8 free social media courses that will level up your game: resources for social media agencies and freelancers

Let's face it! As a social media marketer or agency owner, it can be tough to keep up with the latest platform changes, apps, and trends.

But don’t let this ever-changing industry get you down! There are plenty of ways to stay on top of what’s new and one of those ways is to take free social media courses. These courses are often short and always being updated with the latest information. It’s a great way to acquire new skills and stay on top of the latest trends! 

There are SO many to choose from, so we've compiled a list of our favourites. And yes, they're all free!

8 free social media management courses for agencies and freelancers

Let's dive into the 8 social media management courses that you can take for free.

1. HeyOrca Academy: Reports and Analytics Certification

It's everything you need to know to become certified with HeyOrca's social media reports and analytics feature! This course has it all: interactive learning, knowledge tests, and a well-deserved certificate to prove your expertise. It's perfect for any social media manager who wants to master their social media reporting tool.

Admittedly, we may be biased. So here's what course participant Jenn Dixon has to say:

"Very thorough! If you are a HeyOrca user and have used reports before, still take this course! You will learn something new."

Who is it for?‍

Anyone who currently uses HeyOrca (or is thinking about using HeyOrca), including:

• Social media marketing agencies
• Freelance social media managers
• In-house social media managers
  

What will you learn?

• Interpret key metrics and insights so you can build an informed social media strategy
• Use advanced reports to compare your metrics across channels and against competitors
• Share your social media reports with clients and stakeholders to prove your results

How long will it take?
1 hour

‍2. Social Media Marketing Course by HubSpot

HubSpot Academy is full of useful courses that span a variety of subjects. Their courses are also tailored to different experience levels. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at in your social media career, you'll be able to find a course that fits your needs! HubSpot's Social Media Marketing Course course is perfect for beginners, but also for more experienced marketers that are looking for a refresher. 

Who is it for?

• Social media marketers
• Marketing managers
• Aspiring social media marketers
  

What will you learn?

• Build a social media strategy that's engaging and effective
• Grab your target audience's interest with a compelling inbound marketing strategy
• Grow your business and your carer by levering the power of social media

How long will it take?
5+ hours

3. What is Social? by Coursera

Beginner? Start here! This is a perfect course to take if you’re just dipping your toes into the social media industry. It covers all of the basics, trends, and more. When you complete this course, you'll be on your way to becoming a social media expert!

Who is it for?

• Beginner social media marketers
• Aspiring social media marketers
  

What will you learn?

• Introduction to social media marketing, networks, and communities
• Social trends (and how to make sense of the "disrupted digital world")
• The business of social, including how to define and appeal to your target audience

How long will it take?
7 hours

4. The Business of Social by Coursera

This would be the next step after taking the "What is Social?" course by Coursera. Once you have covered the basics in the first course, you'll move on to this course that focuses more on social media management, performance, and metrics. 

Once you complete both Coursera courses, you'll have a good foundation for social media marketing!

Who is it for?

• Social media marketers
• Marketing managers
  

What will you learn?

• Legal considerations (aka the things every social media manager should know about security, privacy, and governance)
• Metrics and how to use them to drive real business results for your clients or business
• How to create a create a sustainable performance funnel and test it by running a pilot program

How long will it take?
6 hours

5. How To Build Your Personal Brand on TikTok by Influencer Marketing Hub

We can probably all agree that TikTok has blown up recently. Brands and content creators are exploring all of the creative ways they can promote themselves on the app. But, TikTok can be overwhelming! Where do you start? Learn from TikTok pros on how to build and grow your brand. 

Who is it for?

• Social media content creators
• Aspiring TikTok influencers
• Social media marketers
• Marketing managers
  

What will you learn?

• The basics of TikTok and how to define your target audience
• Crafting your persona, building your audience, and increasing engagement
• Collaborating with brands as a content creator and making more money as an influencer

How long will it take?
6 hours

6. Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking Up Clients by Udemy

Do you work at a marketing agency? Or maybe you’re a Freelancer. If so, you must check out Udemy’s course Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking Up Clients. This course will show you how to attract the perfect clients and get your services seen by others.

Who is it for?

• Social media marketing agencies
• Freelance social media managers
• Marketing managers and team leads
  

What will you learn?

• How to use Facebook Groups to attract qualified, motivated clients
• Use Reddit and niche forums to attract qualified, motivated clients
• Utilize simple YouTube videos to get motivated clients emailing you about your services

How long will it take?
55 minutes

7. Ethical Social Media by Coursera

This free social media marketing course mixed the practical with the academic. If you're interested in social media's most common ethical debates – or you're curious about how to make your social media spaces safe and productive for all – consider taking this Coursera course presented by The University of Sydney.

Who is it for?

• Social media managers
• Marketing managers
  

What will you learn?

• Who uses social media, what motivates users, and how communities form
• Ethical tensions, exploitation of online community members, and the organization's role
• Data analytics and how to "manipulate the data in meaningful and beneficial ways"

How long will it take?
11 hours

8. Inbound Marketing by Hubspot

Want customers to come to you? Take this Inbound Marketing course from HubSpot! Inbound Marketing is a great course for anyone who wants to push their skills further and learn more about newsletters and other inbound marketing strategies. (I've taken this course and found it very useful!)

Who is it for?

• Marketers and social media marketers
• Agency owners and marketing team leads
• Small business owners and inbound sales pros

What will you learn?

• Create content that nurtures leads and supports the buyer's journey
• Optimize your marketing strategy with automated processes and AI tools
• Adopt a customer-centric approach and tailor your content to maximize ROI

How long will it take?
5 hours

Summary

The beautiful thing about the social media marketing industry is the fact that there are so many incredible free resources out there. Everyone in the industry is always learning and sometimes it’s great to take a course as a little refresher! Keep your social media marketing skills up with these free courses and certifications!

If you're looking for even more free social media marketing resources, subscribe to our free daily newsletter, the HeyOrca Brief.