Your course is done. Now it’s time to market your online course to the people who need it most. But where do you start?
The best place to begin is wherever your particular market hangs out online. Are they on Facebook? Instagram? Do they frequently read your blog? Do they hang out in forums? Frequent certain websites?
Once you are able to answer where they hang out, you’ll know where to target your efforts. But, you don’t want to focus only on one marketing channel. Diversity is the key to growth. And so, here are 10 ways you can market your online course. Choose the ones that work best for you and your market.
#1. Market Your Online Course On Your Blog
If you’ve got a following on your blog – even a small one – this is a great channel for marketing your online course. And, even if you don’t have a following you need good content on your blog. Having good content is what draws a following. And alot of good content will also draw Google. And Google will draw people to your blog.
You can write a post that coincides with your course, and add a link to your sales page in the post. This way anyone who is interested in your article can check out your course.
And be sure to use good key words in your article so it will be found in Google searches. A great free resource for doing this is Ubersuggest.
Bottom line: You should market your course on your blog whether or not you already have a following.
#2 . Market Your Online Course On YouTube
If your online course is a video course this idea will work especially well. You can pull out parts of your course to create a promotional video to post on YouTube.
If you already have a following there this idea will work even better. But even if you don’t, post there anyway. You can get a link to embed that video in other places (like your blog!).
It does take time to build up some momentum on YouTube, just like any other marketing channel. But, since you can post your video for free, why wouldn’t you post it there? It’s another opportunity for exposure.
Bottom Line: Marketing your online course on YouTube is an especially good idea if yours is a video course, but unless you already have a large following, don’t expect overnight success.
#3. Market Your Course In An Email Sequence
Got an email list of people that would be interested in your course? Perfect! Create a series of emails to let them know about your course and how they can join. And if you send out a regular weekly, bi-weekly or monthly newsletter you should mention it there too.
Of all your marketing channels your list is your best bet for making sales. This is because your list already knows, likes and trusts you. You don’t need to convince them that you are being genuine or sincere. They are already interested in what you have to say and offer.
No list? Oh dear! You need to get that started today! A list is your most important business asset – period. And the sooner your start it the better! I recommend reading my article, “How To Find The Best Email Marketing Service,” to get you started today!
Bottom line: Your list is your most important asset and best chance for making sales.
#4. Use Facebook
There are a variety of ways you can market your course on Facebook:
- Ads
- Posts on your business page
- Posts on your personal page
- Your groups
- Groups you’re a member of that allow promotions
Of these, only ads will cost you money. The others will only cost you a little time. But, ads work the fastest for getting your course in front of your intended market.
The bare minimum you should have on Facebook is a business page and a personal page. So you’ll definitely want to post there about your course.
If you don’t have a group, and you think you can get some members into a group, you can start one. Otherwise just focus on your pages.
Many groups don’t allow promotions. And often the ones that do have so many that they don’t offer any value. So, you’ll need to decide if it’s worth your time to post to these groups.
Bottom line: Your market is on Facebook. You need to be there too.
#5. Mention Your Course In Your Other Products And Courses
Everything you create should promote everything else you create. That’s just smart marketing. It doesn’t cost you anything to mention your other products in your current one and vice versa.
You can easily do this by creating a list of resources (your other products) in your courses and products, and adding links to them.
This is done all the time in business books. Other books by the same author or the same publisher will be listed in the back, sometimes with an order form.
It is important to list all of your related courses and products rather than just giving a website. Most people won’t go to the website unless they have a reason to. Seeing another course or product that interests them will prompt them to go to the website.
Bottom line: Marketing your online course in the back of your other courses and products is smart – and it won’t cost you a dime!
#6. Use Affiliates
If your business is new you’re probably not ready for affiliates. But, if you have an established business and you haven’t used affiliates, you might want to give it a try.
Marketing with affiliates is a complex endeavor, but it gets the word out about your course and other products faster than you can do it alone.
You will need to give affiliates a percentage of each sale. Many affiliates are used to getting 50% or more. But, because you’ll have people marketing for you, you’ll bring in more revenue even after you’ve paid your affiliates.
Affiliate marketing isn’t for everyone, but if you decide to give it a try Clickbank is a well established platform and one place you can look for affiliates.
Bottom line: Using affiliates can be a bit of a hassle. But if you choose the right affiliates, it can pay off greater than trying to market your course alone.
#7. Use Joint Venture Partners
Unlike using affiliates, you don’t need an established business to do a joint venture (JV). You just need a really great course.
Your JV partners will expect 50% of the take, and you want to find partners who have large lists of buyers. When their buyers buy your course, they become your buyers – thus growing your list.
However, JV partnerships, like using affiliates, can be a bit complex. Your JV partners may expect you to provide them with marketing materials – such as sales page copy and email sequences. They may also require some training that pertains to your course so that they can market it effectively.
You’ll want to find JV partners who are reaching the same market that you are trying to reach, but who are not in exactly the same business as you. You should also try to stick with people you know, or at least people whose reputation you know well.
Bottom line: JV ventures are a great way to market your online course and grow your list. But, they can be pretty complex on your end of things.
#8. Mention Your Course in Forums and on Quora
Although this marketing method will take you a little time, it won’t cost you anything.
All you need to do is find online forums, and questions to answer on Quora, that have to do with your course’s subject. Then, answer peoples questions and include a link to get people to your landing page so they can opt in to your list.
Once they opt in you can market your course to them. This gives you a chance to warm them up to you and your course rather than just posting a link to your sales page in the forum or on Quora. Most people see that as spam and won’t click the link.
Bottom line: Forums and quora give you a chance to market your online course for free.
#9. Write Articles To Market Your Course
You can write articles for platforms such as EzineArticles. EzineArticles allows you to create a bio at the end of your article. Then, they allow people to publish your article in their ezine – as long as they keep your bio attached. This gives you free exposure, and it solves the content problem for the ezine owner.
You can also write blog post articles for blogs other than your own – blogs that have a large following.
And finally, you can write articles for offline publications. Any publications your write for should have a sizeable subscriber base. The only caveat here is that your article may not be chosen for publication by any particular publication.
All articles you write should have something to do with your course content, and they should lead readers to your landing page. Once they’re on your list you can market your course to them.
Bottom line: Articles are a great way for anyone to market their courses and other products. And best of all it’s free!
#10. Create A Related Infographic For Pinterest
Infographics are great for attracting attention. People love them because they are pleasing to look at and the information is short and easy to digest.
And the best part about infographics is that people love to share them – which increases your exposure.
You can create great looking infographics with Canva for free. They give you many free templates to choose from, and you can customize these templates to suit your brand.
Bottom line: You can create an infographic for free and it will continue to market for you for a long, long time.
Did you find a few good ideas to help you market your online course? Do you have an idea I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments section below!
With you every step of the way,
Kim Hillman
