Are you an expert in a particular area and do you have knowledge and skills that others would benefit from learning? If so, you should consider creating and selling an online course. It can be a great way to make money while helping others learn new things. In this article, we’ll provide 6 effective tips to help you easily sell your online course.
What Is An Online Course?
It’s a series of online classes in which students can learn about a topic and take tests at their own convenience. People may be able to watch online lectures from wherever they have an internet connection. They may also be able to submit homework online so that the instructor can grade it remotely without having to meet each student in person.
Many online courses are self-paced so that students are able to fit their tuition around their other responsibilities. Some courses require students to attend live sessions via webinar software. Examples of online courses include:
- Coursera (which offers courses from top universities)
- edX (MIT’s online learning platform)
- Udemy (an online marketplace where teachers can sell their own course materials to students around the world).
Use The Right Platform
Some platforms already include features like video hosting, discussion boards, chat boxes, and more. However, some learning management systems (LMS) don’t have such features (or are limited). In these cases, it would inhibit your ability to engage with learners or distribute content. As a result, a third-party app might be necessary. Examples of these are:
- email marketing tools
- live streaming services
- payment processors
- analytics systems
If you use third-party software or apps, it’s important to make sure they integrate with your LMS so that you can easily manage everything in one place. Before you commit to a product do a thorough review of the pros and cons and pricing options, and look for platforms with a wide range of customization facilities. The right system will help with things like enhanced branding, trial-run quizzes, payment collections, and templates.
Create A Website Landing Page
You’ll need to create a quality website for your course, with a specially adapted landing page for online visitors. Here are some tips:
- Test different versions of your landing page to see which one converts best.
- A video introduction can help to engage potential students.
- Sell the benefits of your course rather than just the content.
- Use attractive visuals on your landing page to draw attention and make it stand out.
- Be sure that all key information is easy to find (e.g. pricing, how to sign up, etc.).
Use Social Media, Email Marketing And Blogs
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be great ways to reach out to potential students and promote your online course. Build a following by posting regular quality content and later on consider things like Facebook Ads where you can target specific demographics.
You can also create a blog on your website where you talk about the course in detail. Include plenty of free, helpful information on your specialist subject so that your readers won’t feel they’re being constantly spammed. A final idea would be to conduct email marketing campaigns to let previous and present students know about your latest courses.
Provide Quality Content
The Title And Format
Your course title should be catchy and give people an idea of what the course is about without being too wordy or confusing. In addition to using text in your course, provide supplemental materials like slideshows, audio recordings, and transcripts. This will help your students get the most out of your course.
Graphics And Quizzes
Online learners are visual learners so it’s important to include appealing graphics in your course. This could be anything from graphs and charts to images and videos – and ideally multimedia elements. Quizzes and assessments are a great way to measure your student’s progress and ensure they are learning the material. They also help keep students involved and provide a sense of accomplishment when each section is completed.
Think Of Your Customers
Free Previews
Free trials and previews allow people to get a taste of what they can expect before they commit. These things can help folk decide whether or not it’s something that would be beneficial for their career or personal growth.
Testimonials
Another way to sell your online course is by displaying reviews from past students. This will help build trust with potential buyers and show them that others have had success with your courses. You can even highlight specific student successes on your website or social media pages.
An Easy Process
If you want the new business (and return business) you need to make the customer journey as simple as possible. A user-friendly checkout process is definitely a must, so consider using something like PayPal Express Checkout where users don’t have to enter their credit card details manually.
Be Wise Over Pricing And Customer Support
Pricing
You need to ensure that you are competitive and that your course offers value for money. There are a number of ways to price your course, and some common pricing models include:
- A one-time fee for lifetime access to the course materials
- A monthly subscription model where students have access to new content as it’s released
- Pay per view/download model where students pay each time they want to watch or download a video lesson
- Tiered pricing model where different prices are charged for different levels of access or features
Customer Support
When you provide customer service to your online course students, they feel appreciated and know that they are important to you. This builds customer loyalty and can result in more sales in the future. In addition, providing customer support also makes your business appear more professional.
Hopefully, these 6 tips have given you food for thought when it comes to selling your online course. By putting them in place you’ll be maximizing your chances of success. Not only will you be making money and keen to create more courses, but you’ll be teaching people as never before.
