How should I market and sell my online course?
So you’ve figured out what your next online course will be, you’ve planned the content and made sure it’s engaging, now you’re wondering “how can I market and sell my course?” Here’s a step-by-step guide with proven methods to help you build a strong marketing strategy and sell your course with confidence.
Actually, it’s not that difficult, it’s all about being seen. To show that your online course is complete irresistible.
10 Effective Strategies to Promote Your Online Course – That Don’t Take Too Much Time or Gives You a Headache!
You’ve put a lot of time and energy into creating your course. Now it’s time to get it out into the world! Starting from scratch, here’s what you need to start marketing your online course:
1. Build a strong online presence
The first step is to be seen. But being visible doesn’t mean you need to be a TikTok star or go LIVE every day. There are other ways to be seen online. The important thing to remember is that it will be difficult to find your course if no one knows you.
Think of your online presence as a storefront. This is where you can show off what you have going on and what can be bought from you.
Why it’s important:
All the different places together, your website, social media profiles and blog posts, they help you build credibility and create trust with potential customers. When someone finds you on Instagram, it may be the first time they see you and what you have to offer.
Good to think about:
- Make sure your website makes a good impression and is easy to navigate.
- Optimize your social media profiles – they should clearly show what you offer.
- Make it easy to contact you, either via email or phone.
- Start creating valuable content, like blog posts (and videos if you want), that showcase your expertise.
- Go through different platforms and your website to see where you can add some extra links and images to promote your online course in a natural way.
Tips: Start by updating your “About Me” page and include links to your online course. A simple but powerful first step!
2. Leverage email marketing
Today, almost every single person has an email address and it is something that will help you sell more. By sending a single email, you can promote your online course to those who may need a reminder that you have it. Having a list of potential customers and an easy (and almost free) opportunity to sell to them is worth its weight in gold! Those who give you their email address want get in touch so email them!
Why it works:
Because it’s a simple way to communicate, it doesn’t require you to put on fancy clothes and get ready. All you need is your computer (it’s usually best) and an offer. Then you can tell us about your offer or maybe just update about what’s happening right now.
If you don’t have an email list yet:
- Create an email list Via e.g. MailerLite, Active Campaign or any other that you think looks good.
- Offer a freebie – something valuable that helps those interested in what you offer.
- Send regular newsletters with tips, free resources and course updates.
- Have a clear call-to-action (CTA) in every email – it could be to book a webinar or to register for your course.
Challenge: Don’t already have a mailing list? Start one today and create a simple welcome email with an offer.
3. Create content that adds value and sparks curiosity for your online course
You can never share too much, the important thing is that it is relevant and that it helps those you want to reach. When you share content that is interesting and engaging, trust in you as an expert increases.
Why it makes a difference:
When you share your expertise, you show that you care about your target audience’s success. This makes them more likely to invest in your course when they see you offer genuine value.
Good to think about:
- Write blog posts, record podcasts or create YouTube videos on topics related to your course.
- Use social media to share small “tasters” of your course and show what attendees will get.
- Be personal – share stories about why you created your course and how it can change lives.
Tips: Try creating one for free mini courses that introduces your key concepts and leads to the sale of your full course.
4. Use SEO to attract the right audience
SEO is like growing a garden, yes I know it might sound a bit ridiculous but it’s a good analogy 😄. It requires patience, knowledge and regular care to make it flourish. By optimizing your website and content for search engines, you can reach people who are actively looking for courses like yours. Think of Google as a friend who goes around handing out flyers and promoting your online course for you, you never know who will come by and take a flyer. 😄
Why it’s effective:
When your website is optimized, it will appear higher in search results, leading to more visitors – and potential course participants.
Here’s how to do it:
- Do a keyword analysis to find the phrases your target audience is searching for.
- Optimize your course landing pages, blog posts and video descriptions with these keywords.
- Remember to create SEO-friendly headlines and meta descriptions, this is worth its weight in gold to promote your online course.
Tips: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find the right keywords for your content.
5. Leverage social media to sell more of your online course
Do you have to be on Social Media? No, of course not, but it can help you reach the noise. Here you can reach out to your audience, build relationships and create engagement. You don’t have to be on all platforms, decide which platform suits you and your target audience and stay there.
Why it works:
Because regardless of the platform, there is a good chance that your ideal customers are there. Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn are all great places to create a dialogue with potential customers. The above platforms also make it easy to advertise and reach out to new people who don’t know about you yet.
12 tips how you can take advantage of social media to sell your online course:
- With Instagram Stories or Facebook Lives, you can give a “behind the scenes” insight into your course.
- You can tell about limited-time offers or discounts in a targeted ad.
- Create engaging posts with quizzes, surveys or challenges to engage followers.
- Use hashtags strategically to reach a wider audience interested in your topic. [Think outside the box 😊]
- Create and share valuable content regularly to build trust and demonstrate your expertise. Forget that good info has to be paid for, give value!
- Consider whether you can collaborate with other influencers or experts in your field to reach new audiences. Remember that kindness and helpfulness go a long way 🙂
- Don’t usually use Reels? Or have you never written a LinkedIn article? Schedule time to test, it’s a great way to reach new followers and showcase your expertise.
- It’s easy to just read in different groups online, decide to become an active participant instead. Actively engage in relevant groups and communities to build relationships and increase your visibility.
- Use “social proof”, i.e. references from other satisfied customers or success stories from previous course participants.
- Create a content calendar so you have an overview of what you will share. Experiment with different types of posts (text, images, video) to see what engages your audience the most.
- Each platform has its own statistics – review them to understand when your target audience is most active and adapt your posts accordingly.
- Dare to ask your followers to share your content, it helps increase your reach organically.
Together with email marketing, you have a good chance of reaching more people, because of course all channels should lead to your email list! 😊📩
6. Create limited time offers for your online course
In one hour this very best offer will disappear!!!
Best to hurry right? A powerful way to create urgency is through limited-time offers. People are more likely to act if they know an offer will disappear soon.
FOMO and last minute deals
FOMO, (Fear of Missing Out), is a powerful psychological tool in marketing. By creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity, you can motivate potential customers to take the plunge and purchase your course.
Why it works: People tend to value things more highly when they are perceived as rare or limited in time. By using FOMO tactics, you can create an incentive for quick decisions.
Some effective strategies:
- Time-limited discounts: Offer a special discount that only applies for a short period, e.g. “25% off the next 48 hours”.
- Limited number of places: Emphasize that there are a limited number of places in the course, e.g. “Only 20 seats left!”
- Quick Decision Bonuses: Give extra value to those who sign up early, like exclusive bonus materials or one-on-one coaching.
- Countdown timer: Use a visual countdown timer on your website or in your email marketing to emphasize the limited time.
- Seasonal offers: Link your offers to special dates or events, such as “Back to School” promotions or New Year’s offers.
- Waiting list: If your course is full, create a waiting list. This creates a feeling of exclusivity and demand.
- Flash Sales: Advertise sudden, short-term discounts on social media to create excitement and quick action.
Since all these strategies can be mixed, you can vary endlessly and never have to think that you are doing the same thing over and over again. 😊
Important things to consider when using FOMO techniques to promote your online course:
- Be honest: Excessive or false use of FOMO tactics can damage your reputation. Make sure your offers are genuine.
- Balance: Use these tactics sparingly. Too much pressure can turn off potential customers.
- Deliver quality: Always ensure that your course delivers high quality, regardless of the price or offer the customer used.
By strategically using FOMO and last-minute deals, you can create a sense of excitement and urgency around your course, which can lead to increased registrations and sales.
Here’s how to do it:
- Create a launch campaign with a limited-time price.
- Use countdown clocks on your landing page and in email marketing.
- Have a clear deadline and remind your followers when the time is almost up.
Tips: Combine your limited-time offer with a bonus, e.g. an additional module or a live Q&A session.
Does it feel fake?
How you choose to use FOMO in your marketing also determines how false it will be. There’s nothing wrong with having limited time offers, it’s how you use them that makes the difference.
7. Try affiliate marketing and partnerships to promote your online course
“Two are always stronger than one” also applies online. When you collaborate with someone else, you have a greater chance of reaching out. Imagine that you are collaborating with someone in the same industry, together you can reach more people than if you do it separately.
How affiliate marketing can boost your sales:
When others promote your course to their own networks, it opens the door to new potential clients. At the same time, you build relationships with others in your industry. You get the opportunity to reach potential customers who are already interested in what you offer and who trust the recommendation of someone they follow.
Some strategies to consider:
- Create an affiliate program:
- Offer a commission to people who promote and sell your course.
- Check if the sales system you are using has the option to create an affiliate program so you can track clicks and sales.
- Provide your affiliates with marketing materials such as banners, email templates and sample social media posts.
- Collaborate with influencers:
- Identify influencers whose audiences overlap with your target audience.
- Offer them a free trial of your course in exchange for an honest review. Be prepared that it does not always have a positive outcome.
- Create a unique discount code for their followers so you know who belongs to whom.
- Guest lectures and expert interviews:
- Invite experts in related fields to guest lecture in your course.
- Offer to be a guest on other people’s courses, podcasts or webinars.
- This adds value to your students and exposes you to new target groups.
- Co-organize events:
- Organize joint webinars or virtual workshops with complementary companies or influencers.
- Share your marketing and customer base to reach a wider audience.
- Cross Marketing:
- Find other course creators with complementary (not competing) offerings.
- Agree to promote each other’s online courses to your respective email lists or social media followers.
- Create joint products:
- Collaborate with other experts to create a joint course or product.
- This can provide a unique offer and combine your respective strengths and audience.
Important things to consider before starting affiliates and collaborations:
- Choose partners carefully: Only work with people and companies whose values and quality match your own.
- Be transparent: Always be open about any affiliate relationships or sponsored collaborations to maintain trust.
- Focus on value: Ensure that all collaborations and affiliate offers provide genuine value to your target audience.
- Follow rules and laws: Be aware of and follow local laws and regulations regarding affiliate marketing and sponsored posts.
By strategically using affiliate marketing and collaborations, you can create a win-win situation where you reach more potential customers while building valuable relationships within your industry.
To do: Write down at least 5 people with whom you can imagine collaborating and contact them with an offer to collaborate. You never know what it could lead to! 😊
8. Organize webinars and live events to promote your online course
Today it is super easy to create a live event or webinar. There are plenty of platforms that make it easy without having to spend a lot of money. Live streaming and webinars are powerful tools to demonstrate your expertise and build trust.
Why it works: Live interaction gives potential clients the opportunity to get to know you and get a preview of your teaching style.
Some strategies:
- Offer free “try it” webinars with valuable information that you could actually charge for
- Create Q&A sessions where you answer questions live
- Combine training with sales in a natural way
- Record the webinars for reuse in marketing
- Use live events to launch new course rounds
- Use a tool that helps you stream in multiple places at once, like StreamYard.
9. Let your business blog market and sell your online course for you!
The time of bloggers is not over (you’re reading here, aren’t you?). By creating valuable content that ranks well in search engines, you can attract organic traffic over the long term.
Why it works: High-quality content helps you get found by those who are actively searching for solutions within what you offer.
Some strategies:
- Start a blog with articles related to your course (like this post😅)
- Create YouTube videos that give a taste of your content
- Optimize your content for relevant keywords to promote your online course
- Develop comprehensive to guide in your area of expertise
- Create content that responds frequently asked questions in your niche
- Use different content formats (text, video, audio, infographics)
If you don’t already have a business blog, my strong recommendation is to get one today! 😊
10. Plan, structure, vary
Yes exactly, with structure, planning and variety you can go a long way. You don’t really need a lot of strategies, you need to plan what to do, structure how and then vary it.
Do you need tips on how to market your particular course? Or have you tried something that worked a little extra well? Feel free to share in the comments.