The increased accessibility of information has no doubt been one of the greatest benefits of the digital revolution. It’s the first time in human history that education has been so readily available, with thousands of instructional courses being just a few clicks away.

In fact, as of 2019, half of all classes are conducted online, and 84 percent of employees complete online training courses.

This confirms that the way people are educating themselves is shifting, with the Internet playing an increasingly prevalent role.

But even though more easily accessible information is a commendable advancement, it does also present some challenges— especially for institutions, organizations, and businesses that offer courses online. The eruption of the e-course market has transformed it into a highly-competitive space, forcing those who offer web-based training opportunities to invest in promoting their classes if they want to turn a profit and attract participants.

But what are the most lucrative marketing methods for e-courses? And how can course-makers ensure their online training opportunities stand out from the rest?

If you’ve pondered these questions, today’s blog post is for you.

One of the most influential aspects of your e-course sales page is the reviews and testimonials you gather from students who have already completed your course.

In fact, one study from Yieldify found that social proof can improve conversion rates by 6.6 percent, up to as high as 48.3 percent, depending on the targeting criteria.

Thus, including your Facebook star rating, Google reviews, or any other positive feedback you have on your website, sales page, and social media accounts is a must if you want to increase enrollment and maintain profitability.

We highly recommend checking out this guide to using social proof from OptinMonster for some helpful step-by-step instructions.

Even with the most successful advertising campaigns bringing hundreds of visitors to your landing page each week, the wrong design can (and will) hinder your conversion rate.

One of the most common mistakes e-course creators make is trying to cram too much information on their landing page, and making design choices that make their page appear congested. This leaves visitors feeling overwhelmed and confused, which often results in a higher bounce rate.

Fortunately, however, there are a ton of high-performing, free graphic design tools available on the web that e-course developers can use to create eye-catching visuals for their pages, and budget-friendly stock photo sites like PikWizard make locating striking images a breeze.

We also suggest checking out this list of top landing page designs from Hubspot to gain a better understanding of what works in regards to layout.

In 2019 and beyond, simply sending emails just won’t cut it.

In today’s age, your emails have to be as optimized and as targeted as your online advertising campaigns in order to produce maximum results.

In fact, segmented emails have 208 percent higher conversion rates than batch-and-blast, proving the importance of taking a specific, purpose-driven approach.

If you haven’t begun segmenting your email subscriber list into more customized sub-lists, now is the time to start.

It’s also the time to step up your email marketing designs, and send your subscribers more appealing, modern emails to better capture their attention.

Lastly, it is absolutely crucial that your email communications be optimized for mobile.

Remember, if your email is not optimized for mobile, 80 percent of users will delete it— a mistake that’s far too costly to make.

Are you doing enough to keep in touch with people who have taken your courses in the past? If not, you’ve sent a proverbial cash cow out to pasture.

Prior participants may be interested in taking additional courses down the road, either to maintain their skill level or expand upon their knowledge. Plus, they can refer their personal networks to your site.

A Facebook community is an ideal way to keep students engaged after they’ve completed your e-course. You can set the community to private, so only those who have completed your course can request access.

Within the group, you can post exclusive resources, tips, and guides, providing additional value to your past participants.

You can even host a live Q&A session, and respond directly to any questions or concerns your students may have.

But perhaps the most advantageous aspect of having a dedicated Facebook community is the fact that within the community, your reach is 100 percent. This means that when you post within your Facebook community, all of your members will see your post.

When you consider that less than two percent of fans see your organic Facebook posts when you post to a company page or profile.

Therefore, if you want to capitalize on your follow-up communications, a Facebook community is your best bet.

Over the last couple of years, Instagram has emerged as a front-runner in the realm of social media advertising.

In fact, by the year 2020, 30 percent of Facebook’s ad revenue is expected to come from Instagram (which they purchased in 2012).

In light of this, it is a favourable time for e-course creators to capitalize on Instagram advertising.

Online graphic design platforms like Design Wizard make it super easy for e-course developers to produce click-worthy images for Instagram posts. And with emerging features like Instagram stories, there have never been more ways for businesses to appeal to their social media audiences.

Just make sure that your branding is consistent across all of your online assets, including your website, landing pages, and social media.

The more concise and clear your messaging is, the more likely people are to respond.