The proliferation of online courses and e-learning platforms has made it much easier for people to learn new things, gain new qualifications, and develop new skills. So it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing to create and grow their own online courses. If you’re thinking about creating an online course, but you don’t know where to start, this article will tell you everything you need to know.
Why Should You Market Your Online Course?
In today’s ever-evolving world, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to marketing. But, as a business owner or a course creator, there are a few marketing strategies that you can rely on to get the most out of your efforts.
Firstly, try to think of your online course from the perspective of a potential customer. What would your average user want to learn or know about your topic? What are their needs and expectations?
Secondly, it can be beneficial to think of your online course as a form of content marketing. When you put out content that is valuable and of high quality, people will naturally start to think of you when they need help or want to learn more about your topic. So, by creating articles, infographics, or videos that are highly informative and interesting, you’re setting yourself up for eventual success.
The Different Forms Of Marketing For Online Courses
Although there are several ways to market your online course, in today’s world, content is still the king. In order to engage and capture the attention of potential students, you’ll want to create content that is both informative and interesting. But, in order to draw in more students and encourage them to complete your course, you’ll need to consider how you can market it beyond just content.
Here are a few of the most popular ways to market an online course:
1. Banner Ads
If you’ve ever shopped online, you’ll know that when you visit a website, there is often a tiny banner ad at the top of the page. These ads aren’t too distracting and usually don’t take up too much room, so you don’t have to sacrifice too much of your page real estate. In today’s world, banners are still one of the most popular ways to market a product or service online, and they can be quite effective. You can use a tool like Google Adsense to gain access to premium banner ads on popular websites. When a user clicks on one of these ads, they’re directed to a landing page with more information about your product or service.
2. Social Media
The growth of social media platforms and their corresponding apps has made it much easier for people to connect with one another and share content. Today, many companies and individuals use social media to advertise their products and services, and to provide helpful information. If you’re a small business owner or an individual with a new product or service, this is a great place to promote it. You can use social media to establish credibility, gain support, and build a community. But, in order to attract potential students to your course, you’ll need to consider using social media in a way that provides value and encourages interaction.
Deciding which social network to use is important. If you’re looking for a free option, consider using LinkedIn, as it is a professional network and therefore usually populated with people who are already interested in your product. Other popular social networks include Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. With over a billion active users, we’re sure that Facebook is the right choice for your needs.
3. Email Marketing
In addition to websites and social media, you can also use email marketing to promote your online course. Emails provide you with a cost-effective way to communicate with potential students, and they can be quite effective. You can take advantage of this by creating email marketing lists or using email marketing platforms, like MailChimp, to send out regular emails with helpful information and tips on your topic. Additionally, you can use emails to provide customers with important information about your course or product. If you’ve ever sold your own product or used a platform like eBay to market your product, you’ll know the importance of effective email marketing.
4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The importance of SEO to online marketing and its effectiveness can’t be overlooked. SEO allows you to gain a greater amount of organic traffic to your site, and it can be quite helpful when driving potential students to your course. There are several strategies that you can use to gain higher positions in search engines, like Google, and the sooner you start optimizing your site, the sooner you’ll see results. You can use free tools like Google SEO to easily set up specific SEO guidelines for your site.
5. Influencer Marketing
The world of influencer marketing is becoming more and more important, as influencers can help you gain credibility and spread the word about your course or product among other members of the public. If you can afford it, it’s worth hiring an influencer to promote your product or service. They can help you gain worldwide recognition, and, as a result, you’ll see a significant increase in the number of people interested in your course or product.
When pitching an influencer for marketing purposes, you’ll want to consider the size of their audience, as larger audiences can be more beneficial. When calculating the ROI of an influencer’s campaign, you’ll want to consider the size of their audience, the time that it took for them to grow that audience, and how effective their strategy was. For example, if an influencer has 1 million followers, but it took them ten years to reach that audience, the return on investment for that influencer’s efforts would be 100,000 hours (rounded down) at $20 per hour. That’s less than five hours of work per week at $20 per hour, which is a minimum of $1,000 per week, or $16,000 per month. Clearly, the ROI of that campaign would be worth it.
How Do I Market My Online Course?
As we mentioned above, there are several ways to market your online course, but, in order to get the best return on your investment, it’s important to find the right tool for the job. Below, we’ll discuss four proven ways to market an online course, followed by a brief section on digital marketing. But, before we begin, it’s important to understand a few basic marketing terms.
“Marketing” And “Advertising” Are Two Different Things.
The terms “marketing” and “advertising” are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two different things. “Marketing” is the process of communicating a product or service to the public in a way that will make them interested in purchasing the product or using the service. In short, marketing is telling people about your product or service, and getting them to come back for more. Advertising is what you pay for when you order goods or services online, and it is typically viewed as a one-time event.
So, when you’re marketing your product or service, you are advertising it. You are using various methods to get the attention of potential customers, and you are paying for every person who is exposed to your message. In terms of ROI (return on investment), marketing can be very profitable while advertising is often viewed as a necessary evil.
“Product” And “Branding”
Another important distinction to make is between your product and your brand. Your product is the thing that you’re selling, be it a service or an item, while your brand is the identity that you’re creating for your business. When people think of your business, what do they think of? Your brand. So, when you establish yourself as an expert in your industry, through your courses or your blog, you’re branding yourself as someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in the area. As a result, you are effectively branding your product (your course) as well.
In order to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, it is important to prove that you have sufficient experience, knowledge, and credentials. There are several ways to do this, but the simplest and most direct route would be to create and teach a course on your topic. Subsequently, you can use your course as a legitimate source of expertise, building on which you can then establish your brand. Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to just one course. You can use your blog to regularly post useful tips and tricks, as well as relevant news articles and videos. As we mentioned above, the world of influencer marketing is becoming more and more popular, as influencers can help you gain credibility and spread the word about your course among other members of the public. So, if you can afford it, using influencers to market your course can be a great option.