Online Educational Resources

By Kelly Weeler on 2009/01/09

One of the most exciting things about working in online marketing is that the field is ever changing and evolving. Exciting new innovations and strategies mean that no marketing campaign ever has to be the same and exciting new challenges are always presenting themselves. The flip side of this is that those who work in the field need to be well-versed in its basic principals as well as on top of all of the new opportunities that are constantly arising. This means that an online education does not end with a diploma or a graduation, but is rather an ongoing and continual process. Luckily, the same freedom that makes the online world such an incredible marketing arena, also ensures that there is a plethora of educational resources available to help you find out everything you need to know.

Paid-For Online Educational Resources

Many online educational resources still require a small fee from you, but are often worth the extra-spend as the skills learnt can make a massive difference to any online venture that you are looking to explore.

The eMarketing Association

The eMarketing Association (eMA) is the world's largest organisation of people interested in online marketing and offers comprehensive courses on every aspect of the industry. The eMA's online courses can be completed in your own time and offer a final certification that is recognised world-wide and showcases your commitment to ethical online marketing. With over 3000 members, this association is also a great networking opportunity for new online marketers and one of its courses is an invaluable addition to any CV.

A More Structured Approach

Many people struggle to study at home and teach themselves and would rather learn about online marketing in a more structured classroom scenario. There are many courses offered online that are ideal for this purpose. Many respected schools offer structured and well-rounded online marketing courses to suit any and all needs. The University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business is one option that offers a certification course that adds weight to your CV as well as your knowledge base.

eMarketing Over Breakfast

If you are wary of studying alone, but don't quite have the time for weekly classes, there are also many other options. The Internet is an innovative space and accordingly, so are many of its educational resources. The South African based eMarketing over Breakfast series, brought to you by Quirk, teaches you everything you need to know about online marketing in a relaxed and casual environment. Once a month you meet for breakfast and learn a significant amount - all before 11am. What's so great about these courses is that they are updated regularly to include the latest innovations in the industry, meaning you are truly learning what you need to know right now.

Free Online Educational Resources

One of the great things about the Internet is that it has challenged the traditional notions of copyright and more and more institutions are recognising the value of making their own knowledge and resources freely available for all to use and learn from. Skilled people are desperately needed in most South African fields and free online educational resources are one way that the process of enriching our own workforce can be significantly sped up.

Free Online Courses

One of the best things about online courses is that many of them can be completed in your own time and in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a little bit of bandwidth and patience and perseverance. Many of these courses offer weekly PowerPoint lessons as well as tests to consolidate your knowledge and a certificate to prove your newly acquired knowledge. Many of these courses also offer practical advice on getting your own website up and running efficiently, which can be invaluable in the modern climate where everyone and everything should be represented online.

Free Online Textbook Resources

Many people want something a little more tangible when learning about something as new as eMarketing and, as much as we think we are out of "school mode", a textbook is often just what we need. Quirk eMarketing has recently launched the answer to this need. eMarketing: an essential guide to online marketing edition two is an excellent resource that covers everything you need to know about the industry as well as all the latest and greatest developments. As the most up-to-date online educational resource available, this textbook is a great way to learn and refer back to whenever you need a little reminder. As part of the company's commitment to open education and helping South Africa gain a footing in the world's online marketing arena, the textbook is also available for free download under the Creative Commons licensing system.

Stay Up-To-Date

Once you have the basics of eMarketing down, the next challenge is to stay up to date with all the new and exciting developments as they unfold. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to do this is to subscribe to newsletters or follow a good eMarketing blog. Many companies have such a space that is not only about self-promotion but is a place to offer advice, insight and commentary on the latest industry news. Following such, a blog will not only keep you up-to-date, but also offer you unique insight into new developments and controversies. Such discussion areas should not be written off as a company's own sales area, but rather viewed as one of the most important online educational resources available.