Online learning has become an integral part of our lives.
There are thousands of high-quality courses available on the internet. But while many of these courses are free, not all of them offer free certifications.
That’s why we compiled a list of 12 sales-related courses that provide great insights and also include free certificates that you can add to your LinkedIn profile and showcase your achievements.
And there’s more: every course takes just a few hours to complete.
The learn-as-you-go approach at its finest!
So let’s have a look.
We’ve combined here courses that cover a wide range of topics that can be beneficial for anyone working in sales: from sales CRM to emotional intelligence and marketing.
44 minutes | OnePageCRM | Course Link
To build relationships with prospects and close deals, you need to be consistent with your follow-ups. Sales can get so busy that it’s sometimes overwhelming to keep track of everything that needs to be done. In this course, you’ll get a quick introduction to the unique Next Action sales method and learn how to adapt it to your work, become super productive, and never miss an important deadline or follow-up.
Here’s a free certificate you can get after completing this CRM course:
1 hour 20 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
LinkedIn is the leading B2B channel with powerful features that can help you boost your sales process and generate more leads. Besides, social media platforms are becoming one of the main lead generation sources. So why not learn more about how to leverage LinkedIn Sales Navigator for your business?
40 hours | Google | Course Link
Sales and marketing go hand in hand. That’s why we decided to include this course as well. There are 26 modules that cover different topics on digital marketing, real-world examples, and practical exercises. If you’ve been thinking about exploring digital marketing this year, this course will be a good starting point. And you can also get a free certificate from Google after successful completion.
1 hour 46 minutes | HubSpot Academy | Course Link
Not all your sales slowdowns are because of bad leads or weak pitches. Sometimes, they’re due to internal friction. This course teaches you how to identify and remove obstacles slowing down your sales team. By using the flywheel model, this course explores the frictionless selling framework for your small business.
30 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
While salespeople should focus on the value that their products or services provide to a potential client, the skill of persuasion is a must-have tool for anyone working in sales. Even if you clearly (and unbiasedly) see that a prospect can benefit from your product or service, they might be overwhelmed by the number of choices and hesitate whether it’s a good idea to buy from you.
38 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
Closing is one of your top skills as a salesperson, yet it’s one of the hardest to master. This short LinkedIn course equips you with practical skills to build your own closing strategy. You’ll learn from a trainer and sales executive with over 30 years of experience. By the time you finish the course, you’ll be more confident about nurturing buyer relationships, overcoming sales obstacles, and recognizing buying signals.
42 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
Have you ever struggled with writing a cold email or reaching out to a prospect on LinkedIn? Sometimes you know pretty well the value of your product but just can’t find a way to say it in a simple way. This becomes more difficult when you sell a very technical product or service. That’s why writing is one of the underrated skills of successful salespeople.
1 hour 47 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
Productivity… One of the most discussed topics in the world. Miriads of articles and research papers have been written, read, analyzed, presented, and debated. In this short course, you’ll learn the main principles of productivity and the best practices for managing your time. The sad truth is: Hermione Granger might have a Time-Turner but we don’t.
56 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
Good decision-making is tightly connected with critical thinking. It is quite different from strategic thinking and is a standalone skill that sometimes gets neglected. Salespeople have to make rapid decisions, and this course will help you to learn about cognitive biases, ways to minimize poor judgments, and steps for avoiding logical fallacies.
34 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
If you are asked to list the most important skills for salespeople, what would you say? Good communication, emotional intelligence, quick decision-making… and probably resilience. In sales, objections, and rejections are quite common events so it’s understandable if you feel discouraged sometimes. In this short course, you’ll learn what resilience is and how to increase it.
3 hours 6 minutes | HubSpot Academy | Course Link
The way people buy has changed, and the way you sell should, too. The Inbound Sales course focuses on understanding how your buyers think and meeting them with the right solution. This course teaches you how to identify the right prospects, personalise your outreach, and have conversations that actually close deals. You’ll also learn how to deliver sales presentations that motivate your prospects into action.
1 hour 21 minutes | LinkedIn | Course Link
If you’ve been thinking about selling and marketing your products or services on Amazon, it’s high time to learn how to navigate these rough and competitive waters. In this course, you’ll learn the key steps to successfully sell and market your products on Amazon.
Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions we often get about the value of free sales certificates and whether they can help in your sales career.
Sales certificates are different from sales certifications.
You might have heard about sales certifications, such as Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) or Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP).
Sales certifications are credentials that are usually earned by completing a paid sales training program. These programs require several weeks or sometimes months to complete.
Sales certificates, on the other hand, are less time-consuming.
They’re typically offered by companies or online learning platforms. The end goal is to introduce you to some sales competencies and give you a basic overview that you can further build upon.
Sales are a very competitive field.
To succeed in your sales career, you need to be constantly improving your skills and qualifications. Having sales certificates sets you apart from the rest.
They typically signal to employers and prospects that you’ve taken time to deepen your sales expertise. In other words, they demonstrate your commitment and boost your credibility.
By earning sales certificates, you can expand your skillset.
For example, you might be very comfortable doing cold calls but struggle with closing deals. By completing even a simple course on closing techniques, you can get more comfortable with this stage of the sales process.
So whether you’re looking to land a new sales job or accelerate your career, don’t underestimate the importance of sales certificates.
Getting a sales certificate is only the first step. You need to proudly promote it too, or sell your newly acquired skills.
Why not let the world know you’ve invested in your sales skills?
Here are some tips on how you can showcase your sales certificates:
Employers are always on the hunt for salespeople who commit to continuous self-improvement.
Sales certificates make you more marketable for job opportunities and promotions. If you were a sales manager, who would you rather have on your team: a sales rep who actively invests in their skills or someone who stays happy with basic competence?
Plus, the knowledge and frameworks gained during sales courses will improve your sales performance.
Anastasia has over 6 years of experience working in marketing for small businesses, was a finalist in several international hackathons for product managers, and holds a degree in corporate finance.
