Best Blogging Education to Invest In
Congratulations on becoming a blogger! Ready to take your website to the next level? Read on for my recommendations for the best blogging education courses to take in 2021.
Blogging is such a fun and creative world, and one that holds so much opportunity when it comes to generating real income. However, it can also feel a little bit overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out HOW to learn all the different pieces of blogging, content creation and creating a real business.
My #1 recommendation after learning how to set up and launch your blog is to invest in blogging education from people who truly know what they’re talking about. (And if you haven’t launched your blog yet, you can take my free course that covers all of the basics by clicking here!)
With all of the courses and different types of blogging education out there, how do you know which course is the right one for you? The smartest thing you can do is take advice from someone who has actually made their blog into a business, which is why I’m here to help.
My Story & What Makes Me an Expert
I started my blog in 2018 as a completely hobby and creative outlet, and quickly fell in love with connecting with other moms around the world. When the pandemic hit, I knew that there was a real chance that my husband and I could both lose our jobs. I also knew that there was real potential with my little “hobby blog” to create a real income, especially with experience running a nonprofit organization.
I threw myself into education and less than 6 months later I had grow Mimosas & Motherhood into a sustainable income that was on average bringing in more each month in revenue than my husband and my job… COMBINED.
I have been in your shoes, and not very long ago (and if you’re curious, you can learn more about my story here)! I know how stressful it can feel investing in a bad recommendation, which unfortunately happens frequently when it comes to Facebook groups. Many, many people are sharing links in those groups just because they receive an affiliate commission from sales, and not because they’ve actually taken the course they recommend!
That’s the biggest reason why I started creating my own courses, like my free blogging crash course: because I got very badly burned by a popular blogging course that was very expensive and I walked away not really learning anything. I was so frustrated and didn’t want anyone else to end up in that situation, too.
Every single course that I am sharing on this list is either a course that I have personally taken and highly recommend, or is a course that was created by an expert who I hold in high regard and trust.
Looking specifically for blogging resources, like recommendations for plug-in’s and themes? Check out Best Blogging Resources for Beginning Bloggers (it will open in a separate window so you won’t lose your place here)!
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.
Do you even need to buy blogging courses?
There is so much information out there these days about blogging and content creation. It’s easy to feel like you can find everything you need to know for free with a quick Google search.
So why do you even need to invest in purchasing blogging courses? Let’s put it this way: if you were to start any other business, you would invest in learning how to run the business and be successful. Whether it’s learning from an expert in another field or taking college courses to become certified in a certain area, investing in your education helps set you up for success.
When you invest in blogging education from reputable sources, your potential to be successful with your own blog skyrockets. Last year I invested in a very affordable Pinterest course (which I’m sharing below) as my first toe in the water after that disaster with the expensive course I referenced above. I was so nervous about spending any more money that I researched this blogger and her course for WEEKS before pulling the trigger… and I’m so glad I did. Within just a month, my Pinterest traffic had exploded, and this set me on the path to investing in education from other amazing experts.
Which courses are the best for blogging?
One of the biggest pieces of finding the right blogging course for you is being sure you choose something that makes sense for where you are right now in your blogging journey.
If you are just starting out, it might not make sense to invest in a blogging course about creating printables to sell on your website. On the flip side, if you are crushing it at Pinterest, it doesn’t make sense for you to invest in a Pinterest course for beginners!
What should you keep in mind before buying a blogging course?
All courses are not created equal. We also sadly live in a “fake it ‘til you make it” world, which if you know me in real life is one of my biggest pet peeves. It’s increasingly easy for people to pretend to be experts, which can result in making an investment in a course that doesn’t deliver.
To help you make smart choices, there are a few things that I recommend you keep in mind before purchasing any course.
First, research the course creator! You want to be sure that they are truthful and truly an expert in whatever topic they are teaching. How long have they been blogging, and do they have proof to back up their claims? Be mindful of individuals who are secretive in their disclosures, or claim to be an expert but have had a blog for only a handful of months.
Next, be sure that they way the content is presented is in a way that you can learn. If you struggle with reading, an eBook might not be the best choice for you. On the flip side, if you hate sitting and watching videos, don’t purchase a course that is primarily segmented into video modules!
Finally, be ready to actually put in the work. It doesn’t matter how amazing a course is if YOU aren’t willing to put in the real work to transform your blog!
Change takes effort, and you have to be willing to commit to implementing the ideas, tips and techniques to see real results.
Top Recommended Blogging Education Courses
Every single course that I am sharing on this list is either a course that I have personally taken and highly recommend, or is a course that was created by an expert who I hold in high regard and trust.
Below are courses that I recommend for beginning through intermediate bloggers.
Best Course for Starting a Blog: Blogging Crash Course
Just getting started? There is so much to learn, and literally tens of thousands of articles and courses out there on starting a blog. BUT, they are far from equal.
It’s increasingly common for people who are just starting out as bloggers themselves to write a blog post or launch a course on starting a blog because they know they can make affiliate income through it. The truth is that many of these people have honestly no clue what they’re talking about.
After being burned myself by a pricey course that it turned out was only popular because of the affiliate commissions they paid out, I actually created my own 100% FREE blogging crash course instead. It covers all of the basics with choosing a domain name, hosting provider and the actual set up of your blog!
Cost: FREE!
Creator: Siobhan Alvarez
Learn More about My Free Blogging Crash Course Here
Best Course for WordPress Basics: Understanding WordPress
Have your site set up but are confused when it comes to WordPress? Grayson Bell has a great FREE course that walks you through the ins and outs of how to actually use the platform.
From adding a theme and plugins to the technical side of writing posts, this is a great one!
Cost: Free
Creator: Grayson Bell
Learn More About Understanding WordPress Here
SEO Basics on a Budget: Easy On-Page SEO
I’ve taken multiple SEO courses, and love this option for those of you who know nothing about SEO and are on a smaller budget.
If you are looking to learn the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) and are on a budget, Debbie Gartner’s eBooks are fantastic. Her Easy On-Page SEO eBook makes it easy to understand what exactly SEO is and how to make sure your website and actual content are set up to rank and be found through search engines like Google.
Don’t wait to learn SEO! This is the biggest thing I wish I would have invested right from the start. By learning how to optimize your website and posts, you’re setting yourself up for traffic success and the opportunity to generate even more income with your blog.
Cost: $57
Creator: Debbie Gartner
Learn More about Easy On-Page SEO Here
Best SEO Course Overall: Stupid Simple SEO
If you are looking for a robust, extensive and incredibly informative SEO course, Stupid Simple SEO is exactly what you need. Not only does it cover the very basics of SEO, but it also gives you hands on training to find keywords, analyze your competition to find opportunities for your site to rank.
This course is incredible and in my opinion is one of the most valuable you can invest in. I took it at the beginning of 2021 after first taking his free masterclass, and not only learned an incredible amount, but saw huge increases in my website traffic quickly.
Mike Pearson teaches you how to do keyword and website analysis in a way that is easily digestible and simple to understand for even the least technical person. He shows you how to find keywords and phrases you can rank for, and even how to beat out bigger websites!
You also get access to a private Facebook group where he shares a ton of incredible valuable information and new trainings regularly, too.
This course is geared towards those who have already launched your website, and is great for beginning to advanced bloggers. I put this course off for months because the price scared me, but WOW is it worth so much more!
He also has a FREE masterclass you can take right now by clicking here that will help you kickstart your own SEO journey, so you can get those posts to rank to increase your traffic and income.
Cost: $497
Creator: Mike Pearson
Learn More About Stupid Simple SEO Here
Budget SEO for Established Bloggers- Easy SEO Revamp
Have you been blogging for a while, but you’re not happy with the amount of traffic your website is seeing from Google? Are you on a budget and not ready to invest in Stupid Simple SEO? This affordable eBook by Debbie Gartner helps you dig into your posts to understand why you aren’t seeing the traffic you want, and how you can fix it.
Easy SEO Revamp walks you through how to review your articles in Google Search Console and how to determine which keyword opportunities might be available, including ones you didn’t even realize existed. Once you know what Google sees when crawling your website, it is easier to update your content and improve your chances of ranking, which translates into more traffic to your page.
This eBook is geared towards intermediate to advanced bloggers.
Cost: $127
Creator: Debbie Gartner
Learn More about Easy SEO Revamp Here
Best Affiliate Marketing Course: Simply Affiliate Marketing
One of the simplest ways to make money through blogging and content creation is to use affiliate marketing. In a nutshell, you put a special tracking link on your site, and if your website visitors click on it and purchase a product, you make a commission!
However, affiliate marketing is about more than just becoming an affiliate for a product, service or business and adding links to your site. In order to be successful, you really need to know HOW to write content that converts, and place links in a way that encourages visitors to click and purchase.
Simply Affiliate Marketing covers all of this and more! You’ll learn all the legal requirements surrounding this type of marketing, how to find the best partner networks and affiliate opportunities for your niche, ways to write content that will get clicks and convert into sales, as well as access to a curated list of 150+ of the highest paying affiliate programs out there!
Cost: $87
Creator: Siobhan Alvarez
Learn More about Simply Affiliate Marketing Here
Mastering Pinterest: Pinterest Strategies
Pinteresting Strategies was the course I researched like crazy before investing in, and it completely transformed my blog traffic. Created by Carly Campbell, this course has helped nearly 10,000 bloggers grow their Pinterest traffic in every niche you can imagine.
Carly uses Pinterest to get more than 100,000 views every single month on her blog! Carly breaks down for you the basics on how Pinterest actually works and how to create beautiful pins that convert to saves, clicks and consistent traffic. The strategies she uses in this book help her get between 10,000-30,000 views every single day, just from Pinterest traffic alone!
Pinteresting Strategies opened my eyes to the possibilities with my blog, and set me on the course to create the business I have now. I took her course at the end of March 2020, and as you can see from the screenshot below almost immediately I saw significant results!!
I went from getting maybe 50-100 views a month from Pinterest to literally THOUSANDS of views coming to my blog just from Pinterest. I’m not kidding when I say this course was transformational. This Pinterest course is a total game-changer for every single blogger I know who has taken it!
Cost: $97
Creator: Carly Campbell
Learn More about Pinteresting Strategies Here
Best Course on Paid Partnerships and Sponsored Posts- Simply Partnerships
Another big way that bloggers and content creators make money is through paid partnerships and sponsored posts. They can be an incredible way to make a lot of money as a creator, but only if you know what you’re doing! That’s where a course like Simply Partnerships comes in, to show you step by step everything you need to know to land great paying paid partnerships.
Before growing Mimosas & Motherhood into a highly-trafficked blog, most of my reach was through my Instagram account. I started growing my followers organically when pregnant with my oldest child, and from there learned how to pitch myself for collaborations with brands.
I’ve worked with nearly 100 brands of all different sizes, both local businesses and large national brands, and generate a substantial amount of our business income through paid partnerships. In Simply Partnerships, I teach you how to pitch yourself and negotiate your rate, the mandatory legal requirements and disclosures you need to know about, how to set yourself apart from your competitors, and even include pitch templates that you can use and tweak for your own partnerships!
Cost: $67
Creator: Siobhan Alvarez
Learn More about Simply Partnerships Here
The Right Blogging Education for Beginning and Intermediate Bloggers Makes a BIG Difference
I hope this list of blogging education is helpful for you as you decide what to invest in with your own blogging business. No matter what course you decide to take, investing in your business education is one of the most valuable things you can do.
I’m cheering you on as you grow your business! If you need extra support, come join us in She Shines Blogging Collective! She Shines Blogging Collective is a community for bloggers and content creators of all levels who want to grow together, learn together and support each other.
