Top Digital Marketing Certificates & Certifications in Atlanta

Digital marketing is a dynamic industry devoted to promoting goods, services, and brands in online spaces.

In our modern economy where trends come and go as quickly as twilight, businesses of all types rely on digital marketing to bring customers to the door. Along with bringing consumers to ecommerce websites, digital marketing has now become a vital tool for helping local customers find physical businesses. Hence, it’s none too surprising that marketing has penetrated every nook and cranny of the internet, whether it’s your email spam folder, your search results in Google, or an influencer’s post on your social media feed. 

Although digital marketing also involves a fair amount of conventional ads, its most prominent tools include strategies designed to direct internet browsers' attention in a specific direction. For instance, tactics such as search engine optimization (SEO), paid search, and conversion rate optimization influence the results that appear in search engines by formulating more relevant content or paying for additional marketing. Put simply, this means that the articles that show up on the first page of Google were likely written with marketing in mind. 

In addition to mastering a variety of digital tools, the best Digital Marketers have a lucid understanding of current market trends and consumer habits that enables them to develop content that hits all the right notes. By analyzing consumer data, these professionals can develop content strategies that allow consumers to feel connected to brands and businesses. 

As a broad field that touches almost every reach of modern life, digital marketing offers a variety of career paths for marketing professionals with different talents. Depending on what piques your interest, you can choose to focus your career efforts on topics such as social media marketing, email marketing, SEO, content strategy, or data analytics. 

If you’re looking for a way to distinguish yourself from other candidates in today’s dog-eat-dog job market, consider earning your digital marketing certification. By attending a certification bootcamp, you’ll gain comprehensive training on all the current digital marketing tools and practices so that you’re fully prepared to succeed in a professional career. In addition to providing you with the necessary training, your certification will inform potential employers that you’ve mastered essential skills, making it easier to score higher-paying positions. 

Noble Desktop: Digital Marketing Certificate

Key Information: Looking for a high-quality, interactive training program that allows you to tune into live classes from the comfort of home? Noble Desktop’s live online Digital Marketing Certificate doesn’t require any former experience with marketing or tech and only takes one month to complete on a full-time schedule. If you need a more open-ended timeline, you can also stretch the course out over six months part-time. The class costs $3,995 and is made easier to finance when you opt for a flexible payment plan. What’s more, if you find your skills in need of a tune-up after graduation, you can retake the class for free as many times as you like. 

Regardless of how inexperienced you are when you start, the class’s practical assignments will both aid you in developing paramount skills and give you real experience. As you learn from an expert how to collect and evaluate data, you’ll work with peers to create genuine marketing campaigns formulated for social media and online search engines. To ensure your skill set is as broad as it is deep, you’ll explore a variety of digital marketing skills, from email marketing to 

You’ll have the chance to partner with industry experts both inside and outside of class thanks to one-on-one mentorship sessions that allow you to get personalized feedback and brush up your portfolio. Additionally, Noble Desktop’s career support services make navigating the job market much less overwhelming, and can even support you through your career launch. The assistance doesn’t end after you graduate either, as alumni retain access to career support services for six months.

​​Meta Digital Marketing Associate Certification Exam

Key Information: The 90-minute ​​Meta Digital Marketing Associate Certification Exam is completely free and furnishes successful examinees with a two-year certification in digital marketing for Facebook and other Meta platforms. Meta’s exam library includes a range of certifications for Digital Marketers at different stages in their careers, making it possible to earn a certification whether you’re a beginner or a well-established Digital Marketer. 

The certification you’ll receive after you successfully pass one of these exams will validate your expertise in running marketing campaigns on Meta social platforms. To earn it, you’ll be expected to show that you’re well-versed in advertising tools and methods distinctive of Meta. In addition to advertising creation and management practices, you’ll be tested on strategies for using Meta platforms to cultivate loyal audiences for businesses and brands. 

Like many other certification exams, this test doesn’t provide training. However, you can prepare for your exam by taking a certificate course and exploring Meta’s free self-study materials. 

Noble Desktop: Social Media Marketing Certificate

Key Information: If you’re searching for a flexible training program that takes an exclusive and in-depth look at marketing on social media, check out Noble Desktop’s live online Social Media Marketing Certificate. Through this course, it only takes beginners 72 hours to prepare for successful social media marketing careers, and that’s with zero experience. If things feel too fast or you need to revisit a skill later, you can retake the course for free as many times as you need. In addition, Noble Desktop’s interest-free payment plans make it easy to finance tuition, which totals only $2,495.

This incredibly comprehensive course explores popularly covered social platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook alongside more unique niches like streaming and YouTube. Regardless of whether you’re learning social media marketing to grow your small business or to advance in a marketing career, you’ll be able to learn relevant skills from experts. In addition to developing skills pertinent to a variety of different social platforms and goals, you’ll also learn how to channel consumer data for marketing strategy. 

Both engaging and experiential, Noble’s live online classrooms allow you to participate in expert-led class discussions in real-time, making it easy to connect with classmates. To gain professional experience, you’ll team up with a group and fashion a bona fide social media campaign that you can include in your portfolio. Outside of class, you’ll have the chance to receive additional feedback on your portfolio and even get help preparing for interviews by visiting Noble’s career support services. After earning your New York State licensed certificate at graduation, Noble’s career support services can keep buoying you through your job search for a full six months. 

Udemy: Google Analytics Certification Course

Key Information: You don’t have to have any experience to participate in Udemy’s three-hour online Google Analytics Certification course. Available on-demand, the course provides consumable content and practice assignments designed to prepare you for official Google Analytics Certification Exams. At the conclusion of the course, you’ll be given a certificate of completion that you can share on LinkedIn and append to job applications. The course costs only $129.99 and can sometimes be found at 80% off. 

In addition to providing reading materials and pre-recorded lectures, the course prepares you to take exams through practice tests (with 200+ questions) and other activities designed to help you retain and test your knowledge. Through a demo Google Analytics account, you can even get comfortable using the Google Analytics interface if you don’t have one of your own. To give you the best chance at a good test score, the course also provides plenty of expert tips on test-taking. 

Thinkful: Digital Marketing Bootcamp 

Key Information: Designed with hectic schedules in mind, Thinkful’s asynchronous Digital Marketing Bootcamp provides on-demand training for aspiring professionals. It only takes about three months to finish the course with a part-time commitment of 5-20 hours every week, but if you’re a heavy hitter, you can knock it out in 6 weeks full-time. Thinkful’s flexible tuition spans between $5,341 and $7,500 and is contingent on your choice of part-time or full-time study. Along with the option to pay monthly, you’re promised a full refund if you’re not hired within six months of your graduation. 

Although this course is designed for career-minded students, it centers around mastering basic skills. In addition to broader digital marketing, the curriculum examines niche subjects like brand development, email marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. 

Through pre-recorded videos and hands-on assignments, the class helps you simultaneously build knowledge and experience. Educational support is also available through a variety of avenues. If you’re interested in receiving individualized feedback on your work, you can attend live office hours with your instructor and ask questions. Free access to one-on-one career coaching sessions also makes it easier to level up your interviewing skills and calibrate your resume for success. 

Digital Marketing Institute: Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing

Key Information: In less than 6 six months, you can earn an internationally recognized Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing from one of the top organizations in the industry, the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI). In addition to official certification, this asynchronous course includes 30 hours of training that you’re free to explore on your preferred timeline, whether that’s late into the night or in between shifts at work. While accessible to students of all levels, the course is best for experienced marketers who want to advance in their careers, along with newly graduated marketing students aiming to start their careers on a strong foot. If you’re looking for ways to save money in your education, you may be able to sign up for this course at 30% off the regular tuition price of $2060 and choose a flexible payment plan. 

Most certification exams don’t supply test-takers with comprehensive training, but the DMI’s course is a rare exception and covers topics like Google Analytics, SEO, social media marketing, and content strategy. As you prepare for your exam, you’ll be bolstered by a diverse catalog of resources, including interactive activities, practice tests, webinars, and one-on-one instructor meetings. After passing your third-party proctored exam, you’ll be ready to take on the challenges that come with working in a rapidly evolving digital marketing industry. In fact, the course has over 200,000 graduates, over 80% of whom have earned promotions since graduating. 

Northwestern University: Kellogg Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing

Key Information: Regardless of whether you’re a student at ​​Northwestern University, you can apply for the Kellogg Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing and earn your digital marketing certification live online. While lacking in formal prerequisites, this 6-month part-time course is most appropriate for experienced Digital Marketers who are ready to level up by mastering leading-edge skills. Tuition rounds out to $6,950 and supports multiple payment schedules along with outside sponsorship. In addition, you can qualify for discounts by attending with a group or referring a friend. 

Through interactive classes, hands-on projects, and one-on-one help sessions with your instructor, you’ll quickly develop expertise in a broad range of digital marketing skills. By the end of the course, you can become officially certified in Social Media, Google Ads Search, HubSpot Content Marketing, Google Ads Display, SEMrush SEO Toolkit, and Google Analytics. You can also take advantage of ​​live career development webinars full of tips on topics like effective interview skills, negotiating a pay raise, and creating your personal brand. As a bonus, the course’s student Slack channel will provide additional opportunities to make friends, network, and get support from peers. 

FAQ for Digital Marketing Certificates

What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?

While it’s true that certificates and certifications both measure digital marketing proficiency, the two are not interchangeable. In fact, in addition to using different methods to quantify aptitude, certificates and certifications are regarded differently by the professional collective and can even lead to different job opportunities. 

Between the two, certifications earn the highest prestige and come with the greatest payout in terms of job opportunities. These coveted awards can only be obtained from industry-accredited professional organizations like the Digital Marketing Institute. 

Meanwhile, certificates are conferred by many educational programs to confirm that you’ve completed their course. While certificates generally imply that you’ve also acquired the digital marketing skills taught in the course, they’re not perceived as a guarantee. Community skepticism isn’t helped by the fact that certificates are notably easy to obtain. 

Certifications, on the other hand, require an official exam that delves into digital marketing concepts on a practical level. These tests are proctored by an industry-accredited organization and serve as an official validation of your proficiency. As a result, employers tend to trust certifications over certificates. Keep in mind, however, that due to rapid changes in the digital marketing world, certifications expire and need to be renewed after a time.

Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?

Choosing your next career move can feel daunting, but it’s much easier when you understand how Certificates and Certifications relate to your professional goals. Since each fulfills unique objectives, understanding how they differ can help you choose a path that aligns well with your current needs. 

Are you a sapling Digital Marketer who needs to expand your skill set and build your portfolio? Expert-led certificate courses are geared toward skill building and often include built-in career support to see you through a career launch. Meanwhile, certification exams assume you already have prior training and offer a way for adept Digital Marketers to authenticate their expertise. By passing an exam, you’ll not only qualify for higher-paying jobs but may even receive a promotion in your current position. 

In addition to weighing your goals, consider how your skill set may be deficient, and what training you’ve already undergone. For instance, experienced Digital Marketers, along with students who’ve recently earned a college degree in marketing may not need to take a certificate course to pass an official certification exam. Meanwhile, you may find you’re lacking in just one skill such as Google Analytics, making it worthwhile to pursue a certificate course exploring that subject. After filling the gaps in your training, you’ll likely find it much easier to pass your certification exam. 

Certificate-granting programs are also a great place to beef up a weak job application packet. Between real-world assignments and one-on-one resume rescue, you’ll come out of your course a much stronger candidate. 

Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?

As a core component of today’s economy, the demand for digital marketing is high. Consequently, if you can churn out a strong application packet and perform well in an interview, you don’t need to be certified in every digital marketing skill to find a job. However, certain positions such as those that deal in sensitive customer data, may expect applicants to hold specific certifications. Moreover, certification will almost always qualify you for more advanced positions with higher wages.

If you want to qualify for better positions but aren’t ready to take an exam yet, attending a certificate training course is a great way to prepare while also strengthening your portfolio and resume. Because of the business-wide benefits that come from training one individual, employers are often willing to finance training and exams.

What Certificate Program is Right for Me?

Deciding on the next step in your career can feel overwhelming, but considering your current lifestyle, goals, and learning style can take some of the weight off. When you select a program that’s well matched for your unique needs, you can head into the future with confidence. Before jumping ahead on your decision, think about how much free time you have and whether you prefer in-person or online learning. 

Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes

While it’s easy to assume one type of class is better than another, the truth is that isn’t a one-size-fits-all class style, and you’re better off choosing a class based on how well you think it will gel with your learning needs. Although both online and in-person courses feature expert lessons and skills training, each has unique advantages for students with different learning styles. 

In-person digital marketing classes are perfect for social students who wither without face-to-face discussions and opportunities to make friends outside of class. All the same, these courses demand more time from students to travel to a physical location. 

With training of similarly high caliber, online courses allow you to omit your commute entirely as you tune into class through the internet. Live online classes center around interactive class discussions that happen in real-time while asynchronous courses give you the freedom to explore digital marketing concepts on your own. 

Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?

To allow people in different walks of life an equal shot at becoming Digital Marketers, there are two types of online courses. While both live online and asynchronous courses have plenty of perks, each is designed to fulfill different needs. The best way to determine which class style is best for you, consider what you need to succeed. 

Similar to in-person courses, live online courses feature real-time interactions with peers and teachers, making them a great way to build a strong network. While flexible and home-based, these courses require scheduled commitments and provide plenty of structure for students who need accountability. In addition, live online courses include a wealth of resources, from one-on-one help sessions and career development webinars to alumni career support. 

Meanwhile, asynchronous courses were designed with flexibility at the forefront and typically don’t involve scheduled meetings or deadlines. Through on-demand learning materials and pre-recorded lectures, these asynchronous courses allow you to develop skills at your own pace. These courses don’t typically offer instructor support, but make it easy to fit learning in whenever and wherever you can. 

When choosing an online course, it can help to identify what features are most essential to your success. Outside of your schedule, other factors to think about include your learning style and professional goals. As you reflect, ask yourself the following questions: 

• Would I grow more on my own or with added support from a mentor?
• Am I a thoughtful learner who needs additional time to process information on my own?
• Do I perform well without deadlines and accountability, or am I prone to procrastination and avoidance?
• Is the option to adjust my learning schedule necessary to maintain my health?