8 Free Digital Marketing Certifications To Add To Your CV

Aysha Samrin
3 min readMar 4, 2021

With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets it is of no surprise that we spend twice as much time online than we did a decade ago. The way we interact with digital media has shaped the way we inform ourselves, shop and connect, which is why traditional marketing isn’t as effective anymore and marketers need to connect with their audience where they spend their time: online. Digital marketing is an umbrella term for all online advertising and marketing activities on digital channels such as websites, email and social media. If you’re a student or you are just starting out in the field, a recognised certification can be a valuable additional qualification to your CV.

While there are a number of certification courses available online, in this post I have addressed a set of comprehensive certifications designed to give you a strong foundation in various digital marketing tools and strategies.

1. The Online Marketing Fundamentals from Google Digital Garage

This introductory course in digital marketing covers 26 topics, including search and display advertising and content marketing. Unlocking all 26 badges earns you the Digital Garage Certificate of Online Proficiency awarded in partnership with IAB Europe. The certificate is a brilliant way to kick-start your learning journey and expand your knowledge of common industry practices.

2. Hubspot Inbound Certification

Inbound marketing is focused on attracting potential customers through useful content and value addition at every stage in the customer’s buying journey. The inbound marketing course designed by Hubspot academy aims to provide comprehensive fundamentals training that covers the full inbound methodology. The certificate is valid for 25 months and attests to your skill and capability in inbound methodology.

3. Hubspot Email Marketing

Building successful email marketing campaigns has never been more important than it is now. This course offers advanced lessons on managing a sustainable email marketing strategy including the best practices that focus on high converting email sends, mobile optimisation and anti-spam compliance. The certificate is valid for 25 months.

4. Hubspot Content Marketing

Learn how to build scalable, repeatable processes for creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content with this course by Hubspot Academy. The certificate is valid for 25 months.

5. Microsoft Advertising Certification

Understand how to get the most of your ad spend with optimised ad campaigns, so you get more for your budget. Unlike most exams featured in this post that have a set time limit to complete the exam, you have unlimited time to finish the Microsoft Advertising Certification, and can pause your exam-taking and resume when convenient. Passing this exam earns you an Accredited Professional badge from Microsoft.

6. Google Analytics Individual Qualification

Passing this exam is an effective way to demonstrate your knowledge of digital analytics best practices and the Google Analytics platform. Study material can be accessed on the Google Analytics Academy website. Also, check out this extensive post with excellent tips on how to pass the GAIQ exam.

7. Google Adwords Certification

Demonstrate your proficiency in basic and advanced aspects of AdWords, in addition to being recognised by Google as an expert in online advertising. The AdWords Fundamentals assessment covers basic and intermediate concepts, including the benefits of online advertising and AdWords, and best practices for managing and optimising AdWords campaigns. In addition to AdWords Fundamentals assessment, you will need to take a second exam in one of Search Advertising, Display Advertising, Mobile Advertising, Video Advertising or Shopping Advertising to gain this professional accreditation.

8. Twitter Flight School

A set of quick and interactive courses to build a deep understanding of how Twitter works and how to integrate Twitter into your work. Complete this interactive course to earn a Twitter Graduate Badge with unlimited validity.

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Aysha Samrin

I’m a user researcher & product designer with a multidisciplinary visual arts background and 5 years working in e-commerce & SaaS.