There’s no doubt that training is one of the best tools for making progress toward any goal. Even more so if you’re running a business and looking to offer better solutions to your customers.
That’s why, at least once a year, it’s worth getting specific training on topics that can boost your skills and competitiveness in the market. And, as usual, Google offers a wide and interesting range of courses to help you do just that.
Training is the most powerful tool for launching any professional, business, or company. No matter where you’re starting from.
Throughout this post, I’d like to share the most notable options in their catalog. You’ll probably be interested in more than one, because remember, these are free Google courses!
The Best Free Google Courses
If you’re designing an action plan to grow your business, or you’d like to start a venture and need to acquire certain skills and knowledge, Google’s courses can help you.
In my opinion, they’re a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get started in areas like digital marketing, professional development, or data. Their content is designed to help students start from scratch and gradually progress.
Google’s courses are a safe bet. Thanks to them, you can start a digital career or cover the needs your business may currently have in this area.
The most notable advantages of this training are:
● They include certification. Most free Google courses include free certification. That is, when you finish the course, you get a certificate you can add to your resume. This way, students have a way to show they’ve taken the training and acquired the skills promised by its curriculum.
● They provide essential knowledge. The truth is that free Google courses may seem too basic, but they provide essential content for any entrepreneur who needs to get started with digital skills. They’re not master’s degrees or postgraduate programs, but they are the first step you need to take to move forward in this field.
● They’re easy to follow. Another very relevant aspect of Google’s courses is how easy they are. There are video tutorials, simple tips you can put into practice, topic-based assessments, and unlimited access to the content.
● They’re free. One thing that has always stood out about this training is that it’s completely free. So you can take, for example, free Google Ads courses, free Google programming courses, or digital marketing fundamentals courses.
● They have a wide catalog. Currently, there are a total of 51 courses on Google Actívate. If you visit their page, you’ll see a list of all of them and can even filter by certain features to easily find the training you’re looking for.
● There are several categories. Although Google’s courses focus on digital topics, there are also subcategories. For example, there are courses on digital marketing, professional development, and data. In the latter, we find courses such as AI elements, cloud computing, and mobile app development.
● You can filter by difficulty level. In addition to the above, there are several difficulty levels. So you can choose between beginner, intermediate, or advanced Google courses. 80% are beginner level.
● Some were created by universities. Finally, it’s worth noting that the courses were created by different providers, including some universities. For example, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Alicante, or the University of Helsinki & Reaktor.
With that said, let’s look at some of the free Google courses you can start today.
Google Analytics Courses
The first topic, or free Google courses worth mentioning, are those related to Analytics. That is, Google’s own application for measuring and analyzing data.
On this topic, we find a beginner course, an advanced one, and the one called Introduction to Google Analytics 360. Let’s take a look at them!
Google Analytics Course for Beginners
This course starts with the most basic concepts, such as creating an account, inserting the tracking code on a website, or making the necessary adjustments to data filters.
It also teaches you how to locate and check different types of reports, how to set up shortcuts, or create custom dashboards.
In addition, the course teaches you how to track campaigns and interpret the data found in the “Behavior,” “Audience,” and “Acquisition” sections.
Advanced Google Analytics Course
This other program dives deeper into topics such as analysis systems with segmentation, custom reports by audience, or complex marketing strategies like remarketing or dynamic remarketing.
It also shows you how to track events or set up custom metrics.
Introduction to Google Analytics 360
This platform includes specific features for businesses. During the course, you’ll learn how to use them. Specifically, it’s a program that covers topics such as conversion funnels or integrated data reports.
It also covers reports created with BigQuery and possible integrations with Google Ad Manager or Google Marketing Platform. To take this course, it’s essential to have completed the previous two.
Cloud Computing
This program requires students to have basic knowledge of cloud computing. It was developed by the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI) in collaboration with Red.es.
It’s a course that teaches you how to completely transform your business through innovation and cost savings. In other words, it’s an opportunity to learn about the tools that give you access to your company’s information from any location and device (without compromising its security).
Finally, it’s worth noting that it’s one of the Google courses that offers free certification. So it’s perfect for anyone who wants to add knowledge to their resume and have a more attractive profile for companies.
AI Elements
This course was created by the University of Helsinki and Reaktor, aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about Artificial Intelligence. In this sense, no prior knowledge of math or programming is required.
This 30-hour beginner-level program is designed to help students understand what’s possible—and not possible—with AI. It provides the basic concepts needed to discuss related technologies and some nuances about what this means for our lives.
Without a doubt, it’s one of the Google courses that, despite being basic, offers a broad overview. More than necessary for the times we live in, since everything suggests this field will keep advancing, and in the near future we’ll have everyday solutions that use Artificial Intelligence.
AI still seems like a very distant technology. However, today we already find tools based on it. One example is ChatGPT.
Machine Learning Basics
Machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence that gives technology the ability to learn. What it does is collect data, identify patterns, and adjust programmed actions based on them.
This Google course shows how machine learning can contribute to business growth. It also explains exactly what this technology is, how it works, and how we can use it to our advantage.
Digital Marketing Fundamentals
This other course is accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). It’s a basic-level course, but it provides the knowledge needed for students to get started in this field. And, above all, know how to attract customers online for their business.
So whether you want to dive deeper into the topic or hire expert staff, you’ll know what kind of actions will be carried out and their impact.
It’s a course with 26 modules, practical exercises, and real examples that help you better absorb the concepts you learn.
Notable modules include, for example, one dedicated to SEO, another to search engine promotion, local promotion, social media promotion, content marketing, and web analytics.
Finally, it’s worth noting that it includes a free certificate. So it’s ideal for people who want to add credentials to their resume.
Shopping Ads
This is another beginner-level Google course that can help you launch your business. Are you familiar with shopping campaigns?
You’ve probably noticed that when you search for a particular product, Google shows product results with a direct link to purchase. This course shows you how to manage that kind of advertising.
These types of campaigns are very useful, since Google only shows the ads to the right customer, making them an excellent way to boost a business. It works for local businesses as well as others, and also helps drive traffic to your website.
Google Ads Video
There’s no doubt that, nowadays, video is one of the most appealing formats for internet users. That’s why it’s often used both as organic content and to launch ad campaigns.
In this course, you’ll learn the most basic concepts about formats, creatives, and audiences for working with video in Google Ads.
It will help you learn how to capture your audience’s attention and be more creative in your business to catch the eye of your ideal customer.
You’ll also understand why YouTube is a practical and effective tool for advertisers to gain visibility and generate profitable conversions.
Mobile App Development Course
Just like video, mobile has become key to any marketing or promotion plan for a business, since it’s the device we use most during the day. That’s why every strategy should take it into account, and even make it the main focus.
In that sense, this is one of the most in-demand Google courses. It was created by Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is taught by active professionals in the field. It has 8 modules and lasts 40 hours.
If you decide to enroll, you’ll learn key skills and concepts for developing apps for mobile devices. It covers the essential principles for approaching both design and programming from the start.
Introduction to Web Development Course (HTML and CSS)
Among the free Google courses, you’ll find one dedicated to web development with HTML and CSS. This course is divided into two parts:
● Both were designed by Universidad de Alicante with the goal of teaching users to create their own web pages. And they introduce you to professional web design.
● However, the first one covers concepts about building websites using HTML5.
● The second focuses on the CSS language, giving you a complete view of the process.
● Both part 1 and part 2 offer free certification that students can add to their resume.
Google Ads Search Network Courses
Finally, I want to mention another free Google course that you should consider if you have a business. This is the course that teaches you the essential aspects of advertising campaigns in Google Ads.
Through its 9 modules, you’ll learn how to create and customize this type of campaign. This way, you’ll be able to show your ads to the consumers you really want to attract.
The course covers a series of best practices for working with keywords, developing bidding strategies, improving campaign performance, and achieving your goals.
With these kinds of actions, you’ll get customers to your business faster. Google campaigns, when well executed, deliver profitable results.
As you can see, there are Google courses covering a wide range of topics. A good idea would be to design your own training plan based on your interests or needs.
So now you know—I encourage you to check out the catalog and make a list of the ones to start with! That said, if any topic is especially relevant to you, it’s best to look for more advanced training to keep learning.
Either way, I hope this article about free Google courses helps you get started and boost your professional skills.
Besides these courses, you can use free tools to analyze your competitors’ web traffic and apply what you’ve learned to your digital marketing.
