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Struggling to find an affordable way to attain practical skills and gain real-world experience in digital marketing?
If that's you, then there may be a solution for you.
It's called Acadium.
As someone who has completed an Acadium apprenticeship, I'm here to share with you my personal experience and offer an inside perspective.
In this article, I'll cover everything you need to know from what Acadium is, how it works, the pricing, its features, if it's legit, to the pros and cons of the platform.
Plus, I'll answer the question on everyone's mind: Is Acadium worth it?
Disclosure: If you purchase through my links on this website, I may receive a commission, which helps support my website at no additional cost to you.
Acadium is an online platform that connects apprentices with business owners or mentors in the industry, allowing them to get hands-on experience and expand their knowledge in digital marketing.
As an apprentice, you will be able to start building your portfolio and network - this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to find a career in digital marketing.
On the same note, business owners can also hire remote apprentices from Acadium’s network of talent to help to grow their businesses.
Applying to Acadium is simple and free.
The onboarding process is straightforward and helps to ensure that you and your mentor are a good match for each other.
When applying, you can choose specific digital marketing skills that you want to gain experience in so that you'll get matched accordingly.
Here's what you'll do when getting started:
1. Select desired skills: First, you'll be required to choose specific marketing skills you want to learn, industries you're interested in, and career goals such as a full-time job, freelancing, starting a business, or improving skills. (You can explore other options later on).
2. Create a profile: Provide your basic info such as name, location, phone number, birthday, and a profile picture. You'll also create a short bio and provide any experience (if any) or relevant details.
3. Connect with a mentor: Once you finish creating your profile, you can then get matched with mentors that are looking for help. You can review their profiles and request to work with them.
Once a mentor accepts your request, you both will sign an agreement and then the apprenticeship will begin.
The remote apprenticeship is a length of three months with a commitment of at least 10 hours a week. Throughout this period, you'll get weekly tasks and your mentor will also provide feedback.
This will help you gain the knowledge and skills required to achieve success in your new apprenticeship role and receive an accredited certification.
Acadium is a two-sided platform.
Business owners can get help with finding remote apprentices to assist them with their marketing tasks.
They will first be required to provide Acadium with information about their business, what areas they need help in, and the type of work they will have their apprentices do, and then submit a request.
After the apprentice request is submitted, Acadium will start finding the candidate that best fits their needs.
They can also hire vetted freelance marketers.
Now that you know how Acadium works, let's go over some of the platform's features that make it a valuable asset for any aspiring digital marketer.
Acadium offers courses that cover various essential skills that you can complete at your own pace - all for free.
Each course contains training modules and quizzes that are designed to help you learn effectively.
Here is a list of all the courses you can choose from:
As you can see, there's a hefty list that marketing students can choose from to help equip them before they start any program or new career.
The Acadium platform doesn't only contain a bunch of course material, it also allows you to get your hands dirty.
There are tasks within the platform that are assigned by other mentors that allow anyone to participate by completing and submitting their work.
Some of these tasks include things like blog posts, logo design, video or podcast editing, influencer marketing, keyword research, social media growth, and more.
Ok, so you've got training modules to learn from and microtasks to get your feet wet but you take it a step even further by doing freelance work.
This will allow you to gain practical experience by working on projects for vetted clients so you can get paid.
Applying for freelancing requires at least four apprenticeships or similar experiences.
Once you get accepted, Acadium will provide you with clients based on your experience or specialties.
You can get paid anywhere from $15 - $100 per hour, for which Acaduim will take a 10% fee.
Acadium Plus is a premium membership that gives you access to additional resources such as exclusive courses, personalized training, and a dedicated coach.
This program is to help ensure that aspiring marketers get hired by a company full-time.
The Acadium Plus program is best if you want to:
Each class is limited to a maximum of 20 students and admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The program is self-paced, so the duration can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months (could be shorter or longer) depending on your pace and progress.
There are a few different options that you have when it comes to pricing depending on your budget and goals.
Free Option - Get access to apprenticeships, courses, microtasks, and freelancing. There are no up-front costs or membership fees.
Acadium Plus
Acadium is a great program, but as with most programs, there are positives and negatives to consider.
I'll lay some of these factors out to help you make an informed decision about whether Acadium is the right fit for you.
Most people who have an interest in the program want to know if it's legit or not.
The good news is that Acadium is a legitimate and credible program with many success stories from both apprentices and mentors.
Here are a few reasons why it's legit:
Overall, the online learning platform can be seen as legit through the mentions of reputable companies, people's positive reviews, and the quality of the platform.
I'll share my personal experience from the program because I think it can help you gain some valuable insights, especially if you're thinking about trying it out.
I discovered Acadium through a direct Google search on "digital marketing apprenticeships" out of pure curiosity.
I had taken some free and paid courses at the time and started a blog as a case study, but I wanted to get more experience working with people.
When I first checked out the platform, I was pretty amazed at how much value it provided for free. So I decided to create an account and started checking out their courses.
I also started doing micro tasks like content creation, blog articles, and podcast infographics, receiving real-time feedback from mentors.
Finding a mentor was easier than I expected, and within a day or two, I was receiving message requests from mentors and business owners offering mentorship and help with tasks either for their own companies or their client's websites.
My first apprentice opportunity began and I was with an agency in New York, where I helped devise a content plan, content calendar, and social media posts, and received constructive feedback that helped me learn and improve.
Unfortunately, due to some unexpected life circumstances, I couldn't finish my last month, so I didn't receive my certificate of completion.
The second time around, I reached out to an agency that was offering SEO mentorship and got accepted.
This experience was invaluable as I got to learn different areas of SEO, using industry-standard stools and some of the best SEO tools available.
I implemented site optimizations, website audits, content marketing, and other best practices.
As part of their agency, I also had the opportunity to build relationships with the other team members during my time with the company.
It was a great way to experience a remote agency setting, which is what a lot of employers look for when hiring.
The level of support that I received was great. Both of my mentors as well as the team members were always willing to help, so I never felt lost.
Despite working full-time, the program's flexibility allowed me to complete the work at my own pace without getting burnt out.
After the apprenticeship, I received my certificate of completion that I was able to showcase on my resume as well as my LinkedIn profile.
I also received endorsements on LinkedIn from some of my former team members for specific skills that I implemented.
I gained the confidence and experience that I needed to pursue a career in digital marketing and SEO.
The answer - it all depends.
If you're looking to get your feet wet by gaining real-life experience in the world of digital marketing, then yes. Acadium is worth it.
But I also think that it's not for everyone.
Speaking from my own experience, It was worth the time. I had the opportunity to work with real clients in the industry.
The support from the mentors and the flexibility of the program allowed me to work at my own pace and learn on my own time.
However, consider your own goals and motives before committing to the program.
If you're not serious about it or don't have time to commit to the program, then it might not be for you.
But if you're willing to put in the effort and commitment while working for free for 3 months, then it's worth taking the opportunity.
Besides, you don't have to pay to get an apprenticeship.
Acadium is a great opportunity to gain practical experience and learn from industry experts.
It's flexible, affordable, and provides valuable resources.
My experience was a positive one and I believe it's a worthwhile investment if you're looking to get started in this field.
If you're ready to take the next step and gain skills and experience in digital marketing, then I highly recommend Acadium.
Create a free account and see for yourself what the platform has to offer.
I hope this comprehensive review helps. Thanks for reading and good luck!