Who are these digital marketing courses designed for?

Our courses are built specifically for busy small business owners who want to grow their business online but don't have the time — or the patience — to wade through jargon-heavy training. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your existing marketing, there's a course tier for you.

Do I need any marketing experience to get started?

Not at all. Our Essentials course is designed for complete beginners, and every lesson is written in plain English — no marketing jargon, no tech speak. If you can spare 20 minutes a day, you can do this.

What topics do the digital marketing courses cover?

Our courses walk you through the key pillars of digital marketing: building your online presence, mastering Google and SEO, social media strategy, email and SMS marketing, and AI-powered tools — plus bonus guides and downloadable resources.

What's the difference between the Essentials, Deluxe, and Expert courses?

Each tier builds on the last. Essentials covers the fundamentals to get you up and running. Deluxe goes deeper with 100+ actionable lessons across branding, SEO, social media, and automation. Expert is for those ready to accelerate results with advanced strategies. You can choose the level that matches where you're at.

How much time do I need to commit each day?

Just 20 minutes. Every lesson is designed to fit into a busy schedule — before the kids wake up, during your lunch break, or after you knock off for the day. No marathon study sessions required.

How much does a digital marketing course cost?

Plans start from just $49 per month. In most cases, our students find the course pays for itself within 3–6 months through the new customers and leads they generate.

Can I go at my own pace?

Absolutely. The courses are fully online and self-paced, so you can work through the lessons whenever it suits you. Jump ahead, revisit a topic, or take a break — it's entirely up to you.

What makes 20 Minute Marketing different from other online courses?

We've packed 25+ years of experience scaling startups and billion-dollar brands into bite-sized, actionable lessons built for small business. No fluff, no filler — just practical strategies you can implement the same day, in 20 minutes or less.

How long does each marketing lesson take?

Every lesson is designed to be completed in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy small business owners.

Do I need a large marketing budget?

No. Our courses teach you how to put your budget to work for you effectively, rather than wasting it on agencies.

Do Digital Marketing Certifications Expire or Need Renewal?

Apr 07, 2026

Meta description: Most digital marketing certifications expire after 12–24 months. Here's the renewal schedule, what AU recruiters check, and when to skip a renewal.

Yes — most digital marketing certifications expire. The schedule and the recruiter behaviour around expired certifications matters more than candidates realise. An expired certification on a CV is often worse than no certification at all.

The short answer

Google Ads certifications expire after 12 months. HubSpot certifications usually expire after 12–24 months. Meta Blueprint certifications expire after 12 months. Renewal is free for most, requires re-passing a shortened exam (30–60 minutes). If a certification has expired and you're not in the role that uses it, consider removing it from your CV rather than renewing.

Renewal schedules for the major certifications

Google Ads Search, Display, Video, Shopping, Apps, Performance Max. 12-month validity. Free renewal exam.

Google Analytics (GA4). 12-month validity. Free renewal.

HubSpot Inbound Marketing. Typically 12–24 months. Free renewal exam.

HubSpot Email Marketing, Content Marketing, Social Media. 12–24 months. Free renewal.

Meta Blueprint certifications. 12 months. Paid renewal (the exam itself costs $50–$150 USD depending on level).

SEMrush Academy. Some courses certify for 6 months. Free renewal.

AMI (Australian Marketing Institute) Certified Practising Marketer. Annual renewal with CPD points. Paid membership.

The Renewal-Triage Framework

Here's how to decide whether to renew. I call it the Renewal-Triage Framework.

Renew immediately: Certifications central to your current role (e.g., Google Ads if you do paid media daily).
Renew within 90 days of expiry: Certifications relevant to roles you're applying for in the next 6 months.
Let expire and remove: Certifications you earned to explore but don't use and aren't relevant to target roles. Listing an expired certification signals stale knowledge.
Replace with newer relevant certification: If a certification expires and your career direction has shifted, replace rather than renew.

What Australian recruiters check (and don't check)

Most AU recruiters click through to verify Google and HubSpot certifications — both platforms make verification trivial via public URLs. Meta certifications are less consistently checked. AMI status is usually verified for senior roles.

Recruiters notice expiry dates when they look. If your LinkedIn shows "HubSpot Inbound Marketing — issued 2022," it reads as outdated even if you didn't list the expiry. Either renew or remove. Don't leave stale dates visible.

What most people get wrong

The biggest mistake is leaving expired certifications on a CV. Australian hiring managers regularly report that expired certificates signal "this person isn't keeping current." The CV improves when you remove them.

The second mistake is over-renewing. Renewing every certification you've ever earned is a time sink. The Renewal-Triage Framework limits renewals to certifications that earn you something now or soon.

The third mistake is panicking when something expires. Renewal is fast and free. If a certification expires today, you can renew tomorrow.

Composite example: Marie from Brisbane (Composite example based on patterns)

Marie had eight expired certifications on her LinkedIn, dating from her initial career-change phase in 2022. A senior recruiter at a Brisbane SaaS told her after a rejected application: "Your certifications all read as old — it looks like you haven't updated your skills." She removed five (irrelevant to her current direction), renewed two (Google Ads Search and HubSpot Inbound), and earned one new one (GA4). Two months later, she had three interview offers. The cleanup was the change.

Decision checklist for expired certifications

Is this central to my current role? (Renew immediately.)
Is it relevant to the role I'll apply for in 6 months? (Renew within 90 days.)
Has my career direction shifted away from this? (Remove.)
Has it been over 24 months since I last used the underlying knowledge? (Renew or remove.)

Frequently asked questions

Will recruiters see I'm renewing a lapsed certification?
Generally no — renewals reset the issue date. Don't worry about the gap.

How long do renewal exams take?
30–60 minutes typically. Shorter than initial certifications.

Do AMI Certified Practising Marketer credentials carry weight at junior level?
Modest. Stronger weighting at senior or specialist levels. Junior-level CVs are better served by Google + HubSpot certifications.

What if I no longer have access to the renewal email?
Most platforms remind you 30–60 days before expiry via email. If you've changed jobs/emails, log in and update contact details. See how many certifications you actually need.