The Internet has changed the way we access content, communicate, and do business. Launching a digital marketing course doesn’t quite fit into the traditional mold of higher education. However, as the landscape changes, more and more entrepreneurs are choosing to jump in headfirst and gain a valuable skill set that will serve them well in this new era of digital marketing. For those seeking an online learning experience, here are the comparisons and perks of each platform.

Udacity

Founded in 2014, with the mission of “changing the world through technology,” Udacity offers an immersive, online learning experience where students can not only learn the theory but also practice while following the course material. In fact, many of Udacity’s Masters of Science in Data Science, and related courses, have a job placement rate of more than 90 percent, with many students getting involved in a data science coaching role alongside their studies. It is a relatively new platform, but has attracted a large number of students already.

With an unlimited learning plan, students can take a certification exam at the end of each course, which Udacity verifies and certifies as a thoroughly thought out and sustainable approach to learning. Students can access all of Udacity’s course material through its various apps for mobile and desktop devices. These apps make learning a convenient and accessible option for everyone, even if they don’t have the best mobile connection or a desk computer. 

Udemy

Founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, Udemy brands itself as “The Platform for Learning and Teaching” and offers an array of free and paid courses in a variety of subjects including digital marketing, business, and data science. Whether you want to become an entrepreneur, marketing expert, or data scientist, Udemy has a course for you.

While Udacity is focused on skills development, Udemy is dedicated to teaching. In fact, many of its courses are taught by experienced professionals who can hit the ground running after completing the course. Udemy also offers a variety of tips and tricks of the trade for students to learn from, including access to subject matter experts and mentorship from successful professionals. In addition, Udemy offers a series of free online conferences and meetings with industry professionals, where they can give talks and answer questions from the community. This is a valuable opportunity for beginners to learn from more experienced professionals.

Which Should You Choose?

Ultimately, this is a question of personal preference. Each platform has its pluses and minuses that you need to consider before taking a purchase decision. To help you make the right choice, we have compared and analyzed the key characteristics of Udacity and Udemy to see if they are a good fit for your personal learning needs.

How Do You Learn Digital Marketing?

Where Do You Study?

There are several important characteristics that make an online learning platform valuable for a student. For one, the flexibility of the learning experience. You may not be able to fit all of your learnings into a traditional classroom setting, so having a portable, mobile-friendly learning environment is valuable. 

In addition, you may want to study in groups or communities where you can get support from others who are learning alongside you. Joining a learning community where you can ask questions and get answers from more experienced professionals is one of the best ways to learn, especially if you are dealing with a new subject matter.

The flexibility of the learning environment is one of the important things to look for in an online learning platform. If you can imagine a typical classroom setting, with desks and traditional lecturing, you may want to look elsewhere for your learning needs.

Further, the amount of support that you get for free. Most online learning platforms offer a basic level of support, such as access to tutors or academic professionals, while paid platforms such as Udemy are more likely to provide additional resources, such as access to subject matter experts, job placement support, and community discussion forums. 

Students who value these additional resources may find that Udemy provides a more valuable learning experience.

Key Characteristics To Look For In A Good Digital Marketing Course

To learn digital marketing, you will need a solid foundation in marketing and business. If you don’t have a clear understanding of marketing and what it is that you need to learn, then you are setting yourself up for a disappointment. 

In addition, you will need to discover what are your go-to laptops or desktops for work, and which ones you can use for learning purposes. Depending on your personal preference, you may not necessarily want to purchase the most modern or high-end laptops or desktops; you may just want to get a machine that is reliable enough for your needs and that can handle all of the learning resources that you will access.

Since these are professional level courses, you will need a laptop or desktop that is up to date with the latest software (including web browsers), and that has enough RAM (Random-Access Memory) to run all of the required programs and operating systems (including a variant of Windows for desktops). In addition, you will need a fast internet connection to access all of the required resources.