You’ve put in the hard work—your course is ready, your sales funnel is set up, and your emails are ready to go. Now, it’s time for the exciting part: making your first 5 sales! But how do you get in front of the right people and turn that interest into purchases?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll walk you through some simple, no-fluff steps to get your course in front of potential buyers. You can do all the steps outlined below or pick a few to start with. I intentionally created a list that is low effort, but high impact.
Let’s make your first 5 sales happen!
Start with the people who already know and trust you—your friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who might benefit from your course.
Why It’s Important: These people are your biggest supporters. Not only might they buy your course, but they might also know others who would love it.
What You Can Do: Reach out with a friendly, personalized message. Let them know about your course and why it could benefit them. Here’s an example:
"Hey [Name], I just launched a course on [topic], and I thought you might find it useful. Let me know if you’re interested, or if you know anyone who could benefit from it!"
Simple, right?
Next up, don’t be afraid to ask your friends to help spread the word! If they believe in your course, they’ll be happy to share it with their networks.
Why It’s Important: Word of mouth is so powerful. When your friends share your course, it adds that social proof and makes it easier for others to say "yes."
What You Can Do: Just ask! You can even offer a little incentive like a discount or a special bonus. Here’s an example of how to ask:
"Hey, if you think your followers would be interested in my course, I’d love if you could share it on your social media. Thank you so much for your support!"
You’re already sending emails regularly, right? Why not use that space to promote your course, too? It’s a low-effort, high-reward way to get the word out.
Why It’s Important: Every email you send is a chance to promote your online course without doing anything extra. Plus, it’s super easy to set up!
What You Can Do: Add a line to your email signature with a link to your course. It could look something like this:
"Interested in [course topic]? Check out my new course [Course Name] here: [link]."
Your social media profiles are prime real estate. They’re often the first place people will go to learn more about you and what you do. By directing them to your course sales page or checkout, you’re increasing the chances of conversion.
Why It’s Important: When people click on your profile, they should easily be able to access your course. No searching, no confusion. Just a clear path to the checkout page.
What You Can Do: Update your social media links (Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to go directly to your course sales page or checkout. It’s a super easy way to turn traffic into sales!
While you’re at it, let your followers know about your course right in your bio. This is one of the first places people check, so make sure it’s clear what you’re offering.
Why It’s Important: If someone visits your profile, you want them to know about your course right away. This helps spark curiosity and increases the chances they’ll check it out.
What You Can Do: Add a quick mention of your course to your bio. For example:
"Creator of [Course Name] – Helping [target audience] achieve [outcome]."
That’s it! Simple and clear.
Alright, it’s time to make some noise! Choose the social media platform where you’re most active, and make a big announcement about your new course.
Why It’s Important: Don’t spread yourself too thin—focus on the platform where you already have a community. Announcing your course launch on this platform means you’ll have the best chance to get traction.
What You Can Do: Write a post that announces your course and explains why it’s so awesome. Here’s a sample post you can use:
"Exciting news! My new course, [Course Name], is live! It’s perfect for [ideal customer], and I’d love for you to check it out. Here’s the link to get started: [link]."
A live Q&A is a great way to engage with your audience and answer any questions they have about your course. This not only builds trust but also helps you connect with potential buyers on a personal level.
Why It’s Important: Live interaction shows you’re accessible and ready to help. It also gives you a chance to answer any doubts potential buyers might have before they make the purchase.
What You Can Do: Announce a free live Q&A session on your social media. During the session, talk about the course content, share your personal experience, and offer a special deal or discount for attendees. You can say something like:
"Join me for a live Q&A where I’ll share all the details about my course, [Course Name]. Bring your questions, and let’s chat about how this course can help you [solve a problem]!"
If you have a website, you can use a hello bar to promote your course in a way that’s visible but not disruptive. This is a great way to ensure anyone who lands on your site sees your course promotion.
Why It’s Important: A hello bar is a great way to make sure your course is top-of-mind for anyone visiting your site. It’s non-intrusive but hard to miss.
What You Can Do: Use a hello bar plugin on your website to display a banner promoting your new course. Keep it clear and simple. Here’s an example:
"🎉 New Course: [Course Name] is now live! Click here to learn more and get started today."
Now that you’ve done the work of promoting your course, let’s talk about conversion rates and how many people you need to get in front of to make those first 5 sales.
Understanding Conversion Rates: On average, online course sales typically have a conversion rate between 1% and 5%. That means, for every 100 people who see your course, 1 to 5 of them might buy.
Low-end estimate (1% conversion rate): To get 5 sales, you need to get in front of at least 500 people.
Higher-end estimate (5% conversion rate): To get 5 sales, you need to get in front of at least 100 people.
What You Can Do: Focus on reaching highly targeted people who are most likely to buy your course. This will improve your conversion rate and reduce the number of people you need to reach.
Aim for 200 to 500 people, depending on your conversion rate, and watch those sales start rolling in!
There you have it—a simple, actionable plan to make your first 10 sales. Just take it step by step, and soon you’ll have a steady stream of course buyers coming in. The key is consistency, so keep showing up and getting your course in front of the right people.
Now it’s your turn! Pick one of the steps above and start implementing it today. Want more tips and tricks on marketing your course? Sign up for my email list, and I’ll send you exclusive content to help you grow your course business!
Amanda Hamilton is an award-winning designer and web developer with over 20,000 hours of experience in websites, design, and online marketing.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. I only recommend products I use and love. ♥
