6 courses to bolster your comms credentials
To rise and shine in the workplace—and add some spice to your résumé—complete these relevant certifications.
Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2020 as part of our year-end countdown.
It’s a new year. That means resolution time. If one of your goals for 2020 is to advance professionally, look no further.
Consider completing these six online courses to boost your career and bolster your credentials:
You’ve probably heard how the social media giant has been in hot water for its data collection and use. Facebook collects data to better understand its users and serve up content they’re likely interested in.
Facebook bundles users into affinity-based segments, which enables advertisers to craft hyper-targeted campaigns. You can learn all about audience segmentation, how to place an ad set, what key performance indicators to track and so much more from Facebook’s (free) Blueprint courses.
If you’re interested in pursuing social media management, media planning or marketing—or if you just want to understand why you keep getting that specific ad for tacos on your feed right before lunchtime—these courses are well worth your time.
Résumé perk: Completing Facebook’s Blueprint courses show you understand the ins and outs of paid social media campaigns.
As the demand for data-savvy communicators grows, those who master Google Analytics will move to the front of the hiring line.
Google’s program offers six free courses covering Google Analytics for Beginners, Advanced Google Analytics, Google Analytics for Power Users, Getting Started with Google Analytics 360, Introduction to Data Studio, and Google Tag Manager Fundamentals. The only requirements to begin are an internet-enabled device and access to a Google account.
Résumé perk: Mastering analytics shows you know how to extract a story from a set of numbers and use data to determine your client’s next steps.
These courses will help you learn how to advertise a business online and how to track its performance. Google Ads provides 15 certifications in six different categories: Google Ads Certifications, Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, Google Ads Video, Google Ads Measurement, and Shopping Ads.
Résumé perk: Understanding Ads demonstrates advanced digital advertising expertise.
4. Hootsuite Social Marketing Training
Hootsuite’s Social Media Marketing Training will prepare you to optimize your client’s social media profiles by strategizing posts, building an audience, crafting engaging content and planning paid advertisements.
Hootsuite is one of the most effective and commonly used tools for social media management. Add this niche mastery to your toolbox, and you’ll be way ahead of the digital marketing game.
Résumé perk: Completing Hootsuite’s training will make you stand out in a sea of self-proclaimed “social media experts.”
Leap into learning a new advertising platform with Twitter Flight School. Twitter has organized its courses into a concise “pick-and-choose” model, giving you the freedom to select which topics you want to learn on your own schedule. Watch live trainings, use downloadable resources, and learn from success stories on the best ways to use Twitter for your campaigns.
Résumé perk: In-depth expertise on navigating Twitter ads is an attractive skill for potential employers.
Hubspot offers 46 courses and more than 140 hours of free online lessons. Topics range from email marketing, CMS management, inbound marketing, SEO, artificial intelligence and machine learning, sales management, graphic design, social media, contextual marketing and so much more.
Résumé perk: Acing Hubspot’s courses shows you grasp diverse aspects of PR, marketing and communication.
Each course above lists a single résumé perk, but having just one of these courses under your belt shows you’re an eager learner who’s motivated to advance. It’s an easy way to separate yourself from the pack and gain an advantage over the competition.
A version of this post first ran on the GrandPR blog.
