Supercharge Your Course Sales: Proven Tactics for Online Course Creators
Published on 2 July 2023
As an online course creator looking to increase sales, you have two key objectives: maximising the sales potential of your existing courses and successfully launching new courses.
While there are tactics and that can be applied to both scenarios, it is important to understand the nuances of each situation and adapt your strategies accordingly.
With these tips and tricks up your sleeve, you will be equipped with the knowledge and strategies to elevate your online course business to the next level.
Supercharging Sales for Existing Courses
When it comes to existing courses, you have a foundation to build upon. Here's how you can boost sales:
Analyse and Optimise Course Performance
Start by analysing the performance of your existing courses. Dive into metrics such as enrolment rates, completion rates, and student feedback to gain insights into areas for improvement.
Consider updating and refreshing your course content based on this feedback. By enhancing the quality and relevance of your existing courses, you can increase customer satisfaction and generate positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Offer Advanced Modules or Up-sells
To entice existing students and provide additional value, consider offering advanced modules or up-sells. These can be supplementary modules that delve deeper into specific topics or offer advanced skills training. By expanding your course offerings, you can cater to the needs of learners who are eager to take their knowledge to the next level.
Up-sells can also include bundled packages or premium versions of your course, live events, or even Group or 1-2-1 coaching options, providing students with more comprehensive learning experiences.
Implement Email Marketing Campaigns
Leverage the power of email marketing to re-engage with your existing students. Create targeted campaigns that highlight the benefits of revisiting or upgrading their learning journey. Offer exclusive discounts, bonus resources, or time-limited promotions to encourage them to take action.
By nurturing relationships with your existing students through personalised and valuable email content, you can foster loyalty and drive repeat course sales.
Harness the Power of Social Proof
Always look for opportunities to share success stories and case studies of students who have achieved positive results through your courses. For example if you have a podcast you can highlight their transformations and showcase how your course has made a tangible impact on their lives or careers.
Make sure to ask your best students for a testimonial, which you can include on the sales page. This social proof can instil confidence in potential students and increase course enrolments.
Create a Strong Brand Identity
Develop a cohesive brand identity that resonates with your target audience. This includes designing a visually appealing website, creating compelling course branding and graphics, and establishing a consistent tone of voice across all communication channels. A strong brand identity builds trust, differentiates you from competitors, and attracts students who align with your values.
Create an Evergreen Sales Funnel
Another way to supercharge your course sales is to set up an evergreen sales funnel, that consistently exposes prospects to your course and encourages them to buy. And the exciting thing about this is that it can be automated, so you can be making sales on auto-pilot.
There are lots of ways of creating an evergreen sales funnel, but as an example you could run paid social media ads to an automated webinar that provides a lot of value up front and then pitches your course at the end.
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Launching New Courses with Impact
When launching a new course, you have the opportunity to make a strong first impression. Here are tactics to maximise your course's sales potential:
Pre-Sell Your Course
Before you even think about launching your online course you should pre-sell it. Pre-selling involves selling your course (usually at a significantly discounted price) before it is even created. This opportunity is often presented as a Beta version of your course, where you have a limited number of people go through the course and provide you with feedback on their experience.
This is also a great way to get testimonials for your sales page before you have your public launch.
Conduct Pre-Launch Buzz Building
Before the official launch, create anticipation and generate buzz around your upcoming course. Utilise your email list, social media platforms, and industry networks to share teasers, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes content.
Building anticipation and curiosity ahead of your launch will create a sense of urgency and drive enrolments when you launch.
Engage with your audience by providing valuable insights related to the course topic.
And last but not least, if you are running a live launch consider charging a nominal amount for people to participate in the launch.
This might sound counterintuitive and you will definitely have less people taking part in your launch but they are ALL going to be qualified buyers and people who are willing to invest in themselves, rather than people who are just looking for free content.
Offer Early-Bird Pricing or Bonuses
To incentivise early enrolments and fast action, consider offering early-bird pricing or exclusive bonuses to those who sign up during the pre-launch phase. As an example, in a recent launch I did for a LinkedIn training, I offered a bonus 1hr Profile Audit with me, to the first 5 people who bought into the training.
Early-bird pricing provides a clear benefit for early adopters and encourages quick decision-making. Bonuses, such as additional resources, one-on-one coaching sessions, or access to a private community, enhance the perceived value of the course and differentiate it from competitors.
Collaborate with Influencers or Partners
Partnering with influencers or industry experts can significantly boost your course's visibility and credibility. Identify key influencers or complementary businesses in your niche and explore collaboration opportunities. This can include joint webinars, guest blog posts, or affiliate partnerships. The endorsement and exposure from trusted influencers can attract a wider audience and drive course enrolments.
Also if you are in any industry groups or Chambers of Commerce, it might be possible to collaborate with them.
Optimise Course Pricing Strategy
Pricing plays a crucial role in course sales. Experiment with different pricing models, such as one-time payment, instalment plans, or subscription-based access, to cater to different customer preferences. Conduct market research to understand the pricing landscape within your niche and position your course competitively while maintaining profitability.
Leverage Content Marketing
Create valuable and informative content, such as blog posts, videos, webinars, or podcasts, that align with your course topics. Share this content through your website, social media channels, and email newsletters to attract and engage your target audience.
Content marketing establishes you as an authority in your field and drives organic traffic to your course offerings.
Implement a Referral Program
Encourage your existing students to refer others to your courses by implementing a referral program. Offer incentives, such as discounts or exclusive content, to both the referrer and the referred student. This not only drives new enrolments but also strengthens the sense of community and loyalty among your students.
Optimise Course Delivery and User Experience
Continuously improve the learning experience for your students. Gather feedback through surveys or post-course evaluations and make necessary adjustments to enhance the course content, user interface, and overall learning experience.
A seamless and user-friendly course delivery system increases student satisfaction and encourages positive reviews and recommendations.
Explore Affiliate Marketing Opportunities
Collaborate with affiliates who can promote your courses to their own networks in exchange for a commission on sales. Identify influencers, bloggers, or industry experts who align with your course topics and have an engaged audience.
Establish clear guidelines and provide promotional materials to make it easy for affiliates to share and endorse your courses.
Engage with Online Communities
Participate in relevant online communities, forums, and social media groups where your target audience congregates.
Provide valuable insights, answer questions, and share your expertise without being overly promotional. Building genuine relationships within these communities can establish you as a trusted resource and attract potential students to your courses.
Facebook Groups can be a great place to find and engage with your ideal customer, but make sure you don't spam these groups by pitching your courses directly, unless that is inline with the etiquette of the group.
Conclusion
Whether you're looking to supercharge sales for existing courses or launch a new course with impact, these proven tactics will help you achieve your goals.
Analyse and optimise the performance of your existing courses, offer additional value, leverage email marketing, social proof and create en evergreen sales funnel.
When launching new courses, pre-sell your course, create pre-launch buzz, offer enticing incentives, collaborate with influencers or partners, optimise pricing, and leverage content marketing.
By implementing these strategies tailored to your specific objectives, you'll be well on your way to increasing course sales and growing your online course business.