What would you say if I told you there was a way to learn about online marketing without having to go to school?

I would say, “Try online marketing university!”

Most people think that to be effective, online marketing must be similar to traditional marketing. However, online marketing is much more than simply throwing Facebook ads at your audience, hoping they’ll buy your product. In fact, online marketing is a lot of things—it’s a mindset, a toolset, and a technique all wrapped up in one. That makes it a lot easier to understand than you’d think. Let me introduce you to online marketing university.

What is Online Marketing University?

Put yourself in your customer’s shoes for a minute. What would you say if you found yourself in a situation where you didn’t know much about a particular product or service, but you needed to make a decision about what kind of tool to use, either to find information, make a purchase, or do something else?

You’re reading an article about marketing. Maybe you’re looking for product information or you want to find out more about the company that makes the product you’re reading about. You click on a link that takes you to a purchase page. That’s when you realize that you’ve just wasted an entire minute of your life thinking about a product that doesn’t even exist yet. (If that’s the kind of thinking that gets you into trouble, don’t do it! Think of all the time you’ll save in the future.)

Now, I’m not saying that everyone will always behave rationally. However, with understanding comes the opportunity to guide a possibly irrational customer towards a more rational decision-making process.

This is where online marketing university can help. When you join an online marketing university, you’ll gain access to courses that can help you find the information you’re looking for and give you a leg up on the competition. Additionally, you’ll be able to work through real-life situations that you and your customers can relate to as you build your skills. Finally, over time, you’ll be able to build a business that you can own, grow, and promote.

Why Should You Try Online Marketing University?

There are a few good reasons why you should try online marketing university instead of just heading over to Google and trying to figure it out yourself:

• You’ll have access to courses that can help you find the information you’re looking for
• You’ll be able to work through real-life situations that you and your customers can relate to
• Over time, you’ll be able to build a business that you can own, grow, and promote

Let’s take a closer look at each of these reasons.

1. You’ll Have Access to Courses That Can Help You Find The Information You’re Looking For

Imagine that you’re trying to find a tool that can help you find information on Instagram. You may find a few results on your own, but you’ll also discover that there are dozens of different courses and tutorials that can help you learn how to use Instagram for marketing purposes. Some of these courses will even allow you to gain real-world experience with running campaigns on Instagram. (Try searching for “Instagram marketing training” to learn more.)

Even if you know what you’re looking for, it can still be a daunting task to find the information you need in a sea of seemingly relevant results. Having a guide by your side as you navigate the Internet can help you cut through the clutter so you can get to the information you need in no time.

2. You’ll Be Able To Work Through Real-Life Situations That You and Your Customers Can Relate To

As a marketer, you’ll learn that everything you do has purpose. When you’re provided with a problem to solve, you’ll learn how to put your knowledge into action and develop strategies that can help your customers, clients, or readers achieve their goals. Working through real-life situations can help you understand what is motivating your customers to take a certain action and can give you the opportunity to empathize with your customers instead of just seeing them as a consumer demographic 

For example, you may learn that a significant number of your customers are using Instagram to follow celebrities or famous people. If you see a disconnect between what your customer base is doing on your site and what they are publicly posting on Instagram, you can bet that there is a cause and effect relationship. You can analyze this data and use it to inform your next steps.

By going through real-life situations, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why your customers are where they are in relation to your product or service. Additionally, you’ll be able to see the opportunities that exist for taking advantage of your customers’ needs while also meeting their expectations.

3. Over Time, You’ll Be Able To Build A Business That You Can Own, Grow, And Promote

If you’ve ever built a product or a service that became successful, you know the value of being in a position to promote that product or service and give customers the opportunity to try it out. When you have the capability to promote your product or service, you have the opportunity to gain credibility with consumers who are more likely to be persuaded by your arguments in favor of the product or service you’re selling. Additionally, you can provide customers with support should they have any questions or need assistance (i.e. you’re there to help).

With a business of your own, you’ll have the freedom to promote what you’ve learned as much as you want, when you want. Additionally, if you find that a certain product or service is gaining popularity, you can take advantage of the trend and build a business around it. (This is called ‘Vertical Integration’ and is a common practice in the industry. Your product may be one of the first examples of a trend that becomes a viral sensation.)

As you can see, there are many good reasons why you should try online marketing university instead of just going to Google and trying to figure it out yourself. Let’s keep going.

How Do I Join Online Marketing University?

Once you’ve decided that an online marketing course is right for you, the next step is to figure out how to get into one. There are a few different ways that you can go about doing this. (And while we’re on the subject, let’s discuss how to find the best fit for you amongst all the different courses offered by an online marketing university, shall we?)

One way is to look for the university that has the course that you want to take at a reasonable price. Check out all the courses that are available and if you see any that seem interesting, take a look at the pricing to see if it’s within your budget. Remember, there are hundreds of different courses offered by dozens of different universities. The trick is to figure out which one is right for you. (And please don’t focus on the cost of the individual courses—it’s the total price of the entire program that you need to work on.)

You can also contact the financial aid office of the university and see if they have any suggestions for you. (Many universities offer scholarships and grants for students who are pursuing post-graduate study in marketing—keep this in mind as you look through your options.)

Another way to join an online marketing university is to take the traditional route, which is to apply through a traditional school. (Try searching for “Marketing program near me” to find an accredited program in your area.) This could be a good option for you if you’re looking for a more traditional training environment. (Many universities offer online degrees—check out all the different options that are available to you.)

A final option is to take the online route. There are a few different ways that you can do this. You could start by taking a look at what other students are doing in the various marketing courses that you’re interested in. (You can get a sense of what your peers are saying by visiting any of the online forums that the university may have set up for the purpose of connecting students with other students, faculty members, and alumni who are also pursuing degrees in marketing.)

Once you’ve decided which route is right for you, it’s time to figure out which online marketing university is right for you. Take a look at all the different programs that the university has to offer and select those that you feel are a good fit for you. (You may find that there is more than one option that you feel is right for you.)