A digital presence is one of the most critical elements of a business trying to grow or even exist in the tech age. Because of how important having an online presence is, the demand for elite digital marketers is at an all-time high and it’s still skyrocketing. 

As either an entrepreneur or a job seeker, possessing online marketing skills opens doors and helps you take control of your professional destiny. Conventional marketing playbooks have been completely rewritten by this brave new virtual world. Believe it or not, however, digital marketing isn’t a hard-to-enter playground for Silicon Valley and the tech wizards. The terminology may lead you to believe that it takes a certified ace to excel at it, but actually, every bit of knowledge you need to add to your repertoire can be gained for free. 

Many platforms offer free courses and certifications, which is what we’re going to focus on in this list since that’s your most guaranteed return on time investment. 

1) Google Digital Unlocked

Google is already the most popular search engine in the world, but it’s also become one of the best educational resources for digital marketers through its online learning platform Google Digital Unlocked. With more than 125 courses designed by premier universities from around the planet, it’s designed for entrepreneurs looking to increase their presence and digital marketers looking to work with big and small businesses alike. 

But the main reason people come to the platform is for the 40-hour long certification program Google offers. The 26 modules in the program are comprehensive. I’ve done them myself and found it oddly enjoyable, but maybe that’s my inner-nerd talking. After getting through the video lessons and the assessments, you’ll need to pass a final exam with a score of 80 percent or higher and then you’re officially Google-certified. This particular certification is one of the main ones employers look for as they’re going over the CVs of would-be digital marketers to add to their team. 

2) HubSpot Academy

HubSpot’s software allows you to keep track of your marketing campaigns and has other CRM functionalities. More recently, the software company has earned a reputation as an e-learning powerhouse with an online academy that’s helped countless marketers improve their digital marketing skills. At the end of the video tutorials, you’ll take an online test consisting of multiple choice questions. Surprisingly, I actually found it a bit tougher than Google’s certifications due mostly to the semantics of the questions themselves. You’ll need to get at least 50% on the exam last I checked. 

3) Facebook Blueprint

You can’t be a top-notch digital marketer if you don’t know how to run social media accounts, which is why Facebook Blueprint comes in at number three on our list. Facebook’s social media e-learning platform is an online academy for marketers. It has more than 150 courses ranging from beginner to advanced. Perhaps, the most popular course offered on Blueprint is the omni-channel marketing approach. The bonus to the knowledge you’ll receive is the free certificate that comes with it. The only thing it costs you is time, but that’s a good investment.

4) Google Analytics Academy

The best digital marketers can tell you why a campaign isn’t working. Analytics removes the guesswork from the equation. Google Analytics Academy is information straight from the source. Before you enroll, understand that it’s not a true beginner course, but these mini-courses within it are well-worth it. Employers will take you more seriously upon certification and, more importantly, you’ll actually know what you’re doing. Also, the Google Analytics Academy helps improve your skills across all social media platforms — not just the search juggernaut. 

5) LinkedIn 

LinkedIn is the go-to for professional networking. As soon as people login, they shift to a business mindset in a way that Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram simply can’t replicate. The ever-increasing number of active users has also turned the social platform into a great marketing avenue. 

In recent years, it’s grown into an amazing learning platform as well through LinkedIn Learning. With more than 15,000 courses available, users can gain certifications in any number of subjects.