4 Best Free Digital Marketing Learning Resources for Businesses

Running a business is like an acrobat spinning plates. Marketing is a crucial plate — yet for many small business owners, it’s the one that falls. Nearly 47% of small business owners handle their own marketing, which can be overwhelming.

Even if a marketing agency isn’t in your budget, expert advice is still within reach. Free digital marketing resources can help you stay sharp in an ever-changing landscape.

Since 2020, Zoe Marketing & Communications has continued learning, too! Here are our four top resources to help you build your marketing skills.

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4 free resources to help with your digital marketing

1. HubSpot Academy

A leader in digital marketing education, HubSpot offers 300+ free courses on inbound marketing, email, social media, content and more. A few highlights:

• Video-based lessons with clear, visual breakdowns
• Practical exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning
• 17 full marketing certifications to add to your website or LinkedIn
• Search by duration (under 30 minutes to 5+ hours) to fit your schedule

Not sure where to start? HubSpot’s homepage highlights its most popular courses. Plus, it links to 40+ more free digital marketing courses beyond its own.

2. Google Digital Garage

This free resource focuses on business growth and digital skills. Originally a UK-based, in-person program, it now offers 21 free marketing courses covering:

• SEO, content marketing and online visibility
• Google Analytics and Ads basics
• Social media and prospecting strategies

Lessons include video tutorials, easy-to-implement tips and recaps. Some courses are more text-based but packed with visuals.

A standout option? The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing. This 40-hour crash course is a deep dive, but worth it for a strong foundation in digital marketing.

3. HootSuite free tools

HootSuite, a major social media management platform, provides free tools to improve your social media strategy:

• Instagram caption generator
• Engagement rate calculator
• Social media glossary + trend updates
• Twitter score calculator

While HootSuite Academy certifications cost $99-$299, you can access the first two lessons of its Advanced Social Advertising course for free.

Its “Strategy” blog is also worth exploring, offering insights on everything from AI tools for content creation to best practices for social media ads.

4. Content Marketing Institute (CMI) resources

For content marketing, CMI is a top-tier free resource with blogs, ebooks, webinars and templates to help you create and refine your strategy. Standout offerings:

• Workbooks for launching a content marketing plan
• Step-by-step guides for improving content quality

• Live and on-demand webinars featuring industry experts

CMI delivers digestible, actionable insights to help businesses craft compelling content and drive engagement.

Keep learning about digital marketing for your business

Managing marketing and business operations is no small feat, but free tools can make it easier. Resources from HubSpot, Google Digital Garage, HootSuite and the Content Marketing Institute provide valuable, practical insights to sharpen your skills.

Need more hands-on support? Talk to us. Zoe Marketing & Communications helps businesses build strategic marketing plans that drive results.

Still weighing in-house marketing vs. hiring help? Check out:

• Disadvantages of using a marketing agency
• How to set a digital marketing budget