Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and mandated stay at home orders issued by local state governments, Americans have unexpected time on their hands and don’t know how to fill their agendas. I admit that I fall under this category, as well. So, I decided to research options that will not only eat up time but offer insightful knowledge to improve one’s skill in their respective field. With that said, below are five of the best digital marketing certifications available to earn and add to your resume to bolster your position in the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing.
1. Google Analytics Individual Qualification
If you google digital marketing certifications, Google Analytics will be one of the first results. It’s a must-have for those looking to engage with site visitors, track pay-per-click campaigns, and measure ROI. The free program is available through Skillshop, Google’s online training program. After creating an account, users gain access to webinars and presentations on Google Analytics and its additional offerings like Google Adwords (something we’ll touch on later) and Google Tag Manager.
New users can even start with a beginner’s level course and work their way to intermediate difficulty before taking on the challenge of Google Advanced Analytics. Out of all the free learning programs mentioned in this article, earning your certificate in Google Analytics will take the most time. Still, it is the certification that will be most relevant as Google Analytics is essential for businesses looking to track their users’ behavior.
2. HubSpot Inbound Marketing
You’ll begin to notice that many of the top digital marketing certifications involve marketing. If you’re unfamiliar with HubSpot, it’s a CRM tool designed to handle marketing aspects like social media, email marketing, search engine optimization, and analytics all in one. The premise of Inbound Marketing is the methodology in attracting users to your business by creating valuable content that meets a customer’s needs.
The Inbound Marketing certificate can be completed in under two hours and teaches you how to attract customers to your product or service. Not only that, but it walks you through creating practical digital marketing goals. HubSpot is a popular CRM used by many marketing entities, and a digital marketing certification demonstrating your expertise will stand out to recruiters when applying to positions in the digital marketing field.
3. HubSpot Email Marketing
Oh, hello again. This three-hour course by HubSpot will “teach you how to create an effective email marketing strategy that grows your business and your career,” according to the HubSpot website. Email marketing involves sending personalized emails to your subscribers to increase the chances your users open the message and purchase the item or service.
One great feature that HubSpot offers is the ability to track the number of emails opened and the amount that goes unread. If the number of unread promotions is high, this allows marketing professionals to go back to the drawing board and brainstorm how to provide more engaging content.
4. Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
Hootsuite is a social media management platform initially designed by Ryan Holmes in 2008. The idea behind the program was a one-stop-shop for controlling social media integrations like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in the form of a dashboard.
The tutorial is “a comprehensive series of easy-to-follow video tutorials covering everything from forming a social media strategy, and optimizing your social profiles to creating and sharing effective social content.” Unlike the previous training programs, Hootsuite is not free to use and requires an exam fee of $199.
While that price may seem steep, the certificate never expires and is a unique complement to the Hootsuite Platform certification. I know what you’re thinking. Is it worth the investment?
Well, it depends. Being certified in Hootsuite could the final push needed to land that promotion qualify you for that next job. If that’s the case, then $199 is a small price to pay and certainly worth the return on your investment. Do your research and understand it’s value to your industry!
5. Google Ads Certification
Google Ads is one of the best free digital marketing certifications online, available through Google’s training program in Skillshop. A certificate in Google Ads demonstrates one’s expertise in professional online advertising. You can also use it to earn the “Google Partner” badge, which is advantageous for business credibility.
However, before one can call themselves a Google Ad expert, four assessments need to be completed. These assessments involve Google Search, Google Shopping, Google Video, and Google Ad Display. Keep in mind that Google Ads certification does expire after one year and will require an exam retake should you wish to remain certified.
So, which of these certifications in digital marketing are you going to earn? If you liked this post, you’ll love How to Make Sure Your Facebook Ads Never Get Rejected.
Key Takeaways
The process of completing these digital marketing certifications will take dedication. However, each digital marketing tool offers unique skill sets that can be applied to advance your career. So, If there ever was a moment to sit down and further educate yourself during your career, that moment is now. Today’s talent recruiters seek candidates that will bring more than just one talent to the table. The opportunity to sell yourself as a “jack of all trades” is a huge advantage to have over other qualified candidates.