Nine effective tips for marketing your eLearning course like a pro
Creating your first eLearning course is exciting. You’ve planned your topics, created your content, uploading it to your learning platform and are ready to release your knowledge into the world.
But there’s one stumbling block you need to get over first… how will people find out about your brilliant course? That’s the one question that crosses every eLearning content creator’s mind.
To help you promote your eLearning course successfully, here are nine useful tips for marketing your programme like a pro.
1) Know your target audience
It is important to know who your target audience is and what they want. Your course is of no use to them if it does not train them with exactly what they need – and conveys that adequately in your marketing.
So conduct proper market research and get to know about your potential learners’ expectations. The best way to do this is by conducting surveys, interviews, and talking to the learners.
Once you get to know your target audience and their needs, you’ll be able to customize your marketing strategies towards people who need your content.
2) Tell your learners how your course will benefit them
Your learners will be interested in your course if it solves a problem. For example, if your course wants to train its learners in enhancing their leadership skills, it’ll need to state the same motive.
It’s also wise to explain the contents of the course, and how it will be beneficial for learners. (You can do this in the form of an index.)
3) Be a story-teller
Storytelling is the best way of getting your learners’ attention. Craft your story around real-life data and examples so that learners can quickly and easily relate and comprehend.
It’s also good to include failure stories, and how your course turned those failures into success. This will not only capture learners’ interest but can also help to change their mind to buying your course if they envisage the same journey happening to them.
Once way to achieve this is through the use of case studies and video interviews.
4) Focus on a particular niche
Learners have become very specific today, and will seek out courses that specialise in exactly the subject they’re interested in. So, just as you wouldn’t send an email to your HR team about a sales workshop, eLearning students probably won’t sign up to a course on accountancy held by a florist.
So aim your marketing strategies on your specific audience, and let them know why you’re an expert they can trust in that niche. But remember to continually test, revise and improve your marketing to ensure your message is reaching the right people and delivering the right results.
5) Give a sneak-peak
Movies often give their audience a small sneak-peak by releasing a teaser or trailer. And if the trailer is good, people get curious to see the whole film.
The same can apply to your online course. If your course’s teaser/trailer speaks of the usefulness of your course, your potential learners will want to know more about it. So it’s a good idea to give them a free sneak-peak.
This can be with a free taster module, or video tour behind the scenes. Anything that can help them experience what it feels like to be your student before committing.
6) Make use of testimonials
Today’s generation functions on reviews of other people. For example, before buying a pair of shoes online, many of us check reviews of people who have bought the same or a similar pair.
And in most cases, your prospects are going to want the same before purchasing your course. So make sure you ask students who have completed the course for their feedback, and then publish the best of them on your website.
Studies say that testimonials have an 89% effectiveness rating when conversions are concerned, so it’s worth investing the time in collecting and sharing them.
7) Be a constant in your learners’ lives
People usually forget things fast. So, to remind them that you exist, and what you offer, try to keep in touch with them on a regular basis.
For example, if someone has opted for your newsletter, send them free eLearning courses that add value to their lives. You can also offer your customers an extra discount on their next purchase or invite them to an upcoming eLearning event.
The aim is to be in contact so your future products’ marketing campaigns can leverage this already set (and warm) audience base.
8) Modify content according to trends and needs
The world is changing fast. As a result, you may discover that the excellent, ‘evergreen’ eLearning course that you created two months ago isn’t 100% useful today.
And it happens. Trends come. Trends go. And old content pieces become less useful. So what can you do?
You need to keep updating them. eLearning authoring tools in 2020 offer multiple content editing and publishing features that make content management much simpler.
But don’t forget to compare eLearning authoring tools and explore their features. This will enable you to purchase the most suitable tool for your course.
9) Start a blog
Starting and maintaining a blog is the best way to keep your customers engaged, and bring new people onto your radar by subtly promoting your eLearning courses.
Ready to promote your eLearning course?
Are you ready to start marketing your eLearning course? If so, we hope you’ve found these tips helpful, and can use them to market your content and effectively and reach your target audience.
And remember – some strategies will give you instant results, but others will take time to bed down and reward your effort. So don’t give up if not every marketing activity delivers immediately.
Photo by Campaign Creators
