Free Digital Marketing Course in Sri Lanka
Learn Digital Marketing for Free — No Fees, No Fluff, Just What Works
Access free certifications, tools, templates, and tutorials to master SEO, social media, paid ads, and email marketing. Built specifically for Sri Lankan students, professionals, and business owners.
100%
Free Resources
50+
Free Certifications
30+
Free Tools
18,000+
Students Taught
Jump To Free Resources:
Why Pay for Digital Marketing Courses When the Best Resources Are Free?
Here’s the truth most “gurus” won’t tell you: the best digital marketing education comes directly from Google, Meta, HubSpot, and the platforms that control the advertising inventory. And they give it away for free.
Why? Because educated users spend more on their platforms and use their tools more effectively. Their business model is to train you for free so you become a better customer.
This page is my curated collection of everything you need to learn digital marketing without spending a rupee — free certifications, free tools, free templates, and free communities. Whether you’re a student in Colombo looking to build a career, a business owner wanting to understand marketing, or a professional upskilling — everything you need is here.
What You’ll Learn in This Free Course
Master all core digital marketing skills using only free resources — no paid courses required.
Free Digital Marketing Course – Part 1
Free Certifications from Industry Leaders
These credentials come directly from Google, Meta, HubSpot, and major platforms. They’re often more valuable than paid courses because they’re taught by the people who built the platforms.
HubSpot Academy — The Industry Standard
HubSpot’s free certifications are recognized worldwide. They focus on methodology, not just tactics — skills that transfer across any tool or platform.
Inbound Marketing Certification
The flagship certification. Learn the “attract, engage, delight” methodology that powers modern marketing. Covers SEO, content, social, and conversational marketing.
Get Certified Free →Digital Marketing Certification
Broad survey covering SEO fundamentals, paid advertising, consumer psychology, and ethical marketing strategies. Perfect starting point for beginners.
Get Certified Free →Social Media Marketing Certification
Strategy, listening, content planning, and influencer marketing. Taught by industry experts like Crystal King. Includes practical exercises.
Get Certified Free →Content Marketing Certification
Storytelling meets technical execution. Learn to create content clusters that satisfy search intent while building brand authority.
Get Certified Free →SEO Training Course
Technical SEO fundamentals, link building strategies, and how blogging drives search visibility. Practical, actionable training.
Start Learning Free →Email Marketing Certification
Segmentation, lifecycle marketing, and list hygiene. Focus on nurturing relationships, not blasting promotional emails.
Get Certified Free →Google Certifications — The Source of Truth
Google’s official certifications are mandatory for anyone managing ad spend or analyzing website data. They expire annually to keep you current.
Google Analytics 4 Certification
ESSENTIALWith Universal Analytics deprecated, GA4 proficiency is non-negotiable. Learn event-based tracking, conversion setup, and user journey analysis.
Get Certified Free →Google Ads Certifications
Separate certifications for Search, Display, Video, Shopping, and Apps. Learn bidding strategies, ad formats, and quality score optimization.
Visit Google Skillshop →Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
26 modules, approximately 40 hours. Accredited by IAB Europe and The Open University. Comprehensive beginner’s course covering all digital channels.
Start Free Course →Meta Blueprint — Facebook & Instagram Advertising
All study materials are completely free. The certification exam costs ~$99-150, but you can learn everything without paying.
Digital Marketing Associate Curriculum
Campaign creation, audience targeting, Meta Pixel fundamentals. Scenario-based learning that simulates real client problems.
Access Free Courses →Creative Strategy & Media Buying
Specialized courses on ad creative development, click-to-message ads, and advanced media buying optimization tactics.
Browse All Courses →Platform-Specific Academies — Free Certifications
Each major platform offers its own free academy. Get certified on TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter without paying a single rupee.
TikTok Academy
TRENDINGCreative production, media buying, TikTok Shop integration. Free badges and certifications to showcase your skills.
Start Learning Free →Pinterest Academy
Visual discovery ads and e-commerce marketing. Free Media Buyer certification exam — high ROI for e-commerce marketers.
Get Certified Free →LinkedIn Marketing Labs
B2B advertising fundamentals. Free certifications in Marketing Strategy, Content Design, and Advertising Fundamentals.
View Certifications →Snapchat Focus & Connect
Mobile gaming, apps, and e-commerce specializations. Free Ads Manager certification for Gen Z targeting expertise.
Start Learning Free →Twitter Flight School
Moment marketing, conversational ads, real-time engagement. Free certification with printable certificate and badge.
Enroll Free →Semrush Academy
SEO courses taught by Greg Gifford (Local SEO) and Brian Dean. Free certifications highly respected in the SEO community.
Browse Courses →Free Certification Comparison Table
| Provider | Certification | Focus Area | Cost | Value for Sri Lankans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Inbound Marketing | Methodology & Strategy | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Industry Standard |
| GA4 Certification | Data Analytics | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mandatory Skill | |
| Digital Fundamentals | General Overview (40hrs) | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great for Beginners | |
| Meta | Blueprint Courses | Facebook & Instagram Ads | Free (Exam Paid) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Essential for FB Ads |
| TikTok | Media Buyer | Short-form Video Ads | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rising Demand |
| Media Buyer | Visual Discovery Ads | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ E-commerce Gold | |
| Marketing Strategy | B2B Advertising | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ B2B Essential | |
| Semrush | SEO Fundamentals | Technical & Content SEO | 100% Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SEO Community |
Free Digital Marketing Course – Part 2
Free Tools to Execute Your Marketing
Professional-grade tools with generous free tiers. Stack these correctly and you can run sophisticated campaigns with zero budget — perfect for Sri Lankan startups and small businesses.
Free SEO Tools
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
BEST FREEThe most powerful free SEO tool available. Full site audits for 100+ technical issues, complete backlink analysis, and keyword ranking tracking for sites you own.
Free Limit: Unlimited for owned/verified sites only
Get Free Access →Semrush Free Account
Perfect for competitor intelligence. The Keyword Magic Tool provides high-quality data on search volume, difficulty, and keyword variations.
Free Limit: 10 requests/day, 1 project, 10 keywords tracked
Create Free Account →Google Search Console
MANDATORYDirect feedback from Google. See exactly what queries bring traffic, Core Web Vitals health, indexing status, and crawl errors. Non-negotiable for any website.
Free Limit: Completely free — no limits
Set Up GSC Free →Google Analytics 4
MANDATORYEnterprise-level behavioral analytics for free. Track user journeys, set up conversion events, and analyze engagement rates.
Free Limit: Completely free — no limits
Set Up GA4 Free →Ubersuggest
Neil Patel’s tool. User-friendly interface for beginners with content ideas, keyword suggestions, and simple site audits.
Free Limit: Daily search allowance
Try Free →AnswerThePublic
Visualizes search questions (who, what, where, why) around any topic. Invaluable for content planning and voice search optimization.
Free Limit: Daily search limit
Search Free →Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Industry-standard desktop crawler. Find technical errors, broken links, duplicate content, and missing meta tags.
Free Limit: 500 URLs per crawl
Download Free →Google Trends
Validate topics by seeing interest velocity over time. Essential for identifying seasonal trends, rising topics, and content planning.
Free Limit: Completely free — no limits
Explore Trends →Moz Free Tools
Link Explorer for backlink research and MozBar Chrome extension for instant domain authority metrics while browsing any website.
Free Limit: Limited queries per month
Access Free Tools →Free Email Marketing & CRM Tools
MailerLite
BEST FREEHigher limits than Mailchimp with automation features included. Landing pages, forms, and email sequences. Creator and small business favorite.
Free Limit: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month
Start Free →Mailchimp
Industry standard with massive integration ecosystem. Basic templates, forms, and simple one-step automation like welcome emails.
Free Limit: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month (branding required)
Try Free →HubSpot Free CRM
Unlimited contact storage with integrated email marketing. Forms, landing pages, and unified view of customer journey across touchpoints.
Free Limit: ~2,000 sends/month (branding required)
Get Free CRM →Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Email marketing with SMS capabilities. Automation, transactional emails, and CRM features included in free tier.
Free Limit: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
Start Free →Free Content Creation & Design Tools
Canva
ESSENTIALDesign democratizer. Thousands of templates for every social media dimension, presentations, documents, and marketing materials. No design skills needed.
Free Limit: Extremely generous — most features free
Start Designing →CapCut
ESSENTIALThe video editing standard for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. Auto-captions, background removal, trending effects, and transitions. Desktop and mobile apps.
Free Limit: Fully free with most features
Download Free →Grammarly
Writing assistant for error-free content. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and tone suggestions. Essential for non-native English writers.
Free Limit: Basic corrections free
Install Free →Free Tools Comparison Table
| Category | Tool | Key Free Limit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEO | Ahrefs AWT | Unlimited (owned sites) | Technical Audits & Backlinks |
| SEO | Semrush | 10 requests/day | Competitor Research |
| SEO | Google Search Console | Unlimited | Search Performance Data |
| Social | Buffer | 3 channels, 10 posts | Solopreneurs |
| Social | Metricool | 1 brand + analytics | Small Businesses |
| MailerLite | 1,000 subscribers / 12k sends | Creators & Automation | |
| HubSpot CRM | Unlimited contacts | Sales + Marketing Teams | |
| Design | Canva | Most features free | Everyone |
| Video | CapCut | Fully free | Short-form Video Creators |
Free Digital Marketing Course – Part 3
Free Communities & Networks
The most actionable knowledge moves faster in communities than in formal courses. Join these “third places” for real-time problem solving, peer mentorship, and job opportunities.
Online Geniuses (Slack)
One of the largest marketing Slack communities (25k+ members). Quick technical answers, AMA sessions with industry leaders, and job postings.
Join Free →RevGenius
35k+ members bridging Sales, Marketing, and RevOps. Demo Days for new tech, discussions on revenue operations, and career advice.
Join Free →Superpath (Content Marketing)
Dedicated Slack for content strategists and writers. Famous annual salary benchmarks report and high-quality freelance opportunities.
Join Free →Women in Tech SEO
Supportive community for women in technical SEO. Mentorship programs, speaking opportunities, and technical skill-building resources.
Join Free →Exit Five (B2B Marketing)
Epicenter of B2B marketing knowledge. Free newsletter and podcast distilling community discussions on ABM, budget defense, and strategy.
Subscribe Free →Reddit Communities — Unfiltered Industry Knowledge
Real-time reactions to industry shifts, unvarnished advice, and the first place to confirm platform issues or algorithm updates.
Free Digital Marketing Course – Part 4
Free Templates & Frameworks
Bridge the gap between “knowing” and “doing” with operational templates. These help you execute campaigns professionally from day one.
HubSpot Template Library
BESTSocial media calendars, audit templates, marketing dashboards, buyer personas, marketing plans, and AI prompt libraries. Hundreds of professional templates.
Browse All Templates →Hootsuite Social Assets
Social media proposal templates (for freelancers), social media audits, and Canva design templates for faster content creation.
Get Free Templates →Smartsheet Marketing Templates
Campaign management, product launch timelines, and budget/ROI tracking. Excel-compatible for rigorous project management.
Download Free →ClickUp Marketing Templates
Agile marketing and sprint planning. Kanban boards and Gantt charts for teams that work in sprints and need visual workflow management.
Access Templates →Monday.com Templates
Event management, client campaigns (for agencies), and content calendars with visual workflow views and team collaboration.
Browse Templates →Free Digital Marketing Course – Part 5
Free News, Podcasts & YouTube Channels
Digital marketing changes daily. Static courses must be supplemented with continuous learning from these trusted free sources.
Industry News (Free)
Search Engine Journal
Primary source for SEO news, algorithm updates, and PPC trends. Free ebooks library with annual trend reports.
Read Free →Social Media Today
Best aggregator for platform updates. Essential daily reading for social media managers to stay current.
Read Free →Marketing Dive
Broader industry trends, big-brand case studies, and macro-economic shifts affecting marketing budgets.
Read Free →MarTech
Marketing technology landscape — CRM, automation, data platforms, and emerging tools.
Read Free →Free Podcasts (Audio Learning)
Marketing School
Neil Patel & Eric Siu. Daily 5-10 minute episodes with tactical tips on AI, SEO, content, and growth marketing.
Listen Free →Perpetual Traffic
The go-to for paid traffic. Deep dives into Facebook/Meta ads, Google Ads, offer structures, and scaling strategies.
Listen Free →The Amy Porterfield Show
Online business growth, course creation, and list building. Essential for solopreneurs and content creators.
Listen Free →Social Media Marketing Podcast
Michael Stelzner. Long-form interviews with experts on specific platforms, tactics, and case studies.
Listen Free →Free YouTube Channels (Visual Learning)
Ahrefs (Sam Oh)
BEST FOR SEOGold standard for SEO tutorials. High-production “over-the-shoulder” workflows that show exactly what to do.
Subscribe Free →Neil Patel
Short tactical videos breaking down SEO, content marketing, and growth concepts into simple, actionable steps.
Subscribe Free →Social Media Examiner
Tutorials on specific platform features, updated as soon as Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook releases new features.
Subscribe Free →GaryVee
Mindset, consumer attention trends, and the strategic “why” behind marketing shifts. Big-picture thinking.
Subscribe Free →
Your Guide
Hi, I’m Alston Antony
I’m a Sri Lankan digital marketer with 15+ years of experience helping businesses grow through SEO. I created this free resource page because I believe everyone should have access to quality digital marketing education — regardless of budget.
My results speak for themselves:
DFT Pillows — Built Sri Lanka’s leading bedding brand using only SEO. No offline marketing. Now 100+ employees, supplying Singer, Arpico, and major hotels.
Matchmaker.lk — Merit Award for Best Non-Profit Website at BestWeb Sri Lanka 2020. Ranks #1 for “Free Sri Lankan Matrimony.”
18,000+ students taught through Udemy courses, 500+ YouTube tutorials, and communities with 15,000+ members.
MSc Software Engineering
University of Greenwich, UK (Distinction)
BCS Professional Member
Chartered Institute for IT
Semrush Certified
SEO & Keyword Research
Blue Array Certified
SEO Manager
Start Your Free Learning Journey
Not Sure Where to Begin?
Pick the path that matches your current situation. All resources are 100% free.
Students & Beginners
Building a Career
Start with Google’s Digital Fundamentals (40 hours), then get HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing certification. Both are free and recognized by employers.
Start with Free Certifications →Business Owners
Growing Your Business
Set up Google Search Console and Analytics first (both free). Then use Ahrefs Webmaster Tools for SEO audits. Learn Meta Blueprint for Facebook/Instagram ads.
Start with Free Tools →Professionals
Upskilling & Specializing
Get platform-specific certifications (TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest). Join industry communities like Online Geniuses. Follow news sources daily.
Get Platform Certifications →What People Say About Learning From Me
Real feedback from students and professionals I’ve helped.
“Alston is the best in terms of giving value to his audience and knowledgeable in terms of marketing, SEO specifically. He is the best marketer with a humble heart.”
Benjie Malinao
Founder, Automate8
“I’ve reached out to him personally for a lot of queries and he always goes beyond the Call of Duty and has given me detailed instructions with actionable insights.”
Asif Asiya Sultan
Founder, Satak Support
“Working with Alston has helped me increase revenues by over $15,000 on just a single product. If you are looking for someone to be your guiding light look no further!”
Abdul Mukati
SaaS Founder, Verifybee
Want Personal Guidance?
Sri Lankan Digital Marketing Mentorship
While all the resources on this page are free, some people prefer direct guidance. I offer 1-on-1 mentorship for Sri Lankan students, professionals, and business owners.
Personalized learning path, work reviews, direct WhatsApp access, and monthly video calls.
Learn About Mentorship →
Get the Free Digital Marketing Roadmap for Sri Lanka
A step-by-step guide showing exactly which free resources to use, in what order, and how to build skills that employers and clients actually value.
What’s Inside:
✓ The 6 core skills every digital marketer needs
✓ Which free certifications to get first
✓ Free tools that work in Sri Lanka
✓ 90-day learning schedule
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox.
Start Your Free Digital Marketing Education Today
Everything you need to learn digital marketing is on this page — free certifications from Google and HubSpot, free tools from Ahrefs and Semrush, free templates, and free communities. No excuses. Start now.
Free Social Media Management Tools
Buffer
Best for solopreneurs and personal brands. Includes publishing tools, landing page builder, and AI assistant for content ideas.
Free Limit: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel
Start Free →Metricool
RECOMMENDEDMore generous free plan than Buffer with analytics included. Scheduling, reporting, and competitor analysis for a single brand.
Free Limit: 1 brand, basic analytics
Try Free →Hootsuite Free Tools
AI caption generators, engagement rate calculators, and free templates. The full dashboard is paid, but standalone tools remain free.
Free Limit: Individual tools only
Access Free Tools →