The 10 Best Social Media Marketing Courses (Free & Paid)
If you’re looking to build your brand awareness while gaining an audience of loyal fans, social media marketing courses are the way to do it.
Whether you are a beginner on social media or have been at it for a while, there is an online course that is perfect for you.
In this article, you’ll find a list of 10 credible and accessible online social media marketing courses that are both free and paid.
Top 10 Social Media Marketing Courses
These are the best social media marketing courses you can pursue and get certified.
1. Social Media Marketing Course (Reliablesoft)
The Reliablesoft Academy Social Media Marketing Course is suitable for beginners and intermediate learners in social media marketing.
The course is part of the Digital Marketing Full Course Bundle.
Through this course, you’ll learn everything you need to know about social media marketing, from getting organic traffic from Facebook to running paid social media marketing campaigns.
In particular, you’ll learn:
- What is social media marketing and why it’s important?
- How to get started with social media for your blogging or online business
- How to optimize your social media profiles
- How to create a social media marketing strategy
- How to design and execute a successful social media campaign
- How to properly use hashtags to get more exposure for your content
- How to grow your Facebook business followers fast
- How to run successful and profitable Facebook Ads
- How to run successful and profitable Instagram Campaigns
- How to run retargeting campaigns on Facebook and Instagram
- How to connect your website to Facebook
- How to optimize your social media landing pages
Why enroll in this course?
The nice thing about this course is that uses terminology that can be easily understood by beginners. So, if you know nothing about social media and want a course to build your skills, this is a great starting point.
When you enroll in this course, you get access to two social media marketing courses (Social Media Course and Facebook Ads Marketing Course) and eight more courses covering all major areas of digital marketing (including SEO, Content Marketing, and Google Ads).
Upon completion of all courses and passing an exam, you can get a Digital Marketing Certification which is the most valuable certification you can get, to enrich your CV.
The course includes examples, case studies, checklists, videos, and anything else needed to learn social media marketing. It’s a 5-star rating course and risk-free since it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing Course
- Vendor: Reliablesoft Academy
- Type: Online Course
- Cost: $119 (Normal Price $600 – 80% Off)
- Duration: 1 week
- Level: Beginner / Intermediate
- Certification: Yes, Digital Marketing Certification
Learn More About This Course
2. Social Media Marketing Specialization (Coursera)
The Social Media Marketing Specialization by Coursera is a series of courses that dive into the foundations of social media. Each course in the specialization includes hands-on projects that must be completed to get your certification.
Here are the course topics that are included in this specialization:
- What is Social?
- The Importance of Listening
- Engagement & Nurture Marketing Strategies
- Content, Advertising, and Social IMC
- The Business of Social
- Social Marketing Capstone Project
Why enroll in this course?
By enrolling in this course you’ll get a deep understanding of what social analytics tools to use and what strategy to follow to become an influencer on social media.
The course material is comprehensive but easy to follow with quizzes and practical examples of how social media marketing really works.
The sixth course in the series is a capstone project that will give you the chance to apply the methodologies, tools, and insights you have learned to a real-life scenario.
On average, it takes students seven months to successfully complete all courses and get certified. Coursera offers a 7-day free trial to review the course material before committing to a paid plan.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing Specialization
- Vendor: Coursera
- Type: Online
- Cost: $343
- Duration: 7 months
- Level: Beginner
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
3. Social Media Marketing Certification (HubSpot)
The next social media marketing training that I’m highlighting here is Hubspot’s free certification course. Hubspot is a full-service CRM platform that offers a wide range of sales and marketing resources through its Hubspot Academy.
The Social Media Marketing Certification that it offers includes the following modules in its curriculum:
- Developing a Social Media Strategy
- Social Media Listening and Monitoring
- Building a Content Strategy for Social Media
- Extending Your Reach on Social Media
- Using Social Media to Build One-to-One Relationships
- Introduction to Social Media Advertising
- Measuring Your Social Return on Investment
- Essentials for Continued Success with Social Media
Registration for this course is free and comes with a workbook to follow along as well.
Why enroll in this course?
What I really like about this course is that it focuses on the true purpose of social media marketing which is, ultimately, making more sales. If you are new to social media and have found yourself getting caught up in the follower counting game, this course will put you back on track.
The Social Media Marketing Certification course also has modules for growing a social media team, so it’s perfect for an individual or a social media team leader. Plus, it’s free, so you are able to learn more without the risk.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing Course
- Vendor: HubSpot Academy
- Type: Online
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 4 hours
- Level: Beginners / Intermediate
- Certification: Yes, Social Media Certification.
Learn More About This Course
4. Social Marketing Training (Hootsuite)
The Hootsuite Social Marketing Training’s curriculum ranges from beginner to intermediate level strategy. It covers topics such as optimizing your social media profiles to more advanced topics like social media advertising.
This fundamental, yet extensive course will get you started while providing more in-depth knowledge so that you can implement strategies right away.
Here are the lessons that are included:
- [OPTIONAL] Introduction to Social Media Marketing
- Optimizing Your Social Media Profiles
- Social Media Strategy – from A to Z
- Growing Your Advocate Community
- Content Marketing Fundamentals
- Social Advertising Fundamentals
The final lesson is a Social Marketing Certification Exam where you will earn your official certification for completing the course.
Why enroll in this course?
If you want to learn social media marketing, beginning with the basics, this is a great course for you. Although this course is not free, you are able to view a free demo to get a feel for it before investing the $199.
I definitely suggest watching the intro video after clicking the button below to get an even better idea of what this course offers.
- Course Name: Social Marketing Training
- Vendor: Hootsuite
- Type: Online
- Cost: $199
- Duration: 6 hours
- Level: Beginner
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
5. Social Media Marketing MASTERY (Udemy)
This course is packed full of in-depth content. Created by Courseenvy, this social media marketing course covers everything from basic social media training to paid advertising on all major Social Media platforms.
Not only does it contain 8 hours of video content, but it also has a total of 39 articles and 26 downloadable resources.
Here is the basic layout of these social media classes:
- Introduction
- Social Media Marketing (What is social media marketing, what content to share, etc)
- Facebook (In-depth Facebook ad training, and more)
- Instagram (Optimizing the profile set up, converting followers to sales, sponsored posts, and more)
- Twitter (the basics, hashtags, trends, etc)
- Pinterest (Pinterest 101 and tech set up)
- Google Ads and Google My Business (intro to Google ads and how to get Google business reviews)
- YouTube (optimizing your Youtube account, Youtube ads, how to rank, SEO, and more!)
- LinkedIn (optimizing your profile, LinkedIn groups, LinkedIn ads, etc)
- Other Social Media Platforms (Yelp ads, Snapchat, and TikTok)
- Landing Pages, Web 2.0, and Blogging (covers landing pages, SEO, domain name ideas, etc)
As you can see, this course is broken down mostly by social media platforms which will help you decide which platforms you want to master first.
Why enroll in this course?
What’s great about this course is that the course creator is interactive. You can ask questions in the discussion section and get answers from the instructor. That’s invaluable!
This Udemy course is credible with over 11,000 reviews ranking it a bestseller at 4.4 stars.
The Social Media Marketing Mastery course contains a good amount of ad content. It’s ideal for someone who is not only a beginner but also for someone looking to uplevel their social media marketing game with paid ads.
The $99 investment is a great price for the value this course provides, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing Mastery
- Vendor: Udemy
- Type: Online
- Cost: $99
- Duration: 8 hours
- Level: Beginner-Advanced
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
6. Social Media Marketing Masterclass (Udemy)
If you thought the last Udemy course was heavy on the content, this one includes more than 20 hours of video modules. The reason I like this course as a second Udemy option is because it covers very different social media marketing topics.
While the course above focused a lot on paid ads, this one focuses more on the “how-to” and content marketing. So not only does it cover setting up social media platforms, but it goes in-depth on the buyer’s journey, creating images, creating and editing videos, email marketing, SEO, blogging, and more.
Because this course has 36 modules (wow!), there are too many to list out here, so make sure to check out the landing page for the course.
Why enroll in this course?
If you are looking for the ins and outs of how to create great content, this course is worth your while. It dives deep into producing images and video content, SEO training (including local business SEO), email marketing and copywriting, sales and marketing philosophy so that you understand the “why,” and so much more.
This course also comes with access to a private Facebook group so that you can have ongoing support and community with other graduates. And again, this course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can invest with no risk.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing – Content Marketing Masterclass
- Vendor: Udemy
- Type: Online
- Cost: $109.00
- Duration: 20.5 hours
- Level: Beginner-Advanced
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
7. Facebook Blueprint Training (Facebook)
Did you know that Facebook has a learning center? It’s free and if you’re logged into your Facebook account, you can keep track of your progress in any course.
These courses are quick and include topics like the Completed Guide to Facebook Ads with Ads Manager, Mapping the Customer Journey, Getting Started with Commerce Manager, and on and on.
Not only that, but you can kick it up a gear and take extensive exams to become Facebook Blueprint Certified.
Why enroll in this course?
Facebook Blueprint is incredibly user-friendly. You can search for course topics or simply browse the range of online social media classes that it has to offer. The courses range from 10 to 20 minutes of video, and it also included detailed screenshots for tutorial purposes.
If you are looking for a quick way to gain basic knowledge of social media and digital marketing space, Facebook Blueprint is one to check out.
- Course Name: Facebook Blueprint Training (Multiple Courses)
- Vendor: Facebook
- Type: Online
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Range from 10-20 minutes
- Level: Beginner
- Certification: Yes, with examination
Learn More About This Course
8. Social Media Marketing Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
This course is free in the LinkedIn Learning platform when logged into your LinkedIn account. And if you are willing to invest $30 a month, you will also have access to many other beginners and high-level digital marketing and social media courses as well.
Covering topics from creating a social media strategy to interacting with customers online, it’s a great spot for a beginner.
Here are the class modules:
- Creating a Social Media Strategy
- Choosing the Right Channels
- Publishing on Social Media
- Interacting with Customers
- Selling on Social Media
- Measuring Social Media Activity
- Innovating with Social Media
Why enroll in this course?
If you are just getting started in the Social Media game, this is a perfect course for you. It’s only 52 minutes, so if you’re looking for a quick and free overview of social media marketing, this is a great opportunity for you to get started.
The content delivery is simple as well with straightforward videos and an accompanying zip file including checklists, worksheets, and examples.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing Foundations
- Vendor: LinkedIn
- Type: Online
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 52 minutes
- Level: Beginner
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
9. Social Media Marketing (OMI)
This course in the Online Marketing Institute gives you an overview of multiple social media platforms but then dives deeper into marketing to millennials. It also touches on higher-level topics like paid ads and measuring ROI.
There are 11 parts to this course and each part is packed with detailed and valuable content. Here are the 11 parts:
- The Primary Social Media Platforms
- Social Media: Consumer Insights
- Social Media Brand
- Your Business Goals on Facebook
- Facebook Insights
- Best of Facebook Business
- How to Market to Millennials
- Things You Should Know About Advertising on Snapchat and Instagram
- Creating an Influential LinkedIn Profile
- Publishing on LinkedIn Pulse
- Content Marketing for Social Media
Why enroll in this course?
If your target audience is millennials, this course is what you’re looking for. Although it is labeled a Level 1 course, it niches down into this “marketing to millennials” category and focuses heavily on Snapchat and Instagram so may be worth the cost.
At $859 (or 3 payments of $286), this course offers certification which is not included in OMI’s basic monthly course access.
So if you’re willing to invest in learning more about this niche and have a certification from an institute on your resume, this course is an option for you.
- Course Name: Social Media Marketing
- Vendor: Online Marketing Institute
- Type: Online
- Cost: $859 or 3 Payments of $286
- Duration: 6.6 hours
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Certification: Yes, after the exam
Learn More About This Course
10. Advanced Social Media Certification Training (MarketMotive)
Although this course does touch on the basics of Social Media it also goes into more philosophical views of the industry like misconceptions and how to adapt your strategy to align with your business goals.
By the end of the courses you will be able to market yourself or your business through social media campaigns, measure paid ad metrics, develop relationships with influencers, and master advanced social media communication principles. That’s a win!
Here are the modules that are in the course:
- Social Media Foundations
- Advanced Social Media Marketing
- YouTube and Video Marketing
- Facebook Marketing and Advertising
- Social Media Tools
- Advanced Content Marketing
- Advanced Website Analytics
Why enroll in this course?
Out of all of the courses on this list, this one is the most advanced. It gives the most real-life project examples so that you are able to envision putting its teaching into practice for your own business.
The content of this course actually builds on the foundations of their Social Media Foundations course, so it goes deeper into advanced content marketing, web analytics, and ads.
In addition, this course has been trusted by some big brand names such as HP, Microsoft, Marriott, Salesforce, and more. So, again, if you are willing to invest in your professional development, this is a great advanced course to add to your list.
- Course Name: Advanced Social Media Certification Training
- Vendor: MarketMotive
- Type: Online
- Cost: $599
- Duration: 25+ hours
- Level: Intermediate-Advanced
- Certification: Yes
Learn More About This Course
Compare the Best Social Media Marketing Courses
The table below compares the most popular social media marketing courses.
Who should follow a social media marketing course?
Any kind of business (online or offline) – Building an online audience through social media isn’t the end game. Any business that wants to convert those followers into paying customers or clients will benefit from social media marketing. It is intended to impact your business’s bottom line.
People who want to pursue a career in social media marketing – Social media jobs are high in demand now and are well paid. The salary of a social media marketing specialist is around $62K per year, while the salary of social media marketing managers can rise to $75K per year.
A good course will help you learn social media marketing fast and a certification will help you secure a job in the industry.
Marketing professionals – if you’re already working as a marketing freelancer, you can build the necessary social media marketing skills through a course and offer additional services to your clients.
Are Social Media Marketing Courses Worth It?
Whatever your industry, your potential customers are browsing social media. And whether you are looking to learn social media marketing for your own business or you’re looking to become a social media consultant, social media marketing courses are the fastest way to get that training.
But researching and picking the right course for you is just the beginning. Getting real-life experience in the field is where you are going to see true analytics, decide what works and what doesn’t work for your industry, and trial and error your way to success on social media.
The courses listed here are mostly free and for beginners. So when you select your course, go all in. Make the decision to take the notes, watch and rewatch the videos, complete the certification exam, and take your skills to the next level.
Methodology
To help you find the best social media marketing course, we’ve looked at the most popular social media training providers. The chosen courses were selected based on the quality of the course content, instructor reputation, cost, certification, and duration. All courses are perfectly suited for beginners and the more experienced social media marketing professionals. We’ve included in the list free and paid courses so that you can find the perfect course for your needs.
Related Courses and Certifications
Besides social media marketing courses, you can also consider becoming an expert in other areas like:
- Social Media Management Courses – build the skills needed to manage multiple social media accounts.
- Facebook Ads Courses – build the skills needed to run profitable Facebook paid ad campaigns.
- Social Media Certifications – a list of accredited social media certifications to further enhance your learning (includes courses not included in this list).
If you want to expand your skills beyond social media marketing you can also consider:
- Digital Marketing Courses – build skills for all digital marketing channels.
- Digital Marketing Certifications – the best digital marketing certificate programs to become a certified digital marketing expert.