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Search Engine Marketing Courses Online

Study search engine marketing (SEM) for digital advertising. Learn to create, manage, and optimize paid search campaigns.

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Explore the Search Engine Marketing Course Catalog

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Google Ads for Beginners

    Skills you'll gain: Google Ads, Keyword Research, Target Audience, Pay Per Click Advertising, Search Engine Marketing, Advertising Campaigns, Campaign Management, Online Advertising, Digital Advertising, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Return On Investment

    4.4
    Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
    ·
    5.8K reviews

    Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    Status: AI skills
    AI skills
    G

    Google

    Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

    Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Media Planning, Social Media Marketing, Google Ads, Email Marketing, Social Media Strategy, Order Fulfillment, Social Media Management, Search Engine Optimization, Performance Measurement, Spreadsheet Software, A/B Testing, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Campaign Management, Loyalty Programs, Customer Retention, Marketing, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development

    Build toward a degree

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    45K reviews

    Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    G

    Google

    Google Digital Customer Engagement

    Skills you'll gain: Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Point of Sale, Social Media, Brand Loyalty, Customer Retention, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Engagement, Shipping and Receiving, Customer Analysis, E-Commerce, Relationship Building, Marketing Planning, Digital Marketing, Content Creation, User Feedback, Process Optimization, Content Strategy, Business Marketing, Contextual Advertising

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    S

    Simplilearn

    Search Engine Marketing

    Skills you'll gain: Search Engine Marketing, Google Ads, Online Advertising, Search Engine Optimization, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Advertising, Paid media, Campaign Management, Marketing Automation, Advertising Campaigns, Google Analytics, Advertising, Keyword Research, Target Audience, Bidding

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    Skills you'll gain: Keyword Research, Search Engine Optimization, Persona Development, Search Engine Marketing, Content Creation, Social Media Strategy, Web Analytics and SEO, Target Audience, Social Media, Content Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Competitive Analysis, Google Analytics, Data Analysis, Digital Media Strategy, Analytics, Forecasting, Content Development and Management, Content Performance Analysis, Content Marketing

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    13K reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    IBM

    Search Engine Optimization and Content Marketing

    Skills you'll gain: Web Analytics and SEO, Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, Web Analytics, Blogs, Search Engine Marketing, Content Creation, MarTech, Marketing Strategy and Techniques, Digital Marketing, Growth Strategies, Content Strategy, Market Research

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    15 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    G

    Google

    Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce

    Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Performance Measurement, Search Engine Marketing, Content Performance Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Search Engine Optimization, Branding, Business Metrics, Marketing Strategy and Techniques, Digital Marketing, Customer Engagement, Customer experience strategy (CX), Marketing, E-Commerce, Email Marketing, Brand Awareness, Marketing Analytics, Target Audience, Social Media Marketing, Goal Setting

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    30K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with Squarespace

    Skills you'll gain: Blogs, Content Management Systems, Search Engine Optimization, Web Analytics and SEO, Keyword Research, Web Content

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    1.2K reviews

    Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Create a Google Ads Search Campaign

    Skills you'll gain: Google Ads, Online Advertising, Search Engine Marketing, Campaign Management, Keyword Research, Advertising Campaigns, Advertising, Pay Per Click Advertising, Digital Advertising, Marketing, Bidding, Digital Marketing, Budget Management, Marketing Strategies

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    716 reviews

    Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    I

    Illinois Tech

    Digital Marketing

    Skills you'll gain: Pay Per Click Advertising, Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Email Marketing, Paid media, Digital Advertising, Google Ads, Social Media Campaigns, Marketing Strategies, Online Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Google Analytics, Web Analytics and SEO, Web Design and Development, Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Campaign Management, Search Engine Marketing

    Build toward a degree

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    56 reviews

    Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    C

    Coursera Instructor Network

    GenAI for Digital Marketing Specialists

    Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Marketing Analytics, Data Ethics, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Content Marketing, Brand Marketing, Responsible AI, Brand Management, Prompt Engineering, Analytics, AI Personalization, Data Analysis

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    41 reviews

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Preview
    Preview
    I

    Illinois Tech

    Social Media Marketing Analytics

    Skills you'll gain: Paid media, Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Marketing Effectiveness, Marketing Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Earned Media, Digital Advertising, Media Planning, Social Media, Google Analytics, Analytics, Performance Measurement, Instagram, Email Marketing, Marketing, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Customer Data Management, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular search engine marketing courses

  • Google Ads for Beginners: Coursera Project Network
  • Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce: Google
  • Google Digital Customer Engagement: Google
  • Search Engine Marketing: Simplilearn
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): University of California, Davis
  • Search Engine Optimization and Content Marketing: IBM
  • Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce: Google
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with Squarespace : Coursera Project Network
  • Create a Google Ads Search Campaign: Coursera Project Network
  • Digital Marketing: Illinois Tech

Frequently Asked Questions about Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) refers to the practice of utilizing paid advertisements that appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) to promote and enhance online visibility for a website. This form of marketing allows businesses to increase their online presence, drive traffic to their websites, and attract potential customers.

SEM involves creating and optimizing search engine advertisements through platforms like Google Ads, Bing Ads, or Yahoo Gemini. These advertisements usually appear above or below the organic search results when users search for specific keywords or phrases related to the business or product offerings.

By bidding on relevant keywords, businesses can display targeted advertisements to a specific audience. When a user clicks on the ad, the advertiser pays a specific amount, hence the term ""pay-per-click"" (PPC) advertising.

SEM is often used synonymously with PPC marketing, as the majority of search engine advertisements are pay-per-click ads. However, SEM is a broader term that encompasses all activities involved in promoting a website through search engines, including both paid and organic methods.

Organic methods, also known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), involve optimizing a website's content, structure, and other factors to improve its visibility on search engine results pages without paying for advertisements. On the other hand, SEM specifically focuses on paid advertising to drive traffic and conversions.

Overall, Search Engine Marketing is a powerful tool for businesses and individuals looking to increase their online visibility, attract targeted traffic, and achieve their marketing goals.‎

To excel in Search Engine Marketing (SEM), there are several skills that you should focus on learning:

  1. Keyword Research: Master the art of finding relevant keywords and understand their search volumes and competition levels.

  2. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Learn how to create and manage effective PPC campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising.

  3. Ad Copywriting: Develop the skill of crafting compelling and persuasive ad copy to maximize clicks and conversions.

  4. Landing Page Optimization: Understand how to design and optimize landing pages to enhance user experience and boost conversion rates.

  5. Analytics and Data Analysis: Familiarize yourself with tools like Google Analytics to track campaign performance, measure key metrics, and derive actionable insights.

  6. A/B Testing: Learn how to conduct A/B tests to experiment with different ad variations, landing pages, and strategies to improve campaign performance.

  7. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Gain knowledge of basic SEO principles to understand how paid and organic search work together in driving traffic.

  8. Bid Management: Acquire skills in setting, adjusting, and optimizing bids to ensure cost-effectiveness and maximize ROI.

  9. Competitor Analysis: Learn how to analyze and benchmark against competitors’ strategies to gain a competitive edge.

  10. Stay Updated: SEM is continuously evolving, so make sure to stay updated with industry trends, algorithm changes, and new advertising features to stay ahead of the curve.

Remember, practicing these skills hands-on and keeping up with industry certifications like Google Ads or Microsoft Advertising can greatly enhance your SEM expertise.‎

With Search Engine Marketing (SEM) skills, you can access a range of job opportunities. Here are some potential career paths:

  1. SEM Specialist/Manager: As an SEM specialist or manager, you will strategize and execute search engine marketing campaigns, optimize paid search efforts, conduct keyword research, and analyze campaign performance. This role is typically found within marketing agencies, digital marketing teams, or large organizations.

  2. Digital Marketing Specialist: SEM skills are highly valued in the digital marketing field. Digital marketing specialists with SEM expertise can develop and implement online marketing campaigns, manage paid search channels, optimize advertisements, and track performance metrics across various digital platforms.

  3. PPC (Pay-per-Click) Manager: PPC managers focus on managing paid advertising campaigns on search engines such as Google or Bing. They conduct keyword research, create and optimize advertisements, monitor budgets and bidding strategies, and continually analyze and refine campaigns to maximize return on investment.

  4. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Specialist: While SEO and SEM are separate disciplines, having SEM skills can be advantageous for an SEO specialist. Search Engine Optimization specialists optimize websites to increase organic search visibility. Strong SEM knowledge can help in developing effective SEO strategies and enhancing website rankings.

  5. Marketing Analyst: SEM skills can be beneficial for marketing analysts who use data analytics tools to track, analyze, and report on the success of SEM campaigns. They provide insights on campaign performance, identify opportunities for optimization, and make data-driven recommendations to improve marketing efforts.

  6. Digital Advertising Manager: With SEM skills, you can pursue a career as a digital advertising manager, overseeing various online advertising initiatives. This role involves managing digital ad campaigns, collaborating with cross-functional teams, monitoring ad performance, and ensuring campaigns align with business objectives.

These are just a few examples of jobs where Search Engine Marketing skills are highly valued. The demand for professionals with expertise in SEM continues to grow as businesses increasingly recognize the importance of online advertising and maximizing their digital presence.‎

People who are analytical, detail-oriented, and have a strong interest in digital marketing are best suited for studying Search Engine Marketing. They should have a good understanding of how search engines work and be willing to continuously learn and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of online advertising. Additionally, individuals who enjoy working with data, conducting research, and have strong problem-solving skills will excel in this field.‎

There are several topics related to Search Engine Marketing (SEM) that you can study. Some of these include:

  1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): This covers the techniques and strategies used to optimize a website's visibility in search engine results pages organically.

  2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC): PPC refers to the practice of placing ads on search engine result pages and paying only when users click on them. Studying PPC will help you understand how to create effective ad campaigns and optimize them for maximum results.

  3. Keyword Research: Keyword research involves identifying the most relevant and high-performing keywords for your SEM campaigns. Proper keyword research ensures that your content and ads reach the right audience.

  4. Ad Copywriting: Writing compelling and persuasive ad copy is essential for attracting clicks and driving conversions. Studying ad copywriting will help you learn how to craft engaging ads that resonate with your target audience.

  5. Analytics and Reporting: Understanding how to measure the success of your SEM campaigns is crucial. Studying analytics and reporting will teach you how to track key metrics, evaluate campaign performance, and generate reports to make data-driven decisions.

  6. Landing Page Optimization: Landing pages play a crucial role in converting website visitors into customers. Learning about landing page optimization will help you understand how to design, structure, and test landing pages to maximize conversions.

  7. Social Media Advertising: While not directly linked to search engines, social media platforms provide powerful advertising opportunities. Studying social media advertising will broaden your SEM knowledge and allow you to leverage different channels to reach your target audience.

Remember, each of these topics is vast, and gaining practical experience and staying updated with the latest trends and tools is equally important for a comprehensive understanding of Search Engine Marketing.‎

Online Search Engine Marketing courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Search Engine Marketing (SEM) refers to the practice of utilizing paid advertisements that appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) to promote and enhance online visibility for a website. This form of marketing allows businesses to increase their online presence, drive traffic to their websites, and attract potential customers.

SEM involves creating and optimizing search engine advertisements through platforms like Google Ads, Bing Ads, or Yahoo Gemini. These advertisements usually appear above or below the organic search results when users search for specific keywords or phrases related to the business or product offerings.

By bidding on relevant keywords, businesses can display targeted advertisements to a specific audience. When a user clicks on the ad, the advertiser pays a specific amount, hence the term ""pay-per-click"" (PPC) advertising.

SEM is often used synonymously with PPC marketing, as the majority of search engine advertisements are pay-per-click ads. However, SEM is a broader term that encompasses all activities involved in promoting a website through search engines, including both paid and organic methods.

Organic methods, also known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), involve optimizing a website's content, structure, and other factors to improve its visibility on search engine results pages without paying for advertisements. On the other hand, SEM specifically focuses on paid advertising to drive traffic and conversions.

Overall, Search Engine Marketing is a powerful tool for businesses and individuals looking to increase their online visibility, attract targeted traffic, and achieve their marketing goals. skills. Choose from a wide range of Search Engine Marketing courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Search Engine Marketing, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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