I have a confession.

Sometimes I miss the good old days when you blogged mainly about what you wanted to write about without Google, SEO, SMM, content marketing, etc. hanging over your head like Damocles’ sword.

But then again, if you want to stay on top of your blogging game and rely on it for a living, you do have to think about those factors in addition to the most important thing of all: writing content that readers will find useful.

So, let’s say you’ve got the topic down pat. You know what gets the attention of readers, but have you thought about other factors that can help you become a better blogger?

To help you with that, here are 3 online courses for bloggers that I think you will want to – at the very least – take a look at. They may not be about the usual “how to get traffic and make money” topics, but they will give you skills that you won’t regret having. Best of all, they’re free.

Free online courses for bloggers

Secret Sauce of Great Writing

The course, Secret Sauce of Great Writing, is offered by Udemy, which is one of the most popular online learning platforms. This course is simple but straight to the point, giving you tips to improve your business writing, blogs, PR and copywriting skills.

You can take the course any time and at your own pace, so you don’t have to worry about being pressured for time.

Enroll here.

Introduction to Journalism

Are bloggers journalists? This has long been a bone of contention, and one could say that it still isn’t a resolved issue. But what does it matter if you can take courses that train you to become a journalist?

This course is an introductory one, but it’s a start.

About the course:

This free online course is aimed at those curious about journalism and looking to gain a better understanding of what the subject entails. Run by a team of internationally-renowned scholars and journalism practitioners at the University of Strathclyde, it gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the professional world of reporters and editors.

Introduction to Journalism starts on September 7, 2015 and follows a timeline, so if you want to take it, better sign up now.

Enroll here.

Create an Expert LinkedIn Profile for Job Search

How much attention do you pay to your LinkedIn profile?

I’ve got another confession: I barely pay attention to mine, but that’s probably because I am not hunting for a job.

It is, however, a good idea to make sure that your profile is at its best all the time, for you never know who may see it. And, if you’re actively looking for a job or gigs, then it is even more crucial.

This course takes five weeks and features the following.

• Understand the importance of using LinkedIn to establish a career in North America.
• Receive step by step instruction from our experts on how to create and improve a profile.
• Create a LinkedIn-style resume.
• Build a LinkedIn network with meaningful contacts.
• Discover ways to drive traffic to the LinkedIn profile.
• Begin using LinkedIn as an effective personal branding tool and take it to the next level.

The course starts on August 17, 2015, so there’s no time to waste! Enroll now.

More tips: Best Writing Tips for Beginning Bloggers

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