Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives in just a few years. Right now, many of us can’t imagine our days without being constantly connected to the web. But have you ever looked through MOOC platforms for some online social media courses to take your career to the next level?
Whether it’s to keep in touch with friends, following our favourite celebrities, or for work purposes, the intricacies of social media are important to keep in mind in any situation. There are several specific techniques and principles that, if used with intent, can help you reach your business goals in no time.
That’s exactly what I will cover in this article. The online social media courses mentioned explain the key points of utilizing social networks for your success - branding, strategy, ads, visuals, and everything in between.
But before we jump into what makes these social media marketing classes so good, let’s take a moment to discuss why this field might be for you.
Table of Contents
- 1. Why You Should Consider Online Social Media Courses
- 2. Powerful Social Media Marketing For Beginners (Enroll Here)
- 3. Social Media Management - The Complete 2019 Manager Bootcamp (Enroll Here)
- 4. Instagram Marketing 2023: Complete Guide To Instagram Growth (Enroll Here)
- 5. Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Enroll Here)
- 6. Influencer Marketing Strategy (Enroll Here)
- 7. Social Media Marketing: Top Tips for Growing Your Followers & Going Viral (Enroll Here)
- 8. Easy Photo Editing for Social Media: Profile, Product, and Cover Photos in PicMonkey (Enroll Here)
- 9. Conclusions
Why You Should Consider Online Social Media Courses
Because, as mentioned previously, social media is everywhere and is used by almost the entire world, there’s little surprise that many have started using it to start and grow careers and even businesses.
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From freelancers advertising themselves to businesses building a bond with their audiences, social media offers a myriad of opportunities to pretty much anyone.
That’s why social media marketing specialists are in constant demand. To put it in numbers, according to BLS, the position is expected to see a growth of around 6% by 2029[1], which is higher than average.
As you can see, becoming a social media marketing specialist can open you up to many career opportunities with great perspectives. And, of course, you can always use your knowledge to grow your personal accounts and become the next social media sensation.
The online social media courses we are going to be looking into today were chosen based on their ratings and popularity, as well as the content covered in the lectures. So, you can be sure that the learning material includes all the most important industry secrets to help your career skyrocket.
Now, If you’re worried about the reliability of the MOOC platforms offering these courses, you can rest assured that you will be in great hands.
Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare are currently leading the online learning industry. These course providers are favoured by millions of students around the world due to their excellent content quality, experienced instructors, and great prices.
In addition, if you are interested in university-level programs, Coursera and Udemy have you covered, as they not only are often recommended by various universities, but several have even partnered with the platforms to make high-quality education more easily accessible.
As you can see, the following online social media courses are some of the best options out there, so you can be sure that you will have all the tools you need to succeed! And on that note, let's jump right into what makes these online social media courses worth your attention.
Powerful Social Media Marketing For Beginners (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 9 hours 48 minutes
- Price: €139.99
- Certificate: YES
- Level: All Levels
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Everyone has to start somewhere. While it can sometimes seem daunting at first, you can find yourself running in no time - all you have to do is take the first few steps.
Luckily, you have all the tools you need in one place to help you take off. Powerful Social Media Marketing For Beginners is an online social media course offered by Udemy, that aims to equip you with nothing but the most useful skills to succeed in the social media marketing field.
What made this social media marketing course stand out to me was the interesting content of the syllabus. While you will be going over all the key points of social media marketing - branding, scheduling projects, and creating your strategy, to name a few - the program starts off with a unique introduction to the course.
The first section of the syllabus focuses on building the right mindset, focusing on setting clear personal goals, boosting productivity, and a few extra tips and tricks to help you along the way.
You definitely don’t see many social media marketing classes online that include similar self-reflective lectures such as this. That being said, it can help make the rest of the program much less intimidating.
After all, if you put your mind to something, you can definitely do it!
This is all thanks to the instructor of the course - Maggie Stara, a social media marketing specialist and a successful freelancer. Motivated by her own experiences and struggles learning the ins and outs of social media marketing, Maggie created this online social media course focusing on what questions students ask the most, as well as what skills are the most important while working in the field.
The course consists of 8 sections, each covering a different topic, making it quite simple to stay on track and not get overwhelmed by too much information. This is also the longest online social media marketing class mentioned in my article, with 9 hours and 48 minutes of video content that you can take on at your own pace.
This is great if you’re taking the program at the same time as studying or working, as you won’t have to worry about sleepless nights trying to understand what on earth Maggie is talking about.
According to students, this online social media marketing course is perfect for beginners. Many praised Maggie for putting together an easily comprehensible program that has helped those just delving into social media marketing get the hang of even the most complex concepts.
When it comes to pricing, this is admittedly the most expensive program on this list. Coming in at €139.99 for the whole program, it can seem a little steep, however, it can be a great investment into your career and future.
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- What to focus on while setting goals for the future, short and long term;
- What should be kept in mind while working with various social media platforms;
- How to develop a strategy for your future projects that will help you grow your career in no time.
By the way, if you would like to save some money while still getting the high-quality education Udemy offers, you can check out the available discounts here.
Start the course NOW.
Social Media Management - The Complete 2019 Manager Bootcamp (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 7 hours 48 minutes
- Price: €89.99
- Certificate: YES
- Level: All Levels
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
When it comes to working with social media, there are two routes you can take. Some choose the all-encompassing route of marketing, while others go for the more niche social media management.
If you decide to take up the latter, then the online social media management course Social Media Management - The Complete 2019 Manager Bootcamp by Udemy is one of the best places to start!
Now, don’t worry. You won’t need to know every social media platform in existence like the back of your hand in order to be a successful social media manager or to even take this course. All you need is a basic understanding of most platforms and a go-getter attitude.
Ths online social media course covers the complete A-Z of the subject. From an introduction to the different platforms at play and what kinds of content is the most successful, to more advanced growth strategies and ways of attracting clients. This is great if you have no previous experience in the field, making it exceptionally simple even for beginners.
The program is created and taught by Lottie Mosley - a freelance social media manager and content writer. With plenty of experience working with both one-person businesses, and industry giants such as Google, Lottie knows exactly what works and what doesn’t and is excited to share her knowledge with others.
That's why the syllabus is notably detailed, with 7 hours and 48 minutes of learning material. That being said, each topic is covered in a different section, making it much easier to navigate the 88 lectures.
As I’ve mentioned previously, this is one of the best online social media courses for beginners, and the students seem to agree. According to the reviews, those who have taken the course found it interesting, useful, and well-paced, making it a great choice to anyone interested in trying out social media management as a career.
When it comes to pricing, this program falls right around the average cost for similar online social media courses. Coming in at €89.99 for the entire class, the program offers incredible quality for the price.
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- What differences should be kept in mind while working with different social media platforms;
- How to build an online brand using various tools, such as visual, written content, and relations;
- How to easily attract customers and become a freelance social media manager.
If the course caught your eye, you can always have a look at the currently available discounts Udemy has to offer. You can find the promo deals here.
Start the course NOW.
Instagram Marketing 2023: Complete Guide To Instagram Growth (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Udemy
- Duration: 7 hours 40 minutes
- Price: €99.99
- Certificate: YES
- Level: All Levels
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Instagram is perhaps the fastest-growing social media platform today, with a staggering 1.386 billion users logging in every day. With that in mind, there’s no surprise that the platform has also become a popular and powerful marketing tool.
Those interested in mastering the management of one of the most dynamic social media platforms are in the right place, as the online course Instagram Marketing 2023: Complete Guide To Instagram Growth by Udemy has everything you might need for a successful career.
While many online social media courses centered around working with Instagram tend to focus on a more artistic approach to the matter, this program is much more technical and theoretical. So, if you want to know the exact what, why, and how of social media marketing, this is the online course for you.
The syllabus covers the algorithm, Instagram Ads, content monetization, and much more, as well as how content is made and what should be kept in mind during the process.
Being a social media manager, especially on Instagram, requires an ability to adapt to various situations, a passion for entrepreneurship, and a calling to help people reach their goals. These are exactly the qualities that lead Benjamin Wilson, the creator and instructor of this social media marketing class, to share his expertise with others.
Benjamin is, as he likes to put it himself, a professional entrepreneur and has experience with creating marketing strategies on various platforms, from Instagram to Amazon, so you are definitely in good hands.
Because the course is centered around a single social media platform, there are less variables you might need to keep in mind while working. However, Benjamin made sure to leave no stone unturned and cover every detail that can come of use to you, so you can be sure that the 7 hours and 40 minutes of content are jam-packed full of important information.
While some courses can feel like you’re just listening to a pre-recorded audiobook with no feedback from the instructors, this is definitely not the case with this program. Many students praise Benjamin for maintaining a constant connection with students and answering any and all questions that pop up along the way.
This is very important to those just starting to learn, as it creates a stable and encouraging environment for great progress.
Slightly pricier compared to other online social media courses mentioned in this article, the program comes in at €99.99 for the whole package. That being said, this is definitely an investment worth your attention!
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- How to work with Instagram and its various tools like a pro;
- How to convert your new Instagram followers to long-term loyal paying customers;
- How to develop a unique strategy that will lead to long term success.
And if you would like to drop the price, you can always have a look through the available Udemy coupons that you can find here.
Start the course NOW.
Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Coursera
- Duration: Approx. 7 Months
- Price: Free
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Facebook has been with us for almost 20 years, and aside from connecting people all over the world, the platform has become one of the most popular online marketing tools that is used by countless businesses, big and small.
That being said, just like any other social media platform, Facebook has its intricacies. And if you are planning to use it as a marketing tool in the future, the online social media marketing class Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate by Coursera is exactly where you should start!
Two things made the program stand out to me. First of all, the “professional certificate” mentioned in the title would intrigue anyone, so, naturally, I had to include it in my article. Secondly, the syllabus balances both theoretical lectures, and practical projects.
This means that by taking this social media management course you will be getting valuable hands-on experience that will help you jumpstart your career and make it much easier in the long run. The applied learning project covers all key points of Facebook marketing, so you can be sure that you will be prepared to take on pretty much any challenge after finishing this course.
This is all thanks to the instructors and authors of the program - Anke Audenaert and Daniel Kob. With experience in both social media and traditional marketing, Anke and Daniel have plenty of real-life experience that is all presented to the students in a well-organised online social media course.
And when I say well-organised, I mean it. The syllabus is divided into 6 sections, each focusing on a different topic. However, the first few sections are dedicated to building a strong foundation of knowledge that can be applied while working with pretty much any social media platform - not just Facebook.
The program is estimated to take around 7 months to complete if learning for 2 hours every week. However, don’t be discouraged - you can always take the course at your own pace, so you don’t have to worry about it taking too long or having to cram everything in two nights.
The course is received very well by students, with a whopping 4.9 stars rating from just over 6,500 reviews. However, this comes with little surprise, as it is one of the best online courses on the matter, in my personal opinion.
If you would like to enroll in the course you will get a 7-day free trial during which you will have unlimited access to the entire course. Once that week is over, you would have to pay $49/mo to continue learning, which is an incredible deal for such a high-quality program.
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- How to create and analyze an effective advertising campaign for your target audience;
- Establish and manage a social media presence;
- How to make, edit, and troubleshoot ads in Facebook Ads Manager.
Also, if you would like to drop the price even lower, you always have an option to have a look at the available Coursera coupons here.
Start the course NOW.
Influencer Marketing Strategy (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Coursera
- Duration: Approx. 23 hours
- Price: Free
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Intermediate
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Influencers have revolutionised online marketing in the 21st century and become an incredibly powerful tool that can help businesses skyrocket to success. However, working with them does take a specific set of skills in order to achieve maximum success.
The good news is that it can easily be learned, all you need are some high-quality social media marketing classes online. My recommendation would be the Influencer Marketing Strategy program offered by Coursera, as it has everything you need to know while working with influencers.
The online social media course starts out by introducing you to marketing strategies and continues to walk you through every part of working with influencers, from developing a content strategy to finding and engaging with individual influencers.
This method of breaking down a rather abstract and fluid form of social media marketing that can be especially useful to beginner students, as it makes it a lot easier to understand the concepts and apply them in later work.
If you are looking for university-level social media marketing classes online, then you’ve come to the right place. This Coursera program is powered by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and taught by Greg Jarboe.
Greg has almost 20 years of experience working with online marketing, which he shares with students in this course.
While the concept of influencer marketing can seem like an abstract subject that can require months of non-stop studying to master, I'm happy to tell you that it’s absolutely not the case. With 6 sections total, the program contains approximately 23 hours of content, so you can gain a lot of valuable experience in just a few days!
Or in one day, but that would take a lot of dedication and even more caffeine, so I wouldn't recommend that approach...
According to the students that have taken this social media marketing class, Greg knows how to present the material in an engaging and easily-comprehensible way. This had many users find the program exceptionally useful, as well as enjoyable to learn from, which definitely reflects in the 4.5 star rating.
If you would like to take this class, you are able to choose from two payment options. You can purchase the entire course for a total of $49, which will give you access to all of the learning material, graded tasks, and certificate of completion.
On the other hand, you can always audit the course and take it for free. You will still have access to the entire syllabus, except for the graded tasks and certificate. This is a great option if you are looking to just build or refresh your skills and don’t need any certification.
Those enrolled in this course will learn:
- The first steps of creating a successful marketing campaign - build a solid strategy;
- How to create a network of connections and engage with influencers to build strong relations;
- What to keep in mind while working on any given influencer marketing campaign.
While you have the option to take this online social media course for free, I understand that the certificate is quite tempting. So, if you would like to have your cake and eat it, too, check out the available coupons here and (possibly) find your perfect bargain.
Start the course NOW.
Social Media Marketing: Top Tips for Growing Your Followers & Going Viral (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Skillshare
- Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes
- Price: Free
- Certificate: No
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
Social media marketing can open a wide variety of career opportunities in many dynamic fields. That being said, there’s no harm in applying the same techniques and methods to your own social media accounts and growing your popularity.
If you’ve been dreaming about becoming the next viral social media sensation, the Skillshare course Social Media Marketing: Top Tips for Growing Your Followers & Going Viral has everything you might need to skyrocket to stardom in no time.
This social media management course takes a look at the subject from a regular user’s point of view, focusing on perfecting your online presence. From creating a profile to how often you should post and even how to work with analytics, you will find all the tools you might need to craft a powerhouse of an account.
That being said, all of these tips can be applied while working freelance and collaborating with other social media users, too.
Cat Coquillette, the instructor of this course, is an entrepreneur who has her own artwork brand that she grew on her own. Because of her independent business venture, Cat knows the importance of a good social media presence all too well and has plenty of experience that she put in one course.
Students, working users, and anyone who has a fast-paced, busy schedule - listen up. This is your chance to develop useful and profitable skills in just over 1 hour! The 11 lessons offer a straight-to-the-point approach to social media marketing, so you can be sure that this program will not waste any of your valuable time.
So, if you want to gain a new skill in less than one evening, then this online social media course is for you!
According to thereviews, students that have taken this social media marketing class were notably satisfied with the quality of the course. From praising Cat for her teaching skills to thanking for including unusual, but useful tips, the program received an overwhelming amount of positive reviews.
When it comes to pricing, Skillshare has some of the best offers on the market. Every new user gets a 2-week free trial, during which they can take as many courses as they want. And once the trial is over, you would only need to pay $10/mo to continue learning on Skillshare.
Which is an incredible bargain for the content you will have unlimited access to.
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- How to master the Big Four social media platforms - Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest;
- Tips and tricks that will have people swarming your accounts;
- How to build and maintain a loyal following that will stay with your brand throughout all of your business endeavors.
And if you would like to sweeten the deal even more, you can always have a look through the available coupons here and get the absolute most out of your Skillshare membership.
Start the course NOW.
Easy Photo Editing for Social Media: Profile, Product, and Cover Photos in PicMonkey (Enroll Here)
- Platform: Skillshare
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Price: Free
- Certificate: No
- Level: Beginner
- Discount: Available
- Apply HERE
There’s no denying that current social media is heavily, if not entirely, focused on visuals. Photos, logos, covers, gifs, icons - you name it! So, naturally, you need to pay extra attention to the visual appeal of your social media marketing campaigns, as it plays a crucial part in your success.
The Skillshare course Easy Photo Editing for Social Media: Profile, Product, and Cover Photos in PicMonkey includes all the essential principles that can take your projects to the next level.
Now, while the program itself is provided by an online photo editor PicMonkey, the syllabus still includes all the key concepts that can be used while working on any visual for social media, no matter the editing software.
Starting with shooting tips and covering various types of photos, as well as content tips for future campaigns, this social media marketing course can instantly improve your success rate.
The class is taught by Jenn Reiner, a marketing manager, who has plenty of experience of working with both marketing campaigns, and making various pictures social media-ready.
This is the shortest social media marketing course I’ve included in this article, with just 40 minutes of learning material in total. That being said, this does not mean that the pocket-size program is not worth your attention, as the most important principles are all included in the syllabus.
Many student reviews mentioned that Jenn made the information exceptionally simple to understand, even while working with different photo editing software. It’s safe to say that the core principles were perfectly presented so that everyone could understand and easily adapt to various situations.
Skillshare pricing is often unmatched. If you decide to continue learning after the 14 day free trial is over, you would only be charged $10/mo for unlimited access to the entire course collection that Skillshare has to offer.
Now that's a bargain if I’ve ever seen one!
Those enrolled in the course will learn:
- The importance of strategic picture editing and what a difference it can make to your social media marketing campaigns;
- What nuances should be kept in mind while working with different visuals;
- How to have your content stand out from the crowd.
And don’t forget to click here and check out the available Skillshare coupons that can help you get more for less!
Start the course NOW.
Did you know?
Have you ever wondered which online learning platforms are the best for your career?
Conclusions
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of my article of the best online social media courses.
All of the social media marketing classes listed were selected based on their content relevancy, quality, and student reviews, which reflect the most prominent pros of each course.
While choosing the best online social media course for you, it’s important to keep in mind that prices can vary a lot between several online learning platforms and, in some cases, even on the same site.
This, however, does not mean that the quality of the more affordable course is lower as well. The MOOC platforms mentioned in this article offer some of the best online programs in the market, so you can be sure that you will be choosing from the highest-quality options.
That being said, if you would like to look through more options, there are many online learning providers you can choose from.
I hope you found this article interesting and helpful, and wish you the best of luck in your future social media marketing endeavours!
Scientific References
1. Bureau of Labour Statistics - Social Media Marketing Specialist Career Outlook