Launching an online course soon? Your email list might just be your secret weapon. I’ll cut right to the chase: As an email copywriter specializing in online course campaigns, I’ve created a complete guide on why you should use email in your launch strategy.
Keep scrolling for 12 email campaign ideas to generate more online course sales, sign-ups, and success.
Why Do You Need Email Marketing in Your Online Course Strategy?
High ROI
Email marketing is low-cost and high-reward:
It’s a cheap yet effective way to cut through the crowd and head straight to your audience’s inboxes — no need to fight the all-knowing (and ever-changing) social media algorithms.
Targets Your Most Engaged, Interested Audience
The people who’ve signed up for your email list are some of your most qualified leads.
These individuals have opted to hear from you on a more regular basis and more personal level. They're your community! They already trust you. Focusing your energy on this list will make the most of your efforts.
Easy to Direct to Your Course Sales Page
No need to say ‘link in bio.' Email makes it simple. You can easily hyperlink your course sales page so recipients can learn more, sign up, and get results.
Online Course Email Campaign Ideas: 12 Emails You Need to Sell Your Course
As an email marketing specialist, I can tell you that sending out one email announcing your course just won’t cut it. Here are 12 email campaign ideas to build that hype, trust, and confidence your audience needs to hit ‘sign up now.’
1. The Teaser Email
Hype up your launch with teaser emails. Think like Taylor Swift and drop Easter eggs, hints, and clues to get your audience excited about what you have to offer. You don't have to give too many details — just enough to pique interest.
2. The Announcement Email
Officially announce your course! Let them know about what’s coming and all the value you're about to drop. Give your community all the details, including:
Course name
Pricing (so they can prepare their budgets!)
What's included
Who it's for
An exact enrollment date (so they can mark their calendars!)
If you talk about your online course enough before launch day, you’ll have members ready to sign up the moment you open your doors.
3. The Enrollment Email
Open those doors, baby! Let your community know your all-too-anticipated course is finally open for enrollment. Make it easy for them to sign up with a clear action button to learn more on your sales page.
Provide any details on your early-bird pricing or enrollment deadline (both are great for creating a sense of urgency — more on that here!). Overall, you don’t need to share your entire life story here. Get them to visit your sales page for the complete breakdown.
4. The Course Breakdown Email
Your next follow-up email can act as a mini-version of your sales page, listing what’s included, what to expect, and all the juicy value of your course.
Again, make sure there’s a link/button to your sales page here (and on every email in your campaign, for that matter).
5. The Storytelling Email
You’re not just trying to sell an online course and make money. You’re here to help people.
There’s a story behind that.
Whether it’s how you quit your 9-5 to pursue your passion, broke free from your crippling perfectionism, or found a nutrition plan that changed your life, there’s a story that led you from Point A to Point B — and you’re here to show your course participants how they can do the same.
Tell this story here. Share the story that led you to create this course and how you can help their story be next.
6. The "Why Other Options Don't Work" Email
At this point, anyone who hasn’t signed up might have some reservations. That’s okay. Online courses can be a major investment!
Help them overcome some of these objections by explaining why other options for reaching their goals haven't worked (meaning, options outside of your online course):
Maybe they’ve tried fad diets, but they never worked — tell them why.
Maybe they’ve tried journaling their thoughts, but they struggle to get anywhere with it — tell them why.
Maybe they’ve tried posting Instagram Reels, but their business still isn’t taking off — tell them why.
Then, tell them why your course takes a different approach to make the results stick.
7. The "Who This Course is For" Email
Hot take: Your course isn’t for everyone. And that’s okay!
As an email copywriter, I’ve found one of the most common objections your audience might have is, “I’m just not sure if it’s right for me.”
So, spell it out for them. Let them know who your course is and isn’t for.
Be real about the amount of work and effort they’ll need to put into it. Even if it’s not for them, they’ll respect your clarity and transparency.
8. The Testimonials Email
If this isn’t your first rodeo, it’s time to show off your skills a bit. With permission, share a story of a past client who experienced real results using your services or methods. Show them that your approach not only works for you but for others.
If you can’t share a story, gather testimonials you can share with your email list to build that sense of trust you need for sign-ups.
9. The Results Email
What results will your participants get out of your course?
How will their lives be different before vs. after completing it?
Spell out exactly what they will receive and can expect by the end of your course.
10. The "About Me" Email
You're their coach! Their teacher! Their guide! They need to trust you.
It’s much easier to invest in an online course if you trust the teacher. Share a bit about you, your journey, and your qualifications.
11. The FAQs Email
By this point, you’ll likely have a list of questions you’ve been asked by course prospects. Gather these together and send a FAQ email answering each of them. This is your ‘Hail Mary’ for overcoming objections.
12. The Final Call Email
Throughout your email campaign, you should be reminding your audience about any deadlines for early bird pricing or enrollment. Let them know when there’s one week left, three days left, 48 hours left, 24 hours left — heck, even 1 hour left, if you’re feeling confident! People need to be reminded to take action.
Create that sense of urgency and remind your audience that, if they want in on all the magic, now’s the time to make a move and invest in themselves.
Final Thoughts From an Online Course Email Copywriter
Now, you might be thinking — that’s a lot of emails, Angelie! And yes, you don’t necessarily need all of them.
As an email copywriter, I’ve written 3-part, 5-part, 7-part, and even 21-part online course email campaigns for clients. Through it all, I've learned that making the most of your email list requires strategy.
You need to know how to get your audience to not only open your emails but read them and click on your link.
This is what I’ve spent the past 4+ years learning how to do as an email copywriter. And with 180+ 5-star reviews (just for my email copywriting services), I’m confident I can help you with your email campaign.
Launching an online course soon? Get in touch with us here, and we’ll answer any questions you have about your email campaign copy and strategy.
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