It’s possible to become a blogger by creating a WordPress account and writing about your life. But if you want to become a successful blogger, you’ll find there’s actually a lot more to the craft. From writing to graphic design and monetisation, blogging is a multifaceted hobby.
When it comes to beginner’s online blogging courses free is often the way to go. You won’t want to shell out too much cash when you’re starting out. So it’s important that the courses you choose add real value to your skillset. Paying more doesn’t mean better quality, but with hundreds of free courses, you need to be selective.
Below are some brilliant blogging courses you can access without paying a penny.
5 types of online blogging courses free to access
1. Comprehensive blogging courses
The Blog Plan is ideal for those who are at the very beginning of their journey. Taking you through every step from choosing your topic to making money, you’ll be right on schedule to making your blog a success. This course helps you stay organised too, with a printable planner that you can fill in across the twelve-month growth period.
However, this course is only effective if you turn up to do the work every day. Many people struggle with productivity, so if that’s you too, it might be worth getting a little help with time management.
If your goal is to make a living from your blog, then Build a Profitable Blog could be right up your street. It covers not only how to engage your readers but also offers tips on how to eventually secure income from your hard work. Dispelling myths about what it takes to make it, Mariah guides you through the whole process like a pro.
2. Graphic design courses for bloggers
Blogging isn’t just about writing, though it is a good place to start. When you’re a blogger, you’ll have to consider your logo, newsletter and social media presence, so having a basic knowledge of design is essential. This Graphic Design for Beginners course teaches even the most clueless how to create an aesthetically pleasing layout. Covering principles such as colour psychology, typography, contrast and inserting images, you’ll have all the necessary tools to create a web presence.
Once you’ve got to grips with what looks good, it’s time to find a graphic design programme that suits you. Canva and Mailchimp are easy places to start, but if you want to take your skills to the next level, consider learning how to use Adobe Illustrator. If you need to find royalty-free images, then sites like Unsplash and Pixabay have a high-quality selection.
3. Essential writing courses
Even if you’re already a good writer, you might not know how to translate those skills into blogging. This Snackable Writing Course will teach you how to be more persuasive with your words in simple, bite-sized steps. You’ll never be overwhelmed by information and can take it at your own pace.
To learn more about creating blog posts, SEO and the best formatting tricks, take a look at Writing Revolt’s free course. Here you’ll begin to understand why some blog posts perform better than others and how you can tap into that viral content magic.
If you feel like you need some more experience before you begin a blog of your own, sites like Copify can offer you that extra bit of experience. Choose to write blog posts on a whole range of topics and build your skills in your specialist area or discover a new niche you love.
4. Traffic and marketing courses
Even if your content is amazing, if nobody knows it exists, your blog isn’t going to do very well. That’s why it’s important to learn how to market your blog properly to build your blog audience.
One of the ways you can do this is through SEO and this Keyword Strategy Course will teach you how. Your blog will rank higher in search engine results and nobody will be able to tell that your content is written with anything other than your audience in mind.
Social media is another popular and free way to get your blog out there. It helps you build your unique brand and allows your audience to really feel they have a connection with you. To get to grips with the landscape, begin with a course like The Social Media Framework, which will help you to identify your goals and give you more structure. If you enjoy the course and feel like you need to learn more, Leslie offers a followup course for a fee.
For a more focused social media course, try this free Pinterest course that will drive traffic to your site even when you’re not online.
5. Courses on the technical side
Running your own blog isn’t always easy, especially if you choose to host your own website. Luckily, there are plenty of courses that walk you through using content management systems such as WordPress. This WordPress course takes you through the installation as well as helps you choose a domain and theme. You shouldn’t need to learn any coding, but HTML and CSS could come in handy and are fairly simple to use when it comes to things like headings and inserting links.
Ready to discover the world of blogging?
No matter your experience level or whether you’ve paid for courses in the past, these free online blogging courses can unlock your full potential. Whether you choose to develop your writing or learn brand-new skills like coding or graphic design, free courses will really enrich your ability to touch audiences from all over the world. So what are you waiting for? Begin your blogging journey today.
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Internal image credits: Nick Morrison, Photo Mix, Goran Ivos
Vanessa Adamko
Vanessa graduated from Lancaster University in 2018 with a BA in English Language and Literature. She is a Content Delivery Manager at Copify and enjoys writing blogs and articles. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys reading books and volunteering for causes that protect animals and the environment.