Elevate your digital marketing skills in 2024 with our top 25 course picks. 

Whether you want to nail down SEO basics or explore the latest in generative AI, there’s a little something for anyone—no matter your experience level. 

Dive in to find the best digital marketing courses that support your learning and development:

SEO Courses

Learning more about SEO will help you scale inbound traffic and conversions without relying on paid media like ads.

From on-page SEO to off-page SEO and even technical SEO, it's a wide-ranging area. 

These courses will help you establish a solid foundation across the board.

Check out these ones to get up to speed: 

1. SEO Principles: An Essential Guide for Beginners (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Perfect for: Beginner digital marketers or anyone looking for a refresher on SEO fundamentals

Learn the foundations of SEO from our very own Director of Growth Marketing, Kyle Byers, in this free digital marketing course from Semrush Academy.

Using 15 years of hands-on experience, Byers breaks down topics like keyword research, technical SEO, and techniques for improving website visibility. 

He shares everything you need to know about SEO—and nothing you don’t.

2. SEO for Beginners (Yoast SEO Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 2 hours

Perfect for: Marketers and entrepreneurs who want to learn SEO basics

Yoast’s free digital marketing course also breaks down the fundamentals of SEO. But focuses primarily on optimizing WordPress websites (which account for 43.2% of all sites out there).

The two-hour course includes 20 short videos on SEO basics and slightly advanced topics like site structure, crawlability, and page speed optimization.

3. SEO Training Certification (HubSpot Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: Around 4 hours

Perfect for: Marketing generalists who want to understand SEO

HubSpot’s SEO Training Certification course offers marketers a quick, credible way to prove their understanding of basic SEO principles. 

The course includes six lessons that are broken down into 26 videos and five quizzes. Each lesson covers a different SEO topic, from building backlinks at scale to SEO reporting.

The lessons are taught by Rachel Sheldon, a product marketing manager at Vitally, and Matthew Howells-Barby, vice president of growth at Kraken and co-founder of Traffic Think Tank.

4. Technical SEO (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: Around 3 hours

Perfect for: Marketers who want to understand technical SEO

Many online digital marketing courses skim over the basics of technical SEO. But this one dives deep. 

As the CEO and co-founder of global digital marketing agency Peak Ace, instructor Bastian Grimm brings over 20 years of real-world experience to the course.

In this training program, Grimm breaks down technical SEO into over 30 specific components—including crawlers, robots.txt files, redirects, site speed, and hreflang. 

But each digestible video segment doesn't take longer than seven minutes. 

This digital marketing course is great for marketers who know SEO basics and want to level up their technical understanding. 

5. How to Outrank Your Competition in Local Search (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 1.5 hours

Perfect for: Local business owners and local SEO professionals

This digital marketing course teaches you how to use local SEO strategies to drive traffic to brick-and-mortar businesses. 

While many of SEO fundamentals apply to local and global businesses, this digital marketing course explains SEO concepts that affect location-specific rankings. 

Course instructor and web strategist Wes McDowell has close to 15 years of experience working with brands to grow their online presence.

He’ll teach you all about local SEO ranking factors, keyword research, using Google Business Profile, and more. 

Digital Marketing Analytics Courses

Knowing how to objectively measure the impact of your marketing efforts is key. If you can’t access or interpret data, you can’t determine if you’re using your time and money wisely.

Which can result in a lower return on investment.

By developing your marketing analytics skills, you’ll learn how to collect, analyze, and report on relevant metrics. And use those insights to shape your marketing strategy.

6. Fundamentals of Marketing Analytics (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: A little over 2 hours

Perfect for: Marketers looking to sharpen their analytics skills using a variety of tools

Unlike analytics courses that focus on using a single tool, these lessons introduce you to Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Google Tag Manager, and Google Search Console. 

You’ll learn how to use Google’s platforms, how to integrate them with Semrush, and what to look for when analyzing data. 

The class is taught by Data Driven U founder Jeff Sauer. Sauer has made a career of teaching data-driven marketing, with over 50,000 marketers taking his Google certification programs.

7. Marketing Analytics with Meta (Coursera)

Cost: Free

Length: About 13 hours

Perfect for: Marketers using Meta (Facebook) ads

As part of the broader seven-month Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certification, this 13-hour course offers a comprehensive look at how to use Meta Marketing Analytics Tools.

You’ll be taught by Aptly CEO Anke Audenaert, who also serves as an adjunct professor of marketing at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. 

Complete five straightforward modules on your own time. The lessons start with the fundamentals of Facebook Ads Manager. And progressively move into more advanced topics like campaign analysis, running A/B tests, and evaluating your key performance indicators (KPIs). 

If you pass the digital marketing course’s 16 quizzes, you’ll earn a certificate. 

8. Use Google Analytics for Your Business (Skillshop)

Cost: Free

Length: 1.2 hours

Perfect for: People new to Google Analytics and GA4

This free online course will teach you how to use GA4, the latest version of Google Analytics, to collect, analyze, and measure marketing data. 

There are nine modules, each lasting about seven to 10 minutes. They cover the basics of the GA4 interface, managing GA events, creating reports, using filters, and more. 

This course is just one of several free courses Google has available through Skillshop. These training programs help people get up to speed on multiple Google platforms, like Google Workspace and Ad Manager. 

Content Marketing Courses

Content marketers create valuable blog content that helps build relationships with potential customers. While it sounds simple enough, successful content marketing requires a lot of different skills beyond writing, from research and SEO strategy to reporting.

These courses in digital marketing will help you learn the skills necessary to turn content creation into a core business component.

9. Content Marketing Fundamentals (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: Around 1.5 hours

Perfect for: Marketers who want to use content to drive brand awareness and growth

This course goes beyond content writing 101. It focuses on using content marketing as part of your broader marketing strategy. 

Led by ContentYum Chief Marketing Officer Ashley Segura, the course consists of 13 modules on different parts of content marketing. 

Like how to attach business goals to your content, conduct competitor research, audit existing content, create content calendars, measure return on investment (ROI), and much more.

10. The Strategy of Content Marketing (Coursera)

Cost: Free without certificate; $49 with a certificate

Length: Around 20 hours

Perfect for: Intermediate content marketers

Created in partnership with UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education and Copyblogger, this digital marketing course covers strategic frameworks successful content marketers use to understand, plan, and create content for their business. 

Copblogger founder Sonia Simone walks you through crafting a content marketing strategy that aligns with the customer journey. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Establish your topical authority
• Build connections with readers
• Drive them to take action
• Make your writing more impactful

11. Advanced Content Marketing (Simplilearn SkillUp)

Cost: Free for 90 days

Length: 14 hours

Perfect for: Beginners looking to quickly expand their knowledge and dive into advanced concepts 

Advanced Content Marketing is arguably one of the most comprehensive online courses about content marketing.

Despite the name, the course does a nice job of starting out with the basics. Making it accessible to anyone new to content marketing. The course then builds on those foundational concepts, exploring advanced strategies beyond the basics of creating effective content. 

Topics range from influencer marketing and social media to content marketing ROI, experiments, and more.

This course includes a certificate. 

12. Advanced Content Marketing with Brian Dean (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 4 hours

Perfect for: Businesses and individuals who want to rapidly scale their website using a blog 

This course in digital marketing gives participants the opportunity to learn from Backlinko founder Brian Dean, whose SEO website has garnered over 5 million readers.

Dean offers practical tips for elevating your content marketing, including developing content ideas, using different content templates and formats, content promotion strategies, and more. 

13. Content Marketing Principles for Business (Semrush Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: A little over 1 hour

Perfect for: Marketers who want to understand the “whys” behind content marketing

This course focuses on explaining the business value of content marketing. Including how to create a content marketing plan and which content marketing metrics to track.

Chima Mmeje, an experienced freelance SEO writer and strategist, leads the class. She shares actionable tips and tools (like Semrush’s Topic Research) that’ll help you drive lasting business growth. 

AI Marketing Courses

As noted in our 2024 Digital Horizons Report, traffic to AI-related websites increased 1,000% in 2023.

And as AI technology continues to advance, that number will likely keep climbing across industries—including marketing. 

Besides basic content creation, surveyed marketers who use generative AI claim they also use it to:

• Write copy
• Inspire creative thinking
• Analyze market data
• Generate graphics

Learn how to work smarter, not harder, with these AI marketing courses:

14. AI for Marketers (HubSpot Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 3 hours

Perfect for: Marketers, small business owners, or anyone looking to learn more about AI’s role in marketing 

This digital marketing course from Hubspot is a great intro to AI in marketing. 

Its six lessons cover everything from AI prompt writing to using predictive analytics to forecast consumer and market trends. And ethical considerations of using AI.

The course is taught by Crystal King, a HubSpot Academy social media professor and GrubStreet workshop instructor. 

15. AI in Marketing (Udemy)

Cost: $59.99

Length: 1.5 hours

Perfect for: People who want to learn to use AI tools across multiple marketing functions

Victoria Rusnac, former CAROL Bike Fractional CEO, leads this digital marketing course on AI tools. She focuses heavily on ChatGPT.

Through video lectures, Rusnac breaks down AI use cases across marketing tactics, from paid search and paid social to AI for content marketing. 

The course covers these marketing topics at a high level before prescribing ways to use AI (and specific prompts) in each area. 

16. Artificial Intelligence in Marketing (Coursera)

Cost: Free

Length: About 10 hours

Perfect for: People interested in how AI works and real-world marketing examples

Led by Rajkumar Venkatesan, a professor of business at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, this digital marketing course examines AI from a macro view. 

You’ll learn how AI operates and how its algorithms, networks, and data all contribute to improved business performance. And Venkatesan uses real-world examples to make things easy to understand.

Influencer Marketing Courses

According to an Influencer Marketing Hub survey, influencer marketing is projected to grow to a $24 billion industry by the end of 2024. With 85% of respondents claiming it was “effective.”

By studying influencer marketing, you’ll be able to better connect with your audience and grow your business. 

These courses show you how to start and implement effective campaigns, assess their performance, and get the most for your money.

17. Influencer Marketing Certification (Meltwater Academy)

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Perfect for: Beginners looking to launch their first influencer campaign

This beginner-friendly course about digital marketing guides participants through each step in conceiving, developing, and executing an influencer campaign from scratch. 

You’ll walk away with a certificate and a clear understanding of what it takes to design, oversee, and analyze campaigns. 

The class is taught by Camille Kennedy, a marketing consultant with 15 years of experience working with both influencers and celebrities like Matt Damon.

18. Influencer Marketing Strategy (Coursera)

Cost: $49 for a certificate of completion, free without it

Length: About 23 hours

Perfect for: Intermediate marketers and people who have the time to dive deep into the topic

Led by SEO-PR Founder and Rutgers University Professor Greg Jarboe, this course is one of the most detailed influencer marketing classes out there.

Jarboe teaches participants how to create and tailor campaigns for B2B, B2C, and nonprofit organizations. And the class includes a final project with real-world value: drafting a pitch deck for a social media influencer campaign strategy.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Marketing Courses

Marketers use virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to create interactive content, show products in action, and drive engagement. 

Like letting a customer see how a piece of furniture would look in their home before buying.

And they’re not just fun, trendy tools. AR and VR have the potential to boost the global gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.5 trillion within the next six years. 

Studying these technologies can help you learn how to incorporate them into your marketing to boost your brand’s own revenue and consumer engagement.

19. Virtual Reality – The New Frontier of Digital Marketing (Udemy) 

Cost: $29.99

Length: 1.5 hours

Perfect for: Marketers who want to use VR and AR to develop unique content and experiences for users

This course covers both the technical and creative aspects of VR and AR in marketing, making it a great foundational class. 

You’ll learn the benefits of both. And practical tips on how to use them, like creating experiences that resonate with your target audience.

A certificate of completion is available for those who go through all the seven modules of the course. 

Instructor Nisha Burton is the co-founder of Reflective Brands, an agency focused on VR and AR. She’s also an adjunct instructor at Southern Oregon University. 

20. Understanding Augmented and Virtual Reality: An Introduction (LinkedIn Learning)

Cost: $24.99

Length: Slightly under 1 hour

Perfect for: AR and VR beginners looking for a deep dive into how to use the technology

This Madecraft course provides a well-rounded look at AR and VR. You’ll explore the current use of AR/VR in marketing, their business value, and how to best apply them to strengthen your brand and ROI.
EPAM Systems Managing Principal and AI innovation expert Catherine Henry leads the class.

21. AR in Marketing Using Meta Spark (Coursera)

Cost: $49 for a certificate of completion, free without it

Length: About 20 hours

Perfect for: People who are ready to use a specific AR tool (Meta Spark)

This class offers you practical tips and examples on using Meta Spark to strengthen your marketing.

While the class specifically focuses on Meta Spark, a lot of what you’ll learn can translate to other AR tools. 

Further reading: How to Use the Power of Augmented Reality to Drive Conversions

Bonus: Digital Marketing Degree Programs

If you’re looking to take things to the next level, expand beyond one-off courses by taking a full degree or certificate program.

Whether you’re a mid-career professional looking to leap into management or a non-marketer looking for a career change, there’s a program that fits your needs.

22. Digital Marketing: A Strategic Perspective (Yale School of Management)

Cost: $2,100

Length: Eight weeks (between 48 to 64 hours)

Perfect for: Mid-career professionals

This online digital marketing program from Yale School of Management Executive Education provides busy professionals with knowledge and skills to advance their career. 

Through eight modules, you’ll cover core marketing topics like owned and paid media, using social media and new tech, digital marketing frameworks, data analysis, and more. And the focus on strategy will help you execute with long-term results in mind.

The course is presented by Jiwoong Shin, a Professor of Marketing at Yale University, and K Sudir, a Professor of Private Enterprise and Management and Professor of Marketing at Yale. Both instructors have decades of experience in marketing, brand management, data analytics, and related areas. 

23. Digital Marketing Strategy (Harvard Business School)

Cost: $1,750

Length: Six weeks (36 to 42 hours)

Perfect for: Professionals and entrepreneurs who’d like to improve their strategic marketing skills

Led by Harvard Professor of Business Administration Sunil Gupta, this digital marketing program blends traditional learning with real-world insights from prominent business figures. Like L’Oreal Chief Digital and Marketing Officer Asmita Dubey and Adobe CEO and President Shantanu Narayen.

With six self-paced modules, the course covers everything from marketing strategies in the digital age to budget allocation and performance measurement. 

24. Digital Marketing Certificate Program (University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business)

Cost: $2,340

Length: Six weeks (18 to 30 hours)

Perfect for: Professionals looking to expand their digital marketing skills

Wharton’s Jonah Berger, Peter Fader, and Raghuram Iyengar lead this comprehensive and practical program. 

You’ll learn how to boost brand awareness and sales. And how to choose appropriate metrics and conduct market research using the latest frameworks.

25. Digital Marketing: Disruptive Strategy Programme (University of Oxford, Said Business School)

Cost: $2,553

Length: Eight weeks (56 to 80 hours)

Perfect for: Advanced marketers and marketing managers 

This eight-week program specifically focuses on creating integrated social media and digital marketing strategies. Beyond specific marketing channels, you’ll learn how to use marketing psychology and communities to support your strategic efforts. 

A bonus of passing this course: you’ll get access to the LinkedIn Oxford Executive Education Alumni group and edX’s Career Engagement Network.

Grow Your Digital Marketing Skills with Semrush

Starting a digital marketing course can feel overwhelming. But remember: you're investing in yourself and your future. Take notes, take breaks, and enjoy learning something new.

Semrush Academy is here to help you learn. And when you’re ready to put your new knowledge into practice, sign up for a free Semrush account. 

With over 55 tools to support your marketing, you’ll gain practical skills and insights that’ll help you grow even further as a marketer.

Check it out, today.