10 Best Brand Management Courses (Free & Paid)

Good brand management courses are designed to teach students everything they need to know about creating and developing a powerful brand.

In this post, we reviewed a number of courses from reputable academies to find the best brand management courses and certifications available online.

10 Top Brand Management Courses

1. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour
2. Brand and Product Management
3. Brand Management: Build Successful Long-Lasting Brands
4. Strategic Brand Management
5. Create a Brand Strategy
6. Brand Management: Creating What Sets You Apart
7. Brand Management Course
8. Fundamentals of Brand Development
9. Branding Your Creative Business: Define Your Brand
10. Branding Essentials for Designers

1. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour

Featuring step-by-step guidance on how to build your own brand, the Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour course covers everything students need to know about branding.

Rather than focusing specifically on the visual assets of a brand, the lessons aim to help learners create meaningful experiences between companies and consumers.

Over a period of 17 hours, students will take part in a complete guide to brand design, purpose, alignment, and engagement. Successful learners will receive a shareable certificate as well as various useful resources for seeking employment.

Who is this for?

This brand management course requires no initial knowledge of branding or marketing to get started. It is designed for entry-level students, with easy-to-follow lessons. The course is intended for students who want to learn about the elements required to build a brand outside of visual assets like logos and website design.

Students develop an understanding of brand purpose and promise, as well as build their knowledge about the emotional side of branding. Up to 33% of students start a new career after taking this course, and 38% improve their current career standing.

What you’ll learn?

The course covers how to build brands in multi-brand countries, across geographies and cultures, as well as how to:

• Lead cultural change initiatives with human resource practices
• Measure brand development in various ways
• Develop brand purpose statements, missions, and alignment guidelines
• Design different elements of a brand, from experience to product
• Use the ABCs of behavioral science to engage customers

How much does it cost?

The course is available to access for free in auditing mode. An additional cost may be required to purchase the shareable certificate upon completion.

2. Brand and Product Management

The Brand and Product Management course from IE Business School and Coursera provides students with actionable advice on brand and product strategy.

The lessons offer students insights into how they can build an extensive strategic plan to bring a brand and product portfolio to life.

Through a selection of 6 modules, over a period of around 14 hours, this course looks at interviews with customers and industry professionals, as well as valuable branding resources.

The course is also part one of five courses included in the Marketing Mix Implementation Specialization.

Who is this for?

This is a beginner-friendly course that requires no prior knowledge from students. Individuals taking the course will start by learning how to understand the challenges involved with managing brand development and products throughout their “lifecycle”.

The course will be particularly useful to branding specialists or marketing professionals with a focus on developing new products for a brand entity.

What you’ll learn?

This comprehensive brand management course helps students to identify the information required to build an end-to-end brand and product strategy. Your course tutor will guide you through the steps involved in launching new products connected to a growing brand, and offer insights into how to develop a more compelling brand for your target audience.

By the time you’re finished learning, you’ll know how to:

• Describe and use the various elements of a brand strategy
• Communicate your unique offering with brand architecture and naming
• Build a brand portfolio and develop compelling customer experiences
• Equip employees in a team with tools to deliver on the brand promise

How much does it cost?

This course is available to access for free through Coursera. However, if you want to continue with the rest of the specialization, you will need to pay for a Coursera membership.

3. Brand Management: Build Successful Long Lasting Brands

If you’re looking for the best brand management courses online, this best-selling and highly-rated course from Udemy may be a great choice. The course offers a detailed guide on how to plan, grow, and manage brands to generate exceptional value.

This course includes around 5 and a half hours of content, split into videos, lectures, and useful resources. An accredited instructor provides step-by-step insights into developing an effective brand strategy and addressing common issues with brand development.

Who is this for?

Ideal for marketing managers, brand managers, business owners, and marketing students alike, this course is ideal for beginners. The lessons start with a simple introduction to the principles of brand management, for people who have no prior experience.

You’ll learn how to define a brand and choose brand promises, before moving into an overview of the characteristics of effective brands.

Though no prior branding knowledge is necessary, students will benefit from a basic understanding of business development and marketing.

What you’ll learn?

Throughout 8 sections and 39 lectures, this brand management course covers all of the details of building an amazing brand. Students learn how to develop memorable experiences for customers, and design brands that stand out from competing companies.

Throughout the lessons, you’ll learn what it means to differentiate a brand, how to add value to your business based on an understanding of your customers, and how to map service strategies. Other topics covered include:

• How to develop a strategic brand-building process
• Brand vision, and how to identify brand value and purpose
• Working with team members to ensure branding consistency
• Conducting a brand audit focused on consumers, distributors, and competitors
• How to evaluate and measure the growth of a brand.

How much does it cost?

This course is available for a one-time price of $89, though coupons and discounts are available from time to time. The course includes access to a certificate of completion and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Strategic Brand Management

In this Strategic brand management course, students learn how to examine and implement brand management decisions to strengthen the key elements of a brand. The 12-week course is part of the Marketing in a Digital World MicroMasters program, but it can be taken as standalone training.

Throughout the lessons, students will examine various topics related to building, managing, and measuring a brand. The course includes insights into how to measure brand equity, choose brand elements, and design effective marketing programs.

Who is this for?

Intended for marketing professionals, business leaders, and branding specialists, this easy-to-follow course starts with a comprehensive introduction to what brand management really is.

What you’ll learn?

This brand management course covers all of the skills students need to know to develop an effective brand framework. You’ll learn how to establish brand positioning and values to strengthen brand equity from a customer perspective. There are also in-depth insights into planning and implementing brand marketing programs through integrated communications and associations.

The course covers topics like how to design a brand equity management system to enhance market performance. You’ll also learn how to:

• Design strategies for reinforcing, extending, and revitalizing brands
• Explore Customer-based brand equity and how it influences business decisions
• Build a brand value chain and choose effective brand elements
• Implement long-term efforts to manage brands over market segments
• Design and implement brand architecture strategies.

How much does it cost?

The course is available to access for free on an audit track, with limited access to course material. For the full course with a shareable certificate upon completion, you’ll need the “verified track”, priced at around $200.

5. Create a Brand Strategy

The “Create a Brand Strategy” course from LinkedIn is an intermediate-level marketing course, with its own certificate of completion. Taught by a marketing and branding expert, the lessons cover how to properly frame a branding strategy with positioning and market value.

This PMI-authorized course qualifies for Professional Development Units and can be completed according to your own timetable. Overall, the course includes around 54 minutes of course resources, videos, and guidance.

Who is this for?

This brand strategy training module is intended for professionals in the marketing and branding landscape, looking to update their skills. The modules include insights into how to prioritize certain aspects of brand development and scale your business.

Though defined as an intermediate course, the lessons don’t require a significant amount of initial knowledge of branding expertise. You’ll simply need a basic understanding of how brands and businesses work to get started.

What you’ll learn?

You’ll start with an exploration into the various elements of an effective brand strategy, and how to design your brand to suit your customers. There are tips on market and customer research, as well as guidance on building a brand promise.

Some of the topics included throughout the modules include:

• How to discover and build unique brand values
• Defining your character and brand archetype, with personality elements
• How to activate your brand and connect with customers
• Where to refine and enhance your brand strategy

How much does it cost?

This course is available to access for free for a month if you’re new to LinkedIn learning. Following your free month, you can purchase the course for full-time access.

6. Brand Management: Creating What Sets You Apart

Focusing heavily on brand differentiation, this brand management course from skillshare teaches students how to define the values and vision of a company. The one-hour class is ideal for beginners, with a series of small videos and resources covering tips on how to define and develop the 6 core pillars of an effective brand. There are also insights into how to make a brand stand out through marketing.

Upon completion of this course, students will take part in a hands-on project which involves defining the first core pillars of a brand: mission, vision, and values.

Who is this for?

Suitable for both beginners and experienced marketers alike, this course is ideal for anyone interested in developing a career in marketing and advertising. Over a series of 40 projects, you’ll learn what it takes to grow a brand with conviction, making the lessons ideal for entrepreneurs.

The course doesn’t require any initial knowledge of branding and marketing, but you might benefit from a basic understanding of how business identity works.

What you’ll learn?

The course includes 11 lessons, and just over an hour of study, as well as a host of projects for hands-on learning. Students begin with an introduction to brand development, and tips on how to design their own branding project, with a definition of what branding really means.

The course also looks at the core components of branding, such as defining a set mission, values, and vision for your venture. Other topics covered include:

• Developing voice, tone, and personality for your brand
• Positioning your company to speak to your target audience
• Developing the look and feel of a successful brand
• How to manage and operationalize your brand strategy
• Finding brand channels to build community engagement

How much does it cost?

This Skillshare course will cost approximately $19 per month for a subscription to Skillshare premium. Beginners who haven’t used the service before can get their first 7 days for free.

 7. Brand Management Course

Ideal for those interested in pursuing the role of a brand manager, this simple foundational course defines what brand management is all about. You’ll learn why it’s important to develop a brand, through 1.5 hours of self-paced video lectures. Students also receive a certificate of completion once they successfully complete all of the lessons.

The course discusses the various strategies involved in efficient brand management and helps to define the difference between branding and marketing strategies.

Who is this for?

This course is a fantastic choice for entrepreneurs building their first business, marketing specialists, and individuals interested in brand management roles. The course starts with a full overview of everything students need to know about the role of a brand manager.

Beginner-friendly, the course resources are designed for those who don’t have any prior knowledge of the branding and marketing landscape. The course also paves the way for enrolment into various MBA courses for future learners.

What you’ll learn?

Focusing on the foundational elements of brand design, this course covers an introduction to what brand management is, why it’s important, and what tasks are involved in maintaining a brand. The course covers the different types of brand management and the elements of building a successful brand. Students will also learn how to use different forms of brand strategy.

By the time you’re done learning, you’ll know how to:

• Define the elements of a brand like vision and values
• Differentiate between marketing and brand management
• Align branding and product development strategies
• Define the role of a brand manager

How much does it cost?

This course is available to access for free, with a certificate of completion included upon successfully finishing all of the lessons.

8. Fundamentals of Brand Development

Built for beginners with an interest in branding, marketing, and business building, this top brand management course equips students with the tools they need to build a successful brand. Over a period of 1.5 to 3 hours, students will discover the various steps involved in building a brand, with voice, and personality.

The CPD-accredited course allows students to download a certificate of completion for an extra price, or access a printed version of their certification.

Who is this for?

This free online marketing and branding course provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of branding in a competitive market. The simple lessons address the common questions facing those at the start of their branding journey. However, it could also be ideal for people in the field of sales, marketing, and business who want to learn more about brand development.

The brand-building guidelines provide an insight into all of the components which encompass a brand identity, and even how professionals can develop a personal brand.

What you’ll learn?

The Fundamentals of Brand Development course is split into 3 modules, with a full assessment to test your knowledge at the end. The first module focuses on the elements of building a brand, such as brand strategies, marketing efforts, brand identity, and brand management.

In later modules, students will learn how to develop and build their brand, through topics covering information like how to:

• Design a brand purpose and mission statement
• Conduct competitor and customer research
• Tell an effective brand story with consistent messaging
• Unlock new methods of growing your brand image

How much does it cost?

This certification is available to access for free. However, you may need to pay an extra fee to access certain types of certificates upon completion.

9. Branding Your Creative Business: Define Your Brand

Branding your creative business is a step-by-step course on brand creation, specifically intended for those with their own creative venture. The main objective of this brand is to provide business leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to design a brand.

The course is split into 8 lessons, covering around 57 minutes of content, and includes a certificate of completion. Students will also take part in a hands-on class project where they’re asked to design their own mission statement.

Who is this for?

This brand management course is intended for beginners planning on developing their own business entity. The course covers all of the key elements included in defining your business and brand, and how you can make your new venture as successful as possible.

The course also provides beginners with resources they might need to bring their business to life, such as a clear and concise mission statement to share with brand designers. No prior knowledge of branding or marketing is required.

What you’ll learn?

Focusing on the fundamentals of brand building, this beginner-friendly course starts with an introduction to what branding means in the modern world, and how you can define your business. Students will learn how to research their target audience, and define their unique values.

The 8 lessons include tips on how to design a brand name, and why it’s so important to develop an effective brand. Other topics include:

• How to write your logo design brief for graphic experts
• Designing an effective brand mission statement
• The importance of branding for growth
• How to define your perfect customer

How much does it cost?

This course is available with a premium subscription to Skillshare, costing $19 per month. Alternatively, new users can get their first week for free.

10. Branding Essentials for Designers

Providing an interesting insight into the visual side of brand design, this course covers the elements involved in creating an eye-catching company. With insights into real-world case studies, the course covers around 5 and a half hours of content, including HD video lessons and bonus resources.

Students will learn what it means to define a brand, and how visual elements can work to bring life to a brand strategy. The course also includes a shareable certificate of completion.

Who is this for?

This course is intended for graphic designers working on logo and brand visual design. However, it also offers useful insights for people with an interest in branding, marketing, and business development. You’ll learn how different companies accessed their visuals and other elements to bring their brand vision to life.

The course requires no prior knowledge or expertise and provides students with resources they can take away and use in the future.

What you’ll learn?

Throughout this course, students learn how professional brands are built, looking at case studies from Nike, Starbucks, and Lego. The course looks at how to define a brand, and create visuals to connect with your audience, as well as what it takes to develop a creative environment.

By the time you’re done learning, you’ll know how to fine-tune your brand, create your own strategy, and take inspiration from other companies. Other topics included involve:

• Developing brand vision, attributes, and strategy guidelines
• Bringing human elements to a brand story
• Ensuring consistency across all brand and marketing platforms
• Combining brand building with graphic design

How much does it cost?

The course is currently available at a discount price of $24 at the time of writing. Users can also subscribe for $13 per month.

Are Brand Management Courses Worth it?

Brand management courses provide students with the information they need to develop an effective brand and connect with their target audience. Throughout these lessons, students will learn more about what branding means, and why it’s important to connect with a target audience.

With the best brand management courses, you’ll be able to:

• Set yourself apart from the competition when applying for branding jobs with certificates of completion from well-known facilities.
• Identify the key core elements of a brand, such as values, vision, mission, and personality, then implement them into marketing strategies.
• Develop a business from scratch with a focus on differentiation and customer experience.
• Ensure branding hits home with the right audience using research, interviews, and other resources to learn more about your target market.
• Develop a brand strategy that allows for consistent growth and development, even as your company moves into new geographies.

Methodology

To help you find the best brand management courses and certificates, we’ve looked at the top marketing and training institutions offering online training courses. Our list includes the most recognized programs in the industry suitable for beginners and anyone wishing to learn how to build and manage a brand.

Related Courses and Certifications

• Best Digital Marketing Courses – a list of premium (and free courses) on digital marketing. Some of the courses have dedicated lessons on brand management.
• Digital Marketing Certifications – If you want more than brand management, going after a digital marketing certification is the best career choice you can make.