Top 14 Digital Marketing Courses in 2024 (PLUS 15 Freelance Course Options)

Sunil Kumar Saw, owner of digital media agency Add4profit, mentioned in a Quora post how the demand for a strong online presence is growing. He said that digital marketing agency owners and marketers can make significant income by offering services like SEO, content marketing, and PPC advertising. However, he points out that success in this industry is only possible through in-depth market research, strategic planning, and providing high-quality services.

VSL Masterclass by Peter Kell

Legendary Marketer by David Sharpe

The Influencer Bootcamp by Christina Galbato

ReviewPro Launchpad by Mike Schmidt

Laptop Lifestyle Master Program by Jet van Wijk

Flexxable is a training platform designed to teach the Pay Per Lead (PPL) model, specifically targeting users interested in using Facebook paid ads to generate leads. Flexxable offers a variety of educational resources, including step-by-step guides, courses, and personal coaching, aimed at teaching effective strategies for finding profitable niches and creating high-conversion ad campaigns.

Price: Flexxable's Pay Per Lead Agency Blueprint course costs vary from $2,900 to $7,800.

More Info: Flexxable Review

My Marketing Coach by Terry Dean

Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn

SWAS Accelerator by Pavel Ketsuk

Conversion Rate Academy by Oliver Kenyon

Chat Money System by Marcel Fernandes

Local Lead Generation Training Program by Dan Klein

1. Udemy: The Complete Digital Marketing Course

The Complete Digital Marketing Course on Udemy is a comprehensive digital marketing course by Rob Percival, Daragh Walsh, and Codestars that covers:

The course delivers expertise on all the major digital marketing channels to provide a foundational education in digital marketing. Although the course doesn't dive deep into any specific topic, it does provide the necessary information to get started earning money online as a freelance digital marketer. It's an especially intriguing option for those who are just getting started with digital marketing that don't know which specific digital marketing skills to specialize in. 

2. Coursera: Digital Marketing Specialization by the University of Illinois

Digital Marketing Specialization is a 7-course series by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign through the Coursera platform. The program is taught by four UIUC professors, including Vishal Sachdev, Mike Yao, Kevin Hartman, and Aric Rindfleisch. The courses included in the program are:

• The Digital Marketing Revolution
• Marketing in a Digital World
• Digital Marketing Analytics in Theory
• Digital Marketing Analytics in Practice
• Digital Media and Marketing Principles
• Digital Media and Marketing Strategies
• Digital Marketing Capstone

Although the course is self paced, the recommended timeline is 4 months at 10 hours per week. The course especially excels in teaching digital marketing strategy and marketing analytics, essential skills that freelance digital marketers should know to generate top tier results for clients.  

3. Simplilearn: Digital Marketing Specialist

The Digital Marketing Specialist program by Simplilearn is a digital marketing master's program and online bootcamp that covers a wide range of online marketing concepts, skills, and tools to successfully run marketing campaigns as a freelancer. The core courses of the program include:

• Introduction to Website Creation: Building a Strong Online Foundation
• Digital Marketing Landscape: Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape
• Behavioral Marketing: Understanding the Customer
• Search Engine Optimization: Unleash the Power of Organic Visibility
• Search Engine Marketing: Targeted Campaigns for Maximum Reach
• Social Media Marketing: Engaging Customers and Building Brand Advocacy
• Email Marketing: Leveraging the Power of Personalized Communication
• Mobile Marketing: Capturing Audiences in the Mobile Era
• Content Strategy: Crafting Compelling Messages for Success
• Strategies for Paid Campaigns: Maximizing ROI
• Analytics, ROI, and Evaluation: Measuring Success in the Digital Age
• AI, Automation, and Emerging Technology: Harnessing Innovation for Digital Marketing
• Digital Marketing Capstone Project

The course also comes with some intriguing electives for those looking to make money with freelance digital marketing, including Digital Marketing with ChatGPT and other Generative AI tools, Ecommerce Listing, B2B Marketing, Blogging, Affiliate Marketing, and Digital Marketing Meta Master Session. The program takes 8 months to complete at approximately 5-10 hours of learning per week. 

5. LinkedIn Learning: Digital Marketing Foundations

Digital Marketing Foundations by LinkedIn Learning is a beginner digital marketing course taught by Brad Batesole, Chief Learning Officer at Madecraft. The course takes just 1 hour and 35 minutes to complete, and includes quizes to test your knowledge. The main sections of the course are:

• The Digital Marketing Framework
• Digital Marketing Basics
• Digital Marketing Key Concepts
• Digital Marketing Hub and Spokes
• Digital Marketing With Your Website
• Digital Marketing With Paid Channels
• Digital Marketing With Social Media
• Digital Marketing With Email
• Marketing Analytics Skills

The course provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of digital marketing for aspiring freelance marketing professionals who are just getting into the field. 

6. Udemy: Ultimate Google Ads Training 2023: Profit With Pay Per Click

The Ultimate Google Ads Training 2023: Profit With Pay Per Click course on Udemy covers proven Google Ads strategies. The course is taught by Sean Bagheri, a Google AdWords expert who manages an $8 million PPC advertising budget. Ultimate Google Ads Training 2023 teaches you how to set up and run profitable Google search ads by showing LIVE examples. The sections of the course include:

• Basics of Google Ads
• Conversion Tracking
• Advertising Audience
• Effective Funnels For Your Ads
• Google PPC Campaign Journey
• Advanced Strategies

7. Coursera: Social Media Marketing Specialization by Northwestern University

Social Media Marketing Specialization by Northwestern University is a digital marketing program through Coursera that teaches you how to manage social strategies and establish a social brand. The course is taught by Randy Hlavac, CEO of marketing Synergy Inc. and author of Social IMC. The program includes 6 courses, which are:

• What Is Social?
• The Importance of Listening
• Engagement & Nurture Marketing Strategies
• Content, Advertising, & Social IMC
• The Business of Social
• Social Marketing Capstone Project

Freelancers who want to focus on social media can learn essential skills like social media marketing strategy, social media platform navigation analytics, and influencer marketing through this course. The course operates on a flexible schedule, with an expected completion timeframe of 1 month at 10 hours per week. 

8. Kellogg School of Management's Digital Marketing Strategies: Data, Automation, AI & Analytics

Digital Marketing Strategies: Data, Automation, AI & Analytics by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is an online program that teaches modern marketing processes. The course is taught by Mohanbir Sawhney, an Academic Director and Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University. The Digital Marketing Strategies program consists of 8 modules that are delivered over 9 weeks, including:

• Module 1: A Framework for Marketing in a Digital World
• Module 2: Understanding Customers and Generating Insights
• Module 3: Customer Segmentation and Behavioral Marketing
• Module 4: The Customer Journey and Content Strategy
• Module 5: Brand Storytelling in a Digital World 
• Module 6: Designing and Executing Digital Marketing Campaigns
• Module 7: Marketing Attribution, Testing, and Experimentation
• Module 8: Automation and Artificial Intelligence in Marketing

The program provides freelance digital marketers with the knowledge and skills to optimize marketing efforts through AI and automation, which are essential in today's competitive landscape. 

9. Google Digital Garage: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Fundamentals of Digital Marketing is a free course through Google Digital Garage. The course is accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Europe and The Open University. The core sections of this Google Digital Marketing course include:

• Take a business online
• Make it easy for people to find a business on the web
• Reach more people locally, on social media or on mobile
• Reach more customers with advertising
• Track and measure web traffic
• Sell products or services online
• Take a business global

This Google digital marketing course also includes a final assessment to test your overall knowledge. The course is one of the best freelance digital marketing course free options around. 

10. CareerFoundry Digital Marketing Program

The Digital Marketing Program by CareerFoundry is a flexible, online course for aspiring digital marketers who want to work with tech companies. The primary aspect of the course comprises 5 achievements, which include:

• Content Marketing
• SEO & Email Marketing
• Social Media Marketing & Branding
• Performance Marketing
• Multi-Channel Marketing & Analytics

The course can be completed in 7 months on a part time basis at 15-20 hours per week, or within 4 months on a full time schedule. The course also includes career coaching and job placement assistance as an added benefit. 

11. Copyblogger Academy by Tim Stoddart and Charles Miller

Copyblogger Academy is a digital marketing program by renowned internet marketers Tim Stoddart and Charles Miller that's geared towards writers. The program consists of the following courses:

• Content Marketing Mastery Course - How to turn content into cash
• Personal Branding Playbook Course - How to build a personal brand
• 10x Copywriting Course - How to write words that sell
• SEO Masterclass Series - How to get found on search engines
• Agency Clarity Course - How to build a 6/7-figure service business
• Training Businesses Course - How to build a training business
• The Copywriting 10 Course - How to level up as a writer
• Content Marketing Bootcamp - How to become an elite content marketer
• Email Marketing Crash Course - How to build and monetize an email list

With the yearly Copyblogger subscription, you also get access to monthly masterclass sessions with industry experts, one-on-one coaching sessions, and access to the Copyblogger membership network with an open chat for easy communication and networking. This is one of the best courses for freelance digital marketers who specialize in copywriting or content marketing services. 

12. Digital Marketing Bootcamp by Thinkful

The Digital Marketing Bootcamp by Thinkful is a digital marketing program for beginners offered in a flexible, part-time format that lasts 3 months. The course syllabus covers:

13. Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing With Purdue University by Simplilearn

The Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing is an 8-month online bootcamp offered through Simplilearn from Purdue University in partnership with Meta and Stukent. The primary focus of the course is to teach you how to create and promote your own website. The core courses of the bootcamp include coverage of:

The course electives include Stukent Digital Marketing Simternship, Digital Marketing with ChatGPT and other Generative AI tools, Digital Marketing Meta Master Session, Purdue Digital Marketing Master Class, Affiliate Marketing, Blogging, Ecommerce Listing, and B2B Marketing. It provides intermediate freelance digital marketers with the tools and knowledge to expand their skill set and demand higher earnings. 

14. The UpWork Freelance Masterclass With Digital Marketing by Udemy

The UpWork Freelance Masterclass With Digital Marketing is a coure by Robin & Jesper through Udemy. The course is specifically for freelancers, and covers:

UpWork is the world's largest freelancing marketplace, serving over 18 million freelancers and 5 million clients. Therefore, UpWork is one of the best places to find freelance digital marketing opportunities. 

15. Digital Marketing Certification by ClickMinded

The ClickMinded Digital Marketing Certification is a self-paced online program that consists of 7 individual courses that each take approximately 3 - 6 hours to complete. The courses include:

• The ClickMinded SEO Course
• The ClickMinded Paid Advertising Course
• The ClickMinded Content Marketing Course
• The ClickMinded Email Marketing Course
• The ClickMinded Social Media Marketing Course
• The ClickMinded Sales Funnels Course
• The ClickMinded Google Analytics 4 Course

The program requires that you successfully complete exams to progress through the course and receive your certification from ClickMinded. ClickMinded is a Marketing Operating System that publishes high quality marketing content trusted by over 50,000 digital marketers.

Freelance Digital Marketing FAQs

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the use of online strategies such as social media, search engines, and email marketing to promote brands to consumers. The aim is to generate online traffic and boost revenue faster than it would take you if you implemented traditional marketing methods such as cold calling, door knocking, billboards, and more. According to one study, digital marketing can increase brand awareness by 80% which is why 99% of business do well in implementing a digital marketing strategy.

Digital marketing courses can help you gain industry insights, expand your digital skill set, and discover proven marketing strategies. However, lots of these courses are overpriced yet offers only basic knowledge or information you can get from free resources. It's also difficult to find cheap digital marketing courses that are taught by skilled, experienced, and reputable professionals in the industry. Because of the abundance of free resources, aspiring digital marketers find it easy to dive into this saturated market. It's mentally and physically draining to keep on upskilling and learning just to be competitive enough to acquire clients, not to mention retaining them.

On the bright side, the local lead generation business model has way less competition because of its localized niches. The market is always ready to buy. You won't experience constant grinding just to acquire and retain clients like in digital marketing. When you have leads, local business owners will always contact you. Plus, you have more control over your business. You can choose who to send leads to. It doesn't involve burning all your time monitoring marketing campaigns all day. Once your sites are ranked, they stay ranked.

You don't need to keep on training or joining multiple programs just to succeed in this industry. All you need is a good mentor with skills and years of experience to teach you the basics and how to build a local lead gen business step by step. Plus, local lead generation is very beginner friendly, unlike digital marketing where you need to establish a portfolio of client work over years of experience to get decent paying opportunities. This is because you bring clients an already functioning marketing channel ready to start generating them leads immediately instead of working on marketing initiatives that could potentially bring them leads.

Starting a local lead generation business entails selecting a local niche and building websites for each local service. Then, use SEO to rank your sites organically on search engines like Google. Once you're on the first page of search results, you immediately get free leads your way. You can then rent out your websites to local businesses or sell the leads you've collected. This method allows you to build a scalable business because local lead generation websites require minimal maintenance. You spend time working on digital assets that you can monetize.

Build an online business you have 100% control over. Discover how local lead gen websites can help you generate over $50K per month.