Knowing how to use the main tools to increase one’s visibility on the Web is not that easy. Between Google referencing, Facebook publications or Twitter accounts, it is possible to get lost… We have tested for you the free online trainings created by the biggest web platforms to learn how to better communicate on the Internet.
In this article, we present the “official” e-learning courses from Google, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
- Google for Professionals: the most fun
Google’s free platform for professionals offers tailor-made digital marketing video training. Depending on your needs, Google can help you develop your digital skills and improve your online presence through courses and testimonials. With different topics divided into chapters, in less than 10 minutes, you can complete a video or text course and complete a quiz to unlock a badge.
The course consists of 89 video courses, grouped into 23 different themes. The training is very complete and allows, following a very simple registration, to develop digital skills. I liked the principle of a badge to be won at the end of each course, which gives a very playful dimension to the learning offered by Google. Once all the badges have been won, you receive the “Google for Professionals” certification, which is not a recognized diploma, but looks good on your CV or LinkedIn profile.
What we liked about this training, in addition to its playfulness, is its very accessible side: no need to take 5 breaks per video to discover the definition of certain notions of the Web. And then, having both video and text support allows you to go through certain chapters more quickly by going through the text-based course.
- Twitter FlightSchool: the most resource-rich Twitter
Through its free Twitter FlightSchool, the Twitter network offers training courses to learn how to set up marketing systems. Rather aimed at agencies, Twitter FlightSchool offers two different courses, one for managers and the other for marketing managers. With its 5 chapters, the training is very complete and starts with the basics of Twitter and ends with the realization of a dummy marketing scenario. At the end of each chapter, a questionnaire allows you to validate your knowledge and to be able to access the next course.
After registering on the training site with your Twitter account, you have access to your dashboard which allows you to see your training path and know where you stand. You also have the possibility to access different resources from this dashboard. Between case studies, figures to learn how to target Internet users and presentations of Twitter tools, the range of resources is really very complete.
At the end, you receive a #Graduate Twitter FlightSchool badge that you can add to your CV or your agency’s website. And a nice Twitter plane folding to make yourself…
What we liked about this training is the multitude of available resources that allow us to better understand Twitter and to better target Internet users. The courses are presented in a very different way from the classic courses by offering a lot of role-playing (even if all companies don’t have a €500,000 advertising budget…).
- Google Analytics Academy: the most in English
Google has set up the Google Analytics Academy learning platform to better understand and use its audience measurement tool Google Analytics. Through 5 courses composed of several videos in English, I can learn how to use all the aspects that Google Analytics can offer such as the way they collect information or the use of specific e-commerce analytics. In addition to these courses, I can access different resources classified by platform like Google Analytics for Youtube or Google Analytics for Blogger.
Registration is easy with my Google Account, which gives me access to the main courses as well as platform-specific courses from Google. They are mainly composed of videos in English of the MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) type where the instructor is facing the camera on a white background with visual examples embedded in the decor. They offer the possibility to access the text transcription of the courses, and a quiz allows me to know my progress.
What I liked about these training sessions is that, although the videos are in English, they made the effort to put the access to the text transcription is a real plus. In addition, the choice of being able to study the Google Analytics of Youtube or Blogger gives you access to resources specific to your needs.
- Facebook Business: the most advertising-oriented
Facebook has several learning platforms, including :
- Facebook Blueprint (but I strangely didn’t manage to access the content, Mark if you’re passing by!) where I should have found some video training to learn how to use Facebook ads
- Facebook’s help pages where professional advice and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) are mixed together.
- Facebook Business, which offers video training with case studies and testimonials to learn how to use Facebook tools to grow your business and achieve goals.
No registration or Facebook connection required, I have direct access to the courses offered by Facebook. The 7 courses to succeed on Facebook are very focused on… Facebook ads, although I can access courses such as “Your Facebook Page” or “Measuring Results”. Without giving a final certification, all the courses allow you to better understand the Facebook network and to be able to use it at its best, especially for Facebook ads.
What I liked about these Facebook courses were the illustrations that are systematically added to the content. It allows me to project myself much more easily and to imagine what visual identity I can have with Facebook pages. But also the resources available on Facebook Business such as the “Success Stories” with examples of successful companies on Facebook.
- Pinterest for professionals: the most illustrated
Pinterest also has its online trainings with Pinterest for professionals. First of all, there is a “First step” part with the possibility to professionalize my account and useful guides to better understand the boards and their pins. But also tools such as a widget generator to be integrated on his site and a whole “Pinterest Analytic” part for statistics. Finally, there are customer testimonials (such as the Facebook Success Stories) with companies that have been able to get the best out of Pinterest to generate traffic or to increase the sales of a shop.
In order to access this e-learning platform, no login to your account is required. I have direct access to the different tools offered. In particular, the “Guide” section with advice and best practices to follow on Pinterest. In PDF format, the platform offers two training courses: “Pinterest Analytics” and “Guide to good practices”, while the English version offers 4 of them, including Pinterest Ads Manager and How to make great Pins. At the end of these trainings, I learned how to use Pinterest in a professional way but no certification was delivered.
What I really liked about the Pinterest trainings were the Success Stories, which are really inspiring and provide great ideas for the professional use of Pinterest. Although the courses are in PDF format, the reading is very fluid because they are well illustrated with practical cases.