Businesses use social media channels, too, but in a bit different way. They identify a target audience and use content to build communities of customers to increase sales and brand recognition through social media marketing. If you are an entrepreneur, you can learn how to turn followers into customers through social media marketing. You can also earn a certification and get a job as a Social Media Marketer. Read on to find out more about where to learn social media marketing!
The 10 Best Online Social Media Marketing Classes
- Noble Desktop—Social Media Marketing Certificate (Live Online)
- Certstaffix Training—Social Media Combo (Live Online)
- BrainStation—Social Media Marketing Course Online (Live Online)
- headTrix—Social Media Marketing (Live Online)
- Digital Workshop Center-–Social Media Marketing (Live Online)
- Media Training—Social Media Marketing Intro (Live Online)
- City Lit—Social Media Content Strategy (Live Online)
- Bootcamp Digital–Social Media Marketing Master Certification (Live Online)
- Digital Marketing Institute—Social Media Marketing Course–Professional Certification (On-Demand)
- LinkedIn Learning–Social Media Marketing (On-Demand)
#1: Noble Desktop—Social Media Marketing Certificate (Live Online)
If you want to learn social media marketing skills to get started in a new career, Noble Desktop’s Social Media Marketing Certificate fits the bill. This course includes 72 hours of live online instruction on marketing skills, social media platforms, and career preparation. This course will help you decide which social media platform is right for your marketing goals, gain and expand a following, and teach you how to design a successful social media marketing campaign. You will also learn to create content to increase audience engagement and increase sales, and how to use data analytics to improve results. The course covers Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter), and blogging. Students complete real-world projects with the guidance of experienced industry professionals and will create a portfolio for future job searches.
Key Information
The price for Noble Desktop’s Social Media Marketing Certificate is $2,495. You can make payments over time with a 10 percent deposit and five installments. The course includes eight separate classes that each meet for six hours on one or two days. You can choose between a full-time, part-time schedule, or weekend schedule. This course is for beginners and there are no prerequisites beyond basic computing skills.
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Noble is licensed by the New York State Department of Education, and classes are kept small so students can interact with the instructor. Students will receive a verified digital certificate of completion when they finish the course, and may retake the class for free within the next year. Sessions are recorded and are available to students 24 hours after the class session ends.
Noble’s Social Media Marketing Certificate gets good reviews from alumni like Victoria Moran, owner of the Main Street Vegan Academy: “Before this class, I didn’t see the point of LinkedIn for a self-employed person like me, but it’s now really clear and I’ll use the platform much more effectively.”
Donna DeLucia said, “[a]s a senior citizen returning to the classroom after a long career in Advertising, Marketing, and Graphic Design, Noble Desktop was perfect for me. I was able to brush up on design skills, learn the latest trends in social media, and all in the comfort of my home. The instructors were outstanding and always helpful with constructive feedback. Can’t wait to take my next class!”
#2: Certstaffix Training—Social Media Combo (Live Online)
Another option for a full-scope social media marketing course is the Social Media Combo from Certstaffix Training. There are six classes in this series that cover basic marketing and the most popular social media platforms. Individual classes include Social Media for Business, Facebook Advertising, Instagram for Business, LinkedIn for Business, X for Business, and YouTube for Business.
In this series students will learn to define a target audience, tune in to online conversations, use social media tools, generate content, and measure the effectiveness of their efforts. Classes on the individual platforms will address their particular focus, how to use them, and the tools associated with the channels.
Key Information
Certstaffix teaches live online, self-paced, and in-person classes. The live online social media marketing classes meet at a set time with a live instructor. Students log in through Zoom and can ask questions or talk with other students during regular breaks. Self-paced classes are video lectures you can watch on your own schedule. You can stop and rewatch as much as you like during a six-month subscription. These on-demand classes are a good choice for people with unusual schedules. Certstaffix also offers in-person corporate group classes.
Each one-day class meets between 10 a.m. And 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The course is designed to help beginners start a career in social media marketing and there are no formal prerequisites. Individual classes cost $450 and the six-class Social Media Combo costs $2,400. The self-paced online course costs $300 for all six classes for six months.
Full payment is due when you register using major credit cards, personal and company checks, or direct deposit bank transfers. There are no payment plans but discounts are available on multiple course packages. Certstaffix does not participate in the G.I. Bill but discounts are available for veterans on single classes.
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Students receive a certificate of completion when they finish the course, but this is not a degree or certification from a software provider. The classes are designed to prepare students to take the certification exams from companies like Google.
Students have been satisfied with the classes. About Social Media for Business, Lacey D. said, “[v]ery pleased with the professionalism before and throughout the course.” Joe H. took Facebook Advertising and said, “[m]y instructor was very clear and knowledgeable on the coursework. He also set very clear goals and was able to adapt the lessons to our individual industries very effectively.” Susan T. commented on Google Analytics: “The instructor was great at teaching and not progressing too quickly. Took time to explain details without missing important steps in the process.”
#3: BrainStation—Social Media Marketing Course Online (Live Online)
BrainStation’s Social Media Marketing Course Online introduces beginners to using social media to market products, brands, and services. The course has three sections. Social Media Strategy shows you how to build marketing skills and helps you to understand your audience and customers, plan your social media campaign, and explore a content strategy. In the second section, you will learn about the different social media platforms and their requirements. How are they the same and what are the differences? Find out how paid advertising works and when to rely on it. The third section is about social media engagement and how to grow an audience. This section covers influencer marketing, managing a community, and customer service.
Key Information
BrainStation’s Social Media Marketing Course is a part-time course including 7,3-hour sessions. The course costs $2,450 up front, or you can make monthly payments of $224 a month for a year. There are also scholarships available. There are no prerequisites for the course. It is geared toward people who want a better understanding of social media and how it can be used for marketing.
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BrainStation has enrolled over 100,000 students since 2012. Jaana Hein is a Digital Content Planner at Adidas who took the Social Media Marketing Course. She says, “BrainStation has given me the confidence I needed to be ahead of the game. It connected me with like-minded professionals and provided a platform to communicate innovative ideas.”
#4: HeadTrix—Social Media Marketing (Live Online)
Computer training and consulting company headTrix offers two live online Social Media Marketing courses. Social Media Marketing Level 1 covers the basics of social media and how networks function, including creating a web presence, starting a blog, using platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Social Media Marketing Level 2 explores other platforms like Pinterest, Tumbler, and Instagram, and looks at analytics, content strategy, newsletters, and automation. These classes are designed for businesses and individuals who want to build a social media toolbox. headTrix offers live online, in-person, 1-on-, and corporate social media training.
Key Information
The price for each 2-day class is $695. Classes meet from 9:30 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. There are no prerequisites for Level 1, but you need to take Level 1 before Level 2. This course is designed for beginners with minimal knowledge of social media marketing.
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Students may retake either social media marketing class for free within six months of completing the course. Students have found the class helpful. J. Lopez said, “[t]hanks for a fun and informative week. We learned a lot and I think you exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
#5: Digital Workshop Center–Social Media Marketing (Live Online)
The Digital Workshop Center offers classes for business owners who want to learn how to use social media to bolster sales and increase their customer base. Social Media Marketing is a social media beginner’s class intended to show business owners how to use social media platforms to boost business. Learn to recognize the most appropriate social media platform for your business, then engage an audience, grow your community, and drive traffic to your website. You will also learn how to create campaigns, connect with customers, and increase brand loyalty.
Key Information
The class meets in the Mountain Time Zone, and consists of two 90-minute sessions. The cost for the course is $159. Digital Workshop offers a monthly payment plan and several scholarships ranging from 25% to 100% of tuition. They also accept some funding for dislocated workers, people with disabilities, and veterans.
This is a class for beginners, so there are no formal prerequisites, although a basic understanding of computer file management is required. It is helpful to set up a Google Ads account before class, but not required.
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The Digital Workshop Center offers 1-on-1 career counseling and mentoring, and assignments are designed around relevant and meaningful skills. Laurie Good, Finance Director of SummitStone Health Partners, found the classes useful and convenient. “Digital Workshop has a wide variety of classes to take. I found I needed to refresh several of my skills in applications that have evolved since I first learned them. Digital Workshop was a convenient way to do this as I used the third online course option.”
#6: Media Training—Social Media Marketing Intro (Live Online)
Media Training, a company based in London has several social media courses available in-person and live online, including Social Media Marketing Intro. This course is an introduction to social media including understanding the main platforms, creating content strategies, and copywriting for social media. Students will learn about writing for an audience, what makes a successful post, and how to create a content calendar, plus using the right hashtags, and useful tools for social media marketing. Media Training also offers other social media marketing classes like Social Media Marketing Advertising, Creating Social Media Graphics, and Copywriting.
Key Information
Media Training’s Social Media Marketing Intro costs $288.70 USD plus tax, and the company accepts major credit cards. Courses are scheduled Monday through Friday. This one-day class meets from 10 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. London time. There are no prerequisites for this beginner’s course.
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Student reviews are positive. Bionic said, “Very informative, useful info. Friendly trainer who knew a lot about social media and how to use it for business.” UKTV said, “[f]irst time I’ve been to Media Training and would highly recommend. Great centre and staff were fab.” CAA said, “Great presentation, will all be so helpful moving forward, having to do lots of social media work myself. Would highly recommend.”
#7: City Lit—Social Media Content Strategy (Live Online)
City Lit has been offering adult education courses in London since 1919. They offer more than 5,000 courses including social media classes for businesses. Social Media Content Strategy focuses on content marketing. The class covers creating a social media strategy for your business, writing effective posts, and recognizing opportunities to grow your audience through good content and the right hashtags. Exercises will focus on students’ businesses and social media accounts.
Key Information
The cost of the class is 61.79 USD. There is a small discount available for people over 65 and payment plans available. This is a one-day course. While there are no prerequisites for the class, previous experience on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram will be helpful.
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Students should already have accounts on social media and be able to log in to those accounts during class. Students give City Lit top reviews with 70% of students giving City Lit 4 or 5 stars.
#8: Boot Camp Digital—Social Media Marketing Master Certification (Live Online)
Boot Camp Digital offers a four-day Social Media Marketing Master Certification live online. This intensive bootcamp covers the constantly evolving world of social media marketing. Students will learn to create a successful social media marketing strategy that gets results, make content that gets noticed, and set achievable goals. Industry professionals share best practices and how to decide which social media platform is the best for your business. This course is designed to give students the tools they need to promote a business on social media.
Key Information
The class costs $2,497 and lasts eight hours for four days. This is a course for beginners and there are no prerequisites.
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After completing the four-day bootcamp, students get an All-Access Pass to Digital Bootcamp’s online learning library that is good for three months. Boot Camp Digital has a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. Tonya said, “I took the marketing master class. The class has continued to hold its value through these additional refresher classes. There is always a true “takeaway” that you can plan for each time. As for the Mastering Short Format Video for Your Organization class, my “aha moment” was centered around analytics and what they mean for future growth.”
#9: LinkedIn Learning–Social Media Marketing (On-Demand)
Another on-demand option for social media marketing classes is the business social media platform LinkedIn. Like other social media platforms, it is free to open and use an account on LinkedIn. LinkedIn Learning is a large collection of on-demand, self-paced classes that people can take to study topics like business, technology, or creative skills. Students can go at their own pace and watch the videos wherever they want, but they don’t have access to a live instructor to answer questions or share insights.
Social Media Marketing Foundations on LinkedIn Learning range looks at social media marketing as a business investment. The class explores creating marketing personas, assessing social networks, and using content to engage an audience. Discover the best ways to interact with customers, build social media relationships, and plan successful campaigns.
Key Information
This self-paced course has five modules with quizzes so students can assess their progress. There are no prerequisites for the course, and students receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course. LinkedIn Learning also gives a 30-day free trial before users need to pay. The cost for LinkedIn Learning is $39.99 a month or $19.99 a month when paid for annually. This is a 50 percent savings.
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Student reviews report that the course is engaging and valuable, and helped them develop social media marketing campaigns. LinkedIn Learning gives members access to over 20,000 courses, including exercise files and quizzes, that can be viewed as many times as desired. Membership also includes access to salary and job insights through LinkedIn Premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Different Types of Online Social Media Marketing Classes?
There are two different models for learning social media marketing online. You can sign up for live online or on-demand classes, and you can also watch free introductory videos and tutorials. The difference between live online and on-demand social media marketing classes is that a live online class has an instructor and often other students to interact with. Participants log in to class on a video conferencing platform like Zoom and class meets according to a set schedule.
On-demand classes are pre-recorded. There is no instructor to answer questions but you can watch the videos whenever and wherever you want. You can also go back and rewatch the recording as often as you need. On-demand classes tend to cost less than live online classes.
What Will I Need for an Online Social Media Marketing Class?
To take an online social media class you will need a computer with an internet connection and a quiet place to log on to class. You will also need to sign up for accounts on the platforms that will be discussed if you don’t currently have accounts. There are some tools used for social media marketing, but most of them are either free or have a free trial period and the instructor can help you sign up.
Can I Learn Social Media Marketing Online for Free?
Yes, you can learn social media marketing for free by watching YouTube videos and online tutorials; however, to really learn up-to-date skills with social media marketing, you’ll benefit from taking a class. Social media marketing changes constantly and it is important to keep up. An instructor who is an experienced industry professional can give you the latest information and save you valuable time.
Is It Better to Learn Social Media Marketing in a Live or Self-paced Class?
If you enjoy a traditional classroom setting with an instructor who can answer your questions and classmates who can interact with you, you will prefer live online classes. Two disadvantages of live online classes are that you have to follow a set schedule and they are often more expensive than self-paced classes. Self-paced classes are more flexible because you can watch whenever you want. A downside of on-demand classes is that they can become out-of-date quickly.