With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform. It’s a great place to establish your professional brand, network, find job opportunities, and more. Taking LinkedIn courses can help you maximize your LinkedIn presence and get the most out of the platform.
But with so many LinkedIn courses out there, how do you know which ones are worth your time and money? Here, we’ll go over some of the top LinkedIn course providers and courses to help you find the right educational opportunities for your goals.
Best LinkedIn Course Providers
When looking for LinkedIn courses, you’ll want to stick with reputable course providers. Here are some of the top providers offering quality LinkedIn education:
- LinkedIn Learning – LinkedIn’s own comprehensive library of courses.
- Udemy – A marketplace with LinkedIn courses from a variety of instructors.
- Coursera – Partners with top universities to offer LinkedIn specialization courses.
- edX – Another provider offering courses developed by leading universities.
- Skillshare – Features short LinkedIn classes for visual learners.
- Udacity – Specializes in nanodegree programs with a focus on tech skills.
When choosing a provider, make sure to check instructor backgrounds, student reviews, and course content. Focus on providers using experienced instructors with expertise in LinkedIn specifically.
Best LinkedIn Courses for Beginners
If you’re new to LinkedIn, consider starting with a course that covers the basics. Here are some top LinkedIn courses for beginners:
- LinkedIn Learning: Learning LinkedIn
- Udemy: LinkedIn Unlocked: Your Complete LinkedIn Masterclass
- Coursera: The LinkedIn Roadmap
- edX: LinkedIn Learning Essentials
- Skillshare: LinkedIn for Business: Networking Strategies
These courses walk you through setting up your profile, making connections, joining groups, using features like jobs and messaging, and generally getting started on the platform. They provide a solid introduction if you’re completely new to LinkedIn.
Best LinkedIn Courses for Job Seekers
If your main goal on LinkedIn is networking for job opportunities, consider courses specifically focused on the job hunt. Here are some top picks:
- LinkedIn Learning: Looking for a Job
- Udemy: Dominate LinkedIn: Master Networking & Job Search
- Coursera: Job Search Skills on LinkedIn
- edX: LinkedIn Jobs Network Success
- Skillshare: A Step-by-Step Guide to the LinkedIn Job Search
These job seeker-focused courses go beyond just setting up your profile. They’ll teach you how to optimize your profile for recruiters, build an industry-targeted network, communicate effectively, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and leverage LinkedIn’s job search and posting tools.
Best LinkedIn Courses for Business Marketing
LinkedIn also provides powerful marketing opportunities for businesses. Here are some of the top LinkedIn marketing courses:
- LinkedIn Learning: Marketing on LinkedIn
- Udemy: LinkedIn Marketing 2022: Leads, Sales and Networking
- Coursera: Social Media Marketing on LinkedIn
- edX: LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategies
- Skillshare: LinkedIn Marketing: Networking & Prospecting Strategies
These courses will teach business owners, marketers, and sales professionals how to leverage LinkedIn for lead generation, company branding, advertising, finding clients, and growing a loyal community around their brand.
Best LinkedIn Courses for Sales Professionals
LinkedIn is a prime platform for sales networking and prospecting. Recommended LinkedIn sales courses include:
- LinkedIn Learning: Sales Prospecting on LinkedIn
- Udemy: LinkedIn Sales and Business Development
- Coursera: Successful Sales & Business Development on LinkedIn
- edX: LinkedIn Sales Solutions: Prospecting & Networking
- Skillshare: The LinkedIn Sales Playbook
These sales-focused courses teach you how to identify prospects on LinkedIn, send effective outreach messages, connect with the right decision makers, convert leads into sales, and leverage LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator tool. They provide the LinkedIn best practices you need to boost sales.
Best LinkedIn Courses for Personal Branding
LinkedIn is the #1 platform for establishing your professional personal brand. Recommended personal branding courses include:
- LinkedIn Learning: Building Your Brand on LinkedIn
- Udemy: LinkedIn Personal Branding & Profile Makeover
- Coursera: LinkedIn Profile & Personal Brand Creation
- edX: LinkedIn for Professional Branding & Networking
- Skillshare: LinkedIn Profile Optimization: Stand Out with a Professional Brand
These courses will help you craft an optimized, professional profile that effectively conveys your personal brand. You’ll learn how to highlight skills, achievements, recommendations, and media as well as how to expand your network and engage with your audience.
Top Skills Covered in LinkedIn Courses
While course content varies based on the specific focus, most LinkedIn courses aim to teach skills like:
- Setting up a complete, professional profile
- Customizing your profile URL
- Writing an impactful profile summary
- Adding media to your profile
- Showcasing credentials, accomplishments, volunteer work, and publications
- Growing your network through connections and groups
- Engaging your network by liking, commenting, and sharing
- Communicating on LinkedIn using messaging and InMail
- Conducting advanced job searches and setting job alerts
- Applying to jobs and interacting with recruiters
- Prospecting leads and decision makers
- Crafting engaging outreach messages
- Following up and nurturing connections
- Converting leads into customers or clients
- Promoting your company, brand, products, or services
- Running ads and social campaigns on LinkedIn
- Analyzing your LinkedIn data and metrics
Learning these concrete LinkedIn skills can translate into real results in areas like job searching, sales, and marketing.
Most Popular LinkedIn Course Topics
While LinkedIn course topics are diverse, some of the most popular course themes include:
| Topic | Example Courses |
|---|---|
| LinkedIn Profile Creation | Profile Makeover, Profile Optimization, Personal Branding |
| Job Searching on LinkedIn | LinkedIn Job Search, Networking for Job Seekers, Resumes & Interviews |
| LinkedIn Sales Prospecting | LinkedIn Lead Generation, Sales Navigator Mastery, Outreach Strategies |
| LinkedIn Marketing | LinkedIn for Business, Social Media Marketing, LinkedIn Advertising |
| LinkedIn Networking | Growing Your Network, Relationship Building, Effective Communication |
Courses in these popular topics can help you achieve specific goals like landing a job, driving sales, or promoting a business on LinkedIn.
Most Affordable LinkedIn Courses
While investing in education is generally wise, not everyone has an extensive professional development budget. Here are some of the most affordable and cost-effective LinkedIn course options:
- LinkedIn Learning: Subscription plans start around $20/month for access to all courses.
- Udemy: Courses frequently on sale for ~$10-15 per course.
- Coursera: Specializations may be completed for free, paid certification optional.
- edX: Many courses are completely free with optional paid certificates.
- Skillshare: Low monthly membership fee gives access to all classes.
- YouTube: Plenty of free LinkedIn video tutorials from a range of creators.
With frequent sales and special offers, you can often find quality LinkedIn courses for under $20. Low monthly subscriptions provide additional affordable options for unlimited access.
Top Instructors for LinkedIn Courses
While the course provider is important, the instructor makes a huge impact on your learning experience. Here are some of the top instructors to look for when selecting LinkedIn courses:
- LLinkedIn Learning instructors: Curt Frye, Paul Hebert, Brenda Gates, Ray Villalobos
- Udemy instructors: Chris Haroun, Reid Hoffman, Ryan Stewart, Kyle Pew
- Coursera instructors: Ryan Kreuzberger, Emily Li, Paroma Choudhury
- edX instructors: Dan Brown, Sanjay Sarma, Gabriel Dalporto
- Skillshare instructors: Chris Lee, Rukmini Giridharan, Chris J. Davis
These experienced instructors are LinkedIn experts with proven teaching skills. Seeking out courses from these instructors can help ensure you have an engaging and educational experience.
Most Comprehensive LinkedIn Course Bundles
For a complete education, consider bundled courses or Specializations that include multiple LinkedIn classes. Here are some of the most comprehensive bundles currently available:
- LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning paths like Become a LinkedIn Power User
- Udemy: LinkedIn Marketing 2022: Leads, Sales & Networking Bundle
- Coursera: Excel Skills for Business Specialization (includes popular LinkedIn course)
- edX: Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (covers LinkedIn)
- Skillshare: LinkedIn Portfolio of courses like LinkedIn Makeover Bundle
These bundles provide end-to-end LinkedIn education by combining courses that complement one another and cover all aspects of the platform. They allow you to truly master LinkedIn.
Conclusion
With a wide range of course providers, topics, instructors, and delivery formats, there are abundant educational opportunities to help you get the most from LinkedIn.
To choose the best LinkedIn courses for your needs:
- Consider your goals – job hunting, sales, branding etc.
- Pick reputable course providers like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera.
- Read instructor profiles and student reviews.
- Select affordable courses or bundles within your budget.
- Look for the most comprehensive training for complete mastery.
Investing in a quality LinkedIn course tailored to your objectives can provide a wealth of specialized knowledge to boost your professional success on the platform.