The list here includes free online courses in a number of social media-related topics and disciplines.
1. What Is Social?
Offered by: Coursera
Created by: Northwestern University
Topics include:
- Social trends
- Defining target audiences
- Data analysis
Skill level: Beginner
About this course:
“What Is Social?” is a massive open online course (MOOC) for business owners, executives, and marketing professionals who want to significantly improve their abilities to grow their social media strategy using effective, proven methodologies. In short, it’s a really awesome, action-based intro to social media.
The exciting part with this hands-on class is that you not only get to hear about ways to grow your professional persona using social media, but you will actually do it! “What Is Social” is the first in a six-course specialization offered by Northwestern University (a top university in the United States). Once you finish this first course, you can continue on with the next steps of the track: Social Media Marketing: How to Profit in a Digital World. (The first course is free; the full track costs $426.)
—
2. Diploma in Social Media Marketing
Offered by: Alison
Created by: Advance Learning Academy
Topics include:
- Facebook pages
- Blogging and podcasting
- Social media images
- Email list growth
- Affiliate marketing
Skill level: Beginner
About this course:
Alison is a similar to Coursera as a site that offers a huge range of classes and certifications, including several in the marketing space. Their free social media class covers the use of email marketing, affiliate marketing, using social media tools such as Twitter, blogging and podcasting, and how to use Facebook to create a business page and get it noticed by current and potential customers. So you’re likely to get a social media foundation plus a handful of other digital marketing skills to boot.
—
3. Social Media Monitoring
Offered by: Coursera
Created by: Eric Schwartzman
Topics include:
- Keyword filtering
- Google related searches
- Using Google Alerts and its benefits
- Identifying influencers and content curation possibilities
- Monitoring strategies for Facebook, Twitter, and more
Skill level: All Levels
About this course:
This free social media class on how to monitor what your audience and customers are saying online is for marketers looking to keep a finger on the pulse of their community. Whether you’re just starting out in social media or are a seasoned veteran, this course has actionable social monitoring takeaways for people of all skills levels.
The course provides detailed examples of monitoring in action, allows you to get an overview of the different social media monitoring tools available for use, and strategies for how you can use what you’ve learned and apply it to your own social media program.
—
4. The Business of Social
Offered by: Coursera
Created by: Northwestern University
Topics include:
- Discovering where social media “fits in”
- How to tie social media to real business results
- Managing and measuring a successful social media program
Skill level: Beginner – Intermediate
About this course:
“The Business of Social” is for businesses owners, marketers, and social media managers looking for ways to tie social media directly into real business growth objectives. In other words, those looking to drive real, measurable value from a social media strategy and program.
Instead of focusing on how marketers can create great content for social media, this class more focuses on how exactly to measure your social investments in terms of time, cost, and opportunities.
—
5. Social Media Ethics
Offered by: Coursera
Created by: Eric Schwartzman
Topics include:
- How to use good judgement when using social media for work
- What constitutes ethical behavior on social media
- Demonstrating consideration for others on social media
Skill level: Beginner
About this course:
Have you ever wondered what it means to use social media effectively and ethically? This free course on “Social Media Ethics” provides the framework for social networking and engaging in ethical conversations online for all professionals and employees. Touching on local, State, and Federal laws, it takes the guessing game out of what is and is not legal on social media for employees of businesses.
—
6. Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking up Clients
Offered by: Udemy
Created by: Brian Yang
Topics include:
- Common social media myths and mistakes
- The art of using Facebook Groups
- Attracting YouTube subscribers and creating engaging videos
- Creating quality (not spammy) content for social media
Skill level: Intermediate
About this course:
The tagline for this social media class is “picking up clients with social media in 48 hours or less.” Which points to the fact that this instructor dives into intermediate social media strategies. Moving beyond more beginner tactics like setting up social media accounts and basic posting strategies, this class assumes that you already know those things and provides details on how to best use the channels that you’re already familiar with.
All you need for this course is an active Facebook, YouTube, and Reddit account and you’ll be on your way to learning the secrets behind picking up clients on social media.
—
7. Facebook Blueprint
Offered by: Facebook
Created by: Blueprint eLearning
Topics include:
- Facebook Terminology and Know-How
- Best Practices for Facebook & Instagram Posting
- Optimizing Facebook & Instagram Advertising
- Creating a quality Facebook Page and experience
Skill level: Beginner – Advanced
About this course:
Perfect for small businesses, marketers, agencies, and advertisers, Facebook Blueprint is your one stop shop for everything there is to know about running successful advertising campaigns using your Facebook Business Page. This huge resource of free, self-paced social media classes will cover best-practices and top strategies used by the world’s largest brands.
With Facebook becoming very much a “pay-to-play” platform, this is the perfect opportunity for businesses and marketers to fully grasp everything there is to know about ensuring that your advertising dollar stretches as far as possible.
—
8. Social Media Quickstarter
Offered by: Constant Contact
Created by: Constant Contact
- Snapchat
- And more!
Skill level: Beginner
About this course:
All social media managers and marketers start somewhere. This free social media class from Constant Contact is a great resource for those who are looking to dive into the world of social media without all of the complications. It offers a step-by-step guide to building a presence on almost every social media platform you can think of.
For those unsure if social media is right for you or for your business, this class is a great way to dip your toes in and start small with social media marketing. Who knows, you may find that social media is just right for you!
