7 Free Marketing Courses to Grow Your Business in 2025

Global organisations, including Google, HubSpot, and SEMRush, provide free courses designed to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, and marketers develop and learn the skills they need to succeed. Here are 7 free marketing courses to grow your business in 2025. 

Marketing continues to be a key driver of business growth, with global digital advertising spending projected to reach US$798.7bn in 2025, according to Statista. As competition grows in different industries, businesses need to use creative and effective marketing strategies to reach and engage their target audiences. 

However, staying up to date with the latest trends and tools can be difficult, especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs with limited resources. Free online marketing courses are a great way to fill this gap, offering valuable knowledge and skills at no cost.

For example, social media marketing is becoming more important. According to DataReportal, over 4.9 billion people worldwide use social media, making it a key channel for businesses to connect with potential customers. Similarly, search engine optimisation (SEO) is essential for improving website visibility, as more than 90% of online experiences start with a search engine. 

Below is a detailed look at seven free marketing courses that can help you grow your business in 2025. Each of the marketing courses outlined above offers practical skills and knowledge that can directly contribute to business growth.

1. Google Digital Garage: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

• Duration: Approximately 40 hours
• Ideal For: Beginners and small business owners exploring digital marketing
• What It Covers: SEO, social media, email marketing, and web analytics
• Certification: Yes (Google-certified)

Google offers this comprehensive course through its Digital Garage platform, designed to provide foundational knowledge in digital marketing. The course covers essential topics, including search engine optimisation (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, email marketing, content creation, and web analytics.

Participants are introduced to digital marketing through 26 modules, each featuring video tutorials, quizzes, and practical examples. Upon successful completion, learners receive a certificate, which adds value to their professional portfolio.

2. HubSpot Academy: Inbound Marketing Certification

• Duration: 4-5 hours
• Ideal For: Entrepreneurs, marketers, and content creators
• What It Covers: Customer journey, content creation, and lead generation
• Certification: Yes

HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing Certification is designed for individuals and teams looking to understand how to attract and engage customers effectively. This course focuses on customer-centric marketing strategies, teaching participants how to use blogs, social media, and email campaigns to create meaningful connections with their audience.

The curriculum covers key topics such as the inbound methodology, content marketing, social media, lead nurturing, and the role of CRM in inbound marketing.

3. Coursera: Introduction to Social Media Marketing

• Duration: Approximately 6 hours
• Ideal For: Social media managers and business owners
• What It Covers: Platform-specific marketing strategies and analytics
• Certification: Optional (for a fee)

This course, developed by Meta (formerly Facebook), provides an introduction to social media marketing. It is ideal for those seeking to build their skills in creating and managing campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The course focuses on developing a clear understanding of how social media platforms function and how businesses can utilise them for marketing.

Participants gain insights into identifying target audiences, building engaging content, and measuring campaign performance. The course is offered for free through Coursera, with an optional paid certification available.

4. SEMRush Academy: Content Marketing Toolkit Course

• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Ideal For: Bloggers, content strategists, and digital marketers
• What It Covers: Content creation, optimisation, and analytics
• Certification: Yes

SEMRush offers a detailed course on content marketing that helps learners understand how to plan, create, and distribute content effectively. It is particularly beneficial for those who want to drive traffic and engagement through blogs, articles, and social media posts.

The course includes lessons on content strategy development, keyword research, and analytics. Participants can also learn how to assess the performance of their content and make data-driven improvements.

5. LinkedIn Learning: Marketing Strategy for Entrepreneurs

• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Ideal For: Entrepreneurs and small business owners
• What It Covers: Marketing strategy and LinkedIn optimisation
• Certification: No

LinkedIn offers a variety of free learning resources, including this course tailored to entrepreneurs. It focuses on building effective marketing strategies that align with business goals and utilising LinkedIn as a tool to expand professional networks.

The course provides insights into identifying key marketing channels, creating value propositions, and understanding customer behaviour. It is particularly helpful for small business owners looking to enhance their brand visibility.

6. Copyblogger: Free Copywriting Course

• Duration: Self-paced
• Ideal For: Marketers, copywriters, and small business owners
• What It Covers: Writing techniques for web pages, emails, and advertisements
• Certification: No

Copyblogger’s free course is designed to teach the fundamentals of writing persuasive content. It focuses on creating effective headlines, engaging introductions, and compelling calls to action. The course is self-paced, making it suitable for learners who prefer flexible study schedules.

Participants are guided through the principles of copywriting, enabling them to produce content that resonates with their audience and drives desired actions, such as purchases or sign-ups.

7. Google Skillshop: Google Ads Certification

• Duration: 3-4 hours per module
• Ideal For: Marketers and business owners investing in advertising
• What It Covers: Campaign setup, optimisation, and analytics
• Certification: Yes (Google-certified)

For businesses aiming to leverage paid advertising, Google Skillshop provides an in-depth course on Google Ads. This course covers campaign creation, budget management, keyword research, and performance analysis.

The programme is divided into multiple modules, allowing participants to focus on specific aspects such as search, display, video, and app advertising. Upon completion, learners can take a certification exam to demonstrate their expertise in Google Ads.

Final thoughts

These free courses offer accessible opportunities to enhance your marketing knowledge and skills. Whether you are just starting or looking to refine your expertise, these resources cater to a range of needs. By investing time in these programmes, businesses can improve their marketing strategies, reach broader audiences, and achieve sustainable growth in 2025. Exploring these courses is a worthwhile step towards building a stronger and more competitive business.