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Curious to know what skills you can learn online?
Well, if you are anything like me, then I am sure you have thought on more than one occasion about what skills you can actually learn online. With our ever-changing world and especially how technology is moving faster than ever, we are regularly reminded of new and innovative skills we can learn online. Or perhaps you just have a curiosity to try something new which maybe out of your comfort zone, and where better to start learning than from the comfort of your own home.
You may still be asking yourself;What is the quality of the course? Is the platform accredited? Is it worth the money? Is this course going to help my career?
To answer all of these questions and to help you choose from the Top Skills to Learn Online, I’ve created this in-depth guide. I have recommended both paid, and free courses, so there is something to suit everyone’s needs and budget.
Table of Content
Top Skills to Learn Online
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the full review, then no worries as I have put together the top recommendations for skills to learn according to its category and the best platform to find the course.
Once you have decided on the new skill it is you want to learn and commit to, you will then need to sign up to the online learning platform who provides that course, in some cases more than one. This will require a login and password, and if you’re anything like me, then remembering a new password can just create another thing to worry about. So to take some of that stress away, check out our latest article on Best Password Managers to find one that could work for you.
1. Digital Marketing & SEO
Trying to get someone’s attention online and engaging a user with relevant content is getting more difficult than ever. So if you are an entrepreneur or you are looking to advance your career in digital marketing then learning how to successfully do it yourself is the way forward. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the ways to optimize a script, a blog post or enabling a website to rank higher in google. So why not educate yourself with some of the top courses out there and help advance your career in Digital Marketing & SEO.
If you want to design your own website or you are considering a career in programming, then there are some excellent online courses out there that are focused on you becoming job ready as a programmer. It is not only a highly employable career but the salary isn’t bad either.
We recommend trying out:
Datacamp offers close to 350+ on topics that specialize in data science and analytics that are taught by expert data scientists. We recommend checking out the Skill Track – Python Fundamentals
Codecademy offers courses in 14 different programming languages and a free basic plan for you to try out. We recommend checking out the Career Path Web Development.
3. Personal Finance
Trying to figure out the best ways to budget and to keep an eye on your spending can definitely become very stressful and feel almost out of control at times. Some ways to keep our personal finance in check is by money management, budgeting and getting out of debt. So getting some guidance and tips from online courses can help us make the right choices. If you looking to find out more about Online Brokers, then check out our article on the Best Online Brokers for Beginners.
Learning a new language not only improves your prospects of landing a new job or helps you stand out from the crowd for a specific job, regardless on the industry. But learning a new language helps to improve your memory function, cognitive skills and just generally enhances your worldview. I know this from experience, when I started learning Spanish 8 years ago, I never quite anticipated that learning the language would help me understand the people, culture and their traditions the way that is has.
Skillshare offers a 7-day free trial on its premium paid plan. We recommend checking out one of its most popular language classes, German Language for Beginners
If you are looking for a healthy, balanced lifestyle, then making fitness part of that is a key factor. If signing up to a gym doesn’t appeal to you, I get it. Then working out in the comfort of your own home maybe your answer, or just getting motivated by some of the greatest sports men and women could be what you are looking for.
Udemy offers over 400 courses on topics related to fitness. We recommend checking out the course Fitness for Beginners
6. YouTube
If you are looking to start your own YouTube channel, then having sound knowledge on starting your own channel, getting more views & subscribers whilst building a brand with videos is key to having success. You can learn all these key skills online by completing an online course and following a detailed guide.
If you are looking to learn the basics of social media or wanting to advance existing skills then taking an online course will help you do this. Whether it’s building a solid foundation for your business or brand on social media or helping you build social media strategies or adverts there is something for everyone.
Practicing yoga from the comfort of your own home can not only save you time and energy but money also. Yoga is a practice that is full of physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. Following an online class with an expert teacher means you can schedule in the time that works with your daily routine.
Mindfulness is the human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing. Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to the breath and bodily sensations and is accessible to all of us. The benefits of Mindfulness help to relieve stress, process trauma and encourage self-compassion.
Nutrition is essential for growth, development, health and wellbeing. Eating a healthy diet contributes to preventing future illness and improving quality and length of life. Having a better understanding of the nutritional benefits of the food and drink that we consume can help us to make better decisions. If you are looking for guidance on a personal level or considering a career in nutrition, there are resources online for all.
edXÂ offers accredited courses which are partnered by top Universities like Harvard and Berkeley. We recommend checking out the course Nutrition, Exercise and Sports
11. Gardening
Gardening is a really satisfying hobby and having the knowledge to look after and maintain your green friends. It’s important to have the right skills along with enthusiasm and commitment. Whether you have a variety of houseplants or you want to grow your own vegetable patch, there are helpful resources online for you all.
Learning to cook with creativity and confidence is very different to just rustling up a quick pasta dish. So why not take the plunge and learn to cook from an expert. This will leave you ready to invite family, friends and loved ones round for an unforgettable dinner party or potentially the first stages into a culinary career.
We recommend trying out:
MasterClass offers courses from culinary geniuses like Gordon Ramsey and Alice Waters and many more where you will learn basic knife skills to making your own pasta dough and much more. We recommend checking out the course Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking I
Udemy offers a wide variety of cooking courses 300+ to be exact. You can learn anything from Indian Cooking, Vegan Cooking, Bread Baking and Nutrition. We recommend checking out the course Healthy Cooking Fundamentals
13. Baking
Do you want to get into baking? And looking for guidance and inspiration of where to start. There are some key qualities which will help you become a better baker that include: Organization, Attention to detail, Patience and Creativity. There is no better feeling than when your bread has risen perfectly or the ingredients of your cake perfectly compliment each other.
We recommend trying out:
Udemy offers close to 50 baking courses from sourdough bread baking, cake baking to pastry and desserts. We recommend checking out the course The Basics of Cake
If you already work as a designer you will know how dynamic and innovative the design world is and keeping up ahead of the game can at times feel a little overwhelming. Taking an online course to brush up your skills is the perfect solution as it is both time and cost effective. On the other hand if you enjoy designing and being creative as a hobby it’s also an excellent way to get inspired.
CreativeLive is an online creative community with 1,500+ curated courses on 6 creative categories including Art & Design, Craft & Maker and more. Its 30-day refund policy makes it an appealing option to try out its creative courses. We recommend checking out the course Color for Designers: Exploration, Theory, & Application
15. Adobe Design
If you are starting your career in the design world, you will be aware of the different Adobe software programs on offer. If you want to create visuals for print, web and app design you will need to know how to use the creative industry’s go-to graphic design programs. With so many useful online courses to help guide you through these programs, it’s the best place for you to start or even brush up on existing skills in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re a complete newbie to photography, a holiday shooter or just want to know more about setting up your camera. You will be thrilled to know there are some top online photography courses to meet what you are looking for. If you want to read about the Best Online Photography Courses then check out my post here.
We recommend trying out:
Skillshare offers some top photography courses for beginners and with its generous 1-month free trial you really can’t complain. We recommend checking out the course Fundamentals of a DSLR Photography
CreativeLive is a creative platform that has 700+ handpicked instructors and photography is one of its most popular topics. We recommend checking out the course 28 days of Portrait Photography
LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,000+ courses  which are all self-paced. When you successfully complete a course you will earn a certificate. We recommend checking out the course Introduction to Photography
17. Musical Instrument
Have you always wanted to play the guitar or learn the piano? Well learning how to play an instrument online may be your answer. With so many self taught musicians or ones looking to brush up on existing skills. The high quality and variety of online courses becomes the obvious choice, so why not give it a go.
Being able to communicate and express ourselves through written words is such a valuable skill that we use everyday. Whether it is writing an email to a boss, updating our Curriculum Vitae or creating a post for social media, being able to write in a succinct way and with confidence can not only save us a lot of time but also help to improve our verbal communication. So great courses which can help us not only professionally but personally as well.
Almost all businesses online or notuse spreadsheets to manage its data. Most of us have some experience with basic Excel spreadsheet skills. But being able to effectively use formulas and other features that spreadsheets offers is something more advanced. For many of us unless we have been trained or shown how to use Excel in this way we may need a course or instructions to feel confident doing that.
We recommend trying out:
Datacamp offers close to 350+ on topics that specialize in data science and analytics that are taught by expert data scientists. We recommend checking out the Introduction to Spreadsheets
20. Organization
Managing our time and focusing on how to reduce procrastination can make the biggest difference to our day, week, month and year. Many times it can be by making simple changes and resisting distractions. So why not take a course to help organize ourselves and become more productive.
Copywriting is one of the skills that is in high demand. The career opportunities can vary from website copywriting, blogging, eBook writing, product copywriting and much more. Having the skills for copywriting also can help you in many professions like digital marketing or as a social media manager as it gives you the ability to be able to express yourself coherently through words. If you think this could be a skill or career for you, then check out the online courses on offer below.
Data Science is a revolutionary technology that is the study of Data. It is way of creating insights and predictions to help companies make important business decisions. If you enjoy extracting, analyzing and vizualizing information then a career as a Data Analyst may interest you. Plus the paycheck isn’t bad either. So with so many online courses for you to choose one we have highlighted some of the top courses. You can read in more detail our article about becoming a Data Analyst.
We recommend trying out:
Udacity offers 40+ Nanodegrees on topics in tech and business. Some of its most popular courses are to be a Data Analyst and a Java Web Developer.
Datacamp offers close to 350 on topics that specialize in data science and analytics that are taught by expert data scientists. We recommend checking out the career track Data Scientist with R.
Final Thoughts: Top Skills to Learn Online
Hopefully, this detailed guide on the Top Skills to Learn Online has inspired you and given you some guidance to brush up on existing skills or to learn something completely new. Just remember that learning a new skill is for everyone no matter what your prior experience.
Please, leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Review Updates:
11/05/22- Added Social Media Marketing Skill
09/05/22- Added YouTube Skill
17/03/22 – General Update, Added Learn a Language & Spreadsheet Skills
10/03/22 – Data Analyst
07/03/22 – Top Skills to Learn Online Verdict
12/10/21 – Welcome Bar
Catherine Cooke
Hey. I am Catherine and I have been working as a freelancer for many years now. In 2005, I graduated from a BA honours in Art & Design from BCU and then went onto complete a Master’s Degree in Teaching from UEL. The skills I gained from learning and teaching have led me to create Upskillwise, a place for learners like myself to find the best possible resources and courses to train and upskill themselves, either personally or professionally. If you have a question, please feel free to ask me anything or leave me a comment.
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Blessing
6 months ago
I want to learn musical instrument online
Sergio Calmon
1 year ago
Hello Catherine!
Best article I read about online education platforms, really, today we have many options, you have analyzed each one in depth, thank you very much.
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I want to learn musical instrument online
Hello Catherine!
Best article I read about online education platforms, really, today we have many options, you have analyzed each one in depth, thank you very much.
Thank you Sergio. So glad you found it helpful 🙂