23 Valuable Skills to Learn Online That Can Change Your Life (2024)

Last Updated on February, 2024

Have you ever wondered about the coolest skill you can pick up online?

Whether you are looking to boost your career, change your career path, earn some extra money, or simply want to learn something new, the internet has a treasure trove of resources waiting for you.

In this article, let’s explore some of the best skills you can learn online, their benefits, and some of the best online learning platforms.

23 Most In-Demand Skills to Learn Online

Following are some of the best skills you can learn online.

1. Web Development

Every business needs a website to maintain its online presence and to showcase its services, products, etc. Therefore, web development has become a very valuable skill at present.

Web developers design and maintain websites according to business needs. You need to learn the basics of software development and the designing aspects of user experience to become a successful web developer.

There are online tools for developing a website with basic knowledge, but if you want to become a pro, you should master one or many programming languages such as Python, Javascript, HTML, etc.

You can use web development skills to earn an extra income as a freelancer or create your own start-up.

2. Digital Marketing

Billions of people use social media platforms these days. Hence, it has become a great spot to build brand awareness and marketing.

Every business should have a social media presence to be successful. Due to this reason, digital skills have become invaluable.

Digital marketers do various tasks, including planning marketing campaigns, creating content, executing the plan, and analyzing the results.

There are many free online courses to develop the skills needed to become a digital marketer. First, choose which social media platform/platforms to learn from and then select a course accordingly.

Digital marketing skills give you better remote career opportunities and a flexible working schedule.

3. Project Management

Project management involves the initiation, planning, and execution of a project successfully.

You must have a variety of skills for this. Organization, effective communication, planning, coordination, problem-solving, and critical thinking are some of them.

Project management has become one of the most valuable skills to have with more companies shifting towards remote working.

Completing a project is challenging when people don’t work in the same location. So, project managers have to be very efficient and skilled. Generally, project management skills are required for leadership and managerial roles.

Developing project management skills will help you to gain promotions.

4. Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is another high-demand skill to learn online.

Why? There are billions of pieces of content published on the internet every day. So, the search engines have an algorithm to filter the high-quality content to show users.

If an article/blog post is SEO optimized, it’ll rank higher in Google, and increase business visibility.

SEO skills will be helpful if you want to become an SEO specialist or work in digital marketing. SEO keeps on evolving. Hence, you must be able to learn and adapt quickly.

There are many free online resources available to learn SEO. After learning SEO you can work as a SEO specialist or SEO content writer for a company or on a freelance basis and earn money.

5. Data Analysis

Data Science is an evolving field in which to build a long-lasting career. Data analysts extract information, analyze them, and present them in a visual format. Such data is used to make important business decisions.

So, to be a data analyst, you must be good with numbers and learn several data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, SQL, Tableau, etc.

Google Data Analytics certification is one of the online courses for you to begin learning. Remember, learning data science will take time and effort.

After mastering data analytics, you can get a stable job in a growing field.

6. Language skills

Knowing a foreign language will set you apart regardless of the company or industry. Hence, invest some of your time to learn a new language.

Language skills open up new career opportunities and help you to land a job soon. In addition, learning a new language increases your memory power and cognitive skills.

There are several apps and online courses available to learn foreign languages.

7. Excel Skills

Almost all businesses use spreadsheets to enter, organize, update, and utilize data. So, excel skills are crucial once you start working in a company.

Anyone can use Excel; after all, it’s not rocket science, but few people know how to use it to its full potential.

There are many features in Excel that can save you lots of time. You can take online courses to learn the basics of Excel or improve your existing knowledge with a more advanced course.

8. Writing Skills

The ability to communicate effectively with the audience through words is an asset. Every website, social media page, and marketing strategy needs content. Hence, content creation is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

There are many online learning resources available to improve your writing. You must choose the one that suits your needs.

For example, if your job involves writing manuals and product guides, choose a technical writing course. If your job is to write scientific articles, choose a scientific writing course.

SEO is a valuable skill for content writers. If you can write search engine-optimized articles, your value increases further.

You can use writing skills for many career paths, such as blogging, content writing, copywriting, and digital marketing. You can also do freelance writing as a side hustle.

9. Photography Skills

With the rise of social media usage, high-quality photographs are becoming increasingly important, especially for companies selling products.

Websites, social media pages, and selling sites ask you to upload photos. Photograph quality directly affects the sale.

In addition to taking photos, photographers should be able to edit them, too. For that, you must learn Adobe Photoshop.

Whether you’re a newbie or an advanced learner, many online classes are available to learn photography and photo editing. Once you learn these skills, you can join a company as a photographer or photo editor or start your own photography business.

10. Coding Skills

Coding is a highly sought-after skill if you’re planning a career in programming or website development.

If you know the basics of coding, you can create, edit, and optimize websites. You can also launch apps.

There are many online courses in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to learn coding languages. If you’re completely new, programming languages might be hard for you, but with practice, you can nail it easily.

If you’re good at coding, it can open up many career opportunities in the Computer Science field.

11. Graphic Design

Every logo, social media post, image, and banner you see is designed by graphic designers.

Hence, if you’re good with colors, art, and computers, consider a career in graphic design. It’s a valuable skill to earn.

Many paid and free online courses are available to start learning graphic design. You’ll learn the basics of colors, design elements, layout, typography, etc. In addition, you can learn to use software such as Canva and Adobe Photoshop.

Start to make your designs, practice, and enhance them gradually. Make a portfolio of your designs to showcase your design skills and start your career as a freelance designer.

12. Public Speaking

Most of us are not good at public speaking, but it’s a crucial skill for our personal and professional lives.

How can you improve your public speaking skills?

Remember, public speaking requires lots of practice. You must learn to articulate your ideas into words and communicate them effectively with an engaging tone and body language. So, you must focus on mastering your body language and tone as well.

You can find many techniques and tips for public speaking online. Go through them and practice with a friend.

If you have a fear of public speaking, take an online course that gives strategies to overcome anxiety. Practice is key. Participate in public speaking workshops and clubs.

13. Cybersecurity

Due to the increasing number of cyber attacks, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for organizations.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for information security analysts is expected to grow 32% from 2022-2032. This is much higher than average when compared to other jobs.

So, if you’re interested in computers and programming and good at problem-solving and critical thinking, consider a career in cybersecurity.

There are free online courses to learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity. Many people take these courses to gain a basic understanding of cybersecurity and to protect their data and information from cyberattacks.

If you’re considering a career path, you must go for advanced online courses that offer lessons in various branches of cybersecurity, such as network security, cloud security, etc.

14. UI/UX Design

User Experience Design (UXD) and User Interface Design (UID) are two skills in demand at present, with excellent career opportunities.

People working in UXD ensure the products are user-friendly. For this, they do market research, identify consumer preferences and experiences, and then develop and innovate products accordingly.

User Interface Designers work with designing user-friendly apps and websites.

Both jobs require a basic knowledge of data and advanced skills in design, social perceptiveness, and creativity.

You can start learning UXD and UID through online courses. It’s better to learn UXD first and then move to UID.

15. Software Development

Software developers build, maintain, and improve the technology of an organization. As many businesses incorporate technology, the demand for software developers is also rising.

To start a career in this field, you must learn programming languages like Python, Java, HTML, etc. In addition, you’ll have to learn to use tools like Kubernetes, Jenkins, Git, and Docker. These tools are used for managing software applications.

There are free online courses available to teach you programming at different levels: beginner to advanced. You can start by going through the video lessons if interested in this career path.

16. Video Editing

Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google?

Today, many people use videos as their primary source of information rather than text and image-based information. Therefore, video editors are in high demand.

Video editing is one of the easiest skills to learn; you just need a computer and editing software.

Several video tutorials on YouTube show how to record and edit high-quality videos. You can go through those videos or take some free online courses.

When you select a course, ensure it’s up to your level. Some online classes are for beginners, and some are for advanced video editors. If you’re a newbie, start with an introductory course.

There are many freelance-based work-from-home job opportunities available for video editors. So, if you’re looking for a flexible job, this is a great option.

17. Data Visualization

The primary job of a data visualization specialist is to present complex data in an easily understandable manner through graphs and infographics. This helps businesses to make proper decisions and actions for development.

Data visualization requires graphic designing and data analysis skills. This is not an individual job but a part of being a data scientist.

Being skilled in data visualization can increase your value as a data scientist. You can improve your data visualization skills by taking courses specialized in this.

18. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

There’s a significant increase in using AI software like ChatGPT, Open AI, and Bard for various business purposes. Several high-demand jobs originate with the rise of AI.

Prompt engineering is one of them. The quality of the output of AI software depends on the input quality. Prompt engineers write, test, modify, and improve prompts to gain high-quality outcomes from AI.

They use these prompts to help businesses create content, reports, marketing strategies, and much more.

Chatbot development is another in-demand career due to the rise of AI. Chatbots are software that uses AI to chat with customers. It communicates and solves customer queries.

Companies build chatbots into their websites to address customer queries promptly and increase customer satisfaction.

If you’re passionate about AI and looking for a job on the rise, then focus on developing your knowledge and skill set for AI-related jobs.

19. Budgeting

If you’re in a management position, budgeting skills come in handy for you to allocate resources efficiently for various departments. It’s also useful for your personal life.

Old-school budgeting methods create unnecessary stress. Instead, use the apps and software available to manage your finances. Learn tips and strategies from the internet to smooth the budgeting process.

Budgeting skills help you to manage your finances efficiently and lead a financially stable life.

20. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are beneficial irrespective of the position you hold in the company.

Leadership skills can help you motivate, influence, and guide your team members and employees to achieve a particular goal. This can increase overall productivity and help to complete projects successfully. It’ll also be helpful for job promotions and high pay.

Effective communication, decision-making, empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and high emotional intelligence are some leadership traits.

You can read leadership development books or go for an online class, workshop, or leadership coaching to develop your leadership skills.

Developing your leadership skills will help you to gain promotions and perform better in your job.

21. Google Workspace

Google Suite is one of the best digital workspaces. Hence, hybrid and remote companies use Google Workspace to coordinate and run work smoothly among team members from different locations.

If you work or learn online, you must be familiar with G-Suite software such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Meet, and Google Forms.

Google offers a Google Workspace Learning Center where anyone can learn to use Google Suite for free. Once you get through this, you can use Google Workspace with ease.

22. Podcasting

Podcasting is another skill you can learn online to earn money.

You can start your podcast in an area of your expertise and monetize it, or you can do podcasts for the organization you’re working for.

You can find many online learning materials that teach you podcasting. You can start podcasting after taking one or many paid and free online courses. Don’t forget to invest in some high-quality podcasting equipment, too.

23. Microsoft Access Skills

Microsoft Access is an information management software companies use to store and track data and manage inventories, projects, and customer relationships.

VBA programming, database table creation, database task automation, report creation using queries, and data entry control are some basic Microsoft Access skills.

These skills are valuable for accounting, business analysis, and project management professionals. There are many resources online including courses and YouTube videos, to learn Microsoft Access skills.

Benefits of Developing In-Demand Skills

Some Online Learning Platforms to Develop Your Skills

There are numerous online learning platforms with paid and free courses to learn new skills or improve your existing ones.

Relevant guides you might want to read:

• What Are the Real Benefits of Homeschooling?

FAQs

Which Skills are You Going to Learn?

Digital marketing, project management, language skills, coding, data management, photography, writing, video editing, and graphic design are some good skills you can learn online.

Learning a new skill helps you earn extra money, ensures job security, gives you opportunities for promotions, and helps you land high-paying jobs.

Many courses and resources are available on the internet for beginners and professionals to learn the above skills. Start by choosing a course according to your expertise level.