Online vs in-person social media training: which is right for your business?
Choosing social media training isn’t just about what you learn - it’s about how that learning actually lands inside your business.
One of the most common questions we’re asked by founders, marketing managers and growing teams is whether online or in-person social media training delivers better results. The reality is that both formats can work well, but for very different reasons. The key is understanding what your business actually needs right now, rather than defaulting to what feels easiest.
This guide breaks down the real differences, where each format works best, and how to choose the option that will genuinely support progress rather than just ticking a box.
What online social media training really offers
Online social media training usually includes live virtual sessions, recorded modules, downloadable resources and follow-up materials. It’s designed to be flexible and accessible, making it easier to fit around busy schedules and competing priorities.
For many businesses, this format works well when the goal is education rather than transformation. Online training is particularly effective for building foundational knowledge, refreshing skills or creating consistency across teams who may be working remotely or across different locations.
It also allows teams to revisit sessions over time, which can be useful when training new starters or reinforcing learning after the initial session.
Where online training can fall short
That flexibility can sometimes come at a cost. Online training can feel less engaging if it’s too generic, and it’s easier for participants to be distracted or passive. It can also be harder to address sensitive or highly specific challenges when sessions are delivered remotely.
This is why online training works best when it’s interactive, clearly structured and grounded in real business examples — not just platform updates or trend-led advice.
The value of in-person social media training
In-person social media training offers something different. It creates space for focus, discussion and alignment, which is often what teams are really missing.
Being in the room allows a trainer to adapt in real time, challenge assumptions and tailor the session to the business, rather than delivering a one-size-fits-all approach. It also encourages teams to engage properly, ask better questions and leave with greater confidence in the decisions they’re making.
In-person training is particularly valuable when a business needs clarity, direction or a reset in how social media is approached internally.
Practical limitations of in-person training
That said, in-person training isn’t always the right answer. It requires more planning, can be more costly, and isn’t always practical for distributed teams.
For that reason, it tends to work best when used intentionally - for example, as a strategy session, leadership workshop or team alignment day - rather than as a default option for all training needs.
How to decide which format is right for you
The decision usually becomes clearer when you step back and look at the underlying problem you’re trying to solve.
If your team needs knowledge, structure or a refresher on best practice, online training may be more than sufficient. If the issue is confidence, consistency or unclear decision-making, in-person training often delivers stronger results.
Many businesses find that a blended approach works best, combining the flexibility of online learning with the depth and focus of in-person sessions.
Why a blended approach often delivers the strongest outcomes
Blended training allows businesses to build understanding over time while still creating moments of clarity and momentum. Online sessions can introduce frameworks and thinking, while in-person workshops help teams apply those ideas directly to their own content, platforms and goals.
This approach reduces overwhelm and ensures training leads to action, not just inspiration.
The most important factor isn’t format
Ultimately, the biggest difference in results doesn’t come down to whether training is delivered online or in person. It comes down to whether it’s practical, commercially focused and aligned with the reality of the business.
Good social media training should support better decision-making, build confidence and help teams understand how social media fits into wider marketing goals. If behaviour doesn’t change afterwards, the training hasn’t done its job.
