete:

• 26 modules 
• quizzes at the end of each tutorial video
• a final test (32 correct out of 40 questions to pass)

The Open University awards you a certificate upon completion. 

Instructors: The course content is developed and curated by a team of Google experts versed in various digital marketing disciplines.

Pros

• The biggest advantage is that this course is entirely free to access and complete. 
• The course covers a wide range of fundamental digital marketing topics, giving you a well-rounded understanding of the digital marketing landscape.
• The course is self-paced and broken down into manageable modules. You can learn at your speed and convenience, fitting it around your existing schedule.

Cons

• Due to the course's comprehensive nature, which covers a wide range of topics, each topic is covered in a more introductory way. If you want in-depth mastery of a specific area, you might need to supplement your learning with additional resources.

Reviews: 

• “In my view, this course is definitely worth checking out to understand the base knowledge of analytics and search engine optimization. The knowledge taught is very useful, and offers a comfortable starting point for digital marketing. However, it is a bold claim to say that this course will teach you everything you need to know” - Davison Brain.
• “This felt very useful as an overview/foundational course.  The combination of different styles of learning (listening/reading/writing/quizzes) made the entire course feel less static and more engaging” - Kathy A

2. LinkedIn Learning - Advance as a Digital Marketing Specialist

LinkedIn Learning’s path to becoming a digital marketing specialist is perfect if you like learning in smaller, more digestible chunks. This program covers SEO, content, email, and social media marketing, giving you a well-rounded education.

Key Topics:  SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, web analytics, customer journey.

Duration: Approximately 11 hours of content.

Cost: $29.99/month (LinkedIn premium subscription)

Certification: You earn a certification after completing the course.

Instructor(s) 

Brad Batesole: Marketing Thought Leader, Chief Learning Officer at Madecraft

Marta Dapena-Baron: Speaker, Author, and President of The Big Picture Partners LLC

David Booth: Consultant, Instructor, Founding Partner of Cardinal Path

Brian Honigman: Marketing Consultant, Professor of Marketing

Megan Adams: Social Media Strategist, Viral Marketer

Matt Bailey: Author, Marketing Expert, Trainer, Speaker

Sam Dey: Consultant and Instructor Specializing in Digital Marketing

Dina Shapiro: Brand Strategist, Marketing Executive, Founder of Yorkville Consulting

Pros 

• LinkedIn is a major platform in the professional world, and their courses are developed by industry experts.
• This program offers a structured path to advance your digital marketing knowledge, ensuring you cover all the important bases.

Cons

• LinkedIn Learning has a monthly subscription fee, which can add up over time.

Review:  

“I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to dive into digital marketing or enhance their existing skills. It’s well worth the investment and has already proven invaluable to my career growth” - Amira Mostafa 

3. HubSpot Academy - Inbound Marketing Certification

HubSpot Academy’s course explores inbound marketing, focusing on creating content that attracts and engages customers. It’s great for anyone looking to improve their content creation, social media strategy, and lead nurturing techniques.

Key Topics: Inbound marketing, buyer personas, content distribution strategies, customer segmentation, marketing attribution and experimentation, and marketing automation.

Duration:  Approximately 4-5 hours

Cost: Free

Certification: You will receive a free certification after you complete the lessons, take the final exam, and score at least 75%.

Instructors: 

• Jorie Munroe: Principal Professor, Hubspot Academy
• Christine Lee: Inbound Professor, Hubspot
• Kara Susvilla: Senior Co-Marketing Manager, Hubspot
• Adriti Gulati: Senior Instructional designer, Hubspot
• Jen Stefancik: Director of Social Media, Guild

 Pros

• HubSpot is a leader in inbound marketing, so you learn from the experts.
• The course covers core inbound marketing principles, buyer personas, and the buyer's journey, providing a strong foundation.

Cons

• Naturally, the course leans towards HubSpot's tools and methodology, so it might not be entirely platform-neutral.

Review: “The course offers comprehensive coverage of everything from the basics of inbound marketing to the complexities of the buyer’s journey, all presented with exceptional clarity and depth” - Shehar Yar 

4. Coursera - Digital Marketing Specialization by the University of Illinois

This specialization comprises seven courses that delve deep into digital marketing analytics, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and more.  It's ideal for those who want a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing.

Key Topics: Marketing analytics, consumer behaviour in a digital world, brand communication,  digital media and marketing strategies 

Certification: You earn a certification after completing the course

Duration:  Approximately 4 months (if you spend 10 hours per week)  

Cost: $79/month (Coursera subscription). You can also apply for financial aid.

Instructors

• Vishal Sachdev: Director, Illinois MakerLab
• Mike Yao: Professor of Digital Media, University of Illinois 
• Steve Raquel: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois
• Kevin Hartman: Adjunct Instructor of Business Administration
• Aric Rindfleisch: Executive Director of Illinois MakerLab

Pros 

• Developed by the respected University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the specialization carries weight and credibility, potentially impressing employers.
• Graded assignments with peer feedback
• Real-life capstone project to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios

Cons

• Completing the specialization requires several months of dedicated study time, so make sure you have the bandwidth.

Review: “I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work” - Jennifer J.

5. Udemy - The Complete Digital Marketing Course

Udemy’s comprehensive course covers everything from market research to practical skills like setting up Google Ads and creating effective Facebook campaigns. It's designed for hands-on learners who want to dive right into the practical side of digital marketing.

Key Topics: Market research, website setup, email marketing, copywriting, SEO, Facebook ads, social media marketing, Google analytics.

Duration: 22.5 hours of on-demand video

Cost: Depends on discounts and promotions

Instructors:

Daragh Walsh: Instructor on Udemy with a 4.4 instructor rating.

Rob Percival: CEO, Learn Anything and Instructor on Udemy with a 4.4 instructor rating

Certification: An Udemy certificate of completion when you complete the course

Pros

• The course is interactive with projects, checklists and actionable lectures.
• It’s a top-rated course on Udemy.
• Once you purchase a Udemy course, you get lifetime access to the materials and any future updates the instructor adds.

Cons: 

• Udemy courses are broad in scope; you may not get an in-depth exploration of each topic.

Review: “I think Daragh has wonderfully clubbed all aspects of digital marketing in this 12 1 course. Every topic was very well explained audio-visually with relevant examples. I would highly recommend this course to all those who are thinking of starting their own business or looking for a job in digital or social media marketing. Thank you Daragh for this exceptionally informative course which includes a lot of tricks and hacks!” - Radhika S.

6. Simplilearn - Digital Marketing Specialist Master’s Program

Simplilearn partners with Meta to offer an advanced program that includes modules on SEO, social media marketing, pay-per-click (PPC), conversion optimization, web analytics, content marketing, and email marketing. This master’s program is ideal for those seeking a deep and thorough understanding of digital marketing.

Key Topics: Website creation, behavioural marketing, SEO, SEM, mobile marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, AI automation,  content strategy.

Duration: 8 months at 5-10 hours a week

Cost: $999

Certification: You get a certificate of achievement after completing the course 

Instructors: Simplilearn instructors

Pros 

• The program covers various digital marketing topics, potentially equipping you with a well-rounded SEO, PPC, social media marketing, content marketing, and analytics skillset.
• The inclusion of practical projects can help you apply your knowledge and build a portfolio to showcase your skills.
• You can take other elective courses like B2B marketing and affiliate marketing within the master's program.
• The classes are live and include the use of industry tools

Cons

• The master's program takes about eight months to complete, with scheduled classes.

Review: “After completing the course, I could change my career path from Pharmacy to ecommerce and digital marketing in healthcare and consulting other clients on Digital Marketing requirements. I was able to increase my earnings by 60%.” - Mohamed Baydon.

“Since I needed to change my career directions, I signed up for the Digital Marketing Masters program from Simplilearn. The quality of content has been absolutely excellent. The trainers are experienced and helpful. The course videos are structured in a way that helps you to retain the maximum amount of information” - Katherine Isabel Little

7. edX - Marketing in a Digital World by Curtin University

The edX course "Marketing in a Digital World" by Curtin University teaches online brand management, optimization of digital media assets, and corporate reputation management. It also covers brand equity strategies, consumer psychology, and applying marketing tactics like segmentation, targeting, and positioning.

Key Topics:  Digital branding and engagement, reputation management, buyer behaviour, online marketing strategies, brand management.

Duration: 1 year, 7-9 hours per week

Cost: $795

Certification: You must first complete five courses to receive a MicroMasters credential, which you can use to apply for admission at Curtin University. 

Instructors: 

Sonia Dickinson: Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Business and Law at Curtin University

Katharina Wolf: Associate Professor at Curtin University

Ian Phau: Professor in the School of Marketing Curtin University at Curtin University

Billy (Cho Yin) Sung: Senior Lecturer, School of Marketing at Curtin University

Bridget Tombleson: Academic at Curtin University

Isaac Cheah: Senior Lecturer, School of Marketing at Curtin University

Pros 

• Developed by Curtin University, a respected Australian university, the program carries weight and credibility.
• The MicroMasters format offers a defined path to build your knowledge progressively, covering core digital marketing areas.

Cons: 

• It’s expensive and takes almost a year to complete this course.

Review: “This exciting new credential from Curtin University provides digital marketing skills for immediate application in contemporary business environments.” - Nicole Cikarela

Tips For Effective Online Learning

Whether you choose a free or paid course, remember that effective online learning requires dedication and effort. Here are some tips to maximize your learning experience:

• Set a schedule: Allocate weekly dedicated time to study and complete coursework.
• Actively participate: Engage in discussions, forums, and assignments to solidify your understanding.
• Take notes: Summarize key points and concepts for future reference.
• Practice what you learn: Apply your newly acquired skills to real-world projects or personal endeavours.
• Stay motivated: Set realistic goals, celebrate your progress, and connect with other learners for support.

Conclusion

Mastering digital marketing opens doors to exciting career opportunities and effectively enables you to reach your target audience. By taking advantage of these available resources, you can equip yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in this dynamic field. 

Remember, consistent effort and dedication are key to your success in digital marketing.