7 Marketing Courses and Certification Programs for SaaS Marketers
SaaS marketing is often in contact with multiple branches of marketing simultaneously. At some point, it can get harder to juggle SEO, inbound marketing, cold emailing, content writing, copywriting, social media, and many more.
If you want to become a successful SaaS marketer, you must be able to understand the behind-the-scenes of each branch and gain new perspectives from experts in your niche. This is where marketing courses and certification programs become a natural part of your business strategy.
In this article, we have listed the top 7 free marketing courses. These courses introduce the fundamentals and provide you with actionable, in-life examples, so you can grow your SaaS business with strategies that actually pay off:
- Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)
- Blogging for Business (Ahrefs)
- Conversion Copywriting 101 (Copyhackers)
- Conversion Rate Optimization Course (Backlinko)
- Social Media Marketing Certification (HubSpot)
- B2B Sales for Startups (Udemy)
- Inbound Marketing Certification (HubSpot)
1- Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)
Every journey begins with a step.
And Google's course is that step you need to launch you into the world of digital marketing. Powered by Google's expertise, this is one of the best courses for beginners who want to focus on digital marketing.
What's in this course?
The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course is ideal for beginners who want to build their online presence, set goals for digital channels, and market their business. The course covers various topics, such as:
- Understanding SEO and keyword planning
- How to make your website search-friendly and cross borders with SEO
- Setting goals for social media
- Different advertising types like social media ads and search ads
- Tracking your goals with specific analytics and metrics
By the end of this course, you will leverage fundamental skills like data analysis, ads, crafting engaging content, and more.
Who should take this course?
Google's Fundamentals of Digital Marketing is undoubtedly a great resource for beginners. However, it also appeals to those who have already started their businesses and have a basic idea of how digital marketing works but do not know how to apply the information they have to their company.
Basically, this course is for everyone who aims to find success online.
Since this is a beginner course, you do not need any additional information in digital marketing to be successful. However, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of key elements like SEO, social media, and advertising, so you can easily apply the tips and exercises taught throughout the course.
Pricing
The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing is completely free, including the certification. There are 26 modules, quizzes, and a final exam to receive the certification. The modules are self-paced and include video tutorials and unlimited free access.
It takes around 40 hours to finish this course.
2- Blogging for Business (Ahrefs)
Blogging for Business consists of 11 modules and 40 lessons that take around 5 hours to finish.
Although some aspects of the course are specifically tailored to those who use Ahrefs' tools, there are still invaluable resources and information that can apply to your business, like keyword research, finding content ideas, creating a content calendar, etc.
What's in this course?
Blogging for Business is great for creative writers, SaaS marketers, or business owners who want to purposefully create blog content that will increase website traffic and bring in new loyal customers for the company. Blog posts are very useful for generating organic search traffic and you must include them in your content marketing strategy if you want to outrank your competitors.
In this course, you will start from the core concepts of writing blog posts and build up momentum to use your posts to rank better. Topics include:
- Major strategies to grow your blog
- Analyzing the topic idea and the keyword difficulty on search engines
- How to find great content ideas to attract potential customers
- How to optimize blog articles for target keywords
- The best ways to promote your content across different channels or with a marketing campaign
Once you finish the course, you will find it easier to create a roadmap for your blog and publish valuable content targeting your buyer persona.
Who should take this course?
Blogging for Business provides educational content for writers and marketers alike. Especially for SaaS marketing teams, it is a great resource to improve the companies' digital marketing strategies.
If you are interested in scaling your SaaS SEO game and writing, Blogging for Business prepares you for increasing web traffic, handling SERPs better, and accelerating the customer acquisition process using only high-quality content you will publish or optimize.
While some modules directly refer to Ahrefs' tools, the overall content gives insight into developing a converting content strategy. It will give you the necessary information and exercises to take action immediately.
Pricing
Blogging for Business is completely free and does not require sign-ups. The course takes around 5 hours to complete, so that you can finish it in a day. You can also go back and revisit the content whenever you like.
Although there is no certification, the videos are really useful. They include on-point details, usually between 5-9 minutes. You can watch them during a break or while commuting.
3- Conversion Copywriting 101 (Copyhackers)
Copywriting is essential for B2B SaaS companies. To attract potential customers or increase customer retention, you must go beyond the traditional marketing and copywriting techniques.
With Conversion Copywriting 101 under your belt, you will be able to understand and identify the ways you can improve your website or ad copy and tailor the best copy for your marketing plans to address the needs and problems of your buyer personas.
What's in this course?
This course teaches you the basics of writing (and editing) converting copies for your B2B SaaS company. Even though the course is not specifically designed for SaaS businesses, most of the information still applies to SaaS, so you can try the tips on your own.
Bringing different expert copywriters together for this course, Conversion Copywriting 101 provides you with unique and diverse perspectives. The curriculum includes:
- The definition of conversion copywriting and how it is different from traditional copywriting
- Copywriting for different stages of awareness in the sales funnel
- How to format your web copy
- Tips for writing great headlines
- How to get testimonials and where to use them as social proof
Who should take this course?
If you are looking for a solution to improve the copywriting system of your B2B SaaS company or are interested in copywriting, Conversion Copywriting 101 is an excellent course to understand how copywriting works and familiarize yourself with basic terminology and standards.
You do not need prior education to start as it is a beginner-level course. However, it would be helpful if you had basic knowledge about the topic.
Hosted by Joanna Wiebe, this course is perfect for digital marketers, entrepreneurs, and copywriters who love a self-paced learning environment and an out-of-the-box approach to the industry.
Pricing
Copyhackers' Conversion Copywriting is completely free of charge. It includes 14 modules and 29 lessons. The format is based on video lessons from different copywriters; however, there are additional secondary resources you can use for extra and in-depth information.
4- Conversion Rate Optimization Course (Backlinko)
It offers a nice mixture of beginner-level information and a more advanced strategy, so it appeals to a wider audience.
What's in this course?
The course consists of 6 modules and an extra chapter focusing on advanced techniques. It aims to teach you how to optimize conversion rates to increase revenue and retention.
The information in Backlinko's Conversion Rate Optimization easily applies to multiple business branches, but there are real-life examples for SaaS as well. In this course, you will learn:
- CRO basics
- How to run A/B tests
- How to optimize your design to increase conversions
- Tips for creating high-converting landing pages
- CRO for e-commerce
- Testing and optimizing your CTAs
- Best CRO practices
Who should take this course?
Whether you are new to conversion rate optimization or your tasks consist entirely of increasing conversions, you can find useful information to apply to your B2B company.
If you want to attract your ideal customers with the right message at the right time and use your marketing tactics to turn them into long-term customers, this course is great for you. In addition, if you are struggling to move past your SaaS freemium model in the sales process, there are real-life examples you can take a look at as well.
Pricing
The course is entirely free and you can visit the course website any time you want to refresh your memory. It includes 7 modules and the format is text-based with additional examples from other companies to make it easier to strengthen the mentioned practices. No sign-up is required.
5- Social Media Marketing Certification (HubSpot)
There is no area where social media does not take up space in our lives. We send messages to our loved ones, post our favorite books, and interact with an ocean of people in a single day. It is inevitable that this interaction also includes B2B SaaS companies, or more precisely, SaaS marketing teams.
What's in this course?
In this course, you will learn to develop an effective and dynamic social media strategy that will also feed your SEO strategy, build an inbound strategy that will engage and delight your customers on social media, and leverage the best social media market strategy to transform your SaaS digital marketing efforts and business.
The course curriculum includes:
- Social media listening and monitoring
- Building a content strategy for social media
- How to spread your brand's message using influencer marketing and advertising
- How to measure social media ROI
- Tips for building personalized connections with your prospective customers
Who should take this course?
HubSpot's Social Media Marketing Certification course is perfect for social media marketers, marketing managers, and others interested in marketing.
It is an outstanding resource if you want to attract your target customers, considering that B2B SaaS marketing does not offer a physical product. Therefore, social media and other online marketing channels are the best way to prove your value to potential customers.
Pricing
The entire course is free of charge and at the end of the course, you are eligible to obtain a certification. There are 8 lessons with 38 videos and 29 quizzes and it takes around 4 hours to finish the course. Hosted by Crystal King, you can start Social Media Marketing Certification course after signing up.
6- B2B Sales for Startups (Udemy)
If you want to understand how the B2B sales cycle works and get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes insights into different deal structures, you will find beneficial information and tactics in this course.
What's in this course?
The "Sales Valley" methodology in this course refers to the strategies and techniques used by Silicon Valley startups for generating more sales and establish business connections in the initial stages of their journey. Branded as "the complete playbook," the B2B Sales for Startups course brings together different topics such as:
- Copywriting that attracts
- How to run a successful business meeting
- Tips to close deals with other companies
- Cold emailing techniques that will get replies
- How to handle objections to your solution and leverage them
Who should take this course?
If you are just starting with B2B environment and want to solidify the sales aspect of your business rather than the marketing side, then this course fits your needs. Whether you are a freelancer, a B2B company owner, salespeople, or entrepreneurs, you can use this course to understand the B2B landscape and establish a strategy to sell your product.
You will have all the tools you need to launch your B2B SaaS career and use the proven Silicon Valley strategies; you will take action based on data, not haphazardly.
Although no prior information is required, it is best to familiarize yourself with email and other tools to adapt quickly.
Pricing
B2B Sales for Startups course costs around $73 with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It takes around 6.5 hours to finish with additional 14 downloadable resources and templates. You also get full lifetime access to all the material after the purchase, which is great for self-paced learning.
In addition, you will get a certification of completion.
7- Inbound Marketing Certification (HubSpot)
SaaS marketing is a type of marketing that aims to establish long-term relationships with customers using valuable content that highlights the benefits of your product and appeals to the ideal customer personas that you specifically curate for your SaaS company.
What's in this course?
You will learn how to identify the best contacts to reach out to, connect with your most promising leads, and run calls with your contacts to drive revenue. The course begins with an introduction to inbound sales and identifying and reaching out to the right buyers.
Other topics include:
- Building relationships with B2B customers
- How to attract the right type of customers
- Understanding buyer intent and delivering a personalized experience
- Building inbound sales strategies for your company
Who should take this course?
HubSpot states that this course is best for "sales reps and sales managers." It offers a unique perspective on the B2B sales atmosphere. If you are enthusiastic about mastering the inbound sales techniques, establishing personal connections instead of cold reaching, and understanding buyer patterns, HubSpot's course is potentially one of the best courses for you.
Pricing
HubSpot's Inbound Marketing Certification course is free of charge and no credit card is required. Containing 5 lessons with 22 videos and 5 quizzes, it takes around 2 hours to finish the course. After successfully completing the course, you will receive a certification.
Final Words
To keep up with industry trends and discover new techniques, marketing courses and certifications have become necessary over the past years. Not only can you increase brand awareness, but also you can attract the kind of customers suitable for your SaaS company.
Acclaimed by many users and reputable sources, these courses make your job more simple. However, it is recommended to take multiple courses from different disciplines to get the full picture.
