nftified news

How to Design Effective Online Course Adverts

Oct 11, 2024

Reader Disclosure

Online course advertisements that grab attention and resonate with your target audience is a great way to boost your conversion rates and stand out from an ever-growing e-learning marketplace

WHAT'S INSIDE          Toggle

With thousands of courses all competing for the same student population, advertising with the proper message could make a huge impact in making sure your program is noticed by students.

If you've not yet considered course advertisements as an option to promote your online courses and aren't sure why, let us persuade you with convincing reasons to consider it.

By the end of this blog post, you'll've discovered actionable ways to craft compelling visuals and copy as well as optimizing your advertisements to maximize performance.

The reason why online course advertisements are Essential

Online Course Ads Benefits Infographic

The most important advantage is visibility. By paying for advertisements, you're making sure that your brand gets seen by members of your target audience.

In contrast to other strategies, such as organic content search, there is a guarantee that your course ad will be noticed.

It is an important perk for instructors and academy owners who are only starting to establish themselves. It will take a significant amount of effort and time to build an audience organically.

Paid advertisements, on the other hand will get your information out there in front of those who are the most likely to want to sign up to your program quicker.

The increased visibility also leads to credibility. Repetition builds awareness as well as trust among prospective students, which makes conversions more likely.

Additionally, you can precision target precisely the demographics that will be exposed to the ad. You can also make use of the retargeting technique to reengage people who have shown interest in the online course advertisement but without registering.

However, how much your advertising campaigns can accomplish is contingent on the planning you have made and your the overall strategy that includes:

  • In which place do you post your ad
  • What format for your ad you pick
  • The effectiveness of your copy and message

The following points will be covered plus additional points in the sections below.

How to publish your ads

First, you must determine which channel is the most suitable for your business. That is which is the place where your ideal group most likely to come across your online course ad?

Likewise, if the course that you're advertising is centered around food from across the globe, using social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are a great choice since that's where the target people would be.

To get the most out of your ads The unique feature of selecting a platform to publish your advertisements is you must know what you can do to take advantage of the tools available

Here's a simple overview of all the platforms and tools they provide to ensure that your advertisements are published the most efficient way:

Instagram

  • Reels Let's do 90-second commercial videos
  • Stories: Lets you put your creative and captivating advertising for courses within 24 hours
  • Instagram Feed lets you design a solid visual course ad that has the perfect caption to captivate your target users while they scroll

Facebook

  • Stories for short and attractive video ads which lasts all day
  • Video Ads: For long-form video ad content
  • Messenger Ads: Users who see your ads on Messenger are asked to start an online conversation with you. business

YouTube

  • Skippable In-Stream Ads: Ads are included in videos of users, and users can skip
  • Non-skippable in-stream ads: Ads are included in user videos, which viewers must view from beginning to end
  • Discovery Ads  The ads are displayed on YouTube results for searches, the related videos, and the homepage
  • Bumper Ads: Six-second non-skippable ads perfect for delivering a quick, impactful message

LinkedIn

  • Sponsored Content Advertisements could be sponsored content that are directly displayed in the LinkedIn feed, making it a native ad format
  • Video Ads LinkedIn's sophisticated targeting guarantees that your ads will be seen by the appropriate target audience.
  • Text ads Text ads are easy and direct ads that appear in the sidebar on the LinkedIn interface and are cost-effective for driving traffic to the landing page of your course.
  • Sponsored Messaging (InMail): These ads come in the form of personalized messages that are directly delivered to LinkedIn users' inboxes

Search Engines (Google)

  • Google Search Ads lets you target people who are actively looking for online courses or related issues.
  • Google Display Network The Google Display Network allows the use of advertisements that use video or image to target users across thousands of apps, websites and Google-owned sites like YouTube
  • Discovery Ads: Discovery ads allow the user to be reached in moments when they're open to discovering new content, offering wide exposure across many platforms
  • ads retargeting allows you to re-engage people who've visited your page or engaged with your ads however haven't signed up for your course

Bonus Point! Your Current WordPress Website

You can also add your advertisements on your course to your site.

This is an excellent option if your site is already attracting a large portion of the people you want to reach. But either way, it doesn't hurt to sell your course to current users.

If you're on WordPress You can quickly create an ad using an reusable Gutenberg block. The user is free to create any kind of advert you'd like to including images, video or text.

Ad Formats: Long/Short-Form Videos vs. Images

It is recommended to utilize the combination of these types, particularly when you're trying to reach diverse audiences across multiple formats.

But, if you've got an ad budget that is limited or you want to send a very specific message, you'll need to consider the advantages and disadvantages for each option to help determine which one is the best.

Below are the advantages and disadvantages of each ad format to help you determine which one is best suited to the needs of your business:

Long-Form Video

 Pros

  • Lets you tell a detailed narrative that draws your audience in.
  • Ideal for explaining complicated items or services.
  • Provides more room for creativity, allowing for a mix of storytelling techniques
  • Increases the retention of viewers for those who are interested in the subject.
  • Creates more emotional bonds between your targets
     the audience as well as your brand

 Cons

  • Production costs are more expensive and take longer.
  • Not compatible with some platforms including Instagram
  • It is necessary to pay more attention time than the majority of people are able to commit to

Short-Form Video

 Pros

  • It's quick and engaging
  • Ideal for raising brand awareness in a short amount of time
  • Reduces production time and resources
  • It's easy to share, which makes it more effective for organic reach

 Cons

  • Limited message depth
  • There is a chance that it will not provide any emotional value

Pictures

 Pros

  • Simple to make for fast messages
  • It has a striking visual appeal.
  • Amazingly versatile across many platforms
  • This is the most economical method for production
  • It is suitable for static platforms and less disruptive

 Cons

  • It is easy to overlook
  • Low engagement compared to videos

When you have considered the pros and cons of each of the ad styles above, you'll now know where to use the formats and when not and what one to choose based on which you think is most appropriate for your intended audience.

Writing a strong message and Effective Copy

Whichever format you choose, whichever platform you choose the content of your course's ad is paramount.

Whether your copy is delivered by way of scripts as an online video or written for an PPC advertisement the message should be clear engaging, powerful and concise.

The people you want to reach must see your advertisement and think "Wow! I must check this out ASAP!"

It's exactly what an online class ad with an attention-grabbing headline, concise and persuasive body text, and an enticing call to actions (CTA) could do.

This is how you can craft the components effectively:

Headlines: Attention-Grabbing, Clear, and benefit-driven

The headline you choose to use is likely the first thing your target readers will be looking at. You want to ensure you make a great first impression that will stay in their mind for a long time.

Make sure your headline is short, clear and clearly describes the benefits of your product.

Don't try to be overly clever by using a variety of phrases instead choose to use simple words and stick to a particular value proposition that resonates with the people you want to reach.

Strategies for Online Course Ad Headlines

Here are some other things to think about:

  • Use power words which invoke emotions and excitement such as "free," "proven," "easy," "guaranteed"
  • Highlight the benefits that are real and relevant. Clearly state what the audience is going to get
  • You should try to use a number. Based on our experiences, advertisements that include numbers have higher results. E.g. "Voted the #1 Class", "Get Fluent in 30 days"
  • It should be usable. Provide an outcome or action for the public to achieve.

Examples of Effective Headlines

  1.   Learn Spanish Fast - Fluent in just 3 months!
  • Power words: Fast, Fluent.
  • Benefit: Learn Spanish in a short period.
  1.   Increase Sales by doubling your sales using proven Marketing Strategies
  • Power words: Double, Proven.
  • Advantage: Higher sales.
  1.   Learn the Secrets to Unparalleled Weight Loss
  • Power words: Secret, Effortless.
  • Benefit: Simple weight loss.
  1.   Learn to harness the power of Mindfulness within 10 minutes a Day
  • Power words: Power, Unlock.
  • Benefit: Developing mindfulness using little time commitment.
  1.   Get Fit at Home - No Equipment Needed!
  • Power words: No Equipment, Get Fit.
  • Benefit: Fitness can be achieved without special tools.

Be sure to make your headlines optimized for the platform where your course ads will be displayed. For instance, brief and enticing headlines work best for social media sites like Instagram to ensure that people can quickly grab them due to the short attention spans of users.

In the end, it's important to ensure that your headline is based on benefit by defining why your intended audience should care about it and the benefit they'll receive by engaging in a more thorough manner.

Body Text: Short, Persuasive, and Aligned with the requirements of the reader.

When you've devised an appealing headline The next thing to do is to compose your body copy in a persuasive tone with an easy and simple words.

Focus on your audience's weak areas and the way your program easily addresses them, along with other irresistible benefits.

In this case, for example, you could mention that your course helps them progress in their profession or offer them exclusive ideas to boost their hobby they're enthusiastic about.

Keep it short, keeping an eye on the limited space for ads and the fact that people's attention spans are short.

Call-to-Action: Clear and urgent, and action-oriented

Your CTA should include action verbs for example "Enroll now," "Get Started Today," or "Download Free Guide," as they're explicit and will tell the reader precisely what they need to do.

Also, you need to make people feel a sense of urgency through your CTA for a better conversion rate.

For example, by making use of phrases such as "Limited Time Offer" or "Join before Registration Ends" the audience is convinced to make a quick decision or lose access to the course.

If the audience you want to reach has already been enthralled by your course, you can ensure that they'll hit the register button much faster than light speed!

In the end, be sure to strategically put your CTA in your ads whether it's the button placed on the landing page or link on the social media ads for it to stand out and easily drive clicks.

Examples of Successful Online Course Advertisements

In the past, we've talked about how to make impactful online course ads to promote your online course business. Now, it's time to show you examples of successful online course ads as well as the aspects that help them shine.

Here they are below:

Google Search Course Ad

Below is an easy and effective Google ad for Amazon's AWS found in Google's search results when you search for the keyword "online classes."

Looking at the image above, the ad clearly has an appealing headline that is attractive and benefits-driven. The language used is easy to read and have none of the ambiguity and confusion.

The CTA advises that people take action through two key action verbs "Become" in addition to "Learn," encouraging learners to follow their next steps towards success.

Instagram Course Ad

Screenshot of instagram online course ad

This Instagram course ad by @cfshealth is another fantastic illustration of an online course ad. The person in the picture is promoting a 4-week course for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome manage the symptoms.

He begins with an introductory catchy hook that addresses his target audience "What I'd like to know concerning chronic exhaustion syndrome".

Then, he shares his own experience of struggling through the healthcare system and explains the course he has taken to enhance recovery results.

YouTube Course Ad

Example of an online course ad on YouTube.

Its video provides a great example of a pre-roll YouTube course ad that promotes the coding classes offered by Devslopes.com.

The presenter begins with a an original story before diving into the course and the timeframe in which you'll be able to earn extra income with the new knowledge you've gained.

Each word is clear and simple to comprehend, and an effective CTA that is in the form of the link by the side of the video is included to drive viewers to the site for the course.

Impress them with your landing Page

Optimize course landing page

You've developed an online course ad that's working and drawing interest. But, the story doesn't stop here.

You need to consider what happens next after your page has captivated the attention of your visitors, which is where creating a well-designed landing page comes into.

If someone is interested in your course is able to click the link in your ad about your course, and gets directed to your landing page and continues to click, this should continue the momentum that will make them sign up.

Your landing page must be optimized with clean designs with compelling headlines and a convincing body of text that appeals to your visitors.

By doing this, you'll enjoy certain benefits such as increased conversions, decreased rate of bounces, competitive advantage as well as many more.

The book covers the most important strategies for making compelling headlines, writing clear calls to action, and ensuring a smooth user experience. All created to assist you in turning people who visit your site into students.

Use Your Website to Cross-Sell Other Courses

When your visitors are active on your website, think about adding ads to upsell or cross sell other courses to drive more revenue.

In the case of example, if the student enrolls in a course on "Beginner Web Development"" recommend related courses such as "Advanced JavaScript" or "UI/UX Design" to help them further improve their abilities.

For example, if the customer has enrolled in a photography course The order bump may be an offer for a downloadable guide on advanced photo editing techniques.

The fun part is that it's easy to use! Just pick the products or services you'd like to highlight, and then choose the pricing option. Additionally, you can add an optional message optimized to inspire your customers to purchase. And voila, your checkout page is ready!

Conclusion

Ads are a great way to give your online course a boost of recognition, especially when you're building your reputation.

Remember to:

  •   Pick the best platform to increase return on investment  
  •   Utilize a mixture of different ad formats in order to appeal to various segments of your target audience.  
  •   Create a powerful message that resonates, and motivate the user to action  
  •   Maintain the momentum by launching websites that can be converted  

Check out the blog posts mentioned in this blog to optimize the effectiveness of your advertisements and increase the number of conversions and improve the value of your course.

Which strategies have you discovered to be successful in the creation of advertisements for online courses? Let us know your ideas in the comment section below.

Don't forget to join our monthly newsletter to keep informed of the latest trends and strategies in online education.

Thank you for your time and happy giving!

If you found this article useful, please follow our pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!

Henry       Henry is a talented wordsmith at Caseproof and , dedicated to providing unique information on numerous topics that range from WordPress plugins, digital products and technical services with the force of his pen. Henry brings words to life, and takes pleasure in providing helpful guides that cater to the needs of his readers and help them reach their desired goals. In addition to his work, Henry loves to watch movies as well as play video games as well as play the game of chess. Henry is also a social enthusiast who is passionate about creating and keeping connections. Keep an eye out for his blog posts - your one-stop resource to WordPress and the success of content marketing.