Keen to hone your skills on Facebook, Google, Canva and more? Make use of these free online learning resources.
Making time to learn new skills is an important part of being a small business owner. While we have a wide range of low cost business skills workshops on offer at the SBDC, you can also take advantage of self-paced lessons on the following platforms.
Facebook and Instagram
Facebook for Business offers free online tutorials on Meta owned platforms including Facebook and Instagram, which are very popular with small businesses and consumers alike. You can do the self-paced, step by step tutorials at any time on their website.
While the tutorials start with general introductions to using Facebook platforms, many of the lessons are about using their advertising resources correctly.
The Facebook tutorials include learning how to set up a Facebook page for your business, creating targeted Facebook ads, using Facebook stories and measuring the effectiveness of your campaigns using Ads Manager.
There are also sets of lessons, tailored to using Instagram.
The Facebook mobile studio is also worth diving into as it includes a list of resources such as apps to help you create better ads.
Digital marketing is a highly sought after learning area for business owners seeking to make their website and other online channels as effective as possible. Google Digital Garage offers free beginner level training courses covering key topics such as:
- Get a business online
- Make sure your customers find you online
- Promote a business with online advertising
- Promote a business with content
Google Digital Garage also offers free online certification in topics such as Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, which involves completing 26 tutorial modules before taking a 40 question exam. Once you pass the exam, you can download a certificate to display in your portfolio.
Grow with Google is another free learning tool available, focusing on more long form learning in areas such as digital marketing and e-commerce, AI essentials, cyber security, data analytics and more.
TikTok
Tik Tok’s Creator Academy provides free short form video tutorials and written articles to help you create content, increase your engagement and analyse the results of your social media marketing on this platform.
Topics covered include:
- Getting started on TikTok
- Tips for becoming a successful TikTok creator
- Creating better videos
Canva
Canva is a drag and drop graphic design tool that allows businesses to create social media imagery, videos, presentations and more without requiring expensive software. Canva is free, however there is also Canva Pro which offers access to an extended version of the program for a subscription.
Design School is Canva’s online learning portal, offering free tutorials in various categories including:
- Getting started
- Video editing
- Social media marketing
- Graphic design basics
- Work smarter with AI
Within these categories are video tutorials on topics including personal branding and creating presentations. Some of the courses include templates that you can use within the Canva portal.
Other resources
While these online learning resources have the benefit of being available around the clock to complete in your own time, you may prefer a more interactive learning style. See our range of low cost, interactive sales and marketing workshops delivered by skilled presenters.
