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Content strategy is simple. But simple isn't easy. And easy won't make you a great content strategist.

What might though is a well-put together content strategy course. I say might because you have to be willing to do the work. So, if you're willing to do the work needed to see content strategy as simple, here are some of the best content strategy courses for content marketers looking to win in today's world.

I've got courses from HubSpot (they were always going to make my list), Digital Marketing Institute, Traffic Think Thank, and more. Let's get to it.

Best Content Strategy Courses Shortlist

Here's a shortlist of the best content strategy courses I think are worth your time in 2024:

  1. Strategic Content Planning (UC San Diego)
  2. Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy (Northwestern University)
  3. Content Strategy and Governance (NN/g)
  4. Content Creation: Strategy and Tools (LinkedIn Learning)
  5. Content Strategy Course: Learn How to Create a Successful Content Strategy (HubSpot Academy)
  6. Content Marketing Strategy (State-Bank-of-India)
  7. Digital Content Planning and Management (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
  8. Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization (University of Pennsylvania)
  9. Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation (Coursera)
  10. Content & Engagement (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
  11. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content (University of Pennsylvania)
  12. Video Strategies for High Engagement (LinkedIn Learning)
  13. Social Media and Social Content Strategy (Digital Marketing Institute)
  14. SEO Content Strategy 101 (Traffic Think Tank)

Find more details about each course below.

Overview Of The Best Content Strategy Courses

1. Strategic Content Planning (UC San Diego)

Strategic Content Planning course screenshot
Strategic Content Planning Course (Source)

This content strategy course is a great resource for learning the foundations of content planning. It also covers how you can create cohesive, impactful content that aligns with brand goals and drives engagement with your target audience. The curriculum emphasizes practical content marketing strategy skills and real-world applications for content professionals.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals looking to enhance their content planning skills
  • Topics Covered:
    • Business and content strategy integration
    • Content planning frameworks
    • Brand alignment with content
    • Audience engagement strategies
    • Content lifecycle management
    • Tools for measuring content success
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 9 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 hours per day
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $595
  • Take The Course: UC San Diego

2. Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy (Northwestern University)

Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy course page screenshot
Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy Course (Source)

If you need a great treatise on the principles of content strategy, then the Northwestern University graduate certificate course is a great choice. It covers how to create, manage, and sustain effective content that meets your organizational goals and audience needs. They've also got do a deep dive on how to use information architecture to improve your content marketing outcomes, one aspect of content strategy most courses avoid.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals seeking a graduate-level understanding of content strategy
  • Topics Covered:
    • Content strategy principles
    • Content creation and management
    • User experience (UX) design
    • Information architecture
    • Content governance
    • Analytics and performance measurement
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 year to 4 years
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 2 to 3 hours per day (during Winter, Spring & Summer)
  • Eligibility Requirements: Bachelor's degree
  • Price:
    • Tuition per course:  $3,957
    • Estimated cost for a four-course certificate program:  $16,348
  • Take The Course: Northwestern University
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3. Content Strategy and Governance (NN/g)

Content Strategy and Governance course landing page screenshot
Content Strategy and Governance Course (Source)

This course focuses on developing and managing content strategies that align with business goals. As a content strategist, you’ll learn how to build sustainable systems for content governance to ensure content is organized, useful, and maintainable in the long term. The course also explores strategies for driving conversions using data-driven insights.

  • Who It’s For: Content professionals aiming to implement governance
  • Topics Covered:
    • Content processes
    • Policy creation
    • Strategy implementation
    • Editorial workflows
    • Content governance frameworks
    • Measuring content effectiveness
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 day
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 7 hours per day
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $1100
  • Take The Course: NN/g

4. Content Creation: Strategy and Tools (LinkedIn Learning)

Content Creation: Strategy and Tools Course webpage screenshot
Content Creation: Strategy and Tools Course (Source)

I love LinkedIn Learning courses because of how well they condense information into pithy but value-packed videos. This beginner content strategy course is no exception.

You'll get practical and straight-to-the-point material on how to develop a content strategy, build a content production process, along with various tools you can use to accelerate your production workflow. Think if it as an end-to-end course on planning, publishing, and analyzing content performance.

  • Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals looking to enhance content creation skills
  • Topics Covered:
    • Content creation basics
    • Planning a content strategy
    • Tools for content creation
    • Analyzing content performance
    • Streamlining content workflows
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $29.99/month (LinkedIn Learning subscription)
  • Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning

5. Content Strategy Course: Learn How to Create a Successful Content Strategy (HubSpot Academy)

Course page screenshot of Learn How to Create a Successful Content Strategy
Learn How to Create a Successful Content Strategy Course (Source)

HubSpot's content strategy course was one of the first places I learned about content marketing. And that foundation has been great for my career and how I think about content till this day. If you decide to go with this course, look out for the practice quizzes you get at the end of each section.

I loved them because it kept me on my toes and was a helpful tool for retention of all I had just learned.

  • Who It’s For: Marketers and content creators
  • Topics Covered:
    • Strategy development
    • Practical applications
    • Developing content that meets business goals
    • Content creation and management
    • Measuring content success
    • Adapting content for different platforms
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? Yes
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 to 5 hours
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free
  • Take The Course: HubSpot Academy

6. Content Marketing Strategy (State-Bank-of-India)

Content Marketing Strategy course landing page screenshot
Content Marketing Strategy Course (Source)

The State-Bank-of-India's course provides a detailed understanding of how to create and implement an effective content marketing strategy. It focuses on developing content tailored to your target audience that drives engagement and supports business objectives through various digital channels. Additionally, it offers insights to help you take your content strategy to the next level.

  • Who It’s For: Marketing professionals and entrepreneurs
  • Topics Covered:
    • Practical implementation
    • Content creation and distribution
    • Audience targeting and segmentation
    • Measuring content performance
    • SEO integration in content marketing
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 2 to 3 hours per week in 4 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Limited Access: Free
    • Unlimited Access with Certificate: $99
  • Take The Course: edX

7. Digital Content Planning and Management (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Digital Content Planning and Management course page screenshot
Digital Content Planning and Management Course (Source)

This course offers a structured approach to creating, managing, and optimizing digital content across multiple platforms. It covers strategies for content planning, execution, and measurement, ensuring that content aligns with broader marketing goals.

  • Who It’s For: Digital marketers and content managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Digital content planning
    • Management strategies
    • Content distribution strategies
    • Managing content teams
    • Performance analysis and optimization
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 4 hours a week in 3 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Individual Course: $49-$79/month with 7-day free
    • Coursera Plus Monthly: $59/month with 7-day free
    • Teams: $399/year
  • Take The Course: Coursera

8. Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization (University of Pennsylvania)

Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization course landing page screenshot
Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization Course (Source)

This is a great content course for beginners. You'll learn about content management, content strategies that guarantee audience engagement, and how to get the bets out of your content programs.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals seeking to improve their content strategy skills
  • Topics Covered:
    • Audience understanding
    • Content and brand
    • Building personas for your content strategy
    • Automating content workflows
    • Strategic storytelling
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? Yes
  • Duration: 10 hours a week in 1 month
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Individual Course: $49–$79/month with 7-day free
    • Coursera Plus Monthly: $59/month with 7-day free
    • Teams: $399/year
  • Take The Course: Coursera

9. Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation (Coursera)

Page screenshot of Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation course
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content Creation Course (Source)

This course teaches you how to integrate AI tools into content creation workflows. When used properly, these tools can improve productivity and creativity. You also see first-hand how the instructor uses AI to generate content ideas, improve his writing, and his content production processes.

  • Who It’s For: Content creators and marketers
    • AI-powered content generation
    • Improving writing with AI
    • AI for content optimization
    • Workflow automation with AI tools
    • Case studies of AI in content marketing
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 hour a week in 3 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Individual Course: $49-$79/month with 7-day free
    • Coursera Plus Monthly: $59/month with 7-day free
    • Teams: $399/year
  • Take The Course: Coursera

10. Content & Engagement (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Course page of Content & Engagement
Content & Engagement Course (Source)

This course offers educators techniques for designing content that enhances student engagement. It focuses on developing effective instructional strategies that foster active participation and deeper understanding in both traditional and online learning environments.

  • Who It’s For: Educators and content creators
  • Topics Covered:
    • Engagement strategies for diverse learners
    • Interactive teaching methods
    • Use of technology in the classroom
    • Designing engaging lesson plans
    • Assessment techniques to measure engagement
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 4 to 6 hours per week  in 3 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Limited Access: Free
    • Unlimited Access with Certificate: $119
  •  Take The Course: edX

11. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content (University of Pennsylvania)

Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content course page screenshot
Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content Course (Source)

Jonah Berger's book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, was a hit in the contemporary modern psychology world. This course builds on the concepts he shared in the book and how we can apply them to our content strategies. You'll learn about his six principles for making content viral, how word of mouth works for products, and more.

  • Who It’s For: Marketers and content creators
  • Topics Covered:
    • Viral marketing principles
    • Social influence and sharing behavior
    • Crafting contagious messages
    • Case studies of viral campaigns
    • Practical frameworks for content creation
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? Yes
  • Duration: 1 hour a week in 3 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Individual Course: $49–$79/month with 7-day free
    • Coursera Plus Monthly: $59/month with 7-day free
    • Teams: $399/year
  • Take The Course: Coursera

12. Video Strategies for High Engagement (LinkedIn Learning)

Video Strategies for High Engagement Course page screenshot
Video Strategies for High Engagement Course (Source)

Video content is here to stay. And if you aren't sure how to take advantage of this trend, this LinkedIn Learning course on video content strategy is a great starting point.

You'll learn how to create video content that captures attention and encourages audience interaction. You also get actionable tips for picking the right format for your story or preferred channel, storytelling on-screen, and production strategies that maximize your video performance.

  • Who It’s For: Video content strategists and creators
  • Topics Covered:
    • Storytelling techniques for video
    • Optimizing video for social media
    • Video production tips
    • Audience interaction strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $29.99/month (LinkedIn Learning subscription)
  • Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning

13. Social Media and Social Content Strategy (Digital Marketing Institute)

Social Media and Social Content Strategy course landing page screenshot
Social Media and Social Content Strategy Course (Source)

This course offers a structured approach to building and refining social media and content strategies for digital marketing. It teaches techniques for creating engaging content and strategies for distribution across multiple social platforms to meet business objectives.

  • Who It’s For: Social media professionals
  • Topics Covered:
    • Social media strategy development
    • Content marketing for social platforms
    • Audience engagement techniques
    • Measuring social media performance
    • Paid social advertising
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No 
  • Duration: 10 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • Individual Course: $49–$79/month with 7-day free
    • Coursera Plus Monthly: $59/month with 7-day free
    • Teams: $399/year
  • Take The Course: Coursera

14. SEO Content Strategy 101 (Traffic Think Tank)

SEO Content Strategy 101 Course (Source)

SEO Content Strategy 101 provides a comprehensive framework for developing and executing content strategies that drive organic search traffic. The course covers key principles, practical tips, and methodologies tailored for effective search engine optimization (SEO) planning and implementation. Participants will also learn how to leverage tools like Semrush to enhance their content strategies and improve search performance.

  • Who It’s For: SEO professionals and content creators
    Topics Covered:    
    • Content ideation
    • Keyword research
    • On-page SEO
    • Competitive analysis
    • Content audits
    • Performance tracking
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online 
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 200 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • The Full Accelerator: $119/month
    • Self-Guided Learning: $99/month
  • Take The Course: Traffic Think Tank

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Dozie Anyaegbunam

Dozie Anyaegbunam is the Senior Editor of The CMO Club, a digital media publication that helps SaaS marketing leaders win at work. He has several years of core brand marketing experience across various verticals, from edu-tech, to food and beverages, to SaaS. He's also led marketing teams at B2B SaaS startups, global multinationals, and the public sector. Dozie is the Founder & Host of The Newcomers, a media publication that explores what it means to be an immigrant.