Since the pandemic emerged, we’ve been staring at a very different reality. The great thing is that humans are all about adapting, and that’s where upskilling comes in. With most people looking to upgrade their knowledge or switch to a new field altogether, online learning is the order of the day. Even more, with the threat of infection still as real as ever, let’s just say it’s better to learn in the comfort of your home.
All these factors, among others, make online learning a lucrative venture. Nevertheless, there’s a method to the madness. You can’t just wing it and expect to get it right. But fret not; we’ve compiled some executive tips on launching an online learning company.
Keep website safety in mind.
When starting an online business, it’s vital to think about website safety. Your website will likely collect personal information from customers through numerous online accounts, passwords, registrations, and newsletter signups. Unfortunately, having all of this vulnerable information also creates the potential for cybercrime. Sadly, hackers, viruses, worms, and spam are already part of everyday online life.
Therefore, it’s clear you have to protect your business against those threats to operate safely. But how do you protect your business effectively and sustainably against cybercrime? On the one hand, this happens through your online behavior—for example, choosing a long and secure password. Another way to protect your website from cybercrime is by using a private domain, like an IPv4 address.
When you buy IPv4 addresses, it’ll ensure a whole lot of security value to your online course website. Using a platform like Ipv4connect is an excellent way to go when navigating the IPv4 address space. They’re an IPv4 address vendor offering fully managed transfers in RIPE, ARIN, and APNIC locations. They aren’t just a trusted IPv4 address block seller—they also operate in the capacity of a buyer. Furthermore, their services are easy to sign up for and cover the areas of routing record removal, IPv4 research, and blacklist reporting. The only requirement for buyers and sellers is prior approval from a Regional Internet Registry (RIR).
Deliver practical courses.
The keyword here is actually ‘practical’. In this day and age, many people want to acquire skills they can turn into money. Not that this wasn’t the reality before, but the pandemic has changed the job market as we know it. Besides some occupations being rendered useless, online businesses are thriving. So, look for ways to incorporate courses aligned with what’s working in the present times.
Whether it’s a fitness course, a website design course, or an online business course, you’re sure to have them sign up. It’s also a good idea to bring onboard some influencers or relevant parties to make your course more hands-on. For instance, in an online business class, feature a speaker from an established company, much like the Labrador Source water delivery company.
They happen to be one of the most trusted and the oldest water companies in Canada, with their existence spanning up to 131 years. The water delivery service offers water bottle, water dispenser, and water cooler related services, all of which can be accessed via doorstep delivery.
Expand your reach.
Sure, you’re trying to impart knowledge, but you’re ultimately going to need interested subscribers to kick-start the business end of things. For that reason, you should pique people’s interest and offer multi-dimensional content. Take a look at visionaries like Clint Stinchcomb, CEO of CuriosityStream. Thanks to his strategies and know-how, the non-fictional streaming service recorded 10x more growth in 2019.
That’s quite impressive considering the fact that CuriosityStream is practically educational, thanks to the factual theme they have going on. With over 25 years worth of experience in the digital media industry, it’s evident that he’s had some practice when it comes to thinking out of the box.
Set reasonable prices.
We get it, times are tough. However, you aren’t going to get far in business if no one signs up for your courses. For the most part, assigning the right price for a course is a significant pain in the behind. Remember, not all courses offer the same value.
You first have to ask yourself how much value a particular course reasonably offers. You can then set the prices based on that within a reasonable margin. Also, factor in things like promotions because you have to reel them in somehow. To top it all off, make sure you offer different pricing levels. That way, you can appeal to a range of audiences at one go.
Keep the course titles brief.
Yes, you have creative liberty over your course and the material, but you have to keep the titles formal and to the point. It may come off as one-dimensional, but that’s usually the more practical approach to naming a course. When your potential customers glance through your course list, they should understand what it entails. Don’t use creative titling to confuse people; it never ends well. They either sign up for something they don’t like or end up missing out on a course that’s perfect for them.
Find your niche.
Before you decided to launch an online learning platform, you probably had a rough idea of what you wanted to offer. Please don’t lose sight of that because it’s what will keep your content fresh and unique. No one is asking you to reinvent the wheel.
Nevertheless, you can’t solely rely on what you see on other sites to help you create the perfect e-learning platform. While perusing other sites, still keep it in mind that you need to look for ways to stand out in your own right. If the plan was to copy another site, think again, online learning platforms are popping up here and there, so what’s going to make your course stand out?
Be open to feedback.
Businesses that care about their customers leave room for feedback. Never assume that you know it all because that’s what’s going to tank your business eventually. You won’t wake up one morning with the master key to running a successful online learning company.
It takes a lot of research, and moreover, it involves knowing what your target audience expects. Without the latter, you won’t deliver premium content. So, don’t sink the ship before it even sets sail. Ensure that you have an avenue to receive feedback because it’s the only way you’ll grow.
Keep it short and simple
Keep things short and simple. You need to put out accessible content. Remember that no one is signing up for the course to hear how smart you are. They’re there to learn and the knowledge you put out and put it to use. So, once you’re ready to structure the coursework and upload some content, first make sure it’s self-explanatory. Try to keep out jargon, acronyms without full forms, industry-related terms, and so on.
If you’re going to add any of those, make sure you put in an accompanying explanation. There is no use delivering extremely intelligent content if you’re going to lose your audience in the first few minutes. Think sustainably and use words that a layperson can understand without consulting a search engine every two seconds.
Give sneak peeks to potential customers.
Offering a sneak peek of a course is a strategic marketing technique that’ll attract customers. Once you appeal to human curiosity, those signup statistics will soar. So, don’t be too frugal when it comes to your content. Leak some good bits and watch those numbers go up.