10 Best Digital Marketing Certifications

The majority of advertising revenue is generated through online and digital advertising. This fact highlights the significance of digital marketing and why it is essential in any marketing strategy.

Whether it is to impress prospective employers on your resume and LinkedIn page or to kick start your own business, there are many certification courses that will make those who complete them experts in many different types of digital marketing. For both marketing professionals and total beginners in the marketing industry, a paid or free digital marketing course can be hugely beneficial for professional development and expanding your skill set.

What Is a Digital Marketing Certification?

A digital marketing certification is a great idea for those who want to get into digital marketing. It provides students with a broad overview of the field of marketing in online channels. These certification programs focus on the skills needed for success like social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), marketing strategy, and more.

From universities and private organizations, there are many choices for where to get a digital marketing certification.

Top Marketing Certifications to Enhance Your Online Marketing Skills

Here are 10 marketing certifications that can take your online marketing skills to the next level.

Oregon State University - Digital Marketing Certificate

Oregon State University is a reputable university with many online programs. The school's digital marketing certificate is a bundle of six courses that can also be enrolled in individually for a lower cost.

What Will I Learn?

OSU's digital marketing certificate gives students a comprehensive understanding of how to reach their target audience online. Participants will learn strategy, digital marketing skills, how to run marketing campaigns, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The cost of this online digital marketing certificate program is $3,125.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The program takes nine months to complete.

Digital Marketing Institute - Professional Digital Marketing Course

The Digital Marketing Institute is a world leader in helping to develop digital marketing skills. Some of the world's most significant brands partner with DMI like Google, HubSpot, Meta, Microsoft, and more. DMI offers several course options to get certified in digital marketing. Its most popular course is the Professional Digital Marketing Course that includes a course from the American Marketing Association.

What Will I Learn?

This certificate promises that those who complete the program will be skilled digital marketers. The program covers content marketing, email marketing, PPC and display advertising, Google Analytics, marketing with AI, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The standard cost of this program is $2,060.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The average completion time of the program is eight to ten weeks.

American Marketing Association - Digital Marketing Expert

The American Marketing Association, or AMA, is an important organization in the realm of marketing. The AMA is committed to providing resources for markets around the world. Included in that are many online courses to help beginners learn fundamentals and eventually become experts in the field. Their most comprehensive program is the Digital Marketing Expert Advanced Certification. This course includes a dual DMI course.

What Will I Learn?

This advanced professional certificate will cover broad topics in the realm of digital marketing like digital marketing strategy, marketing on social media platforms, customer experience, leadership and management, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The standard cost of the program is $5,310.

How Long Does the Program Take?

This program is a self-paced 120-hour course.

HubSpot Academy - Digital Marketing Course

HubSpot provides various resources, tools, and software for business owners. Through HubSpot Academy, a free course in digital marketing can be completed. The program consists of nine lessons, 37 videos, and 11 quizzes and takes a few hours to complete. It focuses on things like content creation, social media, search engine optimization, and more.

What Will I Learn?

This entry-level program helps participants grow an online presence and develop and marketing strategy, as well as how to optimize things like a website, email, social media, and advertising strategies.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

This is a completely free certification.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The program takes just over five hours to complete.

Louisiana State University - Digital Marketing Certificate

Louisiana State University is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, and the school offers many online programs, including certificates. One of its certificate programs is a digital marketing certificate. The program is designed for participants to become experts in the most in-demand areas of digital marketing.

What Will I Learn?

Topics covered in the program include search engine optimization, web analytics, search engine marketing, and more. The program includes certifications like Google Ads Search Certification, Google Analytics Individual Qualification, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The cost of the program is $2,750.

How Long Does the Program Take?

It is a 10 week program that requires about six to eight hours of work per week.

Google Analytics Individual Qualification

The Google Analytics Individual Qualification can be earned by passing an assessment at the end of a free online course. The course can be completed through Skillshop, which is a collection of Google's online certification programs.

What Will I Learn?

Those who complete the certification will know how to utilize the data of Google Analytics to measure and improve the effectiveness of their marketing strategies.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

This marketing certification course is completely free.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The course takes just under five hours to complete.

Google Ads Certifications

Google offers several Google Ads Certifications through their online Skillshop. There are nearly 10 in total, and they cover a variety of topics like apps, display ads, video, and more.

What Will I Learn?

Each course has a different specialty. They are focused on utilizing Google Ads services in various ways to maximize marketing effectiveness.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

All of the Google Ads Certification programs are completely free.

How Long Does the Program Take?

Each program has a completion time of about three to four hours.

Duke University - Digital Marketing Specialist Certification

Duke University is a private institution located in North Carolina. The school offers many professional certifications, including a digital marketing specialist certification. This program involves participating in over 20 projects and gaining practical experience through hands-on, interactive sessions and real-world case studies.

What Will I Learn?

The program is described as one of the most comprehensive available. It includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses with various modules that cover things like foundations, SEO, social media marketing, inbound marketing, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The program costs $3,195.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The program is self-paced and can be completed in six months.

Wharton Online - Digital Marketing Certificate Program

Wharton is a renowned university in Pennsylvania, and the school offers an online digital marketing certificate. The program is intended for marketing students, marketing managers, social media managers, small business owners, and other digital marketing professionals.

What Will I Learn?

The course teaches key marketing skills like marketing analytics, utilizing marketing tools like social media, customer-driven approaches, and more.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The cost of the program is $2,340.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The program takes six weeks per course with about three to five hours of work a week.

University of Arizona - Digital Marketing Certificate Program

The University of Arizona is a public institution that has many online programs, including certificate programs like their digital marketing certificate. The program is fully online and teaches in-demand digital marketing skills.

What Will I Learn?

The program teaches all the essentials of digital marketing like SEO, marketing analytics, content marketing, email marketing, and more, as well as how to utilize these skills in real-world contexts.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The cost of the program is $2,750.

How Long Does the Program Take?

The program takes 10 weeks to complete.

FAQs About Digital Marketing Certifications

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about digital marketing certifications.

Are Online Digital Marketing Certifications Legit?

You should always be wary of the legitimacy of online offers and programs, but if you are enrolling in a program at a reputable university or organization like the ones listed here, yes, they are legitimate.

Which Certifications Are in Demand?

Digital marketing overall is an in demand subject, and certified digital marketing specialists will be appealing to employers no matter their specialization. Specializations like social media marketing certification or marketing research could be useful for specific jobs.

Is AMA Certification Worth It?

Paid certifications definitely offer a lot and will be useful when job hunting. However, there are many free courses available as well. Free courses could be a good place to start, and once you have some experience and are more familiar with a field, you can decide if pursuing a paid course if for you.

Can You Get a Marketing Job With Just Certifications?

This depends on each individual employer, but it could be possible to get some positions in marketing with just certifications. However, employers often like to hire candidates who have digital marketing degrees and have a diversified educational background.