12 FREE Online Courses to Boost Your Career in Communications
One of the best ways to expand your skills and land your dream job in communications is to take courses.
Aside from communications courses in your university/college program, you can sign up for online courses that are easily accessible and can help you build your skillset in communications.
And lucky for you, there are countless FREE online courses that you can take to gain skills in all aspects of communications.
12 Free Online Courses to Boost Your Career in Communications
1. Creating a Communications Strategy – LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning’s Creating a Communications Strategy course teaches how to build an effective communications strategy and crisis planning.
This course is offered through LinkedIn Learning which is a paid platform. However, you can access this course for FREE by either, starting a one-month free trial for LinkedIn Learning or checking if your local library offers a free subscription to LinkedIn Learning courses.
Who is this course made for? This course is great if you’re studying or starting your career in communications and want to learn more about how professionals build a successful communications strategy.
Check out LinkedIn Learning’s Creating a Communications Strategy.
2. Free Copywriting Course – Neville Medhora
Do you have half an hour to spare? Neville Medhora created a 32-minute copywriting course for beginners. This 8-part course comprises videos that teach the basics of copywriting and how to write good copy.
Who is this course made for? This course is great for complete beginners who want to build their copywriting skills. It’s also great if you’re short on time and want to learn a new skill quickly!
Check out Neville Medhora’s Free Copywriting Course.
3. How to Build Your Social Media Marketing Strategy – Udemy
Knowing how to build a social media strategy can put you years ahead in your communications career. And thankfully, you can learn the steps to building a social media strategy with the How to Build Your Social Media Marketing Strategy course.
Who is this course made for? This course is made for anyone who wants to learn how to build a social media presence but doesn’t know how to start strategizing.
Check out Udemy’s How to Build Your Social Media Marketing Strategy Course.
4. Introduction to Social Media Analytics – Emory University
Emory University has created an online beginner course that demystifies social media analytics. This course covers how to evaluate social media messages and use those insights for marketing and communications strategies.
Who is this course made for? This course is great if you want to build a knowledge base in social media analytics to further your skills for your career in communications or marketing.
Check out Emory University’s Introduction to Social Media Analytics.
5. Graphic Design Basics: From the Experts – Canva
Not only is Canva a great graphic design platform, but they also have free online courses like their Graphic Design Basics: From the Experts course. In this course, you’ll be introduced to key graphic design elements like the colour wheel, mood boards, and proximity.
Who is this course made for? This course is great if you plan to work in graphic design, social media, or any other creative industry where graphic design skills would be useful. This course is especially useful if you want to build your knowledge with Canva.
Check out Canva’s Graphic Design Basics: From the Experts course.
6. Excel Crash Course – HubSpot Academy
Excel can sometimes be overlooked in the communications world, but chances are that at some point in your communications career, you’ll have to use Excel for data analyzing purposes. This HubSpot Academy course brings you through all the steps needed to analyze data in Excel and build charts and graphs for data insight.
Who is this course made for? This course is great if you want to prepare yourself for a career in communications or marketing where you need to work with Excel to analyze data and build impactful visuals.
Check out the Excel Crash Course on HubSpot Academy.
7. TikTok Academy – TikTok
Did you know that TikTok has an online learning platform to help businesses and creators enhance their TikTok expertise? TikTok Academy was created to bring insight into the business side of TikTok and how you can learn the skills of branding and marketing on the platform.
Who is this platform made for? TikTok Academy is made for communications professionals and students who want to gain proper skills in the behind-the-scenes of building engagement on TikTok.
Check out TikTok Academy.
8. Learn HTML – Codecademy
Although code can be intimidating for those without prior experience, the truth is that code, specifically HTML is the backbone of so much online content. If you take the jump to learn the basics of HTML, it can bring you far in your career! Codecademy’s HTML course is a great first step that will teach you the building blocks of web development.
Who is this course made for? This course is for communications students and professionals who want to enhance their portfolio with a skill in HTML coding.
Check out Codecademy’s Learn HTML course.
9. Email Marketing – Hubspot Academy
Many companies and communications professionals manage an email newsletter and use email marketing to build brand engagement. This email marketing course by HubSpot Academy teaches how to create effective email campaigns and how to analyze email metrics.
Who is this course made for? This course is for communications and marketing professionals who want to expand their email marketing skills.
Check out HubSpot Academy’s Email Marketing course.
10. Introduction to PR – PR Academy
Communications and Public Relations (PR) go hand-in-hand. PR Academy’s course teaches the models and concepts used in PR and gives an introduction to the skills needed to work in the public relations industry.
Who is this course made for? If you want to learn more about PR and discover if you’d enjoy working in the PR industry, this course is for you.
Check out PR Academy’s Introduction to PR course.
11. Intro to Generative AI – Codecademy
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a part of the communications industry and our everyday lives. Codecademy’s course on Generative AI is a great way to learn how to ethically leverage AI to assist with content creation.
Who is this course made for? This course is great for individuals who want to learn how to use AI to assist them with problem-solving and content creation.
Check out Codecademy’s Intro to Generative AI.
12. The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking – Harvard University
The key to communication is storytelling, which can be achieved through effective writing and public speaking. Harvard University offers a free online course that covers the art of persuasive persuasive communication and effective argument building.
Who is this course made for? This course is great if you want to improve your writing and speaking skills for your career or even everyday life.
Check out Harvard University’s The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking course.
Try any of these courses out for yourself and expand your communications portfolio!
With so many free courses to choose from, any of these can be a great start to building your skillsets for a great career in communications.
Comment below what courses you’ve taken and your opinions on them!
Want to read more Coms&Me content? Check out The Best Communications Experts to Follow on LinkedIn in 2024.
