How to Sell Online Courses through Social Media (10 Strategies)
Online courses are among the most rapidly growing channels of media. With easy setup, multiple options for monetization, and growing demand across nearly all niches, more entrepreneurs, creators, and companies are starting creating e-learning materials at the beginning. The timing could not be more perfect, as experts in the field believing that the market for online education is going to reach 350 billion by the year 2025.
However, while it's never been easier to create courses online, standing out on the internet and ultimately generating sales still be a big obstacle.
It is a good thing that there's an approach to marketing that's perfect to this job: social media
In this piece this article, we'll go over some tips on how you can use social media to sell your online courses. But don't be concerned -- this isn't a typical article filled with just the "same old" techniques you've already learned. Instead, you could make use of these suggestions to investigate various angles and methods for promotion.
10 . Social Media Strategies to Sell Online Courses
- Find Shoutouts on Instagram as well as TikTok
- Make use of Twitter polls to Build Engagement
- Upload Your Course to Pinterest
- Don't Neglect LinkedIn
- Reach Out to Build 1:1 Relationships
- Link Blog Posts Relevant to Your Course
- Make a Promo Video
- Test Different Titles
- Leverage Testimonials
- Create a Community
1. Make Shoutouts available on Instagram as well as TikTok
Although both these social networks have ads they can be purchased to advertise your online course However, there's a better (more organic way) to get your work in front of relevant audiences such as shout-outs.
In order to get your shoutouts, you'll first need to determine which type of account your audience is following. There are generally two primary kinds of accounts that could be suitable: influencers and theme accounts. Influencers are actual people who manage their profiles however theme accounts are wrapped around the topic of interest (rather than being a specific person).
Create a list of accounts where you think your course will resonate well with the people who follow them. Make sure to pay close attention to the engagement of your post. One red flag to watch out for is when large accounts (500k followers and more) only have a few views, likes and comments. This is a sign of an account that is not active, or one that has been overrun by bots.
When you're ready to connect with the owners of your account If you're ready to reach out, use an email lookup tool find their contact details. (Or in the event that this doesn't work you can send them a DM. But make sure to grab the attention of the recipient within the first few words of your message. Instagram and TikTok messengers show only the beginning of the phrase, meaning it's essential to make your message stand out against the other messages they receive. )
Request prices for shoutouts and include them with course promotion visuals and a preferred description. Request to add their URL in the bio to the course's landing page within up to 24 days. Prices for such posts will range depending on the individual, but for accounts up to 100k followers it can be anywhere from $25 to $75. For accounts with millions of followers, anticipate the cost to be within the four-five figures.
Keep an accurate tracking chart of how various accounts performed with regard to clicks and conversions. Once you've done some research and analysis, you'll know the best shoutouts for your business and you can plan ads with them on a regular basis.
2. Make use of Twitter polls to build Engagement
It's easy to get lost in all the messages which are happening on Twitter. One possibility that appears to be extremely engaging with the public is Twitter polls. The poll could be as easy as a simple survey to determine if the people are in agreement on something or not, or you could engage the audience on a deeper degree and ask them what they'd like learn from the course.
No need to post any information that could be controversial or complex. It's as simple like the one that follows, in which Eventbrite asked their audience to vote on the title for their forthcoming program so they could generate some anticipation.
3. Upload Your Course on Pinterest
It's true that Pinterest isn't your primary platform. But if you're in one of the niches which is popular with the Pinterest users like It's certainly worthwhile to give it a go. First, let's take an in-depth look at some of the fascinating information regarding Pinterest:
- There are more than 431 millions active web users
- The majority are women who are between 20 and 45 years old.
- Household income $50k+
- Most of the users come located in the US
If your audience demographics are in line, then you need to add Pinterest onto your social media map. Your course can be pin to a landing page and pay for ads to promote the course.
There are some drawbacks though: the audience type and age group are extremely concentrated and that creates the limited variety of subjects that Pinterest users like. One of the most effective ways to use Pinterest are if you offer an online course related to style, home decor, cooking, traveling, DIY or personal growth.
4. Beware of LinkedIn
Though LinkedIn doesn't need any explanation, there are several strategies you can employ to promote your course online that students frequently forget about:
Make use of your existing connections. Chances are that you already have a LinkedIn profile. If you start a new course that corresponds to your personal experiences, don't hesitate to share the news with your existing network.
Tags matter. Let's say you create an online course , and use a specific software a lot. Include that tool's name in an @ so they are notified. A majority of businesses will appreciate or re-share your article since it is an opportunity to show their social proof. This is free, but could increase your chance of LinkedIn popularity (the similar is true for Twitter and Facebook ).>
Hashtags matter too. Include three to five relevant hashtags within your blog post for a better understanding of the topic. You will notice that postings with hashtags are generally surpass posts with no hashtags. Although this may seem like a very basic tip, many people still tend to neglect it.
5. Reach Out to Build 1-1 Connections
If you feel that somebody would benefit from an online class, don't be afraid to reach out to them. A quick DM to LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter could be a huge help in contacting the appropriate individual at the appropriate time. (And this is often the most effective method to make a deal. )
It is important to keep in mind the topic and the profile of the person you are reaching out to. If these two elements make a perfect match it is possible to not just get a new customer but also have a chance of being a part of their marketing to their fans and their audiences.
6. You can share blog posts that are related to your course
In order to maximize the impact of your online course, make a blog post (or several blog posts) that are based on the content. It can be as simple as the overall recap of topics covered in your course, or a deep dive into particular subjects you'll discuss. Make sure your content is optimized with keywords for SEO to draw in people searching for information regarding this subject. You'll be amazed at how simple it is to rank in Google for specific niche subjects which means you may get some organic traffic very soon.
If you have a blog article that is in the process, you could still promote your content on any social media site. Because it's the form of a "fresh coat" your readers will not feel that you are selling your products too much or are posting the same thing again.
7. Create a video for a promotion
Videos are extremely successful on social mediaplatforms, and you may want to consider making use of a segment of your online class as a promotional video. Create a quick example that acts as a trailer for the entire course, or release a part of the course at no cost.
Learn from the manner in which MasterClass promotes their courses. Each program will have a cool trailer to get people interested. Most people are hesitant to spend money on something they've never heard of This also helps people bridge the gap and show off how your training will be delivered.
8. Explore a range of titles
The titles could determine your promotion's virality content on social media.
Create titles that are sure to grab an attention from your target audience. Make sure not to be too extravagant with clickbait-type titlesbecause it is among the sure ways to lose the attention of your target audience. The trick is to find an appropriate balance between your text not appearing too dull or overly aggressive.
What people like is getting lots of information quickly for as little as possible. Add to it an urgency, and you'll have a draft of the title. This is why you often see titles such as:
"Learn the XYZ language over 5 Weeks, for $399. This offer is valid for 3 Days."
Sure, it seems very "salesy" however for certain programs and the audiences they target It works really well.
If you're targeting a more cautious audience, you can try talking more directly to the "professional side." Reduce the narrative on how easy and inexpensive your course (for the value you are giving) and focus more on the value you provide and the "professional improvement" aspect. An example of a title could be:
"XYZ can be an essential tool in 2022. It is important to learn how to use it efficiently."
The obvious thing to remember is that these are just some rough drafts that can help get your thoughts in the making. The titles (along with photos) are the primary clickthrough rate influencers So make sure you revise your posts on social media with various titles and keep the track of which ones work best.
9. Leverage Testimonials
Find out what the objective is and concentrate on getting testimonials that speak to that goal. They can be posted on your own account on social media, and also advertise them on social media for your class.
If you're just beginning without any testimonials you can offer either a no-cost course or a discounted one in exchange for the testimonial. Include the name, photo, and LinkedIn profiles of those providing the recommendation. These small details can help make your testimonials appear more authentic since your readers can see the person is real.
10. Form an Community
The idea is to go an extra step and create two groups. One group would be public that anyone can join. The group will function as the hallway where people are able to discuss issues within the area (and gives you an opportunity to advertise your course ).
The second section would be only available to those who successfully completed the class. It is possible to post additional valuable material there -- such as opportunities for employment, latest discoveries in the niche, and other bonuses. The group has proven that they're ready to pay for your services that gives you an excellent opportunity to promote and upsell them on other learning products as well as more advanced classes your company offers.
Find the Right Social Media Methodology to Support Your Online Course
While experimenting with your promotional efforts on the internet is important, you need to concentrate on strategies that work to your subject and possible target audience. As an example, if you have a course for accountants in their 40s, TikTok will probably not be the ideal option to begin. In contrast, if you have an instruction course that teaches you how to take great TikTok footage, LinkedIn might not be your primary lead source for your course.
The most important thing is to track all your promotion activities. Think about setting up an SubID or making use of a more sophisticated social media marketing tracking tool to determine which strategies perform best. Because at the end of your day, you'll only make improvements to the aspects that can be measured. With social media, these small improvements could make an enormous difference!
The blog was first published, May 2017 and then revised in 2022, with the most recent guidance and examples.