In today’s digital marketing landscape, where the average consumer is bombarded with countless messages daily, standing out and building a genuine connection with your audience is paramount.

A compelling strategy that savvy marketers are increasingly leveraging is the implementation of Educational Email courses.

In this guide, we will go through the 5 key steps to create an Educational Email Course that informs, persuades, and builds long lasting relationships with clients.

What is an Educational Email Course?

Educational Email Courses are a digital marketing strategy where content is segmented into individual lessons and delivered over time via email. Each email is a standalone lesson but is part of a broader curriculum that unfolds over days or weeks. These courses aim to educate subscribers on a specific topic, skill, or idea while keeping them engaged with the brand or business.

You can read about the benefits about Educational Email Courses for both the business and the readers in this article.

Let’s go through the 5 key steps to create your own Educational Email Course.

1. Planning For Success

This is the most important step in this journey. The decisions you take here will directly impact the email course quality, the opt-in rates and consequently the conversion.

Before you start writing your email course, it is important to be clear on the objective of your email course. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

Who is your ideal customer? Be specific.	For example, if you are a Business Coach, is your ideal customer an aspiring business owner or someone who is already earning $10k per month and wants to double their income?
What is the objective of your email course?	For example, do you want to convert readers to customers for your paid products/ services or do you want to funnel readers to your newsletter?
What problem are you solving for your ideal customer?	This will help you come up with a topic for your educational email course.
What is length of the email course?	On average the length of an email course is 5 to 10 days.
What type of Educational Email course are you creating?	Broadly speaking, there are 4 types of Educational Email Courses: The “Crash Course”: Everything you need to know to get started on a topic. The “Step-By-Step”: Clear action steps you need to be successful at a topic. The “Biggest Mistakes”: The biggest mistakes on a topic–and how to avoid them. The “Easy Templates”: Actionable templates anyone can use to be successful at a topic.

The answers to the above question will help you write the email course and position it for conversion.

If you want some inspiration, check out this article which provides 5 examples of educational email courses currently being used by creators and businesses.  Some of these email courses have generated millions in revenue for these businesses.

2. Create Your Educational Email Course

Now that you have decided on the topic and the length of the email course, you need to write the email course fully.

The email course starts with Day 0 which is the first email sent as soon as someone subscribes to your email list. The Day 0 email provides a summary of the lessons that will follow.

After you have written Day 0, proceed to write the rest of the email courses i.e. Day 1, Day 2 etc. The average length of an email course is 800 words.

Here are some best practices to follow when writing your email course:

Value-Packed Content: Start with irresistible, high-quality content. Each email should offer actionable insights, making your course a must-have resource.

Free Education: Talk about one topic per email. Avert the temptation to cram excessive information into your emails. 

Clear Structure: Use Headers, Sub-Headers, bulleted lists etc. to provide a clear structure and make It easy to read. Noone likes to read a big block of text.

Consistent Schedule: Timing is key. Set a predictable schedule, whether it’s daily or weekly, to keep subscribers eager and engaged.

Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Guide your subscribers on what to do next. Whether it’s to prepare for the next lesson or a link to your paid products/ services, clear CTAs keep the momentum going.

Feedback Loop: Encourage feedback to continuously improve your course. This dialogue makes subscribers feel valued and enhances the learning experience.

Remember, your email course is not just about growing your list; it’s about providing immense value and building lasting relationships with your audience.

3. Set up your Email Delivery System

Choose an email marketing platform to set up your email sequences. I use Converkit for my clients.

Once you have selected the email platform, you need to set up the email sequences i.e. Day 0, Day 1 etc. so that when someone signs up, they are automatically sent the emails, at a frequency of your choice.

Here are some quick tips to help you choose the right email platform:

Integration Capabilities: Firstly, choose a platform that seamlessly integrates with your website, CRM, and other tools that you use. A smooth workflow is key to managing your campaigns efficiently.

User-Friendly Interface: Time is precious. Opt for a platform with an intuitive interface to design, test, and launch campaigns without a steep learning curve.

Analytics and Reporting: Understanding your campaign’s performance is crucial. Select a platform that offers comprehensive analytics to track opens, clicks, and conversions. This insight is gold for refining your strategy.

Automation Features: Look for advanced automation that allows you to send targeted and personalized email sequences. This is a game-changer for nurturing leads and boosting engagement.

Reliable Customer Support: When issues arise, you want quick and helpful support. Ensure your chosen platform provides excellent customer service.

The right email platform is your ally in creating effective and engaging email marketing campaigns.

4. Present Your Email Course

The next step is to decide where to place your Educational Email Course.

You can create a standalone landing page or include an Opt-In form on your existing website. For example, I use Caard.co to create stand alone landing pages for my clients. Click here to see a landing page that I have created.

Here are some best practices to follow to increase your opt-in rates for your email course on your landing pages and website:

Clarity is Key: Make your offer crystal clear. Tell your visitors exactly what they’ll get by subscribing i.e. the educational email course. If visitors don’t understand the value of exchanging their email for your content, they’ll likely pass.

Simplicity Wins: Design your form with simplicity in mind. Ask for only essential information – usually, an email address suffices. The easier it is to fill out, the higher the conversion rate.

Engaging Copy: Use compelling and clear language that speaks directly to your visitor’s needs and highlights the benefits of signing up.

Trust Signals: Include testimonials or trust badges to reassure visitors of your credibility and the value of your offer.

Strategic Placement: Your opt-in form should be prominently placed on your landing page, ideally above the fold, so it’s the first thing visitors see.

Mobile Optimization: Ensure your form looks great and works smoothly on mobile devices.

One of the most common mistakes is to put your Opt-in form at the end of a long page on your website or landing page. If your visitors need to play detective to find your opt-in form, it’s time for a change. Make it visible and accessible on your homepage, in blog posts, or as a pop-up to ensure it’s never missed.

By following these best practices, you’ll create an email opt-in form that not only attracts but converts.

5. Promote Your Email Course

Without a clear plan to drive visitors to your site, your educational email course is like a hidden treasure without a map. With the digital world at our fingertips, promoting your educational email course has never been easier.

On Social Media:

Bio Link: Your bio is prime real estate. Embed a direct link to your email course signup. Make it impossible to miss!

Engaging Posts: Craft posts that resonate with your audience’s thirst for knowledge. Highlight course benefits, sneak peeks, and testimonials.

Go Live: Host live sessions to answer FAQs, share insights, and connect on a personal level. Your passion is contagious!

Podcasts: Collaborate or guest star in podcasts relevant to your course topic. It’s a golden opportunity to reach new audiences.

On Your Website:

Blogs: Publish informative blogs that complement your email course content. Use these to demonstrate your expertise and lead readers to your email course.

To Your Email Lists:

Newsletters: Regularly update your subscribers with email course highlights, exclusive content, and special offers. Keep the excitement alive!

Paid Ads:

Invest in targeted ads to reach a broader audience. Social media platforms offer sophisticated targeting options to get your offering in front of the right eyes.

Bonus: Engagement & Analytics

Stay connected with your email subscribers by asking for feedback on the course or if any of the ideas or the solutions discussed in the email course resonated with them. This is an excellent way to build relationships with the readers and also to obtain ideas to improve your email course.

Finally, monitor the open, click-through, and conversion rates and adjust the course where needed.

Educational Email Courses have the power to transform your email marketing approach. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create an educational email course that offers authentic value to subscribers and simultaneously meet their conversion objectives.

Contact us if you need help building your educational email course.