Developing skills in digital marketing management through courses is a wise investment by any digital marketing professional looking to grow their career.
These top digital marketing courses offer insights from leaders and practitioners who've walked the talk. Here's a quick overview of each course, highlighting who it's for and what makes it stand out.
Best Digital Marketing Courses Shortlist
Here are 20 of the best digital marketing courses out there from industry leaders like HubSpot Academy, Semrush Academy, and the Digital Marketing Institute:
- Digital Marketing Strategy (HBS Online)
- Digital Marketing Specialization (University of Illinois)
- Digital Marketing Fundamentals (HubSpot Academy)
- The Complete Digital Marketing Course - 12 Courses in 1 (Udemy)
- Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce (Google)
- Digital Marketing Specialist (Meta)
- Digital Advertising 101 (Semrush Academy)
- Marketing Tools: Digital Marketing Tools and Services (LinkedIn Learning)
- Digital Marketing Essentials (DMI)
- The Complete Digital Marketing Guide - 27 Courses in 1 (Udemy)
- Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)
- AI In Digital Marketing (DMI)
- Mega Digital Marketing Course A-Z (Udemy)
- Digital Marketing Tools: Create a Marketing Campaign from Start to Finish (LinkedIn Learning)
- Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Meta)
- Digital Marketing Course (UCLA Extension)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing (DMI)
- Digital Marketing Certificate Program (Wharton)
- Digital Marketing Masterclass: AI and Social Media Marketing (Udemy)
- Digital Marketing Trends (LinkedIn Learning)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best Digital Marketing Courses
Below are my detailed summaries of the best digital marketing courses that made it onto my shortlist.
1. Digital Marketing Strategy (HBS Online)

This course explores how to develop digital marketing strategies underpinned by data. Participants also learn how to use frameworks such as RACE (Reach, Act, Convert, and Engage) and AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Revenue, and Referral) to develop campaigns.
- Who It’s For: Marketing professionals entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking strategic insights
- Topics Covered:
- Defining objectives, metrics, and target audiences
- Customer acquisition and retention strategies
- Paid, owned, and earned media
- Budget allocation and attribution methods
- Customer lifetime value and personalization
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 7 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 6 to 7 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $1,850
- Take The Course: HBS Online
2. Digital Marketing Specialization (University of Illinois)

This 7-course digital marketing specialization focuses on building digital marketing expertise by emphasizing the often-abandoned fundamentals of building awareness, driving reach, and optimizing for conversions. Participants also get the chance to put what they've learned to practice via class projects.
- Who It’s For: Beginners and intermediate learners in digital marketing
- Topics Covered:
- Digital marketing analytics
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Social media marketing
- Marketing channel strategies
- Integrated marketing communications
- Capstone project with a real-world application
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 4 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 10 hours per week (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Enroll for free
- Take The Course: Coursera
3. Digital Marketing Fundamentals (HubSpot Academy)

HubSpot Academy's course is a great start for anyone looking to learn the essentials of digital marketing. Participants learn how to create engaging content and pick the right digital channels when planning distribution.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in digital marketing
- Topics Covered:
- Content marketing
- Email marketing
- Digital marketing channels
- Target audience engagement
- Crafting effective strategies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 30 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 30 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: HubSpot Academy
4. The Complete Digital Marketing Course - 12 Courses in 1 (Udemy)

This course equips digital marketing pros with tools and strategies for developing a strategy that involves various digital channels. It's got quizzes, pro-tips, and practical exercises to ensure participants can apply all they learn in the real world.
- Who It’s For: Business owners, marketers, and individuals looking to grow their digital marketing skills
- Topics Covered:
- Market research
- WordPress website creation
- SEO and Google Analytics
- YouTube marketing
- Email marketing
- Copywriting for sales pages
- Google Ads and Facebook Ads
- App marketing
- Social media marketing (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more)
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 22 hours and 43 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $199.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
5. Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce (Google)

This course examines digital marketing and e-commerce fundamentals, with a focus on the skills and strategies entry-level marketers need to excel. Participants can also take advantage of the experienced professionals who facilitate the modules for advice and coaching.
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in digital marketing and e-commerce
- Topics Covered:
- E-commerce fundamentals
- Customer engagement
- Data-driven decision making
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 18 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Coursera
6. Digital Marketing Specialist (Meta)

This course focuses on digital marketing, using generative AI in digital marketing, and learning how to pick the right digital marketing tool. Participants gain an industry-recognized certification and hands-on experience through capstone projects and live sessions led by experts.
- Who It’s For: Professionals and beginners aiming to specialize in digital marketing
- Topics Covered:
- SEO and search engine marketing
- Social media marketing and influencer strategies
- Data analytics for ROI measurement
- Content marketing and strategy
- Generative AI in sales and marketing
- Email and mobile marketing
- E-commerce listing and affiliate marketing
- Paid campaign strategies and optimization
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 8 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $1,649
- Take The Course: Simplilearn
7. Digital Advertising 101 (Semrush Academy)

This course provides guidance on setting up a digital advertising strategy, how to profile your audience, budget allocation, and reporting on campaign performance. It's designed to build advertising skills in never-done-that-before marketing professionals.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in digital advertising
- Topics Covered:
- Objectives of digital advertising
- Types of digital ad channels (search, social, display, video, etc.)
- Key advertising metrics (CPM, CPC, ROAS, etc.)
- PPC and retargeting strategies
- Competitor research and analysis
- Crafting a comprehensive digital advertising strategy
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Semrush Academy
8. Marketing Tools: Digital Marketing Tools and Services (LinkedIn Learning)

This course offers an in-depth overview of key digital marketing tools. It explores platforms for social media, advertising, content creation, and other essential areas, guiding marketers in selecting the best options for their objectives. You'll also learn about SEO, advanced analytics, and affiliate marketing tools.
- Who It’s For: Marketing professionals seeking to expand their toolset
- Topics Covered:
- Social media marketing tools
- Digital advertising platforms
- Content creation and curation solutions
- Team collaboration and project management tools
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools
- Influencer marketing platforms
- Search engine optimization (SEO) tools
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours and 2 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
9. Digital Marketing Essentials (DMI)

This course provides a foundational understanding of digital marketing by focusing on digital strategy, social media planning, and AI. It combines case studies, essential reading, and artifacts to guide digital marketing professionals in developing career-ready skills.
- Who It’s For: Professionals and teams building digital marketing awareness
- Topics Covered:
- Customer journeys and user experience
- Social media and online shopping
- Web concepts and terminology
- Data security, privacy, and analytics
- Reporting and interpreting data
- AI in organizations
- Strategy in digital transformation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 6 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $445
- Take The Course: DMI
10. The Complete Digital Marketing Guide - 27 Courses in 1 (Udemy)

This course is a comprehensive guide to digital marketing. It's a mix of detailed modules and practical exercises - a combination that ensures participants gain the full benefits of the course.
- Who It’s For: Business owners, freelancers, and aspiring digital marketers
- Topics Covered:
- Digital marketing strategy and market research
- SEO and Google Analytics
- Email marketing and copywriting
- Social media marketing (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
- YouTube, Google, and eCommerce advertising
- ChatGPT prompt engineering
- Branding and influencer marketing
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 86 hours and 34 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $124.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
11. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)

Google's interactive and free course explores the basics of digital marketing. It's a great course for learning the fundamentals, and then putting your knowledge to the test through practical exercises.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in digital marketing
- Topics Covered:
- Search engine marketing and optimization
- Social media marketing strategies
- Online advertising and email campaigns
- Data analytics and tracking
- Mobile marketing fundamentals
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 40 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Google Skillshop
12. AI In Digital Marketing (DMI)

This course explores how marketers can begin to integrate AI into their digital marketing strategies and workflows. You'll learn the difference between passive and active adoption of AI, how to improve your campaign performance, and measure and report on the success of your AI-driven marketing initiatives.
- Who It’s For: Marketers and professionals looking to integrate AI into their strategies
- Topics Covered:
- AI and machine learning fundamentals
- AI-driven campaign optimization
- Generative AI and predictive analytics
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Stability AI
- Data collection, analysis, and decision-making
- AI in content marketing and SEO
- AI-enhanced customer experience (CX)
- Streamlining marketing automation with AI
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $535
- Take The Course: DMI
13. Mega Digital Marketing Course A-Z (Udemy)

This mega course is a great one-stop shop for improving your digital marketing skills. It covers the major digital marketing strategies, channels, and tools you need to take your approach to the next level.
- Who It’s For: Beginners, freelancers, and small business owners aiming to enhance their digital marketing skills
- Topics Covered:
- Marketing planning and research
- Website creation with WordPress and plugins
- AI-powered marketing with tools like ChatGPT
- Consumer behavior and psychology-driven marketing
- Strategic marketing and competitor analysis
- Social media and eCommerce strategies
- Email marketing and SEO techniques
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 81 hours and 10 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $149.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
14. Digital Marketing Tools: Create a Marketing Campaign from Start to Finish (LinkedIn Learning)

This course covers the process of building a digital marketing campaign from concept to completion, including planning, content creation, and performance evaluation. Participants learn to use tools like Google Analytics and HubSpot to develop campaign management expertise.
- Who It’s For: Marketing managers and professionals looking to build a complete marketing campaign
- Topics Covered:
- Campaign planning and strategy development
- Selecting and utilizing digital marketing tools
- Creating effective content for campaigns
- Implementing and managing campaigns across channels
- Analyzing campaign performance and metrics
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 38 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
15. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Meta)

Meta's certificate program prepares learners for a career in social media marketing. Participants learn how to strategize, create, manage, and optimize campaigns on Meta. They also try their hands at projects and by the end the certificate, they'll leave with a portfolio of work that shows their expertise in platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals looking to specialize in social media marketing
- Topics Covered:
- Building a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram
- Developing social media strategies
- Creating and managing content calendars
- Running campaigns with Meta Ads Manager
- Using generative AI tools in social media marketing
- Analyzing and presenting campaign results
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 5 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 10 hours per week (self-paced)
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Enroll for free
- Take The Course: Coursera
16. Digital Marketing Course (UCLA Extension)

This course focuses on digital marketing strategies and tools, campaign creation and managing digital marketing teams. Participants also learn how to optimize digital channels and measure campaign success.
- Who It’s For: Professionals expanding their marketing expertise
- Topics Covered:
- Digital marketing strategies and planning
- Social media and content marketing
- Search engine marketing and SEO
- Data analytics and performance measurement
- Emerging digital marketing technologies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 11 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood (In-Person): $855-$895
- Online: $855
- Take The Course: UCLA Extension
17. Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing (DMI)

DMI is one of the best in the business and their course lives up to the billing. Participants gain advanced digital marketing training, including how to manage up and win approval for their campaigns with leadership.
- Who It’s For: Marketing managers, executives, and professionals aiming to take their careers to the next level
- Topics Covered:
- Digital strategy development
- Data-driven decision-making
- Innovative marketing techniques
- Integrated digital marketing approaches
- Leadership and collaboration skills
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 16 months (divided to 4 terms)
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum 2nd class honors) or 3+ years of relevant work experience
- English proficiency: IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in no more than 2 components) or equivalent
- Price:
- Full price: $6,656
- Installments: $2,219
- Take The Course: DMI
18. Digital Marketing Certificate Program (Wharton)

This course offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for mastering the digital marketing planning process. You'll learn how to ideate, develop, and craft a compelling plan that aligns with your organization's goals. By the end of the course, you'll be able to run omnichannel campaigns, report on your success or failure, and optimize where necessary.
- Who It’s For: Marketing managers, small business owners, and professionals aiming to enhance their digital marketing expertise
- Topics Covered:
- Omni-channel marketing strategies
- Marketing analytics and data-driven decision-making
- Social media strategy and analysis
- Customer retention techniques
- Digital market research methods (regression and conjoint analysis)
- E-commerce and profitability models
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 6 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 to 5 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $2,340
- Take The Course: Wharton
19. Digital Marketing Masterclass: AI and Social Media Marketing (Udemy)

This comprehensive course teaches participants how to combine artificial intelligence with social media marketing to build digital strategies. It offers a practical approach to growing online presence and improving brand engagement using cutting-edge tools and techniques. With lifetime access, personalized support, and real-world case studies, learners can confidently apply these skills to achieve measurable results.
- Who It’s For: Marketing professionals interested in AI applications
- Topics Covered:
- AI for digital marketing
- Social media marketing
- Content creation
- Email marketing
- SEO basics
- Online advertising
- Marketing tools and analytics
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 69 hours and 13 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $109.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
20. Digital Marketing Trends (LinkedIn Learning)

This course explores the latest digital marketing trends, focusing on emerging tools, technologies, and strategies. It provides insights into adapting to changes in the digital landscape and leveraging innovations for better customer engagement.
- Who It’s For: Professionals seeking to stay updated with trends
- Topics Covered:
- Mobile marketing and voice search
- Social media evolution and strategies
- Artificial intelligence and virtual reality in marketing
- Video and live streaming trends
- Data privacy regulations and their impact (e.g., GDPR)
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours and 3 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
What’s Next?
Asides from courses, we also have a few other useful resources you should check out on digital marketing:
- This list of digital marketing podcasts if you are an audiophile like me
- Or our list of marketing communities (free & paid) to meet other professionals like yourself
Ready to grow? Subscribe to The CMO newsletter to stay on top of trends and get the latest tips, resources, and guides from our community of seasoned marketing leaders straight to your inbox.