Best LinkedIn Ads Courses

published on 27 October 2024

Want to master LinkedIn Ads? Here are the 5 best courses to get you started:

Course Duration Price Best For
LinkedIn Marketing Labs 45-60 mins Free Beginners
Paid Media Track 1h 14min Monthly subscription Mid-level marketers
CXL LinkedIn Ads 4-6 hours $39-$999 Advanced users
Complete LinkedIn Ads Guide 8-10 hours Varies All levels
LinkedIn Ads Basics 45-60 mins Free First-time advertisers

Here's what you need to know:

  1. LinkedIn Ads work differently than other platforms:
  • Higher costs ($5-12 per click vs $0.50-2.00 elsewhere)
  • Better B2B lead quality
  • 46% of social traffic to B2B sites
  1. These courses teach you:
  • Campaign setup and management
  • Audience targeting
  • Budget optimization
  • Performance tracking
  • Ad creation

Quick comparison of key features:

Feature Marketing Labs Paid Media Track CXL Complete Guide Basics
Certification Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Hands-on Practice Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Support No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Updates Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Start with LinkedIn Marketing Labs if you're new to the platform. Move to CXL or Paid Media Track once you've got the basics down.

Remember: LinkedIn Ads cost more but deliver better B2B results - these courses help you make every dollar count.

LinkedIn Marketing Labs

LinkedIn Marketing Labs

LinkedIn Marketing Labs gives you free training and certifications from LinkedIn's own experts. Here's what you get:

Certification Focus Format
Marketing Solutions Fundamentals Ad campaigns, targeting, reporting 60 questions, 60 minutes
Marketing Strategy Full-funnel LinkedIn marketing 60 questions, 60 minutes
Content and Creative Design Paid and organic content creation 60 questions, 60 minutes

Want to practice? Each course includes test runs before the real exam. Pass it, and you'll get a certificate to show off on your LinkedIn profile or add to your signature.

The program works in 9 languages:

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Indonesian
  • Japanese
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Simplified Chinese

What You'll Learn:

  • Building LinkedIn ad campaigns
  • Picking the right audience targets
  • Reading campaign reports
  • Planning marketing moves
  • Making content that works

Here's How to Start:

  1. Set up your LinkedIn account
  2. Head to LinkedIn Marketing Labs
  3. Choose your certification
  4. Go through the materials
  5. Try the practice tests
  6. Take your exam

The program keeps track of what you've done and points you to other courses you might like. It's free, but don't let that fool you - you'll learn solid B2B marketing skills you can use right away.

Quick Tip: Don't just memorize answers. Focus on understanding how to use these skills in real campaigns. That's where the REAL value is.

2. LinkedIn Ads Track by Paid Media Courses

Here's what the LinkedIn Ads Track delivers in just 1 hour and 14 minutes:

Course Component Details
Duration 1h 14min
Lessons 11 modules
Certificate Validity 2 years
Focus Areas Campaign setup, targeting, optimization

The course splits into three core parts:

Topic What You'll Learn
Campaign Setup - How to use LinkedIn Campaign Manager
- Setting up your budget
- Picking the right bid strategy
Audience Targeting - Finding your ideal audience
- Breaking down audience segments
- Setting up retargeting
Performance Analysis - Tracking what matters
- Measuring your return
- Making data-backed fixes

Want your certificate? Here's what to do:

  1. Watch all 11 lessons
  2. Take the test
  3. Get certified
  4. Renew after 2 years

Here's who should take this course:

Level What You Need
Beginner - Marketing basics
- LinkedIn account
- Campaign Manager access
Intermediate - Some paid social experience
- Budget know-how
Advanced - B2B lead gen knowledge
- Data analysis skills

You'll also get these hands-on tools:

  • Campaign checklists
  • Ad templates
  • Performance trackers
  • Budget planners

Plus: As LinkedIn updates its ad platform, you'll get fresh materials to keep your skills sharp during your certification.

3. CXL LinkedIn Ads Training

CXL

AJ Wilcox, who runs five of the top ten LinkedIn Ads accounts worldwide, teaches this focused 1-hour and 14-minute course. Here's what you get:

Course Component Details
Duration 1h 14min
Lessons 11 modules
Instructor AJ Wilcox
Price $299 per course or $127.54/month with membership
Exam Requirements 90% minimum score

The course breaks down into three main areas:

1. Cost Management

You'll learn how to:

  • Pick the best bidding methods that cost less
  • Split your budget the right way
  • Lower your cost per click

2. Targeting

The course shows you:

  • How to pick the right audiences
  • Ways to layer your targeting
  • Steps to set up account-based marketing

3. Performance

You'll discover:

  • What numbers to aim for in your industry
  • How to track where leads come from
  • Methods to measure your return on ad spend

Every student gets:

  • Step-by-step guides for Google Tag Manager
  • Sheets to track your performance
  • Ready-to-use campaign templates

"AJ Wilcox and CXL packed this course with practical tips I use daily." - Sakash Agrawal, Digital Marketing Manager

Plus, you'll join a community that includes:

  • A network of marketing professionals
  • Access to job opportunities
  • Latest platform updates
  • Direct support from experts

The course comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee and never expires. CXL keeps the content fresh as LinkedIn adds new features.

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4. Complete LinkedIn Ads Guide

Here's what you'll learn in this hands-on LinkedIn advertising program:

Course Content

Module Focus Areas
Basics • Campaign Manager setup
• Ad objectives
• Budget planning
Ad Types • Sponsored Content
• Message Ads
• Dynamic Ads
• Text Ads
Advanced Topics • Audience targeting
• Bidding strategies
• Performance tracking

You'll master these key skills:

  • Running campaigns in Campaign Manager
  • Choosing effective ad formats
  • Finding your target audience by job title and industry
  • Measuring campaign success

Certification Process

Component Details
Duration 8-10 hours
Format Self-paced online learning
Assessment Multiple-choice exam
Certificate LinkedIn-verified digital badge

What You Need to Start

Level Prerequisites
Beginner • Basic marketing knowledge
• LinkedIn business account
Intermediate Social media ads experience
• Budget management skills
Advanced • Data analysis skills
• B2B marketing experience

The course features case studies from Zendesk and Medtronic, showing you exactly how these companies reach B2B decision-makers. You'll learn:

  • How to manage costs (with typical CPCs of $5-6)
  • Ways to build laser-focused campaigns
  • Steps to create lead gen forms
  • Methods to track conversions

"We use LinkedIn every day to drive business outcomes for the world's leading B2B brands. Our team's LinkedIn Marketing labs certifications show that we're experts in using LinkedIn's robust data and tools." - Brian Jones, EVP, Integrated Strategy at Just Global, Inc.

Each lesson combines theory with real campaign examples - including what worked AND what flopped. You'll get practical tips you can use in your next campaign.

5. LinkedIn Ads Basics

Here's what you'll learn in this LinkedIn Ads course:

Course Content

Module Topics Covered
Introduction • Why use LinkedIn Ads
• Setting up LinkedIn Page
• Campaign Manager basics
Campaign Setup • Budget planning
• Audience targeting
• Ad scheduling
Ad Creation • Ad formats
• Content best practices
• Campaign tracking

Certification Process

Component Details
Duration 45-60 minutes
Format Online videos and exercises
Assessment Pre-course test (optional)
End-of-course review
Support Live help for questions

Required Skills

Level Skills Needed
Technical • Basic computer skills
• Social media familiarity
Marketing • Basic marketing concepts
• Content writing skills
Business • LinkedIn business account
• Budget management

This is a hands-on course. You'll jump right into LinkedIn's Campaign Manager and start building REAL campaigns.

What you'll master:

  • How to set (and stick to) your ad budgets
  • Ways to find your perfect audience using job titles
  • Tips to create ads people actually click
  • Methods to measure your campaign success

The HubSpot Academy version packs everything into 32 minutes of video content across 3 sections. Perfect for business owners and marketers who want to start running LinkedIn Ads.

You'll get:

  • Step-by-step video guides
  • Practice files to download
  • Knowledge-testing quizzes
  • Clear instructions for:
    • Setting up tracking
    • Building your first campaign
    • Choosing who sees your ads
    • Understanding your results

Need help? You're not alone. Get support when you're stuck and connect with other students. Plus, the course stays current with LinkedIn's newest features.

Course Comparison

Here's a breakdown of the top LinkedIn Ads courses:

Core Features & Pricing

Course Duration Price Key Features
LinkedIn Marketing Labs 45-60 mins Free • Official LinkedIn certification
• Basic to intermediate content
• Self-paced learning
Paid Media Courses Track 1h 14 mins Monthly/Annual plans (40% off annual) • 11 advanced lessons
• Performance analysis focus
• Employer-recognized certificate
CXL LinkedIn Ads 4-6 hours $39-$999 • Advanced targeting tactics
• Bid optimization strategies
• Campaign analysis tools
AJ Wilcox Courses Varies $79/month • Weekly group coaching
• Community access
• Live ad account audits

Who Should Take Each Course?

Course Perfect For Level
LinkedIn Marketing Labs • Small business owners
• First-time advertisers
Beginner
Paid Media Courses Track • B2B marketers
• Campaign managers
Intermediate
CXL LinkedIn Ads • Marketing pros
• Ad budget managers
Advanced
AJ Wilcox Courses • In-house teams
• Agency staff
All levels

What You'll Learn

Course Main Skills
LinkedIn Marketing Labs • Campaign setup
• Basic targeting
• Ad formats
Paid Media Courses Track • Advanced bidding
• Performance tracking
• Budget control
CXL LinkedIn Ads • Lead gen funnels
• Retargeting methods
• Data analysis
AJ Wilcox Courses • Pro targeting
• Account setup
• Cost control

Here's what students say:

"I was LOST with LinkedIn Ads until I took this course. Now our online presence is growing and our conversion rates are up." - David C., Entrepreneur

"This course helped me target decision-makers like never before. My B2B sales have taken off." - Eric B., B2B Sales Pro

The Real Cost

LinkedIn ads start at $10/day, but pros suggest $25/day for testing. Know these numbers:

  • CPC: $5-$6
  • CPM: $30-$35
  • CPS: $0.50-$1

Add these costs to your course investment when planning your LinkedIn Ads budget.

Next Steps

Here's how to start with LinkedIn Ads:

Pick Your Path

Level Start Here Then Do This
New to Ads LinkedIn Marketing Labs Paid Media Track
Some Experience Paid Media Track CXL LinkedIn Ads
Pro Level CXL LinkedIn Ads AJ Wilcox Program

First Steps

  1. Set up Campaign Manager: Create your account
  2. Add Insight Tag: Install on your website
  3. Connect LinkedIn Page: Link to ad account
  4. Budget: Start with $25/day minimum

Must-Do Setup

Task Why Do It
Conversion Tracking See ROI from start
Manual Bidding Control your spend
Location Targeting Use "Permanent" only
Audience Expansion OFF during testing

"LinkedIn Ads cost more than other platforms. Start with automated bidding until you know what you're doing." - AJ Wilcox, B2Linked founder

Watch These Numbers

What to Track Good Results Look Like
Click-through Rate 2-3%
Cost per Click $5-6
Cost per 1000 Impressions $30-35
Social Impressions Check weekly

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