Top 11 Digital Media Planner Certifications

Certifications are important for digital media planners because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that employers value. Certifications can help set a digital media planner apart from other applicants in the job market and increase their chances of getting hired. They also show that the individual has taken the initiative to further their education in the field and is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. Additionally, certifications can provide access to exclusive professional networks and resources which can be invaluable for career growth.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Digital Media Planners, and explains how they can contribute to a digital media planner's career.

What are Digital Media Planner Certifications?

Digital media planner certification is a specialized training program designed to equip marketing professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, create, and measure digital campaigns. This certification provides marketers with an in-depth understanding of the various digital channels and techniques used to reach target audiences. It also covers topics such as search engine optimization (SEO), paid media, content marketing, social media management, and analytics.

By obtaining a digital media planner certification, marketers can become more effective in their roles by understanding how to build successful digital campaigns that drive customer engagement, conversions, and ROI. They will learn how to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure success across different channels and be able to develop strategies that are tailored towards achieving specific goals. Additionally, they will gain insight into emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) that are transforming the way we interact with customers online. Finally, they will have access to exclusive resources such as industry reports, conferences, networking events, and webinars that can help them stay up-to-date on best practices in the field.

Pro Tip: Take advantage of digital media planner certification courses to stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices in digital media planning. These courses can provide you with valuable insights into how to effectively manage campaigns, create compelling content, and optimize your strategies for maximum ROI. Additionally, these certifications can give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs in the field, as employers often look for candidates with this specialized knowledge.

Related: What does a Digital Media Planner do?

Top 11 Digital Media Planner Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Digital Media Planners today.

1. Google Ads Certification

Google Ads Certification is a professional accreditation that Google offers to individuals who demonstrate proficiency in basic and advanced aspects of Google Ads. It is designed for digital marketing professionals, agency account managers, and other online marketing professionals who manage or advise on Google Ads campaigns.

The certification process consists of two exams: the Google Ads Fundamentals exam and one of the five advanced exams (Search Advertising, Display Advertising, Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising, or Mobile Advertising). Each exam consists of multiple-choice questions and requires a score of 80% or higher to pass. The exams take about 90 minutes each to complete.

To get certified you must first create a free Google Partners account. Once your account is created you can register for the exams by clicking “Certifications” in the left navigation menu. You will then be prompted to select which exam(s) you would like to take and follow the instructions provided. After passing both exams you will receive an email confirming your certification status within 24 hours.

The cost for taking each exam is $50 USD per attempt. However, if you fail an exam it may be possible to retake it at no additional cost as long as it is within 14 days of your initial attempt.

2. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification is a certification program offered by HubSpot, an inbound marketing and sales software company. It is designed to help marketers understand how to use the HubSpot platform to create effective inbound marketing campaigns. The certification covers topics such as content creation, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, lead generation, and analytics.

The certification program consists of four online courses that can be completed at your own pace. Each course takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete and includes videos, quizzes, and other resources. Upon completion of all four courses, you will receive a certificate from HubSpot.

To get certified in HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification, you must first create a free account on the HubSpot Academy website. From there, you can access the courses and start learning about the different aspects of inbound marketing. Once you have completed all four courses, you will be able to take the final exam and earn your certificate.

The cost for the HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification program is free. However, if you want to purchase additional materials or resources related to the program, they may incur additional costs.

3. Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification

Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification is an online certification program designed to help professionals understand the fundamentals of social media marketing and how to use Hootsuite’s tools effectively. The program includes a comprehensive course with 10 modules that cover topics such as getting started with Hootsuite, creating campaigns, managing content, measuring performance, and more. It also includes practice exams and a final exam to test your knowledge.

The program takes approximately 8 hours to complete, including the practice exams and final exam. To get certified, you must pass the final exam with a score of 80% or higher.

The cost for the Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification is $199 USD. This fee covers access to all course materials, practice exams, and the final exam.

4. Facebook Blueprint Certification

Facebook Blueprint Certification is a program offered by Facebook to help marketers and businesses learn how to use the platform effectively. It provides courses, exams, and certifications that demonstrate mastery of the skills needed to create successful campaigns and maximize ROI on Facebook.

The program is free and open to anyone with an interest in learning more about Facebook advertising. Courses are available online and range from beginner levels to advanced topics. The length of each course varies, but most take between two and four hours to complete. After completing a course, you can take an exam to assess your knowledge and earn a certification.

To get certified, you must pass all required exams for the level you’re pursuing (e.g., Certified Professional or Certified Expert). Once you have passed all exams, you will receive an official certificate from Facebook that verifies your expertise in using the platform for marketing purposes.

The cost of the program depends on which level of certification you pursue. The Certified Professional level costs $150 USD per exam while the Certified Expert level costs $300 USD per exam.

5. Adobe Digital Marketing Suite Certificate

The Adobe Digital Marketing Suite Certificate is an online certification program designed to help marketing professionals learn how to use the Adobe Digital Marketing Suite. The program provides comprehensive training on the suite’s tools and features, as well as best practices for leveraging them for maximum success.

The course consists of eight modules that cover topics such as analytics, targeting, optimization, and personalization. Each module includes video tutorials and written content, with quizzes at the end of each section to ensure that participants have a good understanding of the material. The entire course takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete.

To get the certificate, you must first register for the course via Adobe's website. Once registered, you will be given access to all of the materials needed to complete the course. After completing all 8 modules and passing the quizzes at each stage, you will receive your certificate in PDF format via email.

The cost of the Adobe Digital Marketing Suite Certificate is $99 USD per person.

6. Twitter Flight School Certificate

Twitter Flight School Certificate is an online certification program that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to successfully manage and optimize Twitter Ads campaigns. The program consists of three courses: Fundamentals of Twitter Ads, Advanced Tactics for Twitter Ads, and Best Practices for Twitter Ads. The courses are designed to help individuals understand how to create effective campaigns, measure success, and optimize performance.

The program takes approximately four hours to complete, depending on the individual's level of experience. To get the certificate, individuals must complete all three courses and pass a final assessment with a score of 80% or higher.

The cost of the certificate is free; however, individuals must have an active Twitter Ads account in order to access the course materials.

7. YouTube Certified Professional Program

YouTube Certified Professional Program is a program offered by YouTube to certify individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in managing and optimizing YouTube channels. The program consists of three levels: Certified, Advanced, and Expert.

To become a Certified YouTube Professional, you must complete the online course “The Fundamentals of YouTube” which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. This course covers topics such as creating an effective channel strategy, understanding the YouTube algorithm, creating engaging content, and more. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive your certification badge.

To become an Advanced or Expert YouTube Professional, you must demonstrate your expertise through additional assessments and projects that are reviewed by Google-certified professionals. These assessments include video optimization techniques, audience engagement strategies, and more.

The cost for the program varies depending on the level you choose to pursue. The Fundamentals of YouTube course is free; however there are fees associated with taking assessments for Advanced or Expert Certification.

8. Bing Ads Accredited Professional Program

The Bing Ads Accredited Professional Program is a certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in using Bing Ads. It is designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge of the platform and gain recognition from employers, peers, and clients.

It takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the program and receive your accreditation. To get started, you will need to create a free Microsoft account and sign up for the Bing Ads Accredited Professional Program. Once you have signed up, you will be able to access the online course material which includes videos, quizzes, and other resources to help you learn about Bing Ads.

Once you have completed the course material, you will need to take an exam to demonstrate your knowledge of the platform. The exam consists of multiple choice questions about topics such as targeting options, campaign optimization strategies, reporting features, and more. If you pass the exam with a score of 75% or higher, you will become a Bing Ads Accredited Professional.

The cost for this program varies depending on where you are located but typically ranges from $99 - $149 USD.

9. Instagram Partner Program

The Instagram Partner Program is a program designed to help content creators, influencers, and businesses maximize their presence on the platform. It provides access to a suite of tools and services that can help you grow your audience and monetize your content.

To get started, you must first apply for the program. This process typically takes 1-2 weeks to complete. You will need to provide basic information about yourself and your business, as well as demonstrate how you plan to use Instagram to reach your goals. Once approved, you’ll gain access to exclusive features such as insights into performance metrics, advanced targeting capabilities, and more.

There is no cost associated with joining the Instagram Partner Program; however, there may be fees associated with using certain tools or services within the program. Additionally, some partners may have additional requirements or restrictions in order to join the program.

10. LinkedIn Certified Professional Program

The LinkedIn Certified Professional Program is an online training program designed to help professionals develop their skills and advance their careers. It provides a comprehensive curriculum of courses, assessments, and certifications that cover the essential skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market.

The program takes approximately 8-10 weeks to complete, depending on the individual’s learning style and goals. During this time, participants will learn the fundamentals of networking, developing a professional profile, creating effective job search strategies, and more.

To get started with the program, individuals must first sign up for a free account on LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). Once registered, they can access the full range of courses offered in the program. After completing all required courses and assessments, participants can then take the final exam to earn their certification.

The cost of the program varies depending on whether or not you are already a LinkedIn member. For non-members, it costs $99 USD for access to all course materials and assessments for 8 weeks. For existing members, it costs $49 USD for access to all course materials and assessments for 8 weeks.

11. SEMrush Digital Marketing Toolkit Certification

SEMrush Digital Marketing Toolkit Certification is a professional certification program designed to help marketers learn the fundamentals of digital marketing. The program covers topics such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, content marketing, social media marketing, and more.

The certification program consists of four levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert. Each level requires passing an online exam that tests your knowledge of the material covered in the course. The exams are multiple choice and take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete depending on the level.

To get certified you must purchase a subscription to SEMrush Academy which includes access to all courses, practice exams and the final exam for each level. The cost of a subscription varies depending on the plan you choose but typically ranges from $50-$200 per month.

Once you have completed all four levels, you will receive your official certificate from SEMrush Academy that is valid for one year. You can also add your certification to your LinkedIn profile so potential employers can see it when they view your profile.

Do You Really Need a Digital Media Planner Certificate?

A digital media planner certificate can be a great asset for anyone looking to enter the field of digital media planning and management. The certificate is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the industry, its principles and techniques. It also helps individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to create successful campaigns and strategies that will result in the desired outcomes.

However, whether or not one needs a digital media planner certificate depends on their goals. If you are simply looking to break into the field with no prior experience or training, then it may not be necessary. There are many entry-level positions available that require minimal qualifications. However, if you are looking to move up in your career or become a leader in the field, then having a certificate can help demonstrate your commitment to being an expert in the industry. It shows employers that you have taken the time to learn about all aspects of digital media planning and management and that you are dedicated to staying up-to-date on new trends and developments.

Overall, having a digital media planner certificate can give you an edge over other applicants for jobs or promotions within the industry. It proves to potential employers that you have taken initiative and have invested time into becoming an expert in the field. Therefore, if you are serious about pursuing a career in this area, it may be worth considering obtaining a certificate from an accredited institution.

Related: Digital Media Planner Resume Examples

FAQs About Digital Media Planner Certifications

1. What is a Digital Media Planner Certification?

Answer: A Digital Media Planner Certification is a credential that proves an individual has the knowledge and skills needed to plan, manage, execute, and evaluate digital media campaigns.

2. What topics are covered in a Digital Media Planner Certification?

Answer: Topics typically covered in a Digital Media Planner Certification include digital marketing fundamentals, search engine optimization (SEO), display advertising, social media marketing, mobile advertising, web analytics, content marketing, email marketing, and more.

3. How much does a Digital Media Planner Certification cost?

Answer: The cost of a Digital Media Planner Certification varies depending on the provider and program chosen. Generally speaking, the cost ranges from around $500 to $2,000 USD.

4. How long does it take to complete a Digital Media Planner Certification?

Answer: The length of time required to complete a Digital Media Planner Certification depends on the course material and program chosen; however, most certifications can be completed within 6-12 months with regular study habits.

5. Are there any prerequisites for obtaining a Digital Media Planner Certification?

Answer: Most programs do not have any formal prerequisites for obtaining a Digital Media Planner Certification; however, some may require basic knowledge of digital marketing or related fields prior to enrollment.