Digital Marketing Course: The Complete Guide No One Will Tell You About

Hello! I'm Carlos Hidalgo and today I want to talk to you about a topic that has revolutionized my life and that of many professionals: digital marketing. Yes, I have gone through everything: from having no idea what that term meant, to becoming an expert who has tried everything. So if you're looking for a comprehensive guide to digital marketing courses, I promise you that here you'll find EVERYTHING.

I'll tell you about my REAL and sincere experience with this world, the advantages, the common mistakes to avoid, and how to choose the best course for you. Plus, I'm going to reveal some secrets that the "gurus" don't tell you, for obvious reasons. So take a seat and get ready because what's coming is going to change your life.

What is a digital marketing course?

Before I get into my story, let's get down to the basics. A digital marketing course is a specialized training that teaches you how to promote products, services or brands through digital media. What does this mean in English? That you're going to learn how to reach millions of people with one click, through strategies that include:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Social Media Advertising (Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, etc.)
• Email marketing
• Content marketing
• Google advertising (Google Ads)
• Digital analytics
• E-commerce

The amazing thing about digital marketing courses is that it doesn't matter if you're a complete newbie or a professional looking to polish your skills, there's always something new to learn. And here comes the best part: digital marketing never stops evolving. What works today might be useless tomorrow. So always being up to date is crucial.

My first contact with digital marketing

Now I tell you my story. A few years ago, I had a physical business that, like many others, was failing to take off. I had tried all the traditional tactics: flyers, radio ads, even local TV advertising. But nothing was working. That's when someone suggested I take a digital marketing course.

At first, I was skeptical. Come on, an online course to save my business! But, oh surprise, when I finally decided to give it a try, everything changed.

I took a basic digital marketing course I found online. I remember the first module was about SEO. SEO? What is that, I thought. Well, it turns out that SEO is one of the most powerful tools for any business that wants to triumph on the internet. I was taught how to optimize my website so that it would appear in the top results of Google. And boom!, my sales started to increase.

But that was just the beginning. Then came the social media campaigns. I learned to segment my audience, to create irresistible ads, and above all, to measure the results to know what worked and what didn't.

Do you know what the best part was? That I could do all this by myself, without relying on agencies that charged me a fortune for mediocre results.

Digital marketing courses: is it worth it?

Now let's get to what really interests you! Is it worth taking a digital marketing course? My answer is a resounding YES, and I'll prove it to you.

Advantages of taking a digital marketing course

Autonomy: Tired of paying others to do poorly what you could do well? With a digital marketing course, you can take charge of your business yourself.

Savings: Hiring a marketing agency can cost you thousands of dollars a month. By taking a course, you invest once and the knowledge is yours forever.

Constant updating: As I told you before, digital marketing is constantly changing. Good courses keep you updated so you're always one step ahead of the competition.

Continuous improvement: No matter if you're a beginner or advanced, there's always a course that will help you improve. From learning how to create engaging content to mastering retargeting, it all adds up.

Access to communities: Many courses offer you access to private groups where you can share experiences, doubts and successes with other students. Believe me, this is priceless.

Disadvantages (or what you should keep in mind)

Nothing is perfect, and digital marketing courses are no exception. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Overwhelming variety: There are thousands of courses out there. Choosing the right one can be a herculean task, especially if you don't know where to start. But don't worry, I'll help you choose the best one below.

Time commitment: Some courses require significant dedication. If you are one of those who start something and leave it halfway, you may find it harder to advance.

Not all courses are quality: As in everything, there are good, average and bad courses. Watch out for free courses. Many of them only give you a superficial introduction and leave you more confused than at the beginning.

How to choose the best digital marketing course for you

If after reading this far you have decided to take the plunge and take a course, congratulations! Now comes the hard part: choosing the right course. Here are some tips based on my experience.

1. Define your goals

The first thing you should do is be clear about what you want to achieve. Do you want to learn the basics to run your own business? Or do you prefer to become an expert and offer your services to others? Depending on your goals, the choice of course will be different.

2. Check the syllabus

A good digital marketing course should have a broad and updated syllabus. Look for topics such as SEO, social media advertising, web analytics, email marketing, and content strategy. If the course doesn't cover these points, you may fall short.

3. Reviews and testimonials

Before you sign up, look for reviews from other students. Real experiences are a good indication of the quality of the course. Beware of overly positive testimonials, they are usually paid for.

4. Experienced instructor(s)

Choose a course taught by someone who really knows what they are talking about. Do a little research on the instructor - does he or she have digital marketing experience? Has he or she worked with well-known brands? A good instructor makes a difference.

5. Certification

While not essential, having a certification can be a plus, especially if you want to work in an agency or in the marketing department of a company. Some courses offer recognized certifications, such as those from Google or HubSpot.

6. Support and community

A good course not only offers you study material, but also support and access to a community of students. Being able to ask questions and resolve doubts is essential for good learning.

Digital marketing courses that I recommend

If you are looking for a good digital marketing course, here are some options that I consider quality:

1. Google Digital Garage

This is a FREE course offered by Google. Ideal for beginners, it gives you an overview of digital marketing and gives you a certification at the end. The best part is that it's divided into modules, so you can go at your own pace.

2. HubSpot Academy

Another free and very complete option. HubSpot offers courses in various areas of digital marketing, such as inbound marketing, email marketing, and content marketing. At the end, you can also get a certification.

3. Coursera

On Coursera, you'll find digital marketing courses taught by recognized universities such as the University of Illinois. The good thing is that you can access specific courses or more complete programs, depending on what you need.

4. SEMrush Academy

If you are interested in SEO and content marketing, SEMrush Academy is an excellent option. Their courses are geared towards practical tools and offer you certifications upon completion of each module.

5. Udemy

Finally, at Udemy you will find digital marketing courses for all levels and budgets. I recommend you look for those with good ratings and ratings to make sure you're getting a quality course.

Common mistakes when doing digital marketing (and how to avoid them)

Throughout my career, I've made and seen a lot of mistakes made in digital marketing. Here are the most common ones so you don't fall into them.

1. Not having a clear strategy

Many people jump into digital marketing without having a clear strategy. MISTAKE! Before doing anything, you must be clear about what you want to achieve, who your audience is and how you are going to measure success.

2. Not measuring results

Another common mistake is not measuring the results of your actions. If you don't know what works and what doesn't, you're throwing money away. Use tools like Google Analytics to track your campaigns and optimize them.

3. Ignoring SEO

S SEO is one of the pillars of digital marketing. Don't ignore it. Even if you don't see immediate results, in the long run, SEO is one of the best investments you can make.

4. Not segmenting your audience

Launching an advertising campaign without segmenting your audience is like shooting in the air hoping to hit something. Segment, segment and segment. This way, you make sure your message reaches the right people.

5. Giving up too soon

Digital marketing doesn't always give immediate results. Consistency is key. If you don't see results in the first few weeks, don't despair. Keep testing, tweaking and learning.

How to get started in digital marketing from scratch

If everything I've told you so far has inspired you, perfect! Here's a little guide to get you started in digital marketing from scratch.

1. Educate yourself

The first thing is to train yourself. I have already left you some course recommendations, but you can also learn a lot by reading specialized blogs, watching tutorials on YouTube and, of course, practicing.

2. Apply what you learn

Don't just stick to theory. Apply everything you learn. If you have a business, start implementing digital marketing strategies. If you don't, create a blog or a social media account and start practicing.

3. Join communities

Join digital marketing communities on social networks, forums and LinkedIn groups. You will learn a lot from the experience of others and keep up with the latest trends.

4. Specialize

Digital marketing is very broad. Once you have a solid foundation, specialize in an area you are passionate about. It could be SEO, social media advertising, email marketing, etc. Becoming a specialist will open many doors.

5. Keep learning

As I told you before, digital marketing is constantly evolving. Keep training, reading and experimenting. Only then will you be able to stay current and stay competitive.

Conclusion: Digital marketing is the present (and the future)

If you've made it this far, you've already realized that digital marketing is one of the most valuable skills you can have today. Whether you want to grow your own business or work for others, mastering digital marketing will give you a huge competitive advantage.

Remember, it's never too late to learn. If I was able to start from scratch and turn my business into a success thanks to digital marketing, you can too. The key is to choose a good course, apply what you learn and never give up.