HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification: Your Complete Guide to Mastering Online Ads

Struggling to make sense of the ever-changing world of online advertising? The HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification course is a fantastic free resource that can really help you get a grip on creating smart, effective ad campaigns. It’s one of those things that, once you dig into it, you realize just how much goes into making your ads actually work for your business. HubSpot Academy doesn’t just throw theory at you. it walks you through how to put those ideas into practice, which is super helpful whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your existing skills.

What’s the Big Deal with the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification?

So, what exactly is this certification? Simply put, the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification is a free online course and exam offered by HubSpot Academy that teaches you the ins and outs of creating and managing digital ad campaigns. It’s designed to help you strategize and plan your paid media efforts, figure out who you should be targeting, and build solid conversion paths to turn those ad clicks into actual results for your business. Think of it as your roadmap to understanding how online advertising works , all while aligning with HubSpot’s signature “inbound” methodology.

This isn’t just some random online badge. it’s a globally recognized credential that tells the world you know your stuff when it comes to digital ads. For me, it was a way to really solidify my understanding of how different ad platforms tie together and how to measure their success. It’s about learning to create ads that aren’t just seen, but that genuinely resonate with your audience at every step of their journey, from just realizing they have a problem to actively looking for a solution.

The best part? It’s completely free! HubSpot Academy offers a ton of valuable content without costing you a dime, making it accessible to anyone looking to level up their digital advertising game.

Why Should You Even Bother Getting Certified?

You might be thinking, “Another certification? Do I really need this?” And honestly, that’s a fair question. But getting a HubSpot certification, especially in digital advertising, can bring some real benefits to your career and your business. How to Download HubSpot Emails as PDF: Your Ultimate Guide to Archiving and Sharing

Boost Your Resume and Credibility

If you’re relatively new to the marketing world or looking to switch careers, this certification is a serious resume booster. It shows potential employers you’ve got a solid grasp of digital advertising fundamentals and that you’re proactive about learning. It’s a way to prove you have those “basic knowledge” skills that so many companies desperately need, especially since many businesses are heavily investing in online marketing like, 56% of total marketing budgets in 2022 were digital, which is huge!. Plus, with over 248,000 customers in 135+ countries using HubSpot’s CRM, understanding their methodology and tools is a pretty valuable skill.

Master Practical Skills and Strategies

The HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification isn’t just theoretical. It’s packed with practical insights that you can apply immediately. You’ll learn how to craft digital advertising campaigns that actually convert, understand various targeting strategies, and become familiar with ad best practices across platforms like Google Ads and social media.

One of the coolest parts is learning how organic and paid efforts can work together seamlessly. It teaches you to think about the entire buyer’s journey and how to create ads for each stage, whether it’s building awareness, driving consideration, or pushing for a decision. You’ll dive into things like A/B testing, which is basically running marketing experiments to see what works best, and figuring out your return on ad spend ROAS to make sure your budget is being used wisely. This kind of data-driven approach is super important in digital advertising, which is by nature a very targeted and data-driven strategy.

Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Trends

The digital advertising world moves at lightning speed. What worked last year might not work today. HubSpot certifications are usually valid for about two years, and that’s for a good reason: the market just changes that fast. Taking this course helps you stay current with the latest strategies and tools. For example, the course covers social media advertising on a bunch of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok, making sure you’re up to date with where people are spending their time online.

In fact, 68% of marketers see paid advertising as extremely or very important to their overall strategy. And with mobile devices accounting for a significant portion of global digital ad spend 55% in 2020, projected to hit 65.3% by 2025!, understanding mobile ad strategies is no longer optional, it’s essential. Your Ultimate Guide to Acing the HubSpot Digital Marketing Exam

It’s Free, So Why Not?

Honestly, the fact that it’s free makes it a no-brainer. You’re getting high-quality, well-produced content that can significantly enhance your skills without any financial commitment. Think of it as investing in yourself and your future without breaking the bank. Many other reputable digital marketing certifications can cost a pretty penny, so a free, industry-recognized one like this is a real gem.

Who Is This Digital Advertising Certification For?

The HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification is pretty versatile and can benefit a few different types of people:

• Small Business Owners: If you’re running your own business and want to get a better handle on your online advertising to drive conversions, this course is tailored for you. It helps you refine your knowledge and tactics.
• Advertising and Marketing Professionals: Whether you’re working at an agency or in an in-house marketing team, this certification can help you sharpen your ad conversion strategies and tactics. It’s a great way to deepen your expertise.
• Individuals Interested in Digital Advertising: If you’re just starting out, curious about a career in digital advertising, or looking to add specialized skills in this dynamic field, this is an excellent starting point. It provides a solid foundation.
• Students and Recent Graduates: For those early in their careers or still in school, it provides valuable, third-party validation of your skills, which can make you stand out when applying for internships or entry-level jobs.

What Does the Course Cover? The Nitty-Gritty Details

The Digital Advertising Certification course on HubSpot Academy is pretty comprehensive, broken down into manageable lessons, videos, and quizzes. It totals around 3 hours and 48 minutes of content, spread across 11 lessons, 34 videos, and 10 quizzes. Dharmesh Shah: A Journey to Tech Entrepreneurship

Here’s a peek at what you’ll typically learn:

• Journey-Based Advertising: This is all about understanding the buyer’s journey – Awareness, Consideration, and Decision – and how to create ads that are relevant to people at each stage. It’s about being helpful, not just interruptive.
• Strategizing Paid Media Campaigns: You’ll learn how to plan your campaigns, set goals, allocate your budget effectively, and measure your success. This includes understanding the role of a paid media plan as the bridge between your strategy and your business goals.
• Targeting the Right Audience: This is crucial. You’ll explore various targeting strategies, including demographics, behaviors, and even retargeting people who have already interacted with your website or brand.
• Ad Copy and Creative Design: Making your ads stand out visually and with compelling text is key. The course will guide you on best practices for creating remarkable ad copy and designing engaging creatives.
• Conversion Paths: It’s not just about getting clicks. it’s about turning those clicks into leads or customers. You’ll learn how to build and optimize conversion paths to maximize your ad performance.
• Social Media Advertising: This section dives into the specifics of advertising on major social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok, covering their unique advertising options and best practices.
• Paid Search Advertising: You’ll get an understanding of how paid advertising works on search engines, with a particular focus on Google Ads. This includes learning about bidding strategies, ad extensions, and how to improve your ad rank.
• Programmatic Advertising: This covers using artificial intelligence and machine learning to buy ads in real time, helping you understand how to manage multiple ad exchanges through a single interface.
• Evaluating Campaign Performance: Data is your friend! The course teaches you how to evaluate the performance and success of your digital ad campaigns using metrics like return on ad spend ROAS and conversion rate optimization CRO.

The Exam: What to Expect and How to Ace It

you’ve put in the time, watched the videos, aced the quizzes – now it’s time for the final test! Knowing what to expect can really help calm those pre-exam jitters.

Exam Format and Rules

For the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification exam, here’s the rundown:

• Number of Questions: You’ll face 60 multiple-choice questions.
• Time Limit: You have a generous 3 hours to complete the exam, which means you don’t need to rush through each question.
• Passing Score: To pass, you need to get 45 out of 60 questions correct, which works out to a 75% passing score.
• Retake Policy: If you don’t pass on your first try, don’t sweat it! You can retake the exam, but you’ll need to wait 12 hours between attempts. This gives you a chance to review the material and strengthen areas where you might have struggled.
• No Going Back: Once you submit an answer for a question, you generally can’t go back and change it. So, make sure you’re confident before moving on!

Tips and Tricks for Passing

I’ve been through a few of these certifications myself, and here are my go-to tips that always help: Mastering the HubSpot Digital Marketing Certification: Your Smart Guide to Success

1. Take Detailed Notes: While watching the videos and going through the lessons, write down key concepts, definitions, and examples. Don’t just passively listen. actively engage with the content. These notes become your personalized study guide.
2. Don’t Skip the Quizzes: The quizzes at the end of each lesson aren’t just for show. They’re designed to reinforce what you’ve learned and highlight areas where you might need to review. Treat them as mini-practice tests.
3. Understand, Don’t Memorize: While there might be some terms to remember, HubSpot’s courses generally focus on understanding the methodology and why certain strategies work. If you truly grasp the concepts, the answers will often flow naturally, even if the question is phrased differently from what you recall.
4. Leverage HubSpot’s Free Tools: The course instructors often mention how to use HubSpot’s free ads management tools for hands-on practice. Even if you don’t have a paid HubSpot account, trying out their free CRM and marketing tools can give you a practical feel for the concepts, making them stick better.
5. Review the Course Content Before the Exam: Before you hit that “start exam” button, take some time to quickly go through your notes or even re-watch any particularly challenging videos. A fresh review can make a big difference.
6. Manage Your Time: With 3 hours for 60 questions, you have about 3 minutes per question. That’s plenty of time, but don’t get stuck on one question for too long. If you’re unsure, make your best guess and flag it in your mind to review if you have extra time though remember you generally can’t go back once submitted.

Keeping Your Certification Fresh Expiration

As I mentioned before, the digital marketing world changes really fast. Because of this, HubSpot certifications aren’t forever. The Digital Advertising Certification, like most major HubSpot certifications, is typically valid for two years.

Why two years? HubSpot’s research and feedback from thousands of certified users showed that the market evolves so quickly that knowledge can become outdated. So, if you want to keep that credential active, you’ll need to retake the course and pass the exam again before it expires. This isn’t a bad thing, though! It’s a great way to ensure your knowledge and skills are always up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in digital advertising. It means you’re always learning and growing, which is super important in this field.

Other Helpful HubSpot Certifications to Consider

While the Digital Advertising Certification is awesome, HubSpot Academy offers a whole library of other free certifications that can complement your skills and boost your overall marketing knowledge. If you’re looking to become a well-rounded digital marketer, here are a few other popular ones you might want to check out: Dharmesh Shah: The Driving Force Behind HubSpot’s Inbound Revolution and AI Future

• Digital Marketing Certification: This is a broad overview, teaching you how to create a human-centered, inbound-first digital marketing strategy, covering SEO, social media, email, and content creation. It’s a great foundational course if you’re looking to understand the entire digital marketing ecosystem.
• Social Media Marketing Certification: If you want to really master platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for both organic and paid strategies, this one’s for you. It teaches you how to build an effective social media strategy, extend your reach, and measure ROI.
• Content Marketing Certification: Content is king, right? This certification dives deep into creating compelling, high-quality content that drives results, from blogging and video to lead generation.
• SEO Certification: Learn everything about search engine optimization, including website optimization, keyword research, link building, and how to improve your website’s ranking on Google.
• Inbound Marketing Certification: This is HubSpot’s core philosophy. It teaches you the basics of inbound, the inbound methodology Attract, Engage, Delight, and how to apply these concepts across your business, from advertising to sales.
• Email Marketing Certification: Learn how to create effective email marketing campaigns, segment your audience, personalize messages, and automate your email efforts for better engagement and conversions.

Many of these certifications can be completed in a few hours, with the average certification taking around 2-4 hours, though some, like Content Marketing, can take up to 7 hours.

Conclusion

So, is the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification worth your time? Absolutely, especially if you’re looking to either kickstart your career in marketing or simply want to ensure your digital advertising skills are sharp and current. It’s a fantastic, free resource that offers high-quality, practical education recognized globally. By taking this certification, you’re not just getting a badge. you’re gaining tangible skills in strategizing, targeting, creating, and optimizing digital ad campaigns across various platforms. You’re learning to be a more effective marketer who can drive real results, and digital-first world, that’s incredibly valuable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification?

The HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification is a free online course and exam offered by HubSpot Academy. It teaches you how to create effective digital advertising campaigns, strategize paid media, target the right audiences, optimize conversion paths, and use various platforms like social media and Google Ads.

Download hubspot

How long does the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification take to complete?

The course content for the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification is approximately 3 hours and 48 minutes long, spread across 11 lessons, 34 videos, and 10 quizzes. The final exam has a 3-hour time limit.

Is the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification free?

Yes, the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification course and exam are completely free to take through HubSpot Academy. You just need to create a free HubSpot account to access the materials and take the test.

How many questions are on the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification exam, and what’s the passing score?

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You need to answer 45 questions correctly to pass, which is a 75% passing score.

How often do HubSpot Digital Advertising Certifications expire?

HubSpot Digital Advertising Certifications, like most major HubSpot certifications, are typically valid for two years. This is because the digital advertising changes rapidly, and retaking the certification ensures your knowledge stays current. Acing Your HubSpot Digital Marketing Certifications

Can I retake the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification exam if I fail?

Yes, if you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you can retake it. However, you need to wait 12 hours between attempts. This gives you time to review the course material and prepare better for your next try.

Is the HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification recognized by employers?

Yes, HubSpot certifications are globally recognized and generally well-regarded, especially by companies that use or are familiar with HubSpot’s inbound methodology. They can be a valuable addition to your resume and LinkedIn profile, demonstrating your commitment to continuous learning and your understanding of digital advertising best practices.

What other certifications does HubSpot Academy offer that are related to digital advertising?

HubSpot Academy offers several related certifications, including the Digital Marketing Certification, Social Media Marketing Certification, Content Marketing Certification, SEO Certification, and Inbound Marketing Certification. These can all help you build a comprehensive skill set in digital marketing.

Mastering Content Marketing: Your Guide to HubSpot’s Free Certification Course