There are numerous reputable universities and professional organizations are offering digital marketing courses in the online mode which train essential digital marketing skills through interactive assignments, practical exercises, and hands-on experiments. These are cheaper and more flexible than regular college degree courses. Many people prefer this mode of learning because it allows them to learn at their own pace. Online education is best for busy people who do not have time to attend class sessions or those who do not have the money to attend classes.

The main focus of digital marketing courses is learning digital marketing basics. These include knowledge on search engine optimization, social media marketing, digital media and web analytics, and Pay per click (PPC) strategies and campaigns. These concepts are used to enhance the websites and their business efforts. The course incorporates knowledge on how digital marketers can access the analytics tools from website developers, what these tools can do, what are their uses and other useful information that can be gained by using these tools.

SEO (search engine optimization) is one of the most important concepts that digital marketers need to learn. SEO improves a site's ranking in search results based on keywords or key phrases. Keywords and phrases are used to provide a better user experience and increased online visibility for websites. Learning about SEO is the foundation for successful digital marketing campaigns.

Coursera is a non-profit university that offers online courses and diplomas. Many of the courses offer online study versions that are easily downloadable and can be taken as a full-time course or part-time. Some of the online courses are offered in six-month modules, which can be done in two year intervals. There is a specialization track for digital marketing specialization or individual courses for new graduates or existing marketers who want to upgrade their skills.

A six-month online marketing course from Coursera is broken up into three main modules. The first module focuses on learning how keyword analysis tools work. This course material prepares students to learn how keyword analysis tools work and how to use them to create effective campaigns. Students will also learn how to create landing pages, how to analyze and select keywords, how to optimize pages for specific searches, how to use directories, how to optimize content for key phrases, how to convert site visitors into customers, and how to track and measure results.

The second module of the six-month online marketing courses from Coursera looks at social media marketing. In this module students get the basics of social media marketing, including the benefits of the platforms, how it affects SEO and how to effectively use these platforms for business purposes. It also covers how to create effective campaigns through these platforms. Users are taught how to choose the right keywords, how to optimize pages through these platforms, how to use social media marketing reviews to influence and attract potential customers, and how to optimize pages through PPC advertising.

The third module of the six-month online courses from Coursera focuses on digital marketing professionals. Within this section students will be given a comprehensive overview of digital marketing and what employers look for in a successful digital marketer. Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to enroll in advanced courses that focus on increasing company sales, client service, and product branding. In addition, students will have the ability to enroll in paid internships once they have successfully completed their six-month coursework.

Enrolling in the six month online marketing courses from Coursera does come with a price. Users will need to pay around forty dollars in order to begin the course. The cost of the course material includes access to the online library where all of the course material is housed. This also includes access to the online forum boards which other digital marketing professionals utilize to communicate with one another. When these boards are used correctly, a digital marketing professional can learn a great deal about how the processes involved in his or her career will affect his or her bottom line.