Discover what makes online content a success and learn how to create engaging content that's in line with your business goals.

Start your free 7-day trial

66,465 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Included in an ExpertTrack

    Course 3 of 4
  • Get full ExpertTrack access

    $39/monthFind out more

Master the art of successful content creation for your business

Great content is the foundation of a successful digital marketing strategy. It can increase SEO rankings, enhance brand and product awareness, and encourage your audience to buy a product or share information – but what makes truly effective online content?

On this two-week course, you’ll find out how to create engaging content that meets your goals.

You’ll learn the value of delivering the right message to the right audience at the right time, and consider the importance of tone, style, and format.

Internet users are consuming more content than ever before. With this course, you’ll understand how to use different online platforms to your advantage to make your voice heard above the noise.

Critically examine digital content to help you deliver the right message

With an understanding that content is planned with a specific purpose, you’ll learn how to identify the messages and intentions within online content.

You’ll question the messaging and use of language to understand the best practices in content creation. You’ll also evaluate how various media formats can be used to create compelling content to help you identify which format suits your business intentions.

Develop a content strategy alongside industry professionals

You’ll learn how to use practical strategies to communicate effectively online. Hearing from industry professionals, you’ll discover how you can structure your content plans, and how to approach content creation for different platforms.

You’ll hear how experts put their content plans into action and by the end of this course, you’ll feel confident in structuring your own plan to respond to a specific brief.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds Sanne Vliegenthart: There are four billion active internet users worldwide, consuming more content than ever before. In a sea of text, audio and video, how can you make your voice heard online? How can your content to make the most impact on your audience? This course will help you find out, learn how tone, style, and format should change depending on your audience. Explore how to use different online platforms to your advantage and hear from industry professionals about how they put their content plans into action.

Skip to 0 minutes and 39 seconds How to create great online content is part of our suite of professional and digital skills courses from the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding covering topics from coding to social media marketing all available for free to help you build your career today. Whether you’re new to the world of work or forging a new career for yourself, we look forward to sharing your journey into the fast-moving digital space.

What topics will you cover?

  • Define online ‘content’ and how content is planned with a specific intention
  • Critically examine online content and identify the messaging and intentions within it
  • Question the messaging and use of language in online content
  • Use practical strategies to communicate effectively online
  • Explore best practice in content media creation

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

Download a PDF

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Interpret the messaging and intention behind online content
  • Evaluate the use of tone and language in communication
  • Describe how various media formats are used to create compelling online content
  • Identify suitable content format for a particular purpose
  • Describe key considerations for creating online content in a variety of media
  • Apply suitable tones and techniques to communicate a message effectively

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in online content creation. It will be useful if you are working in marketing or if you are looking to boost your digital skills, whether you are wanting to improve your career prospects or you’re just entering the digital workplace. This may include those starting their careers, those who have a degree, or those who want to improve their career prospects.

The course will also be useful for anyone in employment who wants to boost their digital skills or anyone returning to the workplace who’d like to gain confidence in how working practices have evolved.

You might also be interested in the other courses in the Digital Skills for the Workplace collection from the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding.

Who will you learn with?

Digital content/community/ transformation consultant, facilitator and trainer with 23+ years of industry experience.
Also passionate about neurodiversity and ethical business.
Drinks a lot of tea.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding is a family of learners, businesses and educators creating a new way to develop the digital skills needed at work and beyond.

Endorsers and supporters

supported by

Nesta logo

supported by

UKBlackTech logo

supported by

tech mums logo

About this ExpertTrack

Discover app and web design and learn practical skills in coding, UX, and digital content to boost your digital marketing career.

Start learning today - free 7-day trial

After your free trial you can:

  • Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
  • Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
  • Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
  • Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
  • Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
  • Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network
  • Keep access to the content of courses you complete even after your subscription ends

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...