Learn how to sharpen your online advertising skills outside of work with these six tips. Read blogs and newsletters, take online courses and certifications, join online communities and forums, experiment with your own projects, attend webinars and ev

I strongly recommend finding a mentor and/or career coach. ADPList is a great (and free) way to find someone who can support you as you grow in your career.

Get scrappy. Reach out to local businesses and see if they're open to some marketing support. Start a print-on-demand business so you can practice building a social media profile and setting up Facebook and Instagram ads. There are so many ways to gain experience on your own!

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying updated is non-negotiable. While many browse blogs haphazardly, I employ a more strategic approach—Feedly, a content aggregation tool. This platform allows me to categorize blogs into specific folders like 'Paid Advertising,' 'Social Media Marketing,' 'Email Marketing,' and 'Automation.' The result? A streamlined, time-efficient method of accessing targeted content that enhances my ability to learn. No more aimless web surfing; every article I read is a step toward mastery.

How can you develop your online advertising skills outside of work?

Online advertising is a dynamic and competitive field that requires constant learning and adaptation. Whether you work as an agency, freelancer, or in-house marketer, you need to keep up with the latest trends, tools, and strategies to create effective campaigns and measure your results. But how can you develop your online advertising skills outside of work, when you have limited time, budget, and resources? Here are some tips to help you sharpen your online advertising skills and stay ahead of the curve.

1 Read blogs and newsletters

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to learn from the experts and stay updated on the industry news and best practices is to read blogs and newsletters related to online advertising. You can find a variety of sources that cover topics such as search engine marketing, social media advertising, display advertising, video advertising, email marketing, and more. Some examples are Moz, HubSpot, WordStream, Social Media Examiner, and Marketing Land. You can subscribe to their newsletters, follow them on social media, or bookmark their websites and read them regularly.

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Amir Scapa

Digital Marketing Expert | AI Enthusiast | Data Analysis | Accelerating client success with result-oriented and data-driven approaches
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In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying updated is non-negotiable. While many browse blogs haphazardly, I employ a more strategic approach—Feedly, a content aggregation tool. This platform allows me to categorize blogs into specific folders like 'Paid Advertising,' 'Social Media Marketing,' 'Email Marketing,' and 'Automation.' The result? A streamlined, time-efficient method of accessing targeted content that enhances my ability to learn. No more aimless web surfing; every article I read is a step toward mastery.

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José Cabal

I help the world grow better | Consultant | Speaker | Teacher | Marketing & Sales expert |
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It takes some time to figure out what is “your things”when it comes to stay informed. I personally read books, find authors, follow them on their personal media and subscribe to newsletters

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Zohre Karimian

Export Manager at Arta Group with expertise in international trade
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These courses and certifications can help you learn how to use different tools, optimize your campaigns, target your audience, analyze your data, and improve your performance. They can also boost your resume and credibility as an online advertiser.

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2 Take online courses and certifications

Another way to develop your online advertising skills is to take online courses and certifications that can teach you the fundamentals and advanced techniques of various platforms and channels. You can find free or low-cost courses and certifications from reputable sources such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. These courses and certifications can help you learn how to use different tools, optimize your campaigns, target your audience, analyze your data, and improve your performance. They can also boost your resume and credibility as an online advertiser.

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José Cabal

I help the world grow better | Consultant | Speaker | Teacher | Marketing & Sales expert |
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Find your channels and stay updated. Sometimes it is a YouTube channel a Twitter account or a LinkedIn profile. As long as it is engaging you will be learning and evolving.

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3 Join online communities and forums

A third way to develop your online advertising skills is to join online communities and forums where you can interact with other professionals, ask questions, share insights, and get feedback. You can find online communities and forums on platforms such as Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack, and Discord. You can also join niche-specific groups and networks that focus on specific aspects of online advertising, such as SEO, PPC, social media, video, etc. These online communities and forums can help you learn from others' experiences, challenges, and successes, and expand your network.

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Nick Rogers

Driving strategic partnerships and sustainable procurement for global technology leaders.
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Learning from others is, in my opinion, the best way to learn. Be brave and reach out to people on LinkedIn - if you've got an interesting question, you'll almost always get an answer - plus, a valuable connection along the way! WIN WIN!!!! Just think of all of those combined hours of knowledge. What works, what doesn't. What went well, what didn't. "When the best has your back the only way is onward and upward"

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4 Experiment with your own projects

A fourth way to develop your online advertising skills is to experiment with your own projects, either for yourself or for a friend, family member, or a non-profit organization. You can create your own website, blog, social media page, YouTube channel, or email list, and use them as a playground to test your online advertising ideas and strategies. You can set up your own campaigns, monitor your results, and tweak your settings to see what works and what doesn't. You can also use free or low-cost tools such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, Canva, Mailchimp, and more to manage your projects.

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Brianna Doe
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Get scrappy. Reach out to local businesses and see if they're open to some marketing support. Start a print-on-demand business so you can practice building a social media profile and setting up Facebook and Instagram ads. There are so many ways to gain experience on your own!

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José Cabal

I help the world grow better | Consultant | Speaker | Teacher | Marketing & Sales expert |
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If possible teach at a college or university. It will force you to be updated and you will have first source trends thanks to your students. Also joining forums or webinars is a great way to be updated.

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5 Attend webinars and events

A fifth way to develop your online advertising skills is to attend webinars and events that can provide you with valuable information, tips, and insights from industry experts and influencers. You can find webinars and events on platforms such as Eventbrite, Meetup, BrightTALK, and YouTube. You can also follow your favorite blogs, newsletters, and online communities to get notified of upcoming webinars and events that are relevant to your interests and goals. You can attend webinars and events live or watch the recordings later, and take notes, ask questions, and network with the speakers and attendees.

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6 Review case studies and examples

A sixth way to develop your online advertising skills is to review case studies and examples that can show you how other brands and businesses have successfully implemented their online advertising campaigns and achieved their objectives. You can find case studies and examples on websites such as Google Ads, Facebook Business, Instagram Business, YouTube Ads, and more. You can also search for case studies and examples on blogs, newsletters, and online communities that feature online advertising success stories. You can review case studies and examples to learn from their strategies, tactics, and results, and get inspired for your own projects.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Brianna Doe
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I strongly recommend finding a mentor and/or career coach. ADPList is a great (and free) way to find someone who can support you as you grow in your career.

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Amir Scapa

Digital Marketing Expert | AI Enthusiast | Data Analysis | Accelerating client success with result-oriented and data-driven approaches
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I've found immense value in leveraging podcasts as a learning tool. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music offer a plethora of insightful podcasts, including 'The Digital Marketing Podcast' and 'Perpetual Traffic.' The beauty of this approach lies in its flexibility—you can absorb cutting-edge insights while commuting, working out, or even during a leisurely walk. It's not just about passive listening; it's about active learning in a format that fits seamlessly into a busy lifestyle.

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How can you develop your online advertising skills outside of work?

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1 Read blogs and newsletters

2 Take online courses and certifications

3 Join online communities and forums

4 Experiment with your own projects

5 Attend webinars and events

6 Review case studies and examples

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Marketing

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How can you develop your online advertising skills outside of work?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Read blogs and newsletters

2 Take online courses and certifications

3 Join online communities and forums

4 Experiment with your own projects

5 Attend webinars and events

6 Review case studies and examples

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Marketing

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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