Should You Take a Short Marketing Course? Complete Decision Framework

Should you take a short marketing course?

It depends on your situation. Take a course if: (1) You have 5-10 hours/week available (fragmented time is fine), (2) You want practical skills you can implement immediately, (3) You're willing to actually apply what you learn (not just watch passively), (4) You need results within 3-6 months (courses deliver faster than self-teaching). Don't take a course if: (1) You have zero hours available (genuinely impossible schedule), (2) You need done-for-you services (hire agency instead), (3) You're not willing to implement (just want knowledge), (4) You need results instantly (marketing takes time). Decision framework: Most people benefit from short courses. The constraint isn't whether you should take one—it's whether you'll implement what you learn. The course teaches skills; your action determines results. Better question to ask: "Will I actually implement this?" If yes → take course. If no → don't waste money.

 

Should You Take a Short Marketing Course? The Honest Assessment

You're thinking about taking a short marketing course.

But you're not 100% sure it's the right move.

You have questions: Will it actually help? Is it worth the money and time? Am I the right person for this? What if I don't finish it? What if it doesn't work?

These are smart questions.

Not everyone should take a short course. Some people would be better off hiring an agency. Some should wait. Some should focus on something else entirely.

This guide helps you figure out whether you're in the "should take a course" category or not.

 

The Honest Truth About Short Courses

Before we go through the decision framework, let's establish what's real and what's hype.

What Short Courses Actually Do

✅ Teach you practical skills - You'll learn marketing strategy and tactics

✅ Provide frameworks - Step-by-step implementation guides

✅ Accelerate learning - Faster than figuring it out yourself

✅ Cost-effective - Much cheaper than agencies or hiring

✅ Flexible - Learn on your schedule

✅ Build confidence - You'll understand marketing better

What Short Courses Don't Do

❌ Do the work for you - You have to implement

❌ Guarantee results - Results depend on your effort

❌ Teach overnight - Takes weeks/months to see results

❌ Replace experience - You need to apply learning

❌ Work if you don't implement - Most important constraint

 

The Decision Framework: 5 Key Questions

Answer these 5 questions honestly. They'll tell you if a short course is right.

Question 1: Do You Actually Have Time?

The Real Question: Can you commit 5-10 hours per week for 8-16 weeks?

Be Honest:

• Can you find 1 hour per day? (20-30 min lesson + 20-30 min implementation)
• Can you protect that time consistently?
• Will other priorities steal this time?

Red Flags:

• ❌ "I'll do it when things calm down" (they won't)
• ❌ "I'll wake up early" (you won't)
• ❌ "I'll do it evenings" (you're too tired)
• ❌ "I'll squeeze it in" (you'll abandon it)

Green Flags:

• ✅ You already have fragmented time (commute, gym, coffee)
• ✅ You can schedule it like client meetings
• ✅ You're willing to protect it
• ✅ You've successfully completed learning before

Verdict: If you can't honestly commit 5-10 hours/week, a course won't work. Your time is too constrained.

Question 2: Are You Willing to Implement?

The Real Question: Will you actually DO what the course teaches, or just watch it?

The Reality: Course is 20%, implementation is 80%.

Most people take courses and never implement. They get distracted. They forget. They move to next priority.

The implementation test:

• Can you commit to implementing at least ONE strategy fully?
• Will you block time for action, not just learning?
• Are you prepared to measure results?
• Will you optimize based on what you learn?

Red Flags:

• ❌ "I just want to understand marketing better"
• ❌ "I'm learning for general knowledge"
• ❌ "I'll implement eventually"
• ❌ "I'm too busy to do the work"

Green Flags:

• ✅ "I need to improve my email marketing and I'll commit to it"
• ✅ "I have a specific problem I want to solve"
• ✅ "I'm willing to block time for implementation"
• ✅ "I'll measure results and optimize"

Verdict: If you're unwilling to implement, don't waste money on a course. Read blogs instead (free).

Question 3: What Are Your Expected Results?

The Real Question: What do you actually want from this?

Different outcomes require different commitments.

If your goal is: "Understand marketing better"

• This is passive learning, not goal-oriented
• A course might feel slow
• Better alternative: Free blogs, podcasts

If your goal is: "Get more customers"

• This is action-oriented, implementation-focused
• A course is perfect
• Course can help significantly

If your goal is: "Change careers into marketing"

• This is long-term, comprehensive
• A course is the first step
• You need portfolio + networking too

If your goal is: "Grow my business by 50%"

• This is ambitious but realistic
• Course + full implementation can deliver
• Takes 3-6 months of consistent work

Verdict: You need a specific, measurable goal. Not just "learn marketing." If you don't have one, you're not ready for a course.

Question 4: Can You Afford It?

The Real Question: Is the financial investment worth your situation?

Short courses are cheap ($49-500), but let's be realistic about value.

Financial Assessment:

• For business owners: If a course costs $500 and generates $1,000 in revenue, that's 2x ROI. Worth it? YES.
• For career changers: If a course costs $300 and helps you get a job paying $60k/year, that's worth it? YES.
• For employees: If a course costs $200 and it improves your career prospects, worth it? PROBABLY.
• For people in financial hardship: If you're struggling, put off the course until you're stable.

The Real Constraint: Not money. It's opportunity cost.

Spending 40 hours on a course means NOT spending 40 hours on something else. Is marketing worth that trade?

Verdict: If you have budget and time, cost isn't the constraint. Implementation is.

Question 5: Are You Coachable?

The Real Question: Can you learn from someone else's experience?

This sounds simple, but many people can't.

Signs you're coachable:

• ✅ You admit you don't know everything
• ✅ You're willing to try things differently
• ✅ You don't dismiss advice based on ego
• ✅ You learn from failures
• ✅ You're humble about what you don't know

Signs you're not coachable:

• ❌ You think you already know marketing better
• ❌ You dismiss others' advice without testing it
• ❌ You have excuses why strategies won't work
• ❌ You blame circumstances, not your efforts
• ❌ You're defensive about feedback

Verdict: If you're not coachable, a course won't help. You'll reject the teachings or not implement them.

 

Decision Matrix: Should You Take a Course?

Answer these 5 questions with YES or NO:

1. Do you have 5-10 hours per week available? YES / NO
2. Will you commit to implementing at least one strategy fully? YES / NO
3. Do you have a specific measurable goal? YES / NO
4. Can you afford $49-500 investment? YES / NO
5. Are you coachable and willing to learn? YES / NO

Scoring:

5 YES answers: Take the course NOW. You're ideal.

4 YES answers: Take the course. You'll get results.

3 YES answers: Take the course, but lower expectations. You might see limited results.

2 or fewer YES answers: Don't take a course yet. Fix the constraint first.

 

What If You're Not Ready?

If you scored low, here's what to do instead:

If Time is the Constraint

• Simplify your schedule
• Eliminate time-wasters
• Block non-negotiable time for learning
• Come back in 3 months
• Consider 6-month delay, not permanent

If Implementation is the Constraint

• Start with ONE small project
• Prove to yourself you can implement
• Then take a course
• Use course as expansion of existing projects

If You Don't Have a Goal

• Spend 2 weeks identifying what you actually want
• Get specific (not "grow business" but "generate 10 qualified leads/month")
• Then take course
• Course will address your specific goal

If You Can't Afford It

• Save for 2-3 months
• Or start with free resources
• Look for a coure provider like 20 Minute Marketing who allows payment plans.
• Come back when you have budget
• Many courses are worth the investment

If You're Not Coachable

• Work on mindset first
• Read books on learning and growth
• Practice being coachable in other areas
• Come back when you've grown

 

The Alternative Options (If a Course Isn't Right)

Short courses aren't for everyone. Here are other paths:

Option 1: Hire an Agency

Cost: $3,000-5,000/month minimum 

Effort from you: Minimal (they do the work)

Results: Done-for-you, but you don't learn

Best for: Busy people who want outsourced marketing

Trade-off: Expensive but hands-off

 

Option 2: Hire a Marketing Employee/Contractor

Cost: $70,000-120,000/year

Effort from you: Moderate (managing them)

Results: They build marketing, you learn by working with them

Best for: Growing businesses ready to scale

Trade-off: Long-term commitment but long-term asset

 

Option 3: Free Learning (Blogs, YouTube, Podcasts)

Cost: $0

Effort from you: High (finding good content, self-directed)

Results: Scattered learning, slow progress

Best for: People willing to do slow learning

Trade-off: Free but inefficient

 

Option 4: Wait and See

Cost: $0 Effort from you: None Results: No change Best for: People not ready yet

Trade-off: Nothing changes

 

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Course

If you decide a course IS right, here's how to choose the right one.

Question 1: Is it results-focused?

Look for courses that include:

• ✅ Real case studies with specific metrics
• ✅ Implementation guides (step-by-step)
• ✅ Templates and worksheets
• ✅ Measurement framework
• ✅ Clear timeline expectations

Avoid courses with:

• ❌ Only theory and concepts
• ❌ Vague promises
• ❌ No measurement guidance
• ❌ No implementation tools

 

Question 2: Is it comprehensive or specialized?

Comprehensive:

• Covers multiple marketing areas
• Better for generalists
• Good foundation building

Specialized:

• Deep dive into one topic
• Better for specific skill gaps
• Good for advancing expertise

Best for most: Comprehensive course first, then specialize

 

Question 3: Does it match your time availability?

Self-paced: Learn whenever you want

• Better for busy professionals
• Fits fragmented time
• Requires self-discipline

Live cohort: Fixed schedule, group learning

• Better for accountability
• Requires protecting time blocks
• More community

Best for most: Self-paced

 

Question 4: What's the guarantee?

Look for:

• ✅ 30-60 day money-back guarantee
• ✅ Clear terms (not hidden)
• ✅ Actually offered (test it)

Red flag:

• ❌ No guarantee
• ❌ Guarantee only if "you don't like it" (vague)
• ❌ Complicated terms

 

Question 5: Can you see curriculum?

Look at what you'll actually learn:

• ✅ Detailed lesson-by-lesson outline
• ✅ Clear progression (foundation to advanced)
• ✅ Topics match your goals
• ✅ Estimated time per module

Red flag: "See inside" after purchase only

 

Your Decision Framework Summary

Before taking ANY course, answer these honestly:

1. Time: Can I commit 5-10 hours/week? YES / NO
2. Implementation: Will I actually do the work? YES / NO
3. Goal: Do I have a specific measurable goal? YES / NO
4. Money: Can I afford the investment? YES / NO
5. Coachability: Am I willing to learn and adapt? YES / NO

Score:

• 5 YES → Take course now
• 4 YES → Take course (good fit)
• 3 YES → Take course (manage expectations)
• 2 or less → Fix constraints first, come back later

 

Once You Decide to Take a Course

If you've answered YES to most questions, here's how to maximize results:

Before Starting:

• ✅ Set specific goal (not vague)
• ✅ Block learning time in calendar
• ✅ Identify what you'll implement first
• ✅ Set up measurement (baseline metrics)

During Course:

• ✅ Watch + implement, don't just watch
• ✅ Complete at least one strategy fully
• ✅ Measure progress weekly
• ✅ Ask for help when stuck

After Course:

• ✅ Keep implementing
• ✅ Optimize based on results
• ✅ Take next course if needed
• ✅ Document what you learned

 

Which Path is Right for You?

Not sure if you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner?

Check if you're ready to start a course → - This guide helps you decide if NOW is the right time.

If you're a complete beginner → - Read this to understand what beginner courses offer and how to succeed.

If you already know marketing basics → - Learn about advanced specialization courses that take you to expert level.

 

Compare Course Options

Once you've decided a course is right, you need to pick which one.

Compare short marketing courses to find the right fit →

We compare courses on:

• Results-focused curriculum
• Implementation support
• Time requirements
• Cost and value
• Guarantee terms
• Best for different situations
• Beginner vs advanced options
• Affordability and ROI

You'll find the exact course that matches your situation.