In this article, we\u2019re going to be exploring the things you can do to successfully advertise your online course.<\/p>\n
The 20 Best Ways to Market Online Courses<\/h2>\n\n- Start blogging on topics related to your course<\/a><\/li>\n
- Publish best of articles<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create a YouTube channel<\/a><\/li>\n
- Use Facebook ads<\/a><\/li>\n
- Run Google Search campaigns<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create a coupon code<\/a><\/li>\n
- Offer a free mini-course<\/a><\/li>\n
- Guest post on related websites<\/a><\/li>\n
- Appear on podcasts<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create partnerships with other course providers<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create an affiliate program<\/a><\/li>\n
- Join discussion groups on Facebook and Reddit<\/a><\/li>\n
- Add internal ads to your sales pages<\/a><\/li>\n
- Host a webinar<\/a><\/li>\n
- Include a link to your course in your newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create lead magnets<\/a><\/li>\n
- Add links to your homepage and website\u2019s menu<\/a><\/li>\n
- Add links to your course sales page on your social media profiles<\/a><\/li>\n
- Create a course review page<\/a><\/li>\n
- SEO optimize your course sales page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
1.\u00a0 Start blogging on topics related to your course<\/h3>\n
People want to learn from industry experts and thought leaders. One of the best ways to prove you know what you\u2019re talking about is to start blogging.<\/p>\n
Your blog is a powerful tool for strengthening your reputation and attracting potential students to your course.<\/p>\n
Not only does a blog highlight your industry expertise, but it gives you an excellent opportunity to improve your search engine rankings, through the strategic use of keywords.<\/p>\n
Research trending keywords related to your course topic. For instance, if you\u2019re sharing courses on digital marketing<\/strong><\/a>, you might type \u201cdigital marketing\u201d into Google to see what shows up in the \u201cPeople also ask\u201d and \u201crelated\u201d sections. You can also use keyword research tools, like Google keyword planner<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nOnce you have your keywords, create insightful, well-optimized blog content for each focus keyword.<\/p>\n
Concentrate on delivering value by answering student questions, sharing unique insights, and speaking to your audience in a language they can understand.<\/p>\n
2. Try \u201cBest of\u201d articles<\/h3>\n
Content marketing is one of the best ways to generate awareness when you\u2019re learning how to market an online school or course.<\/p>\n
What most people don\u2019t realise is there\u2019s much more to content marketing than simply blogging. You can create eBooks to accompany your courses or publish helpful infographics.<\/p>\n
One particularly valuable strategy is to publish \u201cbest of\u201d articles. This is a great way to draw focus to your course and highlight its value, without being overly promotional.<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re promoting your Facebook Ads Course, write an article on the \u201cbest Facebook ads courses<\/strong><\/a>\u201d and include your course on the list.<\/p>\nIt doesn\u2019t have to be the first item on the list and you don\u2019t have to promote it too much. Just explain to your readers the benefits of enrolling in your course without exaggeration.<\/div>\nTry this technique and you\u2019ll be surprised by the results. You found that this is one of the best ways to sell online courses<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n3. Create a YouTube channel<\/h3>\n![\"Create](\"https:\/\/www.reliablesoft.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/youtube-channel.webp\")
Create a YouTube channel to promote your online course.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nVideo content is excellent for generating engagement \u2013 particularly on channels like YouTube.<\/p>\n
There are 2 billion monthly<\/strong><\/a> active users on YouTube. It\u2019s also one of the most popular search engines in the world, just under Google.<\/p>\nWith your YouTube channel you can:<\/p>\n
\n- Demonstrate thought leadership: <\/strong>Share information and insights valuable to your target audience, focusing on your subject niche.<\/li>\n
- Share snippets of courses:<\/strong> Provide insights into what people might get from your courses with small, sample videos.<\/li>\n
- Create customer relationships:<\/strong> Build deeper, human relationships with audiences through face-to-face interactions and live-streaming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
4. Use Facebook Ads<\/h3>\n
While there are plenty of great social media channels to help you grow attention for your online course, Facebook is the most diverse. You\u2019ll find a huge range of potential students here.<\/p>\n
One of the great things about Facebook Ads is how targeted you can make them. Through your Facebook ad account, you\u2019ll be able to focus specifically on the people most likely to be interested in your course, filtering by things like location, age, and interests.<\/p>\n![\"Facebook](\"https:\/\/www.reliablesoft.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/facebook-paid-campaigns.png\")
Facebook Ads is a great platform to market and sell online courses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen creating your Facebook ads, concentrate on generating excitement for your course through things like discounts and deals, social proof (reviews from previous customers) and insights into what your course will entail.<\/p>\n
If you want to learn more, our Facebook Course<\/strong><\/a> explains in detail how to use Facebook Ads to promote your online course or digital product.<\/div>\n5. Run Google Search campaigns<\/h3>\n
Paid advertising campaigns shouldn\u2019t stop with Facebook. When you\u2019re wondering how to market online courses, you need to consider Google too.<\/p>\n
A lot of the work you do to improve your course\u2019s position online with Google will involve organic content creation and SEO. But adding a little PPC to the mix can significantly improve your reach.<\/p>\n
Google search campaigns and pay-per-click advertising helps to attract specific people to your course subscription pages. Using a careful selection of keywords, your Google Ads will help to position your learning experiences in front of your target audience.<\/p>\n
Remember, keeping an eye on the results of your Google Search campaigns, and updating your strategy as you go can help you to save money on advertising efforts.<\/p>\n
6. Create a coupon code<\/h3>\n
Everyone loves a great deal.<\/p>\n
Offering coupons and discounts are particularly helpful if you\u2019re relatively new to the online education space. When deciding whether to take your course, your students will be weighing the costs of the education with the potential benefits.<\/p>\n
A discount code makes your would-be customers feel like they\u2019re taking less of a risk with your offer.<\/p>\n
You can also use the initial customers you earn through coupon codes to collect feedback about your course \u2013 perfect for both product optimization and attracting future clients via social proof.<\/p>\n
Offer discounts for:<\/p>\n
\n- Early birds: people who sign up for your course first<\/li>\n
- Loyal customers: people who take multiple courses with you<\/li>\n
- Advocates: early customers willing to share reviews<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
7. Offer a free mini-course<\/h3>\n
Perhaps the only thing more exciting than getting something valuable at a discounted price is getting something for free.<\/p>\n
When designing your marketing plan for an online course, it\u2019s worth asking yourself whether a free \u201cmini-course\u201d could give you the initial boost you need.<\/p>\n
While giving something away for free might seem counterproductive, it\u2019s an excellent way to generate trust among customers, and make a name for yourself in your niche.<\/p>\n
Just look at how the most popular online learning platforms<\/strong><\/a> regularly offer free trials of their products.<\/p>\nA mini online course also allows you to collect customer contact details, you can use Facebook retargeting<\/strong><\/a> and email marketing to nurture leads into paying customers.<\/div>\nJust try not to give away too much in your free course, or your students might not think the paid version is worth it.<\/p>\n
8. Guest post on related websites<\/h3>\n
Producing content for your own website and social media pages is crucial when marketing a course. However, you also want to develop a presence in the overall community too.<\/p>\n
Guest blogging on websites closely related to the topics you want to cover can help raise brand awareness too.<\/p>\n
Guest posting helps to connect you with other well-known entities in the niche you\u2019re selling your courses in, which makes you more trustworthy to students.<\/div>\nGuest blogging is also excellent for SEO purposes, as it helps to create backlinks from related companies to your website. Search for well-respected (but not competing) companies, podcasts, and websites in your space and reach out to them.<\/p>\n
These days, most websites are keen to get their hands on as much quality content as possible, so you shouldn\u2019t have too much trouble finding someone willing to work with you.<\/p>\n
9. Appear on Podcasts<\/h3>\n
Today\u2019s consumers don\u2019t just read articles and watch videos; they also listen to podcasts.<\/p>\n![\"Use](\"https:\/\/www.reliablesoft.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/podcast-statistics.webp\")
Use podcasts to promote your online courses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n78% of Americans are now familiar with \u201cpodcasting\u201d, and more than 5 in 10<\/strong><\/a> have listened to a podcast. Appearing on a podcast is a great way to reach people who might not have time to consume other kinds of digital content.<\/p>\nAppearing on a podcast with a well-known content creator in your industry has a similar impact as guest-posting, as it helps to position you as an expert in your field.<\/p>\n
Since podcasting is growing at a rapid pace, there are a large number of podcasters looking for people to interview these days. Try searching for your topic on Google or Apple podcasts to find experts to reach out to.<\/p>\n
10. Create partnerships with other course providers<\/h3>\n
When figuring out how to market online classes, partnering with other course providers can be an excellent strategy \u2013 if done correctly.<\/p>\n
Notably, you\u2019ll need to be particularly cautious here to ensure you\u2019re not reaching out to course creators who may become competitors in your niche.<\/p>\n
The best partnerships are the ones you create with course creators who operate in a complementary niche to you.<\/p>\n
For instance, if you sell courses related to graphic design<\/strong><\/a>, you might partner up with content creation or marketing course creators who can also help your students.<\/p>\nOther professionals in your industry can give you new ways of building \u201ccourse packages\u201d to attract a wider range of customers.<\/p>\n
Plus, partnering with other content creators means you can have another team of professionals selling your courses (for a commission), to increase sales.<\/p>\n
11.\u00a0 Create an affiliate program<\/h3>\n
Speaking of leveraging other companies and professionals to help with selling your courses, an affiliate program can be a powerful tool too.<\/p>\n
About 81% of brands<\/strong><\/a> have an affiliate program that involves paying a group of people a commission for promoting and selling your courses.<\/p>\nAffiliate strategies can involve asking people to post about your course in their blogs or talk about your courses on social media. You could even place ads on popular websites.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to research your affiliate marketing options to ensure you\u2019re offering your affiliates a decent amount of payment for their time.<\/p>\n
12. Join discussion groups on Facebook and Reddit<\/h3>\n
Figuring out how to promote an online course involves a lot of strategizing to get your name and your course in front of as many people as possible.<\/p>\n
The most successful course creators are the business leaders with the best online image, and a strong focus on broad promotion.<\/p>\n
One of the easiest ways to boost your reach and improve your reputation is to join discussion groups on Reddit and Facebook.<\/p>\n
These groups are excellent for tracking down specific students interested in the topics you want to cover.<\/p>\n
You can use your position on groups to answer questions, and (occasionally) link back to your own courses as a source of information.<\/p>\n
Try to focus on genuinely offering values to other group remembers, rather than just promoting your course, however.<\/p>\n
13. Add internal ads to your sales pages<\/h3>\n
There are various ways to make your website more \u201cconversion-friendly\u201d as a course creator. When people are browsing through your blog, checking out your latest reviews, or just learning about you as an industry expert, remind them they can purchase your courses.<\/p>\n
Adding internal ads to your blog posts, which people can easily click on to visit your latest course offers is a great way to get started with boosting conversions.<\/div>\nAnother option is to create eye-catching pop-ups for your site. Pop-ups can be annoying when used too regularly, but they\u2019re also a good way to convince people to convert, particularly when they offer special deals, highlight the value of your course, and appear at the right time for users.<\/p>\n
14. Host a webinar<\/h3>\n
Another fantastic way to enhance your marketing plan for an online course is to strengthen your position as a leading educator with a webinar. Short, focused webinars can be as simple to make as a basic YouTube video or podcast.<\/p>\n
Webinars can be much easier to create than most educators realise. You can follow a specific structured formula, and even use the content published elsewhere on your site to help guide your narrative. All you need is to create a few webinar scripts and distribute them over time.<\/p>\n
To promote your class with a webinar, create a presentation around 30 to 45 minutes long concerning a broad topic you discuss in your course.<\/p>\n
Touch on your audience\u2019s pain points and offer some simple solutions, then ask them to sign up for the course to get more assistance.<\/p>\n
15. Include a link to your course in your newsletter<\/h3>\n
One of the most valuable things you\u2019ll have as a course creator is your email list.<\/p>\n
The people you convince to sign up for email newsletters with your blog posts, special offers, and even dedicated landing pages are more likely to convert into paying customers over time.<\/p>\n
With your newsletter, you can regularly keep your would-be students up-to-date about the kind of course experiences you\u2019re currently offering and even share case studies from successful students.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to include a link to your course in your newsletter, with a CTA.<\/p>\n
The link should tell people why they should consider signing up for your course, for instance, \u201cClick here to master online marketing\u201d.<\/p>\n
16.\u00a0 Create lead magnets<\/h3>\n![\"Lead](\"https:\/\/www.reliablesoft.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/lead-magnet-ideas.jpeg\")
Lead Magnet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs mentioned above, you\u2019ll have a much easier time marketing a course if you already have an email list full of potentially interested prospects.<\/p>\n
You can collect email addresses in a host of different ways, but lead magnets are among the most effective options.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Start blogging on topics related to your course<\/h3>\n
People want to learn from industry experts and thought leaders. One of the best ways to prove you know what you\u2019re talking about is to start blogging.<\/p>\n
Your blog is a powerful tool for strengthening your reputation and attracting potential students to your course.<\/p>\n
Not only does a blog highlight your industry expertise, but it gives you an excellent opportunity to improve your search engine rankings, through the strategic use of keywords.<\/p>\n
Research trending keywords related to your course topic. For instance, if you\u2019re sharing courses on digital marketing<\/strong><\/a>, you might type \u201cdigital marketing\u201d into Google to see what shows up in the \u201cPeople also ask\u201d and \u201crelated\u201d sections. You can also use keyword research tools, like Google keyword planner<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you have your keywords, create insightful, well-optimized blog content for each focus keyword.<\/p>\n Concentrate on delivering value by answering student questions, sharing unique insights, and speaking to your audience in a language they can understand.<\/p>\n Content marketing is one of the best ways to generate awareness when you\u2019re learning how to market an online school or course.<\/p>\n What most people don\u2019t realise is there\u2019s much more to content marketing than simply blogging. You can create eBooks to accompany your courses or publish helpful infographics.<\/p>\n One particularly valuable strategy is to publish \u201cbest of\u201d articles. This is a great way to draw focus to your course and highlight its value, without being overly promotional.<\/p>\n For example, if you\u2019re promoting your Facebook Ads Course, write an article on the \u201cbest Facebook ads courses<\/strong><\/a>\u201d and include your course on the list.<\/p>\n Try this technique and you\u2019ll be surprised by the results. You found that this is one of the best ways to sell online courses<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Video content is excellent for generating engagement \u2013 particularly on channels like YouTube.<\/p>\n There are 2 billion monthly<\/strong><\/a> active users on YouTube. It\u2019s also one of the most popular search engines in the world, just under Google.<\/p>\n With your YouTube channel you can:<\/p>\n While there are plenty of great social media channels to help you grow attention for your online course, Facebook is the most diverse. You\u2019ll find a huge range of potential students here.<\/p>\n One of the great things about Facebook Ads is how targeted you can make them. Through your Facebook ad account, you\u2019ll be able to focus specifically on the people most likely to be interested in your course, filtering by things like location, age, and interests.<\/p>\n When creating your Facebook ads, concentrate on generating excitement for your course through things like discounts and deals, social proof (reviews from previous customers) and insights into what your course will entail.<\/p>\n Paid advertising campaigns shouldn\u2019t stop with Facebook. When you\u2019re wondering how to market online courses, you need to consider Google too.<\/p>\n A lot of the work you do to improve your course\u2019s position online with Google will involve organic content creation and SEO. But adding a little PPC to the mix can significantly improve your reach.<\/p>\n Google search campaigns and pay-per-click advertising helps to attract specific people to your course subscription pages. Using a careful selection of keywords, your Google Ads will help to position your learning experiences in front of your target audience.<\/p>\n Remember, keeping an eye on the results of your Google Search campaigns, and updating your strategy as you go can help you to save money on advertising efforts.<\/p>\n Everyone loves a great deal.<\/p>\n Offering coupons and discounts are particularly helpful if you\u2019re relatively new to the online education space. When deciding whether to take your course, your students will be weighing the costs of the education with the potential benefits.<\/p>\n A discount code makes your would-be customers feel like they\u2019re taking less of a risk with your offer.<\/p>\n You can also use the initial customers you earn through coupon codes to collect feedback about your course \u2013 perfect for both product optimization and attracting future clients via social proof.<\/p>\n Offer discounts for:<\/p>\n Perhaps the only thing more exciting than getting something valuable at a discounted price is getting something for free.<\/p>\n When designing your marketing plan for an online course, it\u2019s worth asking yourself whether a free \u201cmini-course\u201d could give you the initial boost you need.<\/p>\n While giving something away for free might seem counterproductive, it\u2019s an excellent way to generate trust among customers, and make a name for yourself in your niche.<\/p>\n Just look at how the most popular online learning platforms<\/strong><\/a> regularly offer free trials of their products.<\/p>\n Just try not to give away too much in your free course, or your students might not think the paid version is worth it.<\/p>\n Producing content for your own website and social media pages is crucial when marketing a course. However, you also want to develop a presence in the overall community too.<\/p>\n Guest blogging on websites closely related to the topics you want to cover can help raise brand awareness too.<\/p>\n Guest blogging is also excellent for SEO purposes, as it helps to create backlinks from related companies to your website. Search for well-respected (but not competing) companies, podcasts, and websites in your space and reach out to them.<\/p>\n These days, most websites are keen to get their hands on as much quality content as possible, so you shouldn\u2019t have too much trouble finding someone willing to work with you.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s consumers don\u2019t just read articles and watch videos; they also listen to podcasts.<\/p>\n 78% of Americans are now familiar with \u201cpodcasting\u201d, and more than 5 in 10<\/strong><\/a> have listened to a podcast. Appearing on a podcast is a great way to reach people who might not have time to consume other kinds of digital content.<\/p>\n Appearing on a podcast with a well-known content creator in your industry has a similar impact as guest-posting, as it helps to position you as an expert in your field.<\/p>\n Since podcasting is growing at a rapid pace, there are a large number of podcasters looking for people to interview these days. Try searching for your topic on Google or Apple podcasts to find experts to reach out to.<\/p>\n When figuring out how to market online classes, partnering with other course providers can be an excellent strategy \u2013 if done correctly.<\/p>\n Notably, you\u2019ll need to be particularly cautious here to ensure you\u2019re not reaching out to course creators who may become competitors in your niche.<\/p>\n The best partnerships are the ones you create with course creators who operate in a complementary niche to you.<\/p>\n For instance, if you sell courses related to graphic design<\/strong><\/a>, you might partner up with content creation or marketing course creators who can also help your students.<\/p>\n Other professionals in your industry can give you new ways of building \u201ccourse packages\u201d to attract a wider range of customers.<\/p>\n Plus, partnering with other content creators means you can have another team of professionals selling your courses (for a commission), to increase sales.<\/p>\n Speaking of leveraging other companies and professionals to help with selling your courses, an affiliate program can be a powerful tool too.<\/p>\n About 81% of brands<\/strong><\/a> have an affiliate program that involves paying a group of people a commission for promoting and selling your courses.<\/p>\n Affiliate strategies can involve asking people to post about your course in their blogs or talk about your courses on social media. You could even place ads on popular websites.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to research your affiliate marketing options to ensure you\u2019re offering your affiliates a decent amount of payment for their time.<\/p>\n Figuring out how to promote an online course involves a lot of strategizing to get your name and your course in front of as many people as possible.<\/p>\n The most successful course creators are the business leaders with the best online image, and a strong focus on broad promotion.<\/p>\n One of the easiest ways to boost your reach and improve your reputation is to join discussion groups on Reddit and Facebook.<\/p>\n These groups are excellent for tracking down specific students interested in the topics you want to cover.<\/p>\n You can use your position on groups to answer questions, and (occasionally) link back to your own courses as a source of information.<\/p>\n Try to focus on genuinely offering values to other group remembers, rather than just promoting your course, however.<\/p>\n There are various ways to make your website more \u201cconversion-friendly\u201d as a course creator. When people are browsing through your blog, checking out your latest reviews, or just learning about you as an industry expert, remind them they can purchase your courses.<\/p>\n Another option is to create eye-catching pop-ups for your site. Pop-ups can be annoying when used too regularly, but they\u2019re also a good way to convince people to convert, particularly when they offer special deals, highlight the value of your course, and appear at the right time for users.<\/p>\n Another fantastic way to enhance your marketing plan for an online course is to strengthen your position as a leading educator with a webinar. Short, focused webinars can be as simple to make as a basic YouTube video or podcast.<\/p>\n Webinars can be much easier to create than most educators realise. You can follow a specific structured formula, and even use the content published elsewhere on your site to help guide your narrative. All you need is to create a few webinar scripts and distribute them over time.<\/p>\n To promote your class with a webinar, create a presentation around 30 to 45 minutes long concerning a broad topic you discuss in your course.<\/p>\n Touch on your audience\u2019s pain points and offer some simple solutions, then ask them to sign up for the course to get more assistance.<\/p>\n One of the most valuable things you\u2019ll have as a course creator is your email list.<\/p>\n The people you convince to sign up for email newsletters with your blog posts, special offers, and even dedicated landing pages are more likely to convert into paying customers over time.<\/p>\n With your newsletter, you can regularly keep your would-be students up-to-date about the kind of course experiences you\u2019re currently offering and even share case studies from successful students.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a good idea to include a link to your course in your newsletter, with a CTA.<\/p>\n The link should tell people why they should consider signing up for your course, for instance, \u201cClick here to master online marketing\u201d.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, you\u2019ll have a much easier time marketing a course if you already have an email list full of potentially interested prospects.<\/p>\n You can collect email addresses in a host of different ways, but lead magnets are among the most effective options.<\/p>\n2. Try \u201cBest of\u201d articles<\/h3>\n
3. Create a YouTube channel<\/h3>\n
\n
4. Use Facebook Ads<\/h3>\n
5. Run Google Search campaigns<\/h3>\n
6. Create a coupon code<\/h3>\n
\n
7. Offer a free mini-course<\/h3>\n
8. Guest post on related websites<\/h3>\n
9. Appear on Podcasts<\/h3>\n
10. Create partnerships with other course providers<\/h3>\n
11.\u00a0 Create an affiliate program<\/h3>\n
12. Join discussion groups on Facebook and Reddit<\/h3>\n
13. Add internal ads to your sales pages<\/h3>\n
14. Host a webinar<\/h3>\n
15. Include a link to your course in your newsletter<\/h3>\n
16.\u00a0 Create lead magnets<\/h3>\n
![\"Example](\"https:\/\/www.reliablesoft.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/course-reviews-page.webp\")