20 Best Brand Strategy Courses For Upskilling In 2025

B2B marketing is going through a massive shift, with brand strategy probably being the biggest one. However, when you consider all the data coming from reports like the 6sense B2B Buyer Experience report, the increase in chatter about brand marketing makes sense.

For you, it means it's time to brush up on your brand strategy skills. Well, I've curated a list that serves that purpose. Here are my top 20 picks of the best brand strategy courses available today (both free and paid).

Best Brand Strategy Courses Shortlist

Here's my shortlist of the 5 best brand strategy courses to take in 2025. I'll cover all these (and more!) in detail below:

1. Brand Strategy Fundamentals (The Futur) - Best for beginners seeking practical tools
2. Strategic Brand Management (Berkeley Extension) - Best for professionals aiming for brand leadership
3. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour (University of London) - Best for aligning brand with business goals
4. Brand Revitalization (Harvard University) - Best for revitalizing established brands
5. Brand and Product Management (IE Business School) - Best for integrating brand and product strategies

Best Brand Strategy Courses in 2025

I've carefully selected these courses, looking at factors like course content, instructor expertise, and flexibility to ensure they meet your needs. These courses stand out for their relevance and practicality, helping you enhance your brand strategy skills.

1. Brand Strategy Fundamentals (The Futur) - Best for beginners seeking practical tools

This online course teaches a five-step framework for developing your brand strategy. It also addresses potential missteps and provides a process for creating an actionable marketing plan. You'll level up by tackling a real-world case study demonstrating how to use the brand strategy framework.

• Who it’s for: Beginners and intermediates in brand strategy
• Topics covered:
  • Brand fundamentals
  • Defining brand personality
  • Target audience research
  • Conducting gap analysis
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced, no time limit
• Hours of instruction: Approximately 3-5 hours per week
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: None
• Price: $199

What to expect: By taking this course, you’ll gain a solid understanding of brand strategy fundamentals, empowering you to run effective workshops. The practical framework and comprehensive workbook will equip you with the skills to improve your capabilities.

2. Strategic Brand Management (Berkeley Extension) - Best for professionals aiming for brand leadership

This course teaches you how to build and manage strong brands. You'll learn about brand audits, building brand identity, positioning, strategy, and more. It's an interactive learning experience that combines lectures, case studies, and group projects.

• Who it’s for: Professionals aiming for brand leadership
• Topics covered:
  • Brand strategy development
  • Brand research methodologies
  • Positioning and brand extensions
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration:
  • Minimum: 90 days
  • Maximum: 180 days
• Hours of instruction: Self-paced
• Eligibility requirements: English proficiency requirements for non-native speakers
• Recognition: None
• Price: Contact to see pricing

What to expect: You'll learn to develop and maintain strong brand strategies grounded in data. The course's focus on market research and positioning are really helpful if you’re working to develop an emerging brand, so it’s a good fit for people working at startups or other innovative settings.

3. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour (University of London) - Best for aligning brand with business goals

This course focuses on aligning your brand with business strategies, helping you integrate brand management into broader organizational practices. It focuses on understanding consumer behavior and developing strategies to improve brand performance within the context of a wider business strategy.

• Who it’s for: Professionals seeking to align brand with business strategies
• Topics covered:
  • Brand alignment with business goals
  • Consumer behavior analysis
  • Strategic brand management
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 15 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: This course comprises four modules that cover key branding concepts and strategies. With a 4.8-star rating from over 2,500 reviews, it’s a great boost to anyone who wants to improve strategic decision-making and communicate their brand strategy to stakeholders effectively.

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4. Brand Revitalization: A Comprehensive Brand Strategy Course (Harvard University) - Best for revitalizing established brands

This intensive two-day course at Harvard University is designed for experienced marketing professionals looking to revitalize their brand strategies. It offers hands-on learning through case studies and interactive exercises, focusing on adapting to evolving consumer preferences and social dynamics.

• Who it’s for: Mid- to senior-level professionals with at least 5 years of experience in roles such as marketing manager or brand strategist
• Topics covered:
  • Addressing brand challenges
  • Building meaningful brands
  • Effective brand communication
• Online, in-person, or both? In-person
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 2 days
• Hours of instruction: 8 hours per day
• Eligibility requirements: At least five years of professional experience
• Recognition: Certificate of Completion from Harvard
• Price: $3,100

What to expect: You'll gain valuable insights into revitalizing brand strategies to meet the demands of today's market. The course equips you with tools to enhance brand loyalty and build meaningful consumer connections, helping you face the headwinds of evolving markets.

5. Brand and Product Management (IE Business School) - Best for integrating brand and product strategies

This course is a great primer on the brand and product lifecycle, from strategy development to integrating your brand approach across the value chain. It provides practical insights into managing brands and products effectively, setting it apart from more narrowly focused courses.

• Who it’s for: Professionals seeking to integrate brand and product strategies
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning and values
  • Product lifecycle management
  • Market analysis and strategy
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 11 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: This course will help you understand product lifecycle management and improve strategic decision-making on branding accordingly. It has four modules that explore brand equity, positioning, and growth strategies.

With a 4.7-star rating from over 9,000 reviews, learners can expect expert insights and real-world brand management examples from industry leaders.

6. Brand Management (UCLA Extension) - Best for practical brand management applications

This course provides an in-depth exploration of building, sustaining, and leveraging brands to drive business performance. It combines case studies and practical projects to examine brand development, research, and management structures across sales, marketing, and advertising.

• Who it’s for: Marketing professionals seeking brand management skills
• Topics covered:
  • Brand history and development
  • Brand equity vs. brand identity
  • Brand management structures
• Online, in-person, or both? Both
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 11 weeks
• Hours of instruction: 3 hours per week
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Certificate from UCLA Extension
• Price: Starts at $855

What to expect: You'll dive deep into brand strategy, learning how to build and manage your brand identity effectively. With hands-on projects and real-world case studies, this course equips you with the tools needed to succeed in brand management.

7. Brand Identity and Strategy (IE Business School) - Best for crafting strong brand identities

This course takes participants through the process of creating brand identities that resonate. The instructor also explores positioning and consumer segmentation strategies. It includes practical applications like developing brand houses and selecting names, colors, and logos that define successful brands.

• Who it’s for: Individuals with some branding experience
• Topics covered:
  • Brand fundamentals
  • Consumer segmentation
  • Effective positioning
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 11 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: Free (with a fee for certificate)

What to expect: This course comprises four modules that focus on building brand identity through storytelling, visual design, and strategic alignment.

Its hands-on approach with multimedia resources and peer reviews will help you apply the skills you’re learning to real-world scenarios. It holds a 4.7-star rating from over 4,600 learners and offers practical insights into creating a consistent and compelling brand image.

8. Creating a Brand Strategy (LinkedIn Learning) - Best for quick, actionable brand strategy tips

This concise course focuses on developing a brand strategy that enhances business value and customer loyalty. It includes actionable steps for defining brand positioning, developing a brand personality, and creating an activation plan.

• Who it’s for: Intermediate learners in branding
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning
  • Creating a brand personality
  • Developing an activation strategy
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 54 minutes
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: Requires LinkedIn Learning subscription

What to expect: You’ll gain quick, actionable insights to enhance your brand strategy skills. The course's practical exercises and expert guidance make it a valuable resource for sharpening your strategic approach and improving brand impact.

One reviewer shared: “It gave me a more precise idea of the importance of brand strategy and understanding the concept behind creating a brand.”

9. Brand Strategy (Cornell University) - Best for strategic brand planning

This is an online course designed to enhance your brand's market strategy using analytical models. Through market analysis and internal alignment, it guides participants in developing prioritized strategies to enhance brand performance.

• Who it’s for: Marketing professionals seeking strategic brand planning
• Topics covered:
  • Porter's Five Forces analysis
  • Z-SWOT analysis
  • Brand activation planning
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 2 weeks
• Hours of instruction: 3-5 hours per week
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Not specified
• Price: $999

What to expect: You’ll learn to identify market opportunities and develop actionable brand strategies. The course's analytical approach will enhance your ability to prioritize strategies and create effective brand activation plans.

10. Brand Management: Strategies for a Strong Brand (Coursera) - Best for strengthening brand presence

Led by Hector Sandoval, this course is beginner-friendly and well-suited for marketing professionals, brand managers, and entrepreneurs who want to learn brand strategies. It focuses on brand positioning, architecture, and extensions.

• Who it’s for: Marketing professionals, brand managers, and entrepreneurs
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning
  • Brand architecture
  • Brand extensions
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 3 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: You’ll enhance your understanding of brand management through practical strategies and tools. The course's emphasis on brand equity and governance will equip you with the skills to make data-driven decisions, strengthening your brand's market presence.

11. Brand Strategy Course (Great Learning) – Best for budget-conscious learners

This self-paced online course introduces core brand strategy concepts. It’s ideal if you're just starting out or want a quick, low-cost way to build foundational knowledge. It provides practical tools for building a brand strategy and culminates in a certificate of completion upon successful assessment.

• Who it’s for: Beginners in branding and marketing
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning
  • Brand identity
  • Brand architecture
• Online, in-person, or both: Online
• Exam required: No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 2 hours and 25 minutes
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Certificate of completion from Great Learning
• Price: Free

What to expect: Expect short, digestible lessons with clear takeaways you can apply to personal or business projects. It’s a good stepping stone before getting into more advanced courses.

12. Brand Positioning Strategy for Creatives (Domestika) - Best for creative professionals

This course guides creatives in developing a brand positioning strategy to attract and retain ideal clients. It provides practical strategies to help you attract the right clients and strengthen your market presence.

• Who it’s for: Creative professionals
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning techniques
  • Client attraction strategies
  • Website relaunch project
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 1 hour and 46 minutes
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Custom certification for members
• Price: $0.99

What to expect: You'll learn all about brand positioning, helping you to effectively attract and retain clients. The course's project-based approach provides hands-on experience, enhancing your skills and confidence in brand strategy.

13. Introduction to Personal Branding (University of Virginia) - Best for building personal brand skills

This course focuses on how to create, implement, and measure the impact of a personal brand strategy. It includes practical tools to help participants stand out by building their digital presence and developing a long-term brand strategy.

• Who it’s for: Individuals seeking to build personal brand skills
• Topics covered:
  • Defining personal brand
  • Online presence management
  • Brand storytelling techniques
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 6 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: This course features four modules covering personal brand definition, online presence, and effective networking. You’ll learn to define and communicate your personal brand effectively, leverage social media, and enhance your online presence. It has a 4.8-star rating from over 11,000 reviews.

14. Brand Strategy and Storytelling (Hyper Island) - Best for integrating storytelling into brand strategy

This course focuses on enhancing storytelling skills to create compelling brand narratives. It sets itself apart from other brand courses with its emphasis on narrative alignment with brand strategy.

• Who it’s for: Brand and marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives
• Topics covered:
  • Crafting authentic brand narratives
  • Aligning storytelling with brand strategy
  • Defining brand purpose
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Hours of instruction: Live session once a week
• Eligibility requirements: None specified
• Recognition: Professional Certificate upon completion
• Price: $1,790

What to expect: You’ll gain the skills to create impactful brand stories that resonate with audiences. The course's interactive sessions and expert facilitators will help you integrate storytelling into your brand strategy to captivate your target audience.

15. Create and Test Your Brand Strategy (BTC) - Best for hands-on strategy testing

Led by a brand director Anne Miltenburg, this online course provides practical insights into crafting and testing brand strategies independently. It guides you on creating a clear and powerful brand strategy for your product or service, and then testing its efficacy. 

• Who it’s for: Solo entrepreneurs and creatives
• Topics covered:
  • Brand strategy formulation
  • Prototyping
  • Audience testing
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 26 hours total
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Certificate upon completion
• Price: $30

What to expect: The course has seven modules with easy-to-follow videos, helpful reading materials, and hands-on assignments to make learning simple and practical. You’ll gain practical skills in developing and testing your brand strategy that you can apply in real-time.

16. Certified Brand Strategist (SDSU) – Best for earning a recognized certification

This certificate program will give you the skills and knowledge to create and use strong branding strategies that connect with people and help businesses grow.

It covers various topics, like developing a brand strategy, positioning, creating clear messaging, designing a brand identity, organizing brand elements, managing a brand, and using digital branding effectively.

• Who it’s for: Marketing professionals, business owners, and consultants
• Topics covered:
  • Competitive brand audits
  • Brand positioning and storytelling
  • Strategic brand planning
• Online, in-person, or both: Online
• Exam required: Yes
• Duration: 8 weeks; self-paced
• Hours of instruction: Not specified
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Certificate from San Diego State University
• Price: $2,502

What to expect: You’ll work on real brand strategy exercises and learn directly from instructors with deep industry experience. The course focuses on applied learning, so expect to leave with templates, tools, and a certification that adds weight to your resume. Past students highlight the program’s structure and practical value.

17. Strategies That Build Winning Brands (Kellogg Executive Education) - Best for senior executives

This course focuses on developing effective brand strategies to ensure long-term growth and customer loyalty, with an emphasis on strategic planning and portfolio management. If your job is about driving growth, this course shows how you can use a creative brand strategy to create long-term success and profit.

• Who it’s for: Managers and executives in branding and growth initiatives
• Topics covered:
  • Brand positioning
  • Portfolio management
  • Marketing planning
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Hours of instruction: 4 to 6 hours per week
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Verified digital certificate upon completion
• Price: $2,600 (With discounts for team enrollments)

What to expect: You’ll learn strategic approaches to brand management that enhance customer loyalty and drive business growth. The course's interactive modules and expert insights will equip you with the tools needed to build and sustain winning brands.

18. Branding: The Creative Journey Specialization (IE Business School) - Best for a comprehensive creative approach

This course makes branding easy to understand and teaches how to use important branding ideas in real situations. It gives the tools to know how brands behave and communicate, and the emotional and practical elements that make them work. It also explains the meaning behind images and how they are used in branding.

• Who it’s for: Creative professionals and marketers
• Topics covered:
  • Brand identity development
  • Marketing strategy execution
  • Graphic design (logo design)
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Hours of instruction: 10 hours a week
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: This specialization includes 4 courses that take you through the creative process of building and managing a brand. With a 4.8-star rating, one learner shared: “The content is engaging and inspires you to think differently about branding.”

19. Building a Brand Strategy (İlbey UÇAR) - Best for foundational brand strategy insights

This course covers the basics of brand strategy and why it’s so important for businesses today. It explains that branding isn’t the same as marketing—it’s about shaping how people see your business. The course also discusses key topics like how business leaders help build brands, the four main parts of branding, why brand names matter, and how visual identity works.

• Who it’s for: Marketers and entrepreneurs
• Topics covered:
  • Differences between branding and marketing
  • Emotional impacts of brands
  • Importance of brand values and storytelling
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? Yes
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 4 to 5 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: CPD accredited
• Price: Free

What to expect: You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of brand strategy fundamentals, including how to use storytelling and emotional engagement to build strong brands. The course's focus on practical applications will help you create impactful branding strategies for your business.

20. Brand Marketing and SEO Tools using Wix (Coursera) - Best for combining brand strategy with SEO skills

This course is a guided project designed for beginners who want to learn the basics of brand marketing and SEO using the Wix platform. It offers a practical approach to building and optimizing a brand's online presence and running content marketing efforts.

• Who it’s for: Beginners in brand marketing and SEO
• Topics covered:
  • Building a Wix website
  • Implementing SEO strategies
  • Enhancing brand visibility
• Online, in-person, or both? Online
• Exam required? No
• Duration: Self-paced
• Hours of instruction: 2 hours
• Eligibility requirements: None
• Recognition: Shareable certificate upon completion
• Price: $59/month (Subscription-based)

What to expect: You'll learn to create a professional website and implement SEO strategies to improve your brand's online presence. The hands-on project format allows you to immediately apply what you learn, making it ideal for those looking to enhance their digital marketing skills quickly.

How to Choose a Brand Strategy Course

It can be challenging to narrow down the right brand strategy course for you. Here are some factors to consider as you decide:

1. Identify Your Goals: Consider what you want to achieve with the course. Are you looking to enhance your skills for a current role, or pivot to a new career? Align your goals with the business goals you’re responsible for, and then use that as a guidepost.
2. Research Course Content: Look at the topics covered and see if they align with your learning objectives. For example, if you want to learn to build a brand strategy, look for lessons on crafting personas, conducting market research, and developing product messaging.
3. Check Instructor Credentials: Investigate the instructor's background and experience. An instructor with industry experience can provide valuable insights and real-world applications, helping you get more from the course content.
4. Read Reviews and Testimonials: Look for feedback from past students to gauge the course's effectiveness. Reviews can highlight strengths and potential drawbacks you might not have considered.
5. Consider Format and Flexibility: Determine if the course format fits your schedule and matches your objectives. Online courses offer flexibility, while in-person options might provide more networking opportunities.
6. Evaluate Cost and Value: Compare the course fees with the potential benefits. Consider if the course offers a certificate or accreditation that adds value to your professional profile.

Brand Strategy Courses: FAQs

Have questions about brand strategy courses in general? Take a look at the common questions I’ve answered below.

How can I tell if a brand strategy course is up-to-date?

Check the course description and syllabus for recent updates or new editions. Look for courses that mention current industry trends or tools. You can also reach out to the provider to ask when the course content was last revised.

Are brand strategy courses worth the investment?

Assess the potential return on investment by considering how the course can advance your career or impact your business. If it offers practical skills and knowledge that directly apply to your work or career goals, it can be a worthwhile investment.

Look for courses that provide case studies or real-world applications, because that way you’ll walk away with tangible outputs from your time investment.

Should I choose a course that offers a certificate?

A certificate can be a valuable addition to your resume, showing potential employers your commitment to professional development. However, irrelevant certificates are usually worth less than relevant courses that don’t come with a certificate.

Consider if the certificate is recognized in your industry. While not always necessary, it can enhance your credentials and job prospects.

How do I know if a course’s difficulty level is right for me?

Review the course prerequisites and target audience to gauge its level. Beginner courses are great if you’re new to brand strategy, while advanced courses might require prior experience and be more suitable for seasoned pros. You can always contact the course provider if you’re unsure about your fit.

Can I network with other professionals in an online course?

Many online courses offer networking opportunities through discussion forums or live sessions, and strive to recreate the IRL experience online. Engaging with peers can provide different perspectives and valuable connections, so check if the course includes interactive components or community access.

What's Next?

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