6 Best Content Creation Courses to Hone Your Digital Skills (2021)

When you’re a content creator, no two workdays ever look exactly identical. 

Since you produce original content on a regular basis, there’s always something to stretch your creativity and push you out of your comfort zone. 

Moreover, the content creation process encompasses a wide range of high-demand and sometimes challenging skills, from copywriting and search engine optimization to photo and video editing, as well as marketing and digital product creation skills.

With this in mind, here are the best content creation courses online to help you refine your craft and upgrade your skills in these areas. 

In these courses, you’ll be guided by experienced instructors who demonstrate what it takes to produce high-quality, consistent content that truly resonates with your target audience. 

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What are the Best Content Creation Courses Online? 

Here are the best content creation courses to enroll in online this year: 

1. DigitalMarketer Lab

If you're looking for a free resource to help you get started in content creation and marketing, the first thing I recommend doing is signing up for the Marketing Lab offered by the folks at DigitalMarketer.com. 

Whether you're a beginner or seasoned marketer, this program will make your job easier by providing you with the following resources: 

• A library of 36 marketing playbooks (& more added every month)

• Timely and tactical one-day workshops that you can attend live or watch in your own time

• A supportive community of 10,000+ marketers that you can tap into to find answers to your questions, even if it's 2am

• Exclusive discounts and deals on tools you’re likely already using (this aspect of membership often pays for itself)

The previously mentioned playbooks are essentially “checklists on steroids” that walk you through the step-by-step execution of proven marketing tactics, growth strategies, and carefully crafted campaigns.

Here are some playbooks included in the membership that you might find particularly useful:

• Editorial Calendar Playbook - Create an editorial calendar that will streamline your content creation and maximize the amount you’re able to crank out on a regular basis.

• Promo Calendar Playbook - Build a promotional calendar that roadmaps your customer communication to keep it consistent across all channels and media.

• 1-Minute Facebook Video Ad Playbook - Learn how to create a 1-minute video that turns ice-cold prospects into buyers and promoters of your business.

• Email List Builder Playbook - This roadmap will take you through every deliverable you need to build out a funnel to attract new leads and email subscribers.

• Homepage Builder Playbook - Learn how to create, and audit, a custom homepage that is sure to dazzle your customers - without being a designer

(These playbooks can also be purchased individually here.)

Ultimately, the goal of the DigitalMarketer Lab is to get you to learn by doing.

You'll work on your own projects and be guided via checklists, templates, and trainings that have helped thousands of marketers, agencies, and entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses.

Overall, the membership is quite a handy way to improve your skills, and you can try it for free before making a commitment.

=> Enroll in DigitalMarketer Lab for free for 14 days here.

2. Content Creation and Editing for Instagram Stories (Domestika)

Looking to leverage the power of Instagram stories? 

In this content creation course, product photographer Mina Barrio reveals the secrets of creating and editing Instagram content in an attractive and professional way. 

First, you'll get a brief introduction to Mina's work, her influences, and some of her favorite Instagram profiles. 

Next, you'll learn the difference between Instagram feed posts and Instagram Stories and why it's important to use this tool to get more and better reach with your followers.

You'll then create a content strategy focused on your goals, analyze different types of content, and learn how to use the text resources, images, gifs, emojis, etc. that you can find on Instagram. 

Finally, Mina will walk you through some of her other favorite content creation and editing apps and how to use them.

Course Syllabus: 

• Introduction 
• Preparation
• Content Creation
• Editing the Content
• Story Format
• Optimizing Instagram Stories
• Final Project

Key course features: 

• 22 Lessons (3h 0m)
• 15 Additional resources (6 files)
• Online and at your own pace
• Available from the app
• Audio: English, Spanish
• Captions: Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian
• Level: Beginner
• Certificate upon completion

=> Enroll in "Content Creation and Editing for Instagram Stories" here.

3. Content Marketing Masterclass: Create Content That Sells (Udemy)

Content Marketing Masterclass is a bestselling content creation course on Udemy that teaches you how to plan and execute a content marketing strategy that drives your business forward. 

The course is taught by Brad Merrill, the CEO of Merrill Media, a modern holding company focused on building independent, scalable businesses at the intersection of technology and media.

With over 10 years of industry experience, he provides you all the tools and strategies you need to successfully market your products and services in the digital age.

In this comprehensive course, you'll cover a wide range of topics, including: 

• Content Marketing and Copywriting Essentials: Discover what content marketing is, how it works, how to tell a compelling story, and a number of tips to help you become a better writer.

• Web Design: How to optimize your website for content marketing and build a well-oiled, lead-generating machine.

• Idea Generation and Content Repurposing: Get to know your audience and what they like, and learn how to create an endless stream of fresh content by repurposing your existing content.

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your site for search engines and drive free, organic search traffic to your content.

• Content Promotion and External Marketing: Learn to actively promote your content and drive traffic from a variety of sources.

• Measuring Your Results: Collect and analyze data to measure the results of your content marketing efforts, and ensure that you're always making progress toward your goals.

The knowledge you gain from this class will help you master the content creation techniques you need to build a business from scratch or enhance your existing strategy.

You'll move beyond the surface level and dive deep to fully understand your customer's buying journey and how your content can inspire people to take action. 

Key course features: 

• 3.5 hours on-demand video
• 12 articles
• Full lifetime access
• Access on mobile and TV
• Certificate of completion

=> Enroll in the Content Marketing Masterclass here. 

4. Introduction to TikTok for Creative (Domestika)

With over 1 billion monthly active users across the globe (and growing), TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms for growing an online brand.

Arnulfur Hakonarson, also known as That Icelandic Guy, has been using TikTok for the past several years to grow his own personal brand.

In this course, he shares his tips for mastering the platform. 

Even if you’re just getting started, Arnulfur will teach you how to build an account from scratch, come up with new ideas, and produce the best kind of content for gaining attention and followers.

First, you'll learn how to create a memorable username, optimize your profile, and navigate the general layout of the platform’s features and interface.

Then you'll learn how to film and edit TikTok videos by discovering the building blocks of good content and exploring some trending effects used on TikTok. 

Pay particular attention to Arnulfur's 3-second rule, batch theory, and the viral marketing strategies she shares.

With over 750K followers on the platform, he certainly knows his stuff!

Course Syllabus: 

• Introduction 
• Why TikTok and How Do You Use it?
• How to Make Good Content and Build a Strong Brand
• How to Film, Edit and Make TikTok Videos!
• My Secret Tips
• Final Project 

Key course features: 

• 21 Lessons (1h 39m)
• 23 Additional resources (5 files)
• Online and at your own pace
• Available from the app
• Audio: English
• Captions: English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian
• Level: Beginner
• Certificate upon completion of the course

=> Enroll in the Introduction to TikTok for Creatives online course here.

5. Social Media Graphic Design for Beginners (Udemy)

If you're new to content creation, the world of social media graphic design can seem somewhat intimidating. 

However, the truth is that most of the incredible, eye-catching graphics you see online aren't created with expensive software by professional designers.

They're usually created by people with little to no graphic design experience, using free tools that are simple and fun to learn.

This course by digital marketing strategist Maggie Stara will show you how to create beautiful graphics that can enhance your website and social media presence.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to make your own: 

• Canva graphics to use anywhere online and offline for print

• Instagram inspirational quote graphics, multi-post images and moving GIFs for Insta Stories

• Facebook graphics, cover photos and Facebook ad graphics

• Pinterest pins and board covers

• YouTube channel art, video thumbnails and image cut-outs

• Business eBooks, mockups and compressed images to ensure your website stays super fast

This content creation course is great for anyone who wants to save time and money by designing their own mobile-friendly graphics using free online tools.

Moreover, the course is under 4 hours long so you'll be able to learn quickly and start implementing the material right away!

Key course features: 

• 4 hours on-demand video
• 1 downloadable resource
• Full lifetime access
• Access on mobile and TV
• Certificate of completion

=> Enroll in the Social Media Graphic Design online course here.

6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Course (University of California)

This popular specialization course by the University of California will show you to optimize website content for the best possible search engine ranking.

As you gain deeper insight into the way Google and other search engine algorithms work, you'll build practical skills that you can apply to a career in digital marketing or growing your own online business. 

You will learn how to: 

• Complete a competitive analysis on a webpage  

• Develop a solid approach for achieving a productive and successful relationship with your client  

• Create influencer relationships and collaborations and analyze data to see which content gets the most shares

• Create a final report of your findings and recommendations for SEO and present your recommendations to your client  

Program Syllabus: 

• Course 1: Introduction to Search Engine Optimization 

• Course 2: Search Engine Optimization Fundamentals 

• Course 3: Optimizing a Website for Search 

• Course 4: Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO

• Course 5: Website Optimization Client Report Project 

At the end of the program, there is a hands-on Capstone Project which will allow you to apply your skills to a comprehensive SEO consulting task. 

Key course features: 

Shareable Certificate

• Earn a Certificate upon completion.

100% online courses

• Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

• Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

• At least 2 years of business experience.

Approximately 5 months to complete

• Suggested pace of 7 hours/week.

=> Enroll in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) online course here.

Frequently Asked Questions...

What is included in content creation?

Content creation refers to the regular production of engaging and helpful digital content that takes place as part of a brand's marketing activities. 

 

There are many different content formats such as blog articles, videos, email messages, podcasts, social media posts, etc., and so the content creation process can vary depending on the media involved. 

Whatever the case, an effective content strategy includes detailed planning, idea generation and prioritization, as well as the various technical skills involved in producing, editing and publishing the content. 

After the content is published, it is usually promoted on other media platforms - and depending on the type of content - it may be regularly updated for accuracy and relevancy. 

How do I learn content creation?

If you're new to the content creation industry, you can quickly educate yourself by taking the above content creation courses and observing the techniques of influencers and other content creators in your industry. 

However, the most effective way to learn content creation is by tackling your own projects and learning from experience. The more you experiment, the more you'll discover what works and the types of content that deliver the most value to your audience.  

Happy learning!

Related: 

• 10 Best Gifts for Content Creators

• 5 Best Community Management Courses Online 

• Best Business Writing Courses

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