8 Industry-Recognised Digital Marketing Certificates + How to Get One

Getting a digital marketing certificate in 2024

A digital marketing certificate can be a valuable asset as more companies across industries increase their marketing budgets and efforts to reach customers online. According to Statista, India is anticipated to allocate 410 billion Indian rupees towards digital marketing expenditures during the fiscal year 2024 [1].

While digital marketing refers to marketing done online rather than offline, the field is broad, encompassing SEO, email, social media, content, display, and other paid advertising methods. Given all the possibilities in digital marketing, keeping your skills current to meet today’s business demands is helpful for your career.

Benefits of digital marketing certification 

Getting a certificate in digital marketing can offer several career benefits, including a competitive edge in the job market. One important benefit of a digital marketing certificate programme is that you can build in-demand, job-ready skills in this field, including navigating social media platforms, using CRM tools, and analysing marketing data. 

A digital marketing certificate may offer benefits such as exploring your creative and strategic sides, learning new technologies, and networking with other digital marketers within a structured learning experience. 

In addition, a digital marketing certificate may afford you more job prospects in the digital marketing world. 

Roles you may qualify for include: 

• Digital marketing analyst

• Digital marketing specialist

• Digital marketing manager

• Social media manager

• Social media specialist 

• Email marketing manager

• SEO consultant

• Content marketer

• Copywriter 

According to Payscale, people with a digital media certificate earn, on average, ₹411,000 per year as of September 2024 [2]. 

8 industry-recognised digital marketing certificates 

Explore eight digital marketing certificates and certification programmes. These programmes, offered by renowned brands and industry leaders, are available online and take registrants through a comprehensive digital marketing journey. They also offer a credential upon completion that you can display online. 

The certification list below details what you’ll learn, the cost to register and complete, the prerequisites you’ll need, and the time it takes to complete each programme. 

Related certificates

In addition to the comprehensive digital marketing certificates and certifications above, you might consider programmes focusing on specific skill sets. These can be great ways to build upon foundational skills or qualify for a job that requires more specialised knowledge of digital marketing. The following are some certificates in different focus areas: 

Analytics certificates 

• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

• Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate

Marketing software certificates 

• Salesforce Marketing Cloud Administrator, Consultant, and Developer certifications

• Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email Specialist 

Customer relationship management (CRM) certificates 

• Salesforce Sales Development Representative Professional Certificate

Social media marketing certificates

• Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

• Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification Course

How to get a digital marketing certificate 

You can follow many routes to get a digital marketing certificate, starting with the following steps: 

1. Identify your digital marketing goals.

Get clear on what you want to achieve as a digital marketer, from skills you want to master to a career path you want to follow. That way, you can select a certification that will help you reach those goals. The following are some examples of goals you can draw from to articulate your own: 

• Master digital marketing techniques and launch your own business. 

• Build upon foundational digital marketing skills with specialised or advanced knowledge in a particular topic area, such as SEO, email marketing, or analytics.

• Pursue a career in digital marketing or advance into a leadership position in this field.

2. Select the best digital marketing certificate programme for you. 

Using the table above as a starting point, research different digital marketing certificates and certification programmes to select the one that aligns with your goals. Ask yourself these questions as you review programmes: 

• What is the cost?

• How long does it take to prepare for and take the exam?

• Does the certificate programme offer coursework leading up to the exam? 

• What skills and areas of knowledge does the programme cover? 

• How do the programme outcomes correspond to the skills employers are looking for? 

3. Register for and complete the training material. 

Once you’ve chosen a programme, completing the coursework or training material is next. Be sure to allow enough time in your schedule to learn the skills your certification or certificate program measures, and be mindful of any deadlines by which you must take a certifying exam.

4. Share your credentials. 

Once you complete a programme and/or pass a certifying exam, display your credentials online on your social media profiles, in an email signature, or on a website or portfolio. Displaying your credentials online means you can visually represent your skills and knowledge and potentially attract employers' attention.  

5. Update your skills periodically. 

As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve, it’s important to update your skills periodically so that you can effectively tackle real-world business challenges and remain competitive in the job market. 

Depending on the certificate or certification programme you complete, you may be required to recertify regularly to keep your credential. Recertification can ensure that you have mastered the latest skills, techniques, approaches, and technologies in digital marketing.  

You can also sign up for an additional digital marketing certification course (or course without a certification) in a specific focus area to supplement your foundational knowledge base. 

Get your digital marketing certificate with Coursera 

Digital marketing is a potent tool for boosting customer awareness and increasing sales of products or services. However, achieving optimal engagement hinges on understanding which digital marketing tactics resonate best with your target audience. Certifications can help you acquire the skills to identify these effective tactics and navigate digital platforms proficiently.

Explore the options below to learn job-ready digital marketing skills, such as reaching customers on social media, through email, and via search engines, and using marketing analytics to make powerful decisions.