How to Teach Yourself Marketing

Stepping into the world of digital marketing can feel like exploring a new, vibrant city. It’s exciting, ever-changing, and a bit overwhelming – I’ve been there. While working on my degree, I dipped my toes into marketing with just one class and found it unexpectedly thrilling. It sparked a journey of self-teaching in this dynamic field, and that’s what I want to talk about today.

I’m here to share that adventure with you, like an old friend ready to guide you through the bustling streets of digital marketing. Whether you’re considering a career change, updating your skills, or just curious, I’ve got some stories and tips to help light the way. So, let’s dive into this together and discover how you can navigate and thrive in the digital marketing landscape. Ready for the ride? Let’s go!

Online Courses and Certifications for Marketing

Courses and certifications are a fantastic way to kickstart or advance your journey in digital marketing. They offer structured learning paths, practical assignments, and often culminate in a certification that can bolster your resume and LinkedIn profile.

These programs are designed to cater to various levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned marketers, covering a wide range of topics from SEO and content marketing to social media and analytics.

Here’s a list of online courses and certifications a person can pursue to deepen their understanding of digital marketing:

  1. Google Digital Garage (Fundamentals of Digital Marketing): This is a free course that covers basic concepts and is perfect for beginners. It includes 26 modules created by Google trainers and offers a certification upon completion.
  2. HubSpot Academy: HubSpot offers several free courses and certifications, including Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing, Social Media Strategy, and Email Marketing. These courses are comprehensive and include practical exercises.
  3. Facebook Blueprint Certification: This is a more advanced certification for those who want to excel in Facebook advertising. It covers everything from creating ads to managing Pages and measuring campaign performance.
  4. Hootsuite Social Media Certification: Ideal for those focusing on social media, this certification covers core concepts, optimal strategies, and effective management of social media platforms.
  5. SEMRush Academy: Offers a range of free courses and exams in SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media marketing. The courses are detailed and suited for both beginners and intermediate marketers.
  6. Coursera (Digital Marketing Specialization): This is a series of courses that provide a deeper dive into digital marketing. Taught by industry professionals and university professors, these courses cover SEO, social media, 3D Printing, and more. While the courses are free, a fee is required for certification.
  7. Udemy Digital Marketing Courses: Udemy offers a wide range of digital marketing courses covering various topics at different skill levels. Prices vary, and courses often go on sale.
  8. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com): Offers a variety of courses in digital marketing, from SEO to digital advertising. Access to courses requires a subscription, but they are well-structured and cover both fundamental and advanced topics.
  9. Google Analytics Academy: Google offers free courses on their Analytics and Data Studio products, which are invaluable for anyone looking to understand web traffic and marketing analytics.

Each of these programs provides a different focus, so you might want to choose based on your specific interests in digital marketing or gaps in your knowledge. Remember, the key to success in digital marketing is not just to complete these courses but to apply what you learn practically.

Video, Blog & Podcast Content

Combining blogs, video content, and podcasts for learning digital marketing can provide a well-rounded and dynamic educational experience. Here’s how each medium can complement your learning journey:

Blogs and Articles:

Blogs provide deep dives into specific topics, offering the latest trends, case studies, and best practices. They’re great for keeping up-to-date with the industry and learning new techniques:

  1. HubSpot Blog: A resource for all things related to inbound marketing, content marketing, and sales.
  2. Moz Blog: Essential reading for SEO enthusiasts looking to understand search algorithms, link building, and keyword research.
  3. Search Engine Journal: Offers a mix of breaking news, guideposts, and deep dives into SEO, pay-per-click (PPC), and social media strategies.
  4. Content Marketing Institute: Focuses on content strategy, innovation, and best practices.
  5. Marketing Land: Provides a wide range of digital marketing news and insights.

Video Content:

Visual learners will benefit from video tutorials and demonstrations. Videos can make complex concepts more understandable and provide step-by-step guides:

  1. YouTube Channels: Explore channels like Gary Vaynerchuk for insights on social media and entrepreneurship, Brian Dean’s Backlinko for SEO strategies, and HubSpot for inbound marketing.
  2. LinkedIn Learning: Offers professionally produced courses on digital marketing topics including analytics, SEO, and social media marketing.
  3. Udemy: Features a variety of digital marketing courses that cover everything from Google Analytics to social media advertising.

Podcasts:

Podcasts are perfect for learning during commutes or while multitasking. They provide interviews with industry experts and cover the latest trends and strategies:

  1. Marketing Over Coffee: A casual conversation-style podcast that covers marketing tips and interviews with marketers.
  2. The Digital Marketing Podcast: An informative series covering all aspects of digital marketing.
  3. Social Media Marketing Podcast: Delivers insights and strategies for effective social media marketing.
  4. Copyblogger FM: Focuses on content marketing, including strategy, copywriting, and branding.
  5. Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield: Discusses strategies for online marketing, including email marketing, content marketing, and course creation.

By leveraging these diverse resources, you can gain a well-rounded understanding of digital marketing. Blogs and articles offer the latest information and in-depth analysis, video content provides visual and practical learning, and podcasts offer convenience and access to expert insights on the go. Together, they create a comprehensive self-learning curriculum tailored to different learning preferences and schedules.

Learn Marketing With Practical Experience

Practical experience is arguably the most effective way to learn and master digital marketing and my favorite. Most courses or articles are general because they try to speak to multiple niches. Practical experience allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, understand what works (and what doesn’t), and gain hands-on skills that are crucial in the field. Here’s how you can gain practical experience in digital marketing:

  1. Start Your Own Blog or Website: Use this as a platform to practice SEO, content marketing, and web analytics. Write about topics you’re passionate about, optimize your content for search engines, and use social media to promote your posts.
  2. Social Media Management: Create and manage social media profiles for yourself, a fictional brand, or a local business (with permission). Experiment with different types of content, posting schedules, and engagement strategies to see what generates the best results.
  3. Email Marketing Campaigns: Use platforms like Mailchimp or Sendinblue to start an email newsletter. Learn about audience segmentation, crafting compelling emails, and analyzing open rates and click-through rates to improve your campaigns.
  4. Google Ads and Facebook Advertising: Set aside a small budget to experiment with paid advertising. You can create campaigns to promote your blog, a product, or a service. Learn how to select keywords, target specific audiences, and analyze the performance of your ads.
  5. SEO Projects: Optimize your own website or blog for search engines. Research keywords, improve site speed, ensure mobile-friendliness, and create quality content to improve your rankings. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your progress.
  6. Content Creation: Develop a portfolio of content, including blog posts, videos, and infographics. Learn how to use tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Adobe Premiere Pro to create engaging and professional-looking content.
  7. Networking and Personal Branding: Build your personal brand by networking online and offline. Join digital marketing groups on LinkedIn, participate in Twitter chats, or attend webinars and virtual conferences. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect with industry professionals.
  8. Freelance Projects: Once you’ve gained some confidence, look for freelance opportunities that can help you build your portfolio. Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr can be good places to start.
  9. Analytics and Data Interpretation: Implement Google Analytics on your website or blog to understand visitor behavior. Learn how to set goals, interpret data, and make informed decisions based on your findings.
  10. Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to try new things and make mistakes. Digital marketing is an ever-evolving field, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Stay curious, experiment with different strategies, and learn from your experiences.

Gaining practical experience in digital marketing is a continuous process of learning, experimenting, and adapting. By actively engaging in these activities, you’ll develop a deep understanding of digital marketing tactics and strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an effective digital marketer.

Conclusion


While there are various paths to mastering digital marketing, the methods discussed here are especially notable for their accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Remember, the real value comes from applying what you’ve learned in real-life scenarios. Stay curious, adaptable, and proactive in your digital marketing endeavors. And if you have any questions or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to help you navigate this dynamic field. Here’s to your digital marketing success!


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