Master 5 Essential Business Skills with a Free Class from Coursera

Most business owners and professionals will tell you that ongoing education is a way to stay ahead of the competition. That used to mean signing up for a class at a local college or physically attending classes somewhere. Now, prospective learners are turning to the internet to start their research. But the number of classes, certifications, webinars, and courses that are available online is pretty overwhelming. Which websites are reputable? What skills should I consider sharpening?

We’ve done some research for you on free classes from a trusted online learning platform, Coursera. For those of you that have balked at spending money on these various courses, we understand. It can be hard to allocate budget to your personal growth when you consider all the other business expenses. As much as spending money on yourself can be difficult, expanding your skills and knowledge base can help your business succeed. Below are 5 essential business skills you can master by taking a free class from Coursera.

1. Introduction to Marketing

Marketing is a broad term that can be hard to define. While many people and businesses have different definitions of what marketing is, they can all agree it matters. Every business knows it needs to have a marketing budget, and pay attention to marketing, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin.

If you’re looking for a place to start, check out Introduction to Marketing. This free class from Coursera is taught by three of the Wharton School’s top faculty in the marketing department. It focuses on branding, customer centricity (not to be confused with customer service), and go-to-market strategies.

2. Marketing in a Digital World

Marketing in a Digital World is one of the all-top 50 massive online open courses (MOOC) on Coursera. With our world becoming more connected and technological advanced, more consumers are gaining power over large firms. This free class from Coursera focuses on how the Internet, smartphones, and 3D printing are revolutionizing the world of marketing.

One reviewer said, “This course made me see things through a broad market perspective rather than just an agency side person. Highly recommend this course for people who have a grip of the marketing industry and want to learn further.”

3. Presentation skills: Speechwriting and Storytelling

We’ve all sat through boring, confusing, and painful presentations. But how many of us have wondered if we were the ones responsible for giving one?

Taught by Alexei Kapterev, this seeks to go beyond the “how-tos” of being a confident speaker. For anyone that’s seen a compelling presentation, what you see and hear can stick with you long after the presentation ends. Kapterev wants to ensure the content of your presentation tells an interesting story.

Give this free class from Coursera a try and see if you start seeing more engagement from your speeches and presentations.

4. Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management

Projects are part of every person’s life and we are all project managers. It may not always seem obvious, but we are all planning and managing projects every day. Organizing a personal or family schedule (maybe both at the same time), coordinating an event like a birthday party, and even paying bills on time requires planning and organization.

If you feel like you could use a little help with managing projects more efficiently, this free class from Coursera is for you. This introductory course will identify factors that lead to project success and students will learn how to plan, analyze, and manage projects. You may realize you can apply this to more areas of your life than you initially thought.

5. Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

This free class from Coursera approaches a fascinating subject: learning. With more than 5,000 reviews and a near perfect 5-star rating, this class has earned its spot among the all-time top 50 massive online open courses.

In addition to this topic being flat-out interesting, what really caught our eye was this line found in the course description, “If you’ve ever wanted to become better at anything, this course will help serve as your guide.” I think we can all answer yes to that!

There’s Always More to Learn

Regardless of whether you’re in school or not, your education doesn’t have to end. Frankly, it should be ongoing. And a tight budget doesn’t have to stop you either! Try a free class from Coursera and see what there is to learn.

When you’re learning, you’re growing your skill set, and those skills can better help you serve your customers. Of course, it’s not possible to become an expert in every facet of business if you want to still have time to run your business. That’s when the powerful skill of delegation can help lighten the load. For example, OutboundEngine brings the power of a full marketing team to your business without the need to hire full-time staff.

Learn more about our product and how we can help you focus on your personal and business growth by scheduling a free demo today.