How to Quickly Build an Effective Landing Page for Online Course

updated on 14 May 2024

As an online course creator, building an effective landing page is crucial to attracting students and driving conversions. With so many options for creating a landing page though, where do you start? Using a simple yet powerful drag-and-drop builder is the most efficient way to build a high-converting landing page for your online course. In just a few minutes, you can have a professional landing page up and running to start promoting your course. If you want more tips on creating a landing page, check out The Ultimate Guide to Creating an Online Course Landing Page on Unicorn Platform's blog.

Choose a Simple and Clean Design for Your Landing Page For Online Course

To quickly build an effective landing page for your online course, follow these steps:

First, choose a simple and clean design. A minimal design helps visitors focus on your content and call-to-action. Use a minimal color palette with plenty of white space. For images, select professional stock photos or custom graphics that visually represent your course topic.

Next, craft a compelling headline and subheading. Your headline should capture the main benefit of your course in 1 sentence. The subheading expands on that benefit in 2 sentences. For example:

Headline: Master Data Analytics in Just 6 Weeks

Subheading: This intensive online course will teach you the skills to become a data analyst. You'll learn data mining, visualization, and storytelling through interactive lessons and real-world projects.

Then, highlight key course features and benefits. Use 3 to 5 bulleted lists to emphasize important points like:

  • Self-paced lessons you can complete anytime, anywhere
  • Hands-on projects to build your portfolio
  • 1-on-1 support from experienced instructors
  • Downloadable resources including cheat sheets, checklists, and video tutorials

Include persuasive testimonials from past students highlighting specific outcomes and experiences. For example:

“This course gave me the confidence to change careers. I went from a dead-end job to a data analyst in under 2 months!” - John S., Course Graduate

Finally, add a strong call-to-action like "Enroll Now" or "Start Your Free Preview." Place this CTA prominently on the page, centered at the top and bottom.

With a clean design, compelling copy, social proof, and a clear call-to-action, your landing page will convert visitors into students in no time. Building an effective landing page is key to promoting and selling your online course.

Craft a Compelling Headline and Subheading

To quickly build an effective landing page for an online course, there are a few key elements you must include.

Craft a Compelling Headline and Subheading

Your headline should capture the reader's attention and clearly communicate the main benefit of your course. Aim for a headline that is:

  • Short (around 6 words)
  • Impactful
  • Emotionally resonant

For example, “Discover the Secrets of Rapid Language Learning” or “Master Data Analysis in Just 12 Weeks.”

Follow your headline with a subheading that expands on the headline by describing your course in more detail. For example, “A fast-paced, hands-on program for acquiring practical data analysis skills you can apply on the job right away.”

Choose Engaging Visuals

Include images that reinforce your headline and subheading. Some options include:

  • A photo of the instructor(s) to build credibility and connection.
  • Infographics or data visualizations for technical courses.
  • Images of people engaging with the course material.
  • Screenshots of the actual course content.

Keep your images high quality and make sure they load quickly. Position them strategically near the sections they relate to.

Highlight Key Benefits

Clearly articulate 3 to 5 key benefits of your course. For example:

  1. Learn at your own pace. The course is self-paced so you can move through the lessons as quickly or slowly as needed.
  2. Gain practical skills. The project-based curriculum focuses on hands-on learning so you can apply your new skills immediately.
  3. Get support when you need it. Experienced instructors are available to provide feedback and answer any questions you may have.

Use bullet points or numbered lists for easy reading. Keep sentences under 20 words for maximum impact. Discuss one benefit at a time in 2 to 3 sentences.

Share the Main Benefits and Features of Your Course
Share the Main Benefits and Features of Your Course

Share the Main Benefits and Features of Your Course

To effectively market your online course, you must clearly convey the key benefits and features to your potential students. Share details on exactly what they will learn and how it will help them.

Learning Outcomes

Specify the concrete skills, tools, and knowledge students will gain from your course. For example:

  • Learn three effective email marketing strategies to increase sales
  • Master search engine optimization to rank higher in search results
  • Build a social media content calendar to save time and increase engagement

Course Format

Describe how the course content is delivered. For example:

The course includes video lectures, downloadable workbooks for each module, quizzes to reinforce key concepts, and access to an active student community forum. Students can access materials on their own schedule and work at their own pace.

Instructor Support

Highlight the level of support students will receive. For example:

I will provide direct support and feedback for students throughout the course. Students are encouraged to ask questions in the online forum, and I will respond within 24 hours with guidance and answers. I am also available for one-on-one video calls on request.

Practical Application

Explain how students can apply what they learn to achieve real-world benefits. For example:

The skills and knowledge gained in this course will allow students to improve their job performance, advance their careers, start a new business, or generate more traffic and sales for an existing business. The course teaches practical techniques that can be implemented right away for immediate results.

Promoting the significant benefits and key features of your online course helps build value in the minds of potential students. Transparently sharing course outcomes, format, instructor support available, and practical applications will gain the trust and interest of your target audience, increasing the likelihood of enrollment and success. Carefully crafting this type of messaging is well worth the effort to boost your course marketing.

Use Social Proof to Build Trust

To build trust and credibility for your online course, incorporate social proof into your landing page. Social proof refers to evidence that others have found your course valuable. There are several ways to do this:

Testimonials

Include quotes from satisfied students highlighting the benefits and results they gained from your course.

Accompany the testimonials with photos of the students, their full names, and locations to make them more believable. Position multiple student testimonials prominently on your landing page.

Student Stories

Share a few in-depth stories from students who have taken your course. Explain their challenges before the course, what they learned, and how they applied it to achieve success. Student stories are powerful social proof that allows potential students to relate to others with similar goals or problems.

Ratings and Reviews

If you have a profile for your online course on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare, prominently display your high ratings and reviews on your landing page. Potential students rely on ratings and reviews from other students to determine the quality and effectiveness of a course before enrolling.

Media Mentions

Have you or your course been featured in any media publications, podcasts or other respected platforms? Display logos of any media outlets that have mentioned you on your landing page. Media exposure lends third-party credibility to your course.

Course Completion Rate

The percentage of students who finish your course signals its value and usefulness. If you have a high completion rate, proudly announce it on your landing page. But only do so if you have enough students to make it statistically significant.

Using multiple forms of genuine social proof helps establish you as a trusted expert in your field and gives potential students confidence in the results and benefits your course offers. With a compelling landing page and strong social proof, you'll convert more visitors into paying students.

Offer a Free Trial or Demo

To convert interested visitors into paying customers, the most effective landing pages offer a free trial or product demo. This allows potential buyers to experience the actual value of your online course firsthand.

Provide a Time-Limited Free Trial

Offer a free trial for a limited time, such as 7 to 14 days. This gives interested visitors adequate time to go through your course content, while also incentivizing them to purchase before the trial period ends. Be sure to collect their email address during signup so you can send reminders about the trial ending and offer a special discount if they purchase.

Include a Product Walkthrough or Demo

Creating a product demo, video overview, or walkthrough showing how your online course works is a great way to demonstrate its value. This could be a full video course sample, a few sample lectures, or a quick video highlighting the key features and benefits. The goal is to educate visitors on exactly what they will learn and experience so they feel confident in purchasing your paid course.

Offer a Money-Back Guarantee

To overcome any remaining objections, provide a rock-solid money-back guarantee, such as 30 days. This allows customers to go through your entire online course risk-free. If for any reason they are not fully satisfied, they can get a full refund. The vast majority of people will not actually ask for a refund if your course is high quality. The guarantee simply provides reassurance to get them to buy.

Between a free trial, product demo, and money-back guarantee, potential students have every opportunity to determine if your online course meets their needs. These techniques have been proven to significantly improve landing page conversion rates, especially when selling an information product like an online course. Implementing even one of these strategies on your landing page can help generate more sales and boost revenue.

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Keep Your Call-to-Action Prominent

An effective call-to-action (CTA) is one of the most important elements on your landing page. It tells visitors exactly what you want them to do, whether it’s signing up for your email list, purchasing a product, or registering for your online course.

To maximize the impact of your CTA, place it prominently on your landing page. This means putting it above the fold, ideally within the top third of the page. This prime real estate will ensure the majority of visitors see your CTA immediately upon arriving on the page. Some key tips for an effective CTA include:

Clarity

Clearly state what action you want the visitor to take. For an online course, use wording like “Enroll Now,” “Register Today,” or “Get Started.” Avoid vague or misleading phrases.

Prominence

Make your CTA large and bold enough to stand out. Use a button or link styled distinctly from the rest of your content. A contrasting color, size, and font will help it capture attention.

Urgency

Convey a sense of urgency or scarcity to encourage the visitor to act quickly. For example, “Last chance - enrollment ends Friday!” or “Only 2 spots left at this price!” FOMO or “fear of missing out” is an effective motivator.

Value Proposition

Reiterate the key benefits and value of your offer within the CTA. For example, “Register now and get 50% off - learn anywhere, anytime!” Briefly highlighting a significant discount or salient feature gives visitors another reason to click through.

Simplicity

Keep your CTA simple and straightforward. Don’t require visitors to make multiple decisions or clicks to get started. A single button linking directly to your enrollment or registration page is ideal.

Following these best practices will ensure your call-to-action is as persuasive and effective as possible. An optimized CTA, prominently placed on your landing page, is key to high conversion rates and a successful online course launch.

Include Pricing and Payment Details

To convert interested visitors into paying customers, you need to clearly convey how they can purchase your online course. Include details on the course pricing, payment methods accepted, and checkout process.

Pricing

List the price for your course prominently on the page. If you offer multiple course packages at different price points, present each option with a brief description of what’s included. For example:

  • Basic Course: $49. Access to 10 video lessons and supplemental downloads.
  • Premium Course: $99. Everything in the Basic Course plus interactive Q&A sessions and monthly coaching calls.

You can also consider offering an introductory discount or coupon code to incentivize signups. Just be sure to clearly state when the offer expires to create a sense of urgency.

Payment Methods

Specify which payment methods you accept, such as major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), PayPal, etc. For security and convenience, use a reputable payment processor to handle transactions on your site. Some recommended options include Stripe, PayPal, or Square.

Checkout Process

Walk the visitor through the simple steps to purchase your course. For example:

  1. Click the “Enroll Now” button for your desired course package.
  2. Enter your billing information and payment details on the secure checkout page.
  3. Review and confirm your order.
  4. Once payment is complete, you will receive access to the course content and resources within 24 hours.

Providing clear pricing and payment details builds trust in your brand and gives visitors the confidence to convert. Be sure to also include customer support contact information in case any questions come up during the checkout process. Following these best practices will help you turn interested prospects into happy, paying students in no time!

Answer Common Questions About Your Course

One of the most effective ways to build trust and credibility for your online course is by addressing common questions and concerns prospective students may have. Be transparent and provide clear, concise answers to the following:

Pricing and Payment

Clearly state the full price of your course, including any available discounts or payment plans. Explain what payment methods you accept and your refund policy. For example, “The full price of the course is $299. We offer a launch special discount of 25% for the first 50 students. Payments can be made via credit card or PayPal, and we offer a no-questions-asked refund within the first 7 days of the course.”

Course Content and Curriculum

Give an overview of what is covered in your course and how lessons are structured. For example, “This course includes 10 modules released weekly, with video lessons, downloadable assignments, peer support, and instructor feedback. Modules cover essential skills like X, Y, and Z, leading to a capstone project where you apply everything you've learned.”

Instructor Qualifications and Experience

Share details about your background, qualifications, and relevant experience. For example, "I have over 15 years of experience as a professional X and have trained over 2,000 students. I hold a Master's degree in Y from Z University."

Time Commitment

Provide an estimate of the time required to complete your course. For example, "You can expect to spend 3-5 hours per week completing video lectures, assignments, and peer reviews. The full course will take 6-8 weeks to complete at a comfortable pace."

Certification or Accreditation

Note whether your course provides any official certification or accreditation. For example, "Students who successfully complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion from [School Name]."

Addressing common questions and concerns will give prospective students the information they need to make an informed decision about your course. Be transparent, concise, and highlight the key points that make your course a worthwhile investment.

Landing Page for Online Course FAQs: How to Build With Unicorn Platform

When building your landing page for an online course, there are a few key steps to keep in mind for an effective design using Unicorn Platform.

Choose a Template

Unicorn Platform offers pre-designed templates for landing pages that you can easily customize. Select a template that is clean, minimal, and suited for an online course. Some recommended options include the ‘Course Launch’ or ‘Learning Center’ templates.

Add Eye-Catching Images

Include high-quality images that capture the essence of your course topic. Images of people actively engaged in the course subject or close-up images of related materials are effective choices. Place your main image at the top as a header graphic to grab visitors’ attention.

Describe Your Course

Write a headline and subheadlines to briefly describe your course offering. Mention the key benefits and outcomes students can expect. Use bullet points to highlight important course features and topics covered. Keep this high-level, around 2 to 3 sentences for each point.

Outline the Curriculum

Provide an outline of the course curriculum to demonstrate the value and content students will learn. For example:

  1. Introduction to [Course Topic]
  2. [Module 1 Name]: [Short Description]
  3. [Module 2 Name]: [Short Description]
  4. [Module 3 Name]: [Short Description]
  5. Final Project: [Short Description]

Share Testimonials (If Any)

Include 1 to 2 brief testimonials from past students sharing their positive experiences with your course. Keep these to 1 or 2 sentences.

Add a Call-to-Action Button

The primary call-to-action on your page should be a large, prominent button for visitors to enroll in or purchase your course. Place this button above the fold at the top of your page and center it for maximum visibility.

FAQs (Optional)

You may want to include a short FAQ section to address common questions about your course offering, curriculum, and enrollment process. Keep answers around 2 to 3 sentences in length.

Following these best practices will allow you to create an effective landing page for your online course using Unicorn Platform. Be sure to also check for any grammar, spelling or punctuation errors before publishing your page.

Conclusion

In summary, creating a high-converting landing page for your online course doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. With the right tools and strategy, you can build an attractive landing page in a few hours that captures your visitors’ attention and compels them to sign up. Focus on showing how you will solve your students’ biggest pain points and highlight the key benefits of your course. Keep your messaging clear, concise and consistent across your landing page. Include social proof like testimonials to build trust. And make it easy for visitors to take the next step by prominently featuring your call-to-action. Follow these best practices and you’ll be on your way to launching your online course and gaining new students.

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