Forge
Convert - Digital Marketing Course
Learn how to find your audience, launch campaigns, and create loyal customers.
Scroll to learn more, or click to jump to a specific section.
Sign up now!
Course Overview
Tackle brand strategy in the digital world
Convert is a 9-week introduction to digital marketing that equips students with core marketing principles, skills, and tools. You'll learn about paid and organic social media, search engine and website optimization, email marketing tools, how to build successful pitch decks, and the basics of design.

Through creating a real-world marketing portfolio, you'll learn how to develop a marketing strategy and master the tools you need to bring it to life. Groups of students will work with local small businesses to create these resume-worthy portfolios.

This course is designed for students of all levels, with no prerequisites or prior experience required.
Skills You'll Learn
Search Engine Optimization
Copywriting
Google Analytics
Brand Strategy
Explore the past, present, and future of marketing
We'll look at traditional marketing tactics and how they compare to today's latest tools. As the digital world grows and becomes increasingly relevant for day-to-day business operations, companies need more employees than ever to be versed in digital marketing. Convert is a great jumping off point for students looking to explore digital marketing as an interest or as a career path.


Be the first to know when Fall applications open
  • I really enjoyed Convert as a crash course in marketing. I would recommend this course to anyone who is looking to explore marketing but doesn't know where to start!
    Katie Novak
    CONVERT COURSE GRADUATE
  • Convert taught me a lot about digital marketing, and gave me a chance to apply what I learned to real world marketing projects. Collaborating with groups was fun too, and put into perspective what a career in marketing would look like for me.
    Sydney Levine
    CONVERT COURSE GRADUATE
Projects You'll Complete
Project 1: Teach a Topic
 In this course-long project, students will create and present a slide deck focusing on one topic they find interesting in marketing.

Project 2: Social Justice Marketing
Students will pick a company and choose a social justice / current issue that they think would be valuable for the company to focus on. Examples would include the environment, social justice reform, equitable vaccine rollout, etc. The goal is to come up with a strategy and vision for how the company will become a voice for the issue chosen. Suggested strategy will be compiled into a well organized written report with assets attached.

Project 3: Buzzfeed Challenge
First, students will pick an audience to target by looking at Buzzfeed Community for inspiration. Then, they will write an audience-specific quiz or listicle in a Google doc, and eventually post to see who's article or quick can gain the most views.

Project 4: Side Hustle Branding
Develop a marketing strategy for a side hustle you could start while still in school. Outline what it's all about by creating 8-10 deliverables (emails, posts, landing page, etc.) along with a 4-8 slide deck (pitch & marketing strategy), a logo, and your outline to present for the class.


Meet Your Instructor
Neeka Ahmadiyar
Neeka will be your guide in learning digital marketing this spring. Neeka took Convert herself as a first year college student. The was a Program Coordinator the following semester before taking over teaching last semester. This will be her second semester leading Convert.

Our student teaching model means our courses are constantly changing and improving, enabling you to learn skills that are more up-to-date than what you might learn in a typical classroom.

It also means we can be better mentors and guides for you. We know where you might get stuck and how to guide you through those challenges because we've been in your shoes before. And we know what makes a lesson fun (or extremely boring), so we always design programs that we'd want to participate in ourselves.
95%
of Convert graduates would recommend the course to a friend
150+
students graduated Convert in the last 3 years
Joining the Forge Community
At Forge, we give our people the skills they need to realize their big ideas and a community they can call home. Our courses are a great place to get to know our community, make new friends, and prepare for your future. All of our students get access to exclusive perks and opportunities beyond whatever course they're taking:
  • Free access to all of our member events
  • Exclusive community events and jobs
  • Opportunities for (sometimes paid!) projects to practice your new skills
  • Priority applications for Launch summer internship program
Explore more about the Forge community experience.
Learn more →
Dates, Deadlines, and Tuition
  • Spring 2023 Workshop Schedule
    Convert meets in our clubhouse in Charlottesville, every Sunday from 11am-1pm.

    This course starts the week of February 20th and continues for 8 weeks.
  • Time Commitment
    Courses expect a 4-6 hour/week commitment. Outside of the 2 hours in your online workshop meeting time, you can expect to meet with your instructor weekly for labs (at flexible times) and to spend some time working with your classmates on projects.
  • Application Process and Deadlines
    Spring 2022 applications are open.
$135 Course Fee
This is less than a twelfth of the average cost of a college course*. We also offer reduced payment options on a needs-basis, no questions asked. See below for more information on our financial aid.

*EducationData.org
We are committed to making our courses accessible to all. We reduce or eliminate the program fee to all students who need it, no questions asked. Our aim is to enable everyone who wants to learn and join the Forge community. This is made possible by $20,000 in generous donations from our alumni network each year.

15% of students receive financial aid from Forge. 54% of aid goes to first-generation college students, and 80% of aid goes to people of color.
"I'm excited to help my students master new skills and gain hands-on experience in the digital marketing field, so they can build their confidence and go on to do great things. My goal is to make this course a fun and welcoming environment, where students can take risks and try new things without feeling intimidating."

- Taylor, Convert Program Lead
Explore Other Forge Programs
Feature
Feature is a collaborative, creative space within Forge where members can learn, explore, and practice media creation across multiple disciplines including video, photography, writing, and design.
Wireframe
Learn to design easy-to-navigate websites and apps.
Source Lite
Learn the basics of how to code and create web and mobile apps.
OLD Launch
Master in-demand skills and get matched with a paid summer internship.