5 Tips for Marketing Your Online Course on Social Media

So, you’ve put in the hard work, created a fantastic online course, and now you’re ready to share it with the world. But how do you make sure it gets the attention it deserves? A place to start is on social media. With the right approach, social media can be your best friend in marketing your online course, driving traffic to your site, and converting users into students.

In this blog post, we’ll break down five essential tips for marketing your online course on social media. These tactics will help you engage your audience, generate buzz, and boost enrollments. Ready to level up your social media marketing? Let’s get learning!

1. Create Teasers and Free Value

People love a good sneak peek. Teasers and free value items help generate excitement around your course before it even launches. Share snippets of your course content, such as short video clips, worksheets, or even a free mini-course or webinar. Offering free value not only demonstrates the quality of your course but also helps to position you as a credible source for your niche.

How to Do This:

• Teaser Videos: If your course is in video format, share brief, engaging clips from your online course. Post them as Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, or YouTube Shorts. A quick, visually appealing preview can spark curiosity and encourage people to sign up. No videos? No problem! There are other ways you can tease your course on social media, such as posting screenshots of your curriculum or sharing a preview of your worksheet. Whether you add these images to a carousel post or include them in an animated reel is up to you!
• Free Mini-Courses or Webinars: Consider offering a mini-course or a free live webinar that introduces the key concepts of your course. Use this to showcase your teaching style and provide actionable tips. People like to know what they’re getting into before they commit! 

Example:

Conveniently, we’re currently in the promoting stage of a soon-to-be-released product of our own. Check out this teaser reel we posted a while back with behind-the-scenes footage to hype up our audience for what’s coming: 

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A post shared by That Random Agency (@thatrandomagency)

(Oh, and if you happen to want to be the first to know when we launch our new product, subscribe to our newsletter.)

2. Use Paid Social Ads to Boost Visibility

Paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok can drastically expand your reach and bring in leads you might not reach organically. Running targeted ads for your online course is a great way to get your offering in front of the right people—fast.

How to Do This:

• Targeted Campaigns: Use advanced targeting features on social media ad platforms to reach people based on demographics, interests, and behaviors that align with your course’s focus.
• Lead Generation Ads: Create lead-generation ads offering a free resource, like an eBook or guide, related to your course. Once people download the freebie, you can retarget them with your course promotion.

Example:

We discussed offering free value, such as hosting webinars, to attract potential students and demonstrate your skills. This is a great opportunity to start running paid ads! For instance, here’s one of the many ads we ran to promote a free webinar we previously hosted:

3. Engage with Your Community Through Interactive Content

Social media is a two-way street. To truly engage your audience, you need to create content that encourages interaction and participation. Polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions are perfect ways to connect with potential students and spark conversations around your course.

How to Do This:

• Polls and Quizzes: Use platform features to run polls or quizzes to learn more about your audience’s needs and preferences. This can help tailor your course messaging and improve engagement.
• Q&A Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, where you answer questions about your course and its benefits. This builds trust with potential students and gives them a direct line to you.
  

Example:

To inspire you, check out this LinkedIn poll post by Teachable, a platform for online course creators, where they ask their audience about preferences to better serve those interested in their offerings:

4. Use Social Proof and Testimonials

Social proof is powerful. When potential students see that others have taken your course and loved it, they will likely trust your brand and be more inclined to enroll. Highlighting testimonials, case studies, and success stories from your previous students will help build trust and credibility.

How to Do This:

• Share Testimonials: Post written or video testimonials from satisfied students. Feature their stories by creating social media posts or adding them to your website!
• Before-and-After Case Studies: If possible, share detailed success stories that showcase the results students achieved after taking your course. Focus on measurable improvements like career advancement, skills learned, or income growth.

Example: 

Sharing testimonials may look different for everyone. But sometimes it's best not to overcomplicate it, after all, the words speak for themselves! Check out this simple yet effective way this small business owner shared quotes from one of her clients:

5. Consistently Post Valuable Content

Consistency is key when marketing your online course. Regularly posting valuable content related to your course topic keeps your audience engaged and attracts new followers. By consistently providing educational tips, behind-the-scenes content, and insights, you position yourself as an authority in your field, which ultimately drives course sign-ups.

How to Do This:

• Post Regularly: Create a plan or keep a content calendar to stay on track with your posts so you’re always top-of-mind. Depending on your bandwidth, you can aim for daily or weekly posts.
• Provide Educational Value: Share actionable tips, tutorials, or case studies that give your audience a taste of what they’ll learn in your course. This not only builds trust but also entices followers to enroll.

Example:

Neil Patel shares valuable SEO tips and digital marketing strategies consistently on his Instagram and YouTube channels. His educational posts keep his audience engaged, leading them to sign up for his courses.

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A post shared by Neil Patel (@neilpatel)

Marketing Your Online Course Is All About Connection

Marketing your online course on social media is about creating genuine connections with your audience, building trust, and showcasing your expertise. These five tips can boost your course’s visibility and enrollments.

Social media is a powerful tool for growing your online course business. So, what are you waiting for? Time to get out there and turn those followers into students!

Need help crafting a social media strategy for your online course? At RANDOM, we can help you create a strategy that engages your audience and drives enrollments. Let’s get started! 🚀