Market Through Distance Learning Courses

Distance Learning courses are a great way to market your practice and other products you sell.

First of all, it gets your name out in a new way. For instance, I'm a personal and professional development coach, and so its natural that I would offer further avenues for development in addition to personal coaching. The courses I offer reinforce that I'm an expert in my field. They also give the client something extra they can do on their own if they're serious about their personal and professional development.

Distance learning allows you to reach different markets for potential clients. Offering a teleclass on one of your topics of expertise will reach a whole new market and get your name out to a whole new group of people.

Listing your course on blackboard.com will reach yet another group of interested learners and potential clients. Some learn best by listening to the spoken word (teleclasses) and others prefer to read. Some are just looking around, and may click through to your website and get interested in something else entirely!

How you construct your courses and the content is up to you, and within the course itself there are many naturally-opccurring ways to market too.

How often has someone said to you, "Oh. I didn't know you do that too." Within the course you can promote other products and services that you offer. For instance, in my Emotional Intelligence (EQ) course, it's quite natural for me to mention assessments the student should take (I'm licensed to sell the EQ-Map assessment), and the opportunity for other courses I offer (on the different competencies), and tapes and products I sell related to EQ. Once you know EQ, why not buy one of my mugs that says "EQ is better than IQ!" to help spread the word?

I'm also an affiliate for amazon.com and there are many books I can recommend the student should read. When they buy through my links, I make money. Developing your EQ means giving your right-brain some calisthenics so I can also recommend the "Dummies" music appreciation series through amazon.com. Since all studies show that EQ is best learned through interaction, it's a natural for the serious student to then sign up for EQ coaching to complete and round out their learning experience.

A good distance learning course provides resources for lots of other learning opportunties, some of which will be yours! I also pair with another coach who offers services I don't. I don't use a referral fee, but once they go to her to learn XYZ, her courses refer them back to me, for the special things I offer.

The interactive aspects of your distance learning course are also great new avenues for marketing. Set them up so that the students email their responses to you. In each email interaction there's a chance for you to teach more, and also to promote your products that are relevant. Make sure your sig line works for you in that respect.

Be giving and personal in your responses to students' assignments. The person will have a chance to get to know and trust you, and we do business with people whom we like and whom we trust. Make the connection is every way you can.

If you know and love your subject, and love people, this will show through. You'll naturally attract a following for your services and products.

You also are in a position to take advantage of the teacher-archetype (Jung). A "teacher" holds a special place in our lives. We love our teachers who teach us well and with love. We naturally listen to them and look to them for guidance. Honor this archetype in all that you do, and your students will begin to look for you for other sources of learning and development. They'll also give you ideas for other products and services, and will refer you to friends. One of my students recommended my course to everyone else in his department.

There are many ways to use distance learning courses to market yourself and your products. Be a good teacher, and be creative and the opportunities are endless.