{"id":224070,"date":"2020-03-16T04:13:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-15T22:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qcsglobal.com\/marketing\/5-foolproof-ways-to-increase-enrollment-for-online-courses\/"},"modified":"2020-04-18T17:10:31","modified_gmt":"2020-04-18T11:40:31","slug":"5-foolproof-ways-to-increase-enrollment-for-online-courses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/5-foolproof-ways-to-increase-enrollment-for-online-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Foolproof Ways to Increase Enrollment for Online Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"post-body\">More industries and organizations are tackling the digital space to increase their offerings and provide convenient solutions for their customers.<!--more-->With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2019\/04\/22\/some-americans-dont-use-the-internet-who-are-they\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">90% of American adults<\/a> now on the internet, it\u2019s almost crucial that your organization focuses its efforts on your online engagements, especially if you host online courses.Online courses present a practical opportunity for those who want to learn and further their skills but don\u2019t necessarily have the time to attend a class or aren\u2019t in the right location. Many organizations offer online courses, like educational institutions for their students and businesses for their employees.<\/p>\n<p>To truly maximize success for your online courses program, ensure you are building it on a foundation that promotes efficiency and provides genuine value. If you want to increase enrollment, first consider ways to make the registration process quick and easy, as well as how to market your courses to the right audience.<\/p>\n<h1>How to increase enrollment for online courses<\/h1>\n<p>In this guide, you\u2019ll learn about five top tips to optimize your online courses and ultimately attract more students.<\/p>\n<p>Your organization works hard to provide unique and meaningful experiences. Ensure that you\u2019re doing all you can to attract genuine students and facilitate a smooth and engaging process throughout the online course, from registration to the last class. Follow along with these tips to get started.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hubfs\/RegPack%20X%20G2%20X%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Enrollment%20for%20Online%20Courses-6.jpeg\" alt=\"past student outreach\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>1. Contact past students<\/h2>\n<p>As you prepare <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regpacks.com\/blog\/course-marketing-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">your initial marketing efforts<\/a>, a good way to jump-start enrollment is to reach out to those who have experienced them before. Not only are they already familiar with your organization, but you can <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/feedback-forum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ask them for any feedback<\/a> or preferences in what they want to see.<\/p>\n<p>Besides announcing upcoming opportunities in your mass newsletters, send out a course catalog to your past students and get them excited. To get the best response, contact past students who have t<span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">aken a similar course with you in the past or g<\/span><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\">iven previous positive reviews to your other online courses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>These are the students who are most likely to gain actual value from your courses. For example, if you recently offered an online course on \u201cHow To Build The Best Resume,\u201d a good class to offer next is \u201cHow To Ace The First Job Interview&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Besides just letting past students know about the course, you can leverage your registration tool to further increase enrollment rates by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Offering incentives like early-bird registration or a discounted ticket.<\/strong> Everyone loves a good deal. To motivate past students, provide an exclusive deal that\u2019ll push them to sign up. If you have an early-bird discount, some forms can automatically apply that without the user inputting anything.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Filtering your users based on certain actions.<\/strong> For instance, if someone begins your registration form but doesn\u2019t complete it, you can filter your system to find that specific user. From there, send a tailored, personalized message to them marketing new course offerings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reaching out to your past students provides lots of benefits for your online courses and can drive these students to enroll. Make sure you\u2019ve kept a good track of your students in a centralized database to ensure you build on a reliable starting point.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hubfs\/RegPack%20X%20G2%20X%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Enrollment%20for%20Online%20Courses.jpeg\" alt=\"online registration process\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>2. Optimize the online registration process.<\/h2>\n<p>As soon as people are interested in your courses and start filling out your forms, you don\u2019t want your registration process to be what really turns them away. Ensure that your registration is hosted on your website and is branded accurately. \u201cShopping cart abandonment\u201d is a real fear for many organizations, and can also plague your online course enrollment.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the time, users will desert an online registration page because they get distracted or there are too many questions. Consider how you can form your online registration to <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/web-design-conversions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">bring the most online conversions<\/a> for your organization. Ultimately, you don\u2019t want the entire process to take too long and lose your potential registrant\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n<p>To keep your online registration as optimized and efficient as possible, make sure to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Customize each registration form to its unique online course.<\/strong> If your online registration is turning away users, it might be because you have too many unnecessary questions that don\u2019t even pertain to your course. Get rid of fields that aren\u2019t needed and make sure to keep it short and simple.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personalize online registration based on user choices.<\/strong> Some registration tools have conditional logic abilities that can continuously update your form to line up with the user\u2019s answers. It can add fields if a registrant marks yes to a certain question, get rid of fields if they no longer apply, or even automate other actions like emails sent to the user. For example, if your online course has an associated course with it, put in a field asking if the user wants to register for that as well. If they say yes, the appropriate fields will be added; if they say no, the user\u2019s registration experience will continue without interruption.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Let any device access your form.<\/strong> With mobile phones having more capabilities, it\u2019s simply necessary that users can register on their phones no matter where they are. It&#8217;s best practice to make all your online content mobile-friendly. Further, even if your website isn\u2019t mobile-friendly, some forms once embedded on your pages will display a mobile-user interface for smartphone users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With a capable registration tool, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regpacks.com\/blog\/automated-registration-3-reasons-why-you-should-be-doing-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">automate the process<\/a> the process while also accurately processing data for your online courses. Ensure your online registration is easy and fast, providing a genuinely positive experience for your registrants.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hubfs\/RegPack%20X%20G2%20X%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Enrollment%20for%20Online%20Courses-5.jpeg\" alt=\"group registration\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>3. Offer group registration<\/h2>\n<p>One of the great parts about online courses is the convenience of it. You can sign up and take advantage of this learning opportunity from anywhere, whether you\u2019re in a different state or in the comforts of your own home. This is also a convenient opportunity for groups who need to take an online course together.<\/p>\n<p>Oftentimes employers need to sign up their entire team for an online training course. They have to fill out the same company information over and over again for each student. Having an easy option to register an entire group can speed up the registration process and help you enroll more students.<\/p>\n<p>Studies even show that offering group registration can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regpacks.com\/features\/group-registration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">net you 26% more paying attendees<\/a>.\u00a0With group registration, one person can create a head account and then add sub-units representing the rest of the group. This doesn\u2019t increase your enrollment by just one student\u2014 your online course could be at maximum capacity with one application.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hubfs\/RegPack%20X%20G2%20X%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Enrollment%20for%20Online%20Courses-1.jpeg\" alt=\"secure payment process\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>4. Let users pay on your site<\/h2>\n<p>The last step of your online course\u2019s registration process is payment. Though most organizations do accept registrations online, it\u2019s not always guaranteed that they also collect payments online. And if they do collect payments online, there are still many factors that can cause the registrants to be wary.<\/p>\n<p>For one thing, don\u2019t send users to a third-party site to process their payment. This will not only confuse them, but they\u2019re likely to be untrustworthy of a random page that isn\u2019t associated with your site \u2013 especially if they have to input their financial information.<\/p>\n<p>Consider these top tips to make the payment process secure and fast, ensuring that your registrants are officially enrolled:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Use<\/span> an integrated payment processor to process payments within the online registration. Prevent shopping <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/cart-abandonment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cart abandonment<\/a> by making it easy to pay quickly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accept<\/strong> any types of payments, whether it\u2019s credit, ACH direct deposits, or even other options.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Offer<\/strong> payment plans so registrants can release the financial burden of paying for something all at once. Receive their financial information and then automate the billing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Automate<\/strong> your payment invoices as soon as the registration is processed. This way, users get an email immediately and can review the details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It would be incredibly disappointing if you shepherded a registrant through the entire process and they end up giving up at the end. Ensure that there\u2019s no part of payment that turns people away.<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hubfs\/RegPack%20X%20G2%20X%20Ways%20to%20Increase%20Enrollment%20for%20Online%20Courses-4.jpeg\" alt=\"email communication\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>5. Keep up communication with registrants<\/h2>\n<p>Once registrants have officially enrolled in your online courses, your efforts shouldn\u2019t stop there. Make sure to consistently communicate with them through email and give them important updates on the course. They shouldn\u2019t feel unprepared when that first class comes along.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/business-automation-strategy\">automate your email communications<\/a> and segment the recipients based on the online course so you engage with your students in a personalized manner. Also, schedule out the emails to ensure you send it off at the optimal time. Make sure to send emails that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Confirm<\/strong> registration status as soon the application has been approved<\/li>\n<li><strong>Update<\/strong> students on course changes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Send<\/strong> students assignments and announcements from the instructor<\/li>\n<li><strong>Are only relevant<\/strong> to the reader. Segment your email recipients based on their online courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some registration tools will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regpacks.com\/blog\/course-registration-email-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">provide email templates<\/a> for you to reference if you don\u2019t know how to start. From there, customize each email to your online course and the context of the situation!<\/p>\n<p>Your online courses\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hub\/1-million-reviews\/email-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">email strategy<\/a> is one of the best ways to engage with your students. This not only provides a positive experience for them during the sessions, but also sets the stage up for them to return for additional courses.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>It can be difficult to attract students to your online courses, especially if registration numbers have started faltering. However, consider how you can elevate the registration process and reach your students better in order to keep the experience seamless, quick, and enjoyable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Increase enrollment twofold by using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.g2.com\/categories\/education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">education software<\/a> to help your online course&#8217;s presence grow. See all available options on G2.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/4099946\/79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" style=\"border-width: 0px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/4099946\/79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc.png\" alt=\"See the Highest-Rated\u00a0Education Software \u2192\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/hs\/cta\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4099946, '79bce381-7692-44f8-bcd8-74ff4d46bebc', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"sm-divider\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/increase-enrollment-for-online-courses\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More industries and organizations are tackling the digital space to increase their offerings and provide convenient solutions for their customers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":224117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224070"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224070"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224125,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224070\/revisions\/224125"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qcsglobal.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}