Creating an online course doesn’t take much; you only need an idea and some practical skills (narration and video editing) to build it.

And there’s a huge market – data shows 129 million people used online courses in recent years.

However, its success is another story, directly related to how you present and market your product. This article presents some of the most effective promotional techniques for putting your online course on top! 

The first steps covered 

If you’re still unsure about the process of creating and publishing a course, Udemy offers a free course that discusses best practices and other recommendations. It involves some insightful topics, such as using Marketplaces Insights to shape your course topic and identify your target audience. 

Of course, you should do individual research, like addressing commonly asked questions in public forums frequently visited by your potential viewers. Then, you can spin your online course more organically, focusing on providing information that might not be available elsewhere. 

Your goal with an online course is to publish it and follow the steps to acquire repeatable income for years. For many instructors, this can turn into passive income, requiring little maintenance or additional work. You might be familiar with this effortless earning method, as it’s a common objective for monetizing digital products. 

Get students and buyers 

The primary assignment in getting users to buy your course is to increase the number of people who know about it. Thus, you should promote it in a controlled manner, focusing on your targeted audience.

Promote it on your socials 

You should already have a platform for spreading the message about your course: different social media platforms. However, it’s not just about posting on your wall and urging your friends and followers to try it: 

• Take advantage of platforms like LinkedIn focused on professional growth and information sharing. 
• Don’t disregard the influence from different groups consisting of particular specialists or enthusiasts. Join such communities and look for organic ways to recommend your course. 
• You can establish yourself as a specialist through brief educational videos and informing your viewers that more tips are available in your course. 
• Try running ads promoting your course.
• Post some parts of your online course to platforms like YouTube to showcase its quality and what users can expect. 

Establishing a lead magnet 

The snippet you post on YouTube is a type of lead magnet. However, this option more commonly refers to tempting potential clients into providing their information. As a result, you can establish which people might be interested in receiving promotional letters. 

The key here is that interested users receive a reward (such as a few lessons for your course) for providing their email address. Then, you can send updates and additional information. 

Just be sure of the current standards for email marketing: users should have a clear option for opting out of these letters. 

Improve SEO for your course

Putting some effort into your course landing page is crucial for getting discovered and earning money. The first job for you is determining your main and related keywords. 

You can do this manually, such as writing down different combinations and selecting the ones most relevant for a user looking to learn (such as a keyword ‘learn graphic design’). However, your chosen keywords can be too general or have high difficulty scores, making it harder for a new course to rank for them. If possible, use special software allowing you to find keywords quickly. 

With the right approach, users will find your course much easier on Google or Udemy Marketplace, increasing your visibility and potential earnings. 

Final Takeaway for Online Course Marketing

Online courses have the potential to be successful passive income strategies.

With the entire worldwide eLearning market projected to reach $1 trillion by 2032 (Source: Exploding Topics), it’s no wonder why online courses are getting so much attention.

However, riding this wave of success is highly recommended if you manage to get your course to the top. Consider creating additional courses and reacting to students’ feedback. Maybe they praised the versatility of practical assignments, or perhaps you explained complex aspects in a reasonably beginner-friendly manner.