![\"Click](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/53\/046ae889-42fb-496a-9f6a-3f3c283cc4b4.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFrom blogs to templates to courses, if you\u2019re wondering how to learn social media marketing, these resources will accelerate your knowledge.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Social media marketing<\/a> is a science involving special communication skills. And the landscape changes constantly.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to develop your social media prowess and to stay up-to-date is to follow experts in the field. These blogs are always fresh with actionable information you can use to improve your marketing:<\/p>\n Since 2009, Social Media Examiner has been one of the top social media blogs in the world. The website publishes regular blog content with valuable tips and insights. The website also puts together social media reports filled with all the important data social marketers want.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>In addition to its blog, Social Media Examiner also shares a newsletter that goes out three times per week, multiple podcasts, and a YouTube channel. So no matter what learning format you prefer, Social Media Examiner makes its content accessible.<\/p>\n I regularly turn to Social Media Today to find out the latest news in the social media industry. This website is the most news-driven resource on this list, regularly sharing stories about platform updates, trends, or industry changes.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>Staying on top of platform news and updates.<\/p>\n You may know Sprout Social as a social media management platform, but it also produces a value-packed blog. I like Sprout Social\u2019s blog for its data-driven content that focuses on high-level strategy. Sprout Social also produces value-packed reports on the social media landscape with insights that social media managers can use to refine their strategies.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>Social media strategists, teams, and agencies that want to learn how to improve strategy, set up better workflows, and communicate social performance with shareholders.<\/p>\n Right here on the HubSpot Marketing Blog, you can find actionable how-to guides on every social network there is. The HubSpot Marketing Blog team covers everything from best practices and strategies for different social channels to post ideas to real-life experiments and examples. Before I even wrote for HubSpot, I personally turned to the Marketing Blog throughout my career when I wanted to learn about a new social media topic.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>In addition to helpful blog content, HubSpot offers countless free templates, ebooks, and even courses so you can put your learnings into action right away.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know about you, but using templates is the easiest way for me to learn a new skill. Templates are hands-on while still guiding you through a new process. Here are a few templates I recommend using as you\u2019re learning social media marketing.<\/p>\n Before you load your social media content into a publishing tool (HubSpot has one<\/a>, when you\u2018re ready for it), you\u2019ll want to organize it all in an offline calendar. This free template allows you to sort your social media content in a spreadsheet that’s designed to help you track the day, time, and social media channel on which everything you create is being promoted.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>I recommend using this template along with HubSpot\u2019s scheduling tool for a seamless publishing process.<\/p>\n An unexpected part of social media marketing is managing a budget. This social media campaign template helps you track your campaign budget to make sure it aligns with your monthly and annual marketing budgets.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>As someone who doesn\u2019t have a ton of experience managing campaign budgets, I like that this template is beginner-friendly.<\/p>\n Once you’ve organized your social media calendar into a spreadsheet, you might also want to load this content into a project management platform so you can visually plan your content. Airtable is one such platform to help you do that, and this free template makes it easy to get started.<\/p>\n It’s well-known that visuals get more engagement on social media than just text. Get your designs off on the right foot with this collection of social media image templates. There are over 50 templates included for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>I like that the templates are in Google Slides which makes them easy to edit and customize, even without graphic design experience.<\/p>\n Instagram is the most image-focused social channel out there, and because of that, not just any image will reach your audience. To cut through the crowds, use this collection of Instagram templates to create brand-aligned posts that resonate with your audience.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>The package includes templates for stories and posts.<\/p>\n Want to dive deeper into a social media best practice or strategy? These ebooks will provide expert insights on specific channels and topics.<\/p>\n This step-by-step guide explains the reasons to create a business Instagram account and how to execute on Instagram to drive results. Instagram expert Jenn Herman shares her tips for leveraging algorithms, mastering hashtag best practices, and developing an effective Instagram Reels strategy.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>Marketers or businesses who want to take their Instagram presence to the next level.<\/p>\n Whether you have a company page on LinkedIn or you\u2019re creating thought leadership content, this guide offers step-by-step optimization techniques for visibility, strategies to build an engaged community, and tips for creating impactful content.<\/p>\n Best for:<\/strong> B2B marketers or business owners who want to reach their audience on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n This multi-page ebook will show you how to use Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram, to drive real business results for your organization. This helpful resource will specifically dive into advertising tips and strategies.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>If you\u2019re new to social media advertising, this ebook is a beginner-friendly place to start.<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve downloaded the ebook above, grab this one next. Creating attention-grabbing ads is one of the trickiest parts about Facebook advertising. This ebook highlights 50 effective Facebook ad examples across 17 industries to use as inspiration.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>If you\u2019re a visual learner like me, you\u2019ll appreciate the real-life examples that you can use as a guide for your own ads.<\/p>\n YouTube is getting the most investment from marketers in 2025<\/a>. If you want to keep up with the current state of social video marketing, YouTube is essential. This comprehensive ebook breaks down proven strategies to boost brand awareness, generate engagement, and drive growth through YouTube video content.<\/p>\n What I like:<\/strong> Each social channel has a different algorithm, so I appreciate how this ebook breaks down how to optimize your content for YouTube\u2019s.<\/p>\n Similar to ebooks, courses are a great way to dive deeper into social media marketing topics. Courses are usually self-paced and include quizzes so you can test your knowledge.<\/p>\n This free course in the HubSpot Academy<\/a> will teach you how to build a successful marketing strategy. If you\u2019re interested in learning how to create more engaging content, nurture your community, and use Meta ads to grow your business, you\u2019ll find it all in this course. The course consists of 6 lessons, 18 videos, and 5 quizzes and takes less than three hours to complete.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>Social media marketers, content creators, or business owners who already have an Instagram presence and want to grow.<\/p>\n As I mentioned above, YouTube is a top marketing channel in 2025. This free course breaks down everything you need to know to grow and monetize your channel, create more engaging content, and optimize your videos for YouTube\u2019s search algorithm.<\/p>\n What I like:<\/strong> This course is taught by YouTube influencers and experts, which means you\u2019ll get insider tips and tricks.<\/p>\n Similar to the Instagram marketing course I shared above, this course can help you learn the basics of Facebook marketing and advertising in under two hours. A good Facebook strategy uses a combination of organic and paid content, and the lessons in this course help you understand how they work together.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>I recommend taking both the Instagram and Facebook marketing courses. While they are both Meta platforms, each channel is slightly different in terms of what works well.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve dipped your toes into the intro courses for each platform, I suggest taking the social media marketing certification. Having a certification is a great way to demonstrate your expertise, whether you\u2019re a marketer or a content creator. This free certification course includes 10 lessons, 38 videos, and 29 quizzes.<\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> In my experience, having a HubSpot certification displayed on your LinkedIn profile or website is a great way to establish credibility as they\u2019re recognized across the industry.<\/p>\n Videos are my second favorite medium to learn, behind books. Being able to glean from the brightest minds on any subject as if you’re face-to-face is powerful. These videos and channels will give you valuable insights and unique perspectives on how to do social media well.<\/p>\n You can’t talk about social media without talking about the speaker, author, and social expert Gary Vaynerchuk. His YouTube channel is a great source of information and inspiration for marketers, entrepreneurs, and content creators alike.<\/p>\n TED talks are famous for covering insightful topics led by industry experts, and there are plenty around social media. There may not be that much actionable advice in these videos, but if you want to become an expert on social media, these videos will give you insight into deeper subjects like \u201cthe hidden influence of social networks<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n HubSpot\u2019s Marketing channel on YouTube is full of quick, actionable tips on a range of social media topics. Whether you want to learn how to verify your LinkedIn account<\/a> or monetize your YouTube account<\/a>, you\u2019ll find easy how-to videos on this channel.<\/p>\n HubSpot Academy has a breadth of video courses across inbound and digital marketing. The free social media course includes 38 videos that teach you the fundamentals of managing a social media campaign for your business. It also earns you a fresh Social Media Certification.<\/p>\n Podcasts are a great way to learn directly from the experts. Not only are they convenient to listen to on the go, but they often have a first-person perspective on social media or interviews with those who work directly in the industry.<\/p>\n In this podcast, Michael Stelzner, from Social Media Examiner, brings you success stories and expert interviews from leading social media marketing pros.<\/p>\n What I like:<\/strong> This podcast has been published weekly since 2012, so there are tons of episodes to catch up on. It could also be interesting to listen to old episodes to see how much social media has evolved over the years.<\/p>\n This podcast is produced by the team at Convince and Convert<\/a> and is one of the longest-running marketing podcasts out there. Every episode of the Social Pros Podcast shines the light on real pros doing real work for real companies such as Google, Reddit, Uber, and more.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>While this podcast is focused on social media, it also zooms out to discuss how it overlaps with the rest of a company\u2019s marketing strategy.<\/p>\n In this podcast, HubSpot\u2019s CMO and Zapier\u2019s CMO provide an unfiltered perspective on marketing trends and growth tactics while sharing fresh ideas that any marketer can apply to their strategy.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>You can also tune into the episodes on YouTube<\/a> if you prefer video over audio.<\/p>\n With over 110 million downloads, it\u2019s safe to say The Goal Digger Podcast is one of the most popular marketing and business podcasts out there. Hosted by entrepreneur Jenna Kutcher, this podcast is a great resource to learn about marketing your business, making money online, and growing your social media following.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>I recommend listening to this podcast if you\u2019re a solopreneur or content creator.<\/p>\n Marketer Ross Simmonds delves into what makes great ideas spread and how to create things that last. One of the recurring topics is how to get the most out of your content, whether by repurposing or maximizing distribution channels. This is a must-listen if you\u2019re on a small marketing team or are a solo content creator.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>Social media is fast-paced, and trendy content is often prioritized, so I appreciate this podcast\u2019s approach when it comes to creating (and repurposing) lasting content.<\/p>\n If you’re a fan of newsletters like I am, I think you\u2019ll appreciate seeing these social media insights in your inbox.<\/p>\n From the team at Morning Brew, Marketing Brew is a weekday newsletter that covers brand strategy, social media, and advertising tech.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>I recommend this newsletter to marketers at all levels who want to stay on top of industry trends and updates.<\/p>\n From social media consultant Rachel Karten, I recommend Link in Bio for anyone who works in social media or is interested in it as a career. The newsletter shares interviews with real-life social managers behind major brands and offers insightful breakdowns of social strategies.<\/p>\n What I like: <\/strong>The newsletter features interviews and strategies from brands across industries, which is always a great way to get a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n Jack Appleby, social media, brand, and influencer consultant, shares his social strategy expertise in his newsletter, Future Social. After leading strategy for brands like Microsoft, Beats By Dre, and Verizon, he now shares case studies, theoretical strategies, and content breakdowns to help marketers and creators improve their social presence.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>Content creators or marketers who work with content creators would benefit from the insights on brand strategy.<\/p>\n Books are my favorite way to learn. Many experts agree that if you read a book a week on your area of expertise for 5 years, you will have the equivalent of a Ph.D. on the subject. That may or may not be true, but reading books from the experts definitely doesn’t make you a worse<\/em> marketer. Here are some books to get you started.<\/p>\n Written by creator economy expert, Brittany Hennessy, this book delves into exactly how to build an audience and a brand online. This book is just as valuable for beginners as it is for content creators who already have an audience, as it also covers how to secure brand deals and elevate your content.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>I recommend reading this if you\u2019re a content creator or anyone who wants to improve their thought leadership content.<\/p>\n David Meerman Scott’s book on digital marketing is an international bestseller and is worth every penny. Some argue that it should be required reading for any marketer. I can personally confirm that I read it at the beginning of my marketing career and felt it was a great resource for getting started.<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>If you\u2019re early into your marketing career or just getting started with social media marketing.<\/p>\n This book by Jonah Berger provides a strong foundation to understand how content goes viral \u2013 and how to create ideas on social media that are so catchy, your audience won’t be able to help but click them.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2018ve reviewed the top social media marketing resources, it\u2019s time to create your action plan for getting out there and actually executing your knowledge.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n You don\u2018t have to be on every platform. It\u2019s a common mistake when starting out to try to expand your reach by being everywhere. But if your target audience is on LinkedIn, creating TikTok content is likely wasted effort.<\/p>\n If you’re running short on marketing resources, identify which platform (or two) your audience is most active on and then double down on creating meaningful content and experiences on that platform. You can always expand your efforts into different platforms later.<\/p>\n Audiences watch TV to be entertained, get informed, or unwind, not to view commercials. The same is true for social media users. Chances are, if you do nothing except promote yourself, you won\u2018t get far with social media because signing into social media is not indicative that they\u2019re ready to be sold to.<\/p>\n So, how do you meet audiences on their turf in a way that earns you meaningful awareness and engagement? The 80\/20 Rule.<\/p>\n This \u201crule\u201d states that successful social media marketing means providing something for the audience 80% of the time and promoting your brand 20% of the time. If your audience is hungry for your content, they\u2018re much more willing to also accept promotional messaging as long as it\u2019s not too overwhelming or obtrusive.<\/p>\n If you begin your social media marketing efforts with no destination in mind, you may find yourself floundering. Get clear on what you need from your efforts so that you can set goals and measure your progress towards them.<\/p>\n For example, you might be using social media to increase your brand awareness, which means you\u2018d look at your posts\u2019 reach and how your audience is growing. On the other hand, if you want to drive traffic from your website, you might measure click-throughs.<\/p>\n It\u2018s important also to begin with a benchmark so that you can set realistic goals. Shooting for the moon is nice, but you\u2019ll also want to measure against achievable milestones to gauge performance and make accurate (within reason) predictions for strategic planning.<\/p>\n As you\u2019re getting started with social media marketing, you might not have a lot of content to share yet.<\/p>\n Creating content can be arduous, even if you choose just one or two platforms, so it’s important not to overtax your resources. Instead, consider ways that you can utilize, adapt, and repurpose existing content<\/a> to make your resources stretch even further.<\/p>\n Then you can decide on a publishing schedule that is appropriate for the network you’ve chosen and the resources you have for content creation.<\/p>\n Don\u2018t forget the “social” in “social media.” Social media marketing isn\u2019t about broadcasting; it’s about communicating. By interacting with your audience online, you can increase brand awareness by increasing engagement. In addition, this engagement tends to be more memorable and delightful than non-personalized interactions.<\/p>\n\n
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How to Learn Social Media Marketing: 33 Free Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Social Media Marketing Blogs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. <\/strong>Social Media Examiner<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
2. <\/strong>Social Media Today<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
3. <\/strong>Sprout Social<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
4. <\/strong>HubSpot Marketing Blog<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Templates<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5.<\/strong> Social Media Content Calendar Template<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-to-learn-social-media-marketing-2-20250506-6029442-2.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n6. <\/strong>Social Media Campaign Templates<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n7. <\/strong>Airtable’s Social Media Planning and Design Template<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-to-learn-social-media-marketing-4-20250506-5137402-2.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n8.<\/strong> Social Media Image Templates<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
9.<\/strong> Instagram Templates for Business<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-to-learn-social-media-marketing-5-20250506-9235641-2.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nSocial Media Marketing Ebooks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
10. <\/strong>How to Use Instagram for Business<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
11. <\/strong>Mastering Business Growth on LinkedIn: The Marketer’s Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
12.<\/strong> The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Meta Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
13. <\/strong>50 Facebook Ad Examples We Actually Clicked<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
14.<\/strong> The Complete Guide to YouTube for Business<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Marketing Courses<\/strong><\/h3>\n
15. <\/strong>Instagram Marketing and Ads Co<\/a><\/strong>urse<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
16. <\/strong>YouTube Marketing Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
17. <\/strong>Facebook Ads and Marketing Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
18.<\/strong> Social Media Marketing Certification<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Marketing Videos<\/strong><\/h3>\n
19. <\/strong>GaryVee<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
20. <\/strong>TED Talks: Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
21. <\/strong>HubSpot Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
22.<\/strong> Free Social Media Certification<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Podcasts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
23.<\/strong> Social Media Marketing Podcast<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
24.<\/strong> The Social Pros Podcast<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
25.<\/strong> Marketing Against the Grain<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
26. <\/strong>The Goal Digger Podcast<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
27. <\/strong>Create Like the Greats<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Newsletters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
28.<\/strong> Marketing Brew<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
29. <\/strong>Link in Bio<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
30. <\/strong>Future Social<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Social Media Marketing Books<\/strong><\/h3>\n
31. <\/strong>Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
32.<\/strong> The New Rules of Marketing and PR<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
33.<\/strong> Contagious: Why Things Catch On<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
1. Go where your customers are.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Provide value.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Set realistic and measurable goals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Maximize your existing resources.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Have conversations.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Listen to your audience.<\/strong><\/h3>\n