The demand for digital marketing skills is at an all-time high, and it’s even reached the so-called “boring” industries like real estate and insurance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for a digital marketing manager is about $115,000 per year. That’s a healthy salary for someone with skills in a much less glamorous field.
But not all traditional jobs are destined to be automated. Thanks to the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning, industries like insurance and real estate just might need some human intervention to make sure all the rules are followed correctly.
If you’re interested in becoming an online marketer, you have many choices when it comes to training and certification. While there are plenty of in-person programs, you may find that the best learning experience is one that you get on screen.
Here are four different types of online marketing courses, broken down by the platforms they’re available on so you can find the one that suits you best.
Online Marketing Programs: Enrollment Is Growing
Overall, the demand for online marketing has increased by 41% in the past five years, according to HubSpot Blogs research. The number of students seeking certification as an online marketer has increased from 447 in 2011 to 699 in 2016. While this might not seem like a huge increase, keep in mind that even fewer people were seeking this certification in 2011.
According to the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, there are currently 41,000 openings for CPAs in the state. But the demand for digital marketing skills is at an all-time high, and it’s even reached the so-called “boring” industries like real estate and insurance. So it’s quite possible that there are a lot of good digital marketing job opportunities, which is why so many people are pursuing certification.
Lynda.com Is the Classic Choice
If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you may have heard us mention Lynda.com quite a bit. It’s the gold standard of online learning. If you’re unfamiliar, Lynda.com is a subscription-based business that offers a variety of training programs for business professionals. Since its founding in 1994, the company has grown to offer courses in over 50 categories, including marketing, sales, and business administration.
The best part about their online learning platform is that you can access all of their courses for free. While some of their courses are available only to paid subscribers, the vast majority of their content is completely free. In addition, they update their courses regularly, so you’re always learning something new.
Lynda.com also makes it quite easy to find the right courses for you. You can search by topic or keyword, view course reviews, and read about the professors who teach the courses. There’s also an option to subscribe to a course for just $5 per week, which is quite an attractive proposition for serious students. If you want to become an online marketer, this is the perfect place to do it. Just remember to enroll in some of their certificate programs, too, just to make sure you’re getting the full picture.
Coursera Is for Life Enthusiasts
Another great option for online marketers is Coursera. Similar to Lynda.com, Coursera was founded in 2014 and offers a variety of business and technology courses taught by esteemed professors. But instead of focusing on specific certification, Coursera is more of a self-paced learning platform, which gives you the flexibility to earn your certificate of completion whenever you want.
You can find a variety of marketing courses on their platform, including:
- Ethical Hacks of Marketing
- Digital Marketing: An Integrated Approach
- Social Media Marketing
- Marketing Essie
- Marketing Fundamentals
- Marketing Management
- Digital Marketing Strategy
If you’ve got a genuine interest in marketing, you can take these courses for free. Once you complete the courses, you can download a certificate of completion from Coursera, which you can then share with employers.
Udacity Is Trending Toward Online Marketing
Udacity is a platform that offers a variety of tech courses, many of which are quite relevant to those pursuing a career in online marketing. Launched in 2012, Udacity has quickly established itself as one of the go-to websites for anyone seeking to learn a new skill or further their education. In addition, they offer a variety of in-demand technical certifications, like Google’s online marketing certificate, which you can earn through their AI program or machine learning specialization.
In keeping with their “learn and earn” model, Udacity is always updating their AI and ML courses to stay fresh. The more you engage with the content, the better. By regularly taking and passing their AI certification exam, you ensure that you continue to learn the latest marketing strategies and technologies.
Udacity is great for anyone interested in machine learning, AI, or a career in digital marketing, but their platform is quite affordable. While their free courses can be accessed by anyone, their in-demand technical certifications cost just $25 a piece. If you want to become an online marketer, Udacity is a great place to start your education. Just remember to enroll in their AI certification program for Google employees.
BigCommerce is Focused on E-commerce Marketing
Last but not least, we have BigCommerce. As the largest e-commerce platform for business and individuals, BigCommerce is the go-to source for those seeking to establish an online store. If you’re looking for a comprehensive online marketing program, BigCommerce is one of the best options since they offer a Digital Marketing Essie, which you can complete in just 15 minutes a day, five days a week. This certificate program includes SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and more.
But before you begin your studies, it’s important to note a few things. First, as a student on BigCommerce, you’ll need to have a blog with at least 500 words of content published on it. In addition, you’ll need to get at least ten blog articles published in the next six months, with at least half of those published in the last three months. With their extensive e-commerce marketing program, BigCommerce is confident that they can help you achieve your goals. Just make sure you have a clear idea of what those are before you begin your studies.
Now, it’s your turn. Which one of these platforms is the right fit for you? We hope this article has helped you in your quest to better understand the world of online marketing and the different types of programs available. Remember to choose your platform based on your interests and needs. And, don’t forget, if you need further assistance, feel free to contact us!