Let Your Knowledge Make Money For You - The Secret to Being A Successful Entrepreneur by David - HTML preview

PLEASE NOTE: This is an HTML preview only and some elements such as links or page numbers may be incorrect.
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.

6.1. Get Some Attention!

The most critical “attention-grabber” is the headline or title of your course listing. You have to grab your student’s attention and make them want to read more.

Whenever we want anybody to do anything, the first question that comes to their mind is “why?” If we don’t have an answer, we aren’t going to get the response we want. “Because I want you to” just doesn’t cut it and you won’t get the sale.

One important marketing principle states that “perception is everything.” What practical value does a statement like that have? It tells us that price isn’t really the issue. It’s what a student believes about the course product and its benefits that matter. She buys, or does not buy, based on this perceived value.

If you are able to meet the wants of a customer (student), you will make the sale. Price is not the deciding factor in most cases.

Advertising people learn immediately that the headline is the most important element of any ad. And that is what you are doing with your course listing – Your course advertising.

Your headline or title is a teaser. You want folks to take the time to read about your sale. For great role models, pay attention to radio and television teasers.

Think of the daily newspaper. Most folks scan the headlines as a way of deciding which stories to read. In fact, the majority of the public reads little else when deciding whether or not they are interested in a particular submission. Marketing experts know that changing the headline of an ad can increase its power exponentially. Many advertising gurus recommend writing at least 100 headlines for any ad before making a final choice. As online teaching power players with hundreds of courses for sale, we cannot possibly take the time to do this for every course. But we can master the key principles to make listing titles or headlines more powerful.
According to research, up to 80% of your readers will only read your opening headline! This is even more true on an online teaching scenario where the page is covered with the headlines of your competitors. You have only a second or so to grab the potential customer (student) while her eye is traveling down the list of courses for sale.

Spend 80% of your time and effort on the headline for a course listing. How in the world do you write killer headlines? Before you write a word, carefully consider the question that is foremost in your student’s mind... What’s in it for me? If you have no answer, you have no sale. You have to understand your student’s mindset.

There is a example,

 

How I Improved My English Talking Skills In One Evening

Is there any adult who wouldn’t love to possess a more powerful memory, especially through a method that is relatively easy? After all, one evening is pretty rapid progress.

6.1.1. Great Title Types

Promise a Major Benefit

 

For example,

 

Double your working efficiency skills for only $20

 

Ask a Question

 

Whenever we create curiosity, we tempt our student to read further. For example,

 

The secrets to lose 80 pounds in one month? Guaranteed?

 

Offer a Solution to a Problem

 

This is the pain and gain headline. By offering your student a solution, she automatically recognizes her problem. For example,

 

Is there a bottleneck on your sales? We have professional sales expert to help you!

 

Give a Warning

 

This headline creates anxiety, and the anxiety grows if the student doesn’t bother to read more. For example,

 

If you are going to become a leader, you Need to Know This!

 

Flag Your Target Customer (Student)

 

For example,

 

Build & Repair Computers Like A Pro!

 

Use a Testimonial

 

For example, There are 23 students got the certificate through this course

6.1.2. Utilized the title letters limitation

Be aware that there is a letter limit for course title. You don’t have the luxury of writing as you want. Words must be concentrated.

 

A key strategy is to make your headline specific. Not only do you want to provide information, but you also want to qualify your audience.

6.1.3. Bypass the Errors

Good copy does not just happen. It takes effort and an awareness of what works and what doesn’t. Here are some known writing errors to bypass :

Do not to use all caps, even though many online teachers do use them. Net users tend to interpret this as screaming or shouting. Basically, it marks you as an amateur. Sometimes it’s more powerful to capitalize just one word.
Make every word count. If you’re listing in the Programming Language category, use your limit spaces to describe which the course is. There is no need to say “Programming Language for Java Course”. Your students already know what it is.
Stay away from silly words like Wow! and :-) which might indicate to some readers that you have nothing of real value to say.
Always, always check spelling. It is amazing how often misspelled words make it to the headlines. It’s sloppy work and creates a poor impression. How well can a lecturer know his knowledge if he can’t even spell it correctly.
Do not use offensive language.
Be professional. If you only use 36 spaces, avoid the temptation to fill the other spaces with all kinds of *#@! symbols because it will annoy people! Be honest. Veteran online learning users become annoyed if you make extravagant claims for your course. They will decide for themselves if they can live without it.