Digital marketing is growing, and the trajectory shows no signs of slowing. The UK has a population of 68 million people, and of them, almost 90% are online. Businesses have been forced to go digital, no matter the nature of their business, and a recent study has found that digital offerings have bypassed seven years of progress in a matter of months. 

With the influx of businesses and people adopting an online presence, it’s clear that a career in digital marketing has the potential to be a lucrative one. You may be looking to start from scratch or have some existing formal marketing education and looking to brush up on your skills. Whatever the case may be, we’ve listed our top five online digital marketing courses to kick-start your career, so keep reading. 

Why a career in digital marketing? 

We’ve briefly touched on the “why” above and the numbers speak for themselves. But if that’s not enough, then stay tuned as we run through why it could be beneficial to your business to up-skill yourself in digital marketing. 

• Digital marketing can reach almost everyone across the world and it’s able to gain a much broader reach. 
• Since the growth of businesses going digital in the last year and a half, careers are in demand. 
• Digital marketing roles are constantly evolving and changing. 
• The industry is data-driven which means it’s easier to measure the success of campaigns and is beneficial for the company to see how their employees are adding value. 
• Not every role in digital marketing can be automated. 
• It’s incredibly versatile and there are a variety of career options to choose from. Some of these include: 

• Digital Marketing Managers 
• Social Media Managers 
• Paid Media 
• Search Engine Optimisation 
• Search Engine Marketing 
• Content Creation 
• Copywriting 
• Graphic Design 
• Email Marketing 
• Website Development & Management 

With all the options available, you’re probably ready to dive right in and start learning! Let’s get you started. 

The Best Online Digital Marketing Courses  

1. Google Digital Garage  

Description: To kick it off, we’ve listed courses from the Google Digital Garage. After all, who doesn’t love and trust Google? There are a variety of free learning courses with a multitude of options to choose from.  

Some of these options include: 

– The category 

– Course length 

– Certificate 

– Difficulty 

– Provider 

We love the Digital Garage because the courses are self-paced, supply easy to follow video tutorials and you have unlimited access to the material. 

Duration: Short courses only. Anything from 2 – 40 hours. 

Cost: Free and paid certificates. 

What you get: An internationally recognised certificate. 

Level: Beginner to advanced. 

Link: https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage   

2. Digital Marketing Institute  

Description: Home to the world’s most recognised digital marketing course. The Digital Marketing Institute offers short and comprehensive programmes suited to all experience levels. 

A wide variety of programmes have been developed by global marketing leaders and teams who have worked for brands like Google, Facebook, HubSpot, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Twitter. By signing up for one of their courses you have exclusive access to their membership which consists of over 150,000 people. 

Duration: 11 hours to 2 years, depending on the course chosen. 

Cost: + £320  

What you get: Globally recognised certification and free DMI membership. 

Level: Programmes suited to all experience levels. 

Link: https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/students/courses   

3. HubSpot Academy 

Description: HubSpot is a powerful tool and a firm favourite here at PrimePixels. Therefore, HubSpot Academy is listed in our top three online digital marketing courses. 

They offer quick, practical courses to in-depth certificates, covering hundreds of topics and providing you with everything you need to know about digital marketing. Their courses are geared to help you invest in your career and stay up to date with the latest trends. 

Duration: Short courses. Anything from 30 minutes to 4 hours. 

Cost: Completely free. 

What you get: A globally recognised certificate. 

Level: Beginner, intermediate and advanced. 

Link: https://academy.hubspot.com/  

4. The British Academy of Digital Marketing 

Description: The British Academy of Digital Marketing offers a wide range of industry-focused digital marketing courses that help you pursue your career goals and can be studied at home or in the classroom. 

All their courses are recognised by the International Approval and Registration Centre (IARC) and the Content Marketing Association and accredited by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standards Office. 

The courses provide step-by-step tuition with support, guidance and encouragement and graduates have gone on to secure jobs at leading agencies. The successful completion of their Postgraduate Diploma also offers the opportunity for voluntary work placement to gain real-life experience  

Duration: Three to nine months. 

Cost: £320 – £2,595  

What you get: A globally recognised certificate or diploma. 

Level: Beginner, intermediate and advanced. No minimum qualification is needed. 

Link: https://www.britishdigitalmarketing.co.uk/courses  

5. FutureLearn 

Description: FutureLearn is an online learning platform that helps develop and cultivate digital marketing skills through a variety of courses. From short courses right through online degrees, there’s something for everyone. 

The online learning portal provides support from industry experts and some courses are eligible for free digital upgrades, allowing a broader course scope. 

FutureLearn also offers an extensive online Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Coventry University which explores topics on digital marketing strategy, planning and management. 

Duration: Two weeks to two years, depending on the course. 

Cost: Monthly subscription-based service giving access to a range of courses starting at £28 and up. 

What you get: Internationally recognised certificates, academic accreditation, or degree. 

Level: Introductory to advanced. 

Link: https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/business-and-management-courses/marketing  

Digital marketing helps brands achieve goals and objectives and is a career path that constantly requires development and growth. Innovative technology, trends and strategies are being created daily which is why having in-depth knowledge is fundamental in keeping up with a fast-paced digital world. 

With the ever-growing shift towards going online comes countless opportunities for anyone looking for a career in digital marketing. So, do your research and have a look at our top online digital marketing courses to find out if it’s the calling you’ve been looking for. And who knows, maybe your future includes a career at one of the UK’s multi-award winning digital marketing agencies.