January 17, 2019

10 Marketing Certifications for Small Business Owners

If you’re looking to refine your marketing strategy, we’ve compiled the ten marketing certifications to teach you about social media, Google Adwords, inbound marketing, and email marketing, among other related topics, so you can grow your business.

Check Out These 10 Marketing Certifications:

1. Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business Online

Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business Online helps small business owners understand the principles of online marketing and create their own digital marketing strategy. This course only takes two hours to complete and you’ll learn how to create an effective landing page, use Google Adwords, and effectively budget your advertising dollars. It’s presented by Google on Alison.com, and after receiving a score of at least 80 percent, you’ll get a free digital certificate. Cost: Free

2. Social Media Superhero

Every business needs a social media presence, and Melyssa Griffin’s Social Media Superhero course has taught more than 4,000 students how to get the most out of each social media platform. The course contains 60 minutes of material, a Q&A, workbook, and presentation slides. If you’re ready to grow your business’s social media following, this course is for you. It also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee if you don’t love the course. Cost: $37

3. Hubspot Inbound Marketing

Inbound marketing is attracting potential customers to your website through content. According to Hubspot, inbound leads cost 61 percent less than traditional marketing campaigns. The Hubspot Inbound Marketing course teaches you their proven methodology for growing your business and attracting customers. You’ll learn how to create engaging content, nurture leads, and promote your business on social media. Cost: Free

4. Certified Digital Marketing Professional

The Digital Marketing Institute offers diplomas and master’s degrees in digital marketing to students in more than 100 countries. The Certified Digital Marketing Professional course has more than 130 marketing topics and 30 hours of training. It’s entry-level and perfect for small business owners who want to get a deep dive into all areas of digital marketing. Cost: $2,445

5. Google Analytics Academy

Marketing professionals should understand the basics of Google Analytics, and Google offers free training to get you certified at any level. Google Analytics for Beginners is for someone with no current knowledge and Advanced Google Analytics is for those that already know how to navigate Google Analytics and wants to create custom reports. Cost: Free

6. Lynda.com

Lynda.com offers more than 5,000 courses for one monthly fee. Ideation for Marketers teaches brainstorming techniques so you can constantly create fresh ideas and Marketing Your Event will give you techniques to make your next event a success. Currently, there are 1,369 courses for small business marketing, so you could take numerous courses to complement your upcoming initiatives. Cost: $29.99/month

7. The Complete Digital Marketing Course

The Complete Digital Marketing Course is a crash-course in digital marketing and has 37 hours of teaching on social media marketing, SEO, email marketing, and market research. If you can’t take separate courses on these topics, this gives you the basics on digital marketing in one course. It even has separate teaching for different social media platforms, so you understand how the differences in marketing on Facebook versus Twitter. Cost: $199

8. Email Marketing Certification

Hubspot’s Email Marketing Certification is an entire course devoted to building an email marketing strategy. It teaches you how to create high-performing emails, analyze and test your emails, and develop relationships through lead nurturing. According to Hubspot’s website, half of marketers say email is their most effective channel in generating revenue. If you want to master email marketing, this course is for you. Cost: Free

9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization

The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization is offered on Coursera by The University of California Davis. It includes six courses that conclude with a client report project. If you spend five hours a week it will take you four months to complete. While this is a significant time commitment, SEO is important because it drives organic search traffic to your business website. Cost: $49/month or audit for free (but you don’t get the certificate)

10. Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring

Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring is presented by ed2go and teaches you big business marketing strategies that you can transmit to your small business. The course is 24 hours and must be completed over six weeks. You’ll learn how to build a customizable marketing plan, generate referrals, and attract customers. Cost: $149

Conclusion: Learn More About Marketing

Marketing is essential for every business. Without it, it would be hard to sell your products and services. By investing your time and money in a marketing course, you’ll gain the skills that’ll help you attract and retain customers. Marketing courses can teach you to make better decisions and become more aware of what your customers want. Do you have any other marketing courses that you’ve completed? Tell us about them in the comments section below.