Eight skills you can pick up online for under Sh2,500

A YouGov poll recently found that the most common New Year’s resolutions are: eat healthier, exercise more and save more money. However, nearly one in three people surveyed said they wouldn’t bother making any resolutions.

Another study found only 15 per cent of people list learning a new skill or hobby as a resolution. Yet, thanks to online platforms, learning a new skill has never been easier.

So, this year, rather than pay for gym membership that might not stick, why not make an investment that could pay off, and in just a few hours?

Here are a few ideas to get started with through online learning platform Udemy.

1. Social media management – Free

Social media is a cash cow for businesses. To become a part of the movement and make money while at it, all you need is a basic understanding of most social media platforms.

If you want to go commercial, then getting professional qualifications won’t hurt. This is where Udemy comes in. The platform offers a free course that will teach you when to blog, comment or listen, and the art of building communities.

However, keep in mind that social media management isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time to find the clients, so the money won’t start rolling in straight away. But within weeks, you can make managing social media accounts a part of your portfolio, and get certification proving your legitimacy.

2. The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking Course – Sh1,040

Like it or not, you’re going to have to deliver a speech at some point in your life. It may be when pitching for investment, at a job interview or even at a friend’s wedding.

Learn how to identify your audience and start your speech with the end in mind, as well as what to include and how to structure it for maximum impact. By the time you’ve wrapped up the course, you should be armed with expert hacks and persuasion tactics.

3. Sketchup for Beginners – Sh2,040

If you’re looking for a way to ease yourself into interior design, Sketchup is a useful tool. It offers 3D modelling that allows you to visualise more realistically how a room will look once you’re done designing it. This way, you avoid costly mistakes.

In one-and-a-half hours, you can learn the skills you need to properly arrange furniture to make the most of a room’s space and choose the most optimal paint colours, accessories and lighting.

You can start with your own spaces before moving on to other people’s homes.

4. Optimising investment to maximise your return – Sh2,040

There’s no escaping the importance of money. And since it’s such a finite resource, the details of how you spend it and invest it are important.

This course is aimed at equipping you with skills that will help you “make big decisions based on a solid ground”, and boost your financial returns.

Over the course of 38 videos, you’ll learn techniques that will guide you on investment decisions, and even if you’re not dealing with big pots of cash yet, you’ll be able to advice those who do.

It will require a bit of playing around with Excel, but the course promises that you don’t need any mathematical wizardry to get through it.

5. A step-by-step guide to Google AdWords – Sh2,040

All you need is an Internet connection to learn how to set up a Google AdWords account from scratch.

Your customers use Google to find new products every day. And, unless you’ve taken the time to optimise your Google AdWords campaign, you’re likely losing a significant number of potential buyers to competitors with more sophisticated strategies.

This crash course will help you understand what keywords to use to your business’ advantage.

6. The definitive course on speed reading – Sh2,040

What if you could study multiple degrees while still working – and sustain a good academic record while at it? Or read three times faster than the average person’s 200 words per minute? Welcome to the potential of speed reading.

If you have the willingness to push yourself, break old habits and a burning desire to succeed, but you’re bogged down by an ever-increasing amount of information and knowledge you need to consume, then this course is for you.

You’ll learn all about the classic speed reading methods used by Guinness World Record holders and top universities, as well as the technologies that exist to make information absorption and retention much easier.

7. Mental math tricks – Sh2,040

When you’re running a business, or even just going through life in general, your basic understanding of math gets called on a lot.

You need to make quick calculations to know if an investment deal is worth it, or even just to know you’re handing over the right change. In a series of short videos (none is longer than 10 minutes), you’ll learn simple techniques to programme your mind to take fewer steps to solve a problem.

8. Create your first Android app – Sh2,040

In terms of important life skills, coding is right up there with reading, writing and arithmetic. But what if you just want to have fun with the process? Well, you can in just 17 short lectures.

Surprise your family and friends by making your first Android app. You don’t need any programming knowledge for this. Once you grasp the basics of the tools that make the process more seamless, you’ll be well on your way to creating other apps that you can sell through Play store or develop for your business. ?