Product management is a challenging role. There can be a lot of pressure to do well when you have a lot of responsibilities and a lot of people looking at you. For first-time product managers who don’t have much experience, the change to PM can be a little scary.
Product managers who want to move up in their careers can take advantage of a lot of free resources.
Many of these sources are general business courses accessible to anyone. You just need an internet connection and a willingness to learn. Others are more niche: secondary programs specifically designed for professionals in need of more knowledge in a specific field.
Here are the best free online product management courses that will elevate your career and speed up your success as a PM.
Contents
Who Can Become a Product Manager?
Anyone can become a product manager who has the right skill set, and there is no one path to entry into the profession. That said, certain qualities, skills, and educational backgrounds are more advantageous than others.
The primary requirement for product management is an understanding of technical and business fundamentals. That includes market research, cost structure, product life cycles, financials, business strategy, and customer psychology. A strong background in STEM or business administration degrees is ideal, but not necessary.
There is also a heavy focus on communication, both written and oral, collaboration, and interpersonal relationships. Strong written and oral communication skills are necessary to convey ideas to team members, key stakeholders, and customers. The ability to organize information and prioritize tasks is also essential. You need to know product management frameworks, tools, and best practices.
Why Choose Free Product Management Courses?
Free online product management courses are a great way to test out if something is right for you.
If you are new to product management or simply want to expand your skill set, a free course is an ideal place to start.
There are many advantages to choosing a free course over a paid option. Free courses are less time-consuming. Many free courses are also less intensive. This is better if you’re looking for a low-threshold course to get you started.
Finally, many free product management courses are self-paced, so you can work through the course at your own pace.
Why Choose Paid Product Management Courses?
Paid product management courses offer certifications and a better experience overall. If you have a specific skill that you know you can develop with a course, or if you’re up to a leadership role in product management, then it’s worth it to pay for it.
It doesn’t mean that free product management courses are less polished, though. Simply, if you or your company need a certification of a vocation, then you need to get a paid course.
Four of the best-rate product management courses for product management are:
1. The Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner (ACPMPO) Certification
2. Certified Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Agile Product Manager
3. Professional Scrum Master Certification
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Certification
Free Product Management Courses and Webinars
Udemy is one of the most popular online course providers in the world. They offer a wide selection of courses and are home to over 100,000 instructors from a variety of industries and disciplines. Udemy courses are all free to watch. Many of Udemy’s product management courses are general business courses, and anyone can apply.
A few stand out as more specific and relevant to product management:
- How to Create a Product Vision that Customers Can’t Resist – Sami Sood
- How to Build a Successful SaaS Product – Eric R. Edwards
- Scrum Product Owner Certification – Rupal Patel
LinkedIn is the world’s most popular professional networking platform. The website also boasts an extensive library of online courses for its users. Many of these courses are free and applicable to product managers.
There is a wide selection of general business courses. A few are more specific to product management:
- Product Management for the Rest of Us – Jonathan Young
- Product Management for Entrepreneurs – Anjali Taneja
Great Learning
Great Learning is a free online learning platform featuring courses from a wide range of disciplines. The site has a lot of different product management courses. They also feature good professors and guest lecturers from all over the world. Great Learning courses are completely free and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
A few stand out as more specific and relevant to product management:
- Product Management – Brian Lawley
- Product Lifecycle Management – Philip Cherne
- MBA Product Management Certification – Philip Cherne
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Free Online Resources for Product Managers
An Introduction to Product Management
This is a great general overview of product management. It covers everything from the basics of the role to the skills and traits needed for success. Product Manager HQ’s Guide is also a great place to start for anyone new to the field who would like to get a broad overview of the profession.
Product Management Basics
This article covers the basics of product management. It’s a useful article for those who are new to the field. Or for those who would like a refresher on the basics of product management.
The Product Manager’s Guide to Working with Engineers
This article is useful for product managers working with engineers. It covers the typical relationship between engineers and product managers. It also offers practical tips for improving the relationship.
The Product Manager’s Handbook
This guide to product management covers everything from the basics of the field to techniques and skills. It’s a very thorough guide to product management, and it’s also available as a free ebook.
StoriesOnBoard Story Mapping Playbook
This free online resource is a step-by-step guide to product story mapping. Story mapping is a technique that product managers use in the early stages of product development. It is a visual method of organizing ideas, problems, and potential solutions.
This free product management course gives the basic information and tools to create an effective story map. Click on the “Download Now” tab to download the free course and begin learning today.
Best Podcasts
How I Built This
How I Built This offers a wealth of information on product management. On NPR, he explores product management with industry leaders. This podcast is full of industry insights and information.
Masters Of Scale
This podcast is hosted by Reid Hoffmann who co-founded LinkedIn, among other things. Masters of Scale is one of the best product management podcasts on offer.
The Product Podcast
This product management podcast provides insight into the work of product managers at the top of the industry. The success of their creative and innovative solutions provides a perspective worth striving for. What’s more, they can be implemented at every step of the product journey.
Best Blogs Instead of Product Management Courses
Product Coalition
One of the largest communities of product managers. Their Medium blog contains over 3500 articles. It’s easy to search through their posts and they offer popular topics for all skill and experience levels.
Roman Pincher’s blog
The internationally recognized product management veteran covers all levels of knowledge and experience from the basics to the expert in his blog. The content is easy to search for and organized, so you can easily get your questions answered.
The Product Manager
Here you’ll find great stuff on business, technology, and UX about how to do your job. It’s a professional community to help you grow, get a better handle on the product development and iteration process, and how to deliver faster.
Best Books Instead of Product Management Courses
The Product Book
This book is a good starting point if you want a comprehensive overview of product management. The book takes you from the basics to more advanced topics such as agile development, pricing, and revenue models.
Product Leadership
Product Leadership is an excellent resource for product managers. The authors discuss how to plan product and product strategy, how to develop good product team dynamics, and how to identify whether someone has the skills needed to be a product manager.
Escaping the Build Trap
This book is highly recommended reading for those who want to become leaders in product management. It is a comprehensive guide to building great products that not only aim for quick market success but also retain customers over the long term.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
This book explores the idea of a “build, measure, learn” cycle that guides the creation of new products. It is for product managers who want to make more efficient and effective processes for their teams.
Product Management Courses: Conclusion
There are so many free product management courses on the internet. You can learn how to be one relatively quickly if you have all the prerequisites. Hopefully, the collection of free choices we made will inspire you to take that next step! Once you feel confident about your skills as a Product Manager, you can start exploring job opportunities on Jooble.