Hey everyone! I’m a 19 year old college student from India trying to learn digital marketing so I can start freelancing and cover my living costs by early 2026.
I started with Google’s digital marketing program (around 40 hours total) and was really enjoying it. After finishing 4 sections, I kept seeing people recommend HubSpot Academy as a quick way to learn the fundamentals (only takes 5 hours).
But honestly, I’m finding HubSpot Academy pretty disappointing. The content feels dry and the instructors change between topics which makes it hard to follow. I’ve been struggling to stay motivated and keep skipping study sessions, which never happened with the Google course.
Since I’m still new to this field, I wanted to ask if other people think HubSpot Academy is overhyped? The material seems like it might be old or not very practical.
What learning resources would you recommend instead for someone starting out in digital marketing?
Thanks for any advice! Also if anyone needs help with projects in exchange for mentoring, I’d love to learn that way too.
Trust your gut here - if Google’s course is working for you, don’t switch to HubSpot yet. I jumped around way too much when I started and it just made everything more confusing. Stick with what’s engaging you now, then check out Udemy or Skillshare later if you want something more interactive.
HubSpot Academy has serious limitations, especially for beginners. I tried it two years ago and hit the same problems you’re describing - that inconsistent teaching style kills your learning momentum. I had better luck mixing multiple resources instead of sticking to one platform. Since you’re already crushing Google’s program and actually retaining stuff, finish that first. For hands-on experience, create some mock campaigns or help local small businesses with their social media - that real-world practice taught me way more than any course. Theory’s important, but there’s nothing like actually doing it.
honestly, hubspot feels pretty outdated compared to what’s out there. i’d check out coursera’s digital marketing specializations or youtube channels like neil patel - they’re way more engaging than hubspot’s boring format. since you’re already enjoying google’s program, i’d stick with that!
Funny timing - HubSpot Academy got major updates in late 2023, but yeah, those same issues are still there. I did their content marketing cert last year and constantly had to look stuff up elsewhere because their explanations were half-baked. What actually helped was using their free tools while going through the lessons - hands-on practice made everything click. Since Google’s program is already working for you, just stick with it. Jumping between platforms kills momentum. After you wrap up Google, check out Facebook Blueprint for paid ads. Way more user-friendly interface and their case studies aren’t outdated. If you’re aiming for freelance work by 2026, Facebook and Google Ads skills will land you clients faster than HubSpot’s inbound stuff anyway.