If you’re running an online course during the COVID-19 pandemic and want as many people as possible to find out about it, we’ve collated some top tips for getting the word out.
Some of these ideas require a cost, but as you’re saving money on printing flyers, venue or food and drink costs you’d normally incur, it could be worth the investment.
Use eye-catching imagery
You’ll want to create an advertisement that grabs people’s attention.
Canva is an easy-to-use graphic design website where you can create print, digital and social media images. Canva has a free version where you can use their library of images or upload your own to create a striking invitation to use on social media. This handy guide gives you a quick overview of how to use the platform.
If you want to add the logo of the course you’re running to the ad, simply sign into the Leader’s Area (you’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one already) to download them.
Finally, we’ve created a few sample invites that you can download for free here or email lauren.welch@christianityexplored.org
Try a video invitation
You could film your own, like St Helen’s Bishopsgate, or you could use an existing template to promote your series.
Twelve:Thirty Media can design and produce a high-quality video invite for your own church for a custom quote. View their sample videos on their website.
GoChatter have custom trailers for Life Explored set up on their site, which you can personalize for less than $7.
Put some money behind your social media ads
If you’re a Facebook user, you’ve probably seen “sponsored posts” from companies and charities pop up in your newsfeed. Well, it could be your course appearing in the newsfeeds of people in your community! Here are some of the benefits of Facebook advertising:
- It’s precise: You can target your advert so that it only appears to people living in your local community.
- It’s cheap: You can have your ad seen by 3,000-5,000 people in your town for as little as $40.
- It’s easy: Read on to find out how!
All you need to get started is a personal Facebook account, and a church Facebook page for which you are a manager.
The Good Book Company created a basic step-by-step guide on how to create adverts for church Christmas events, and the same principles apply for advertising your online course:
Download the FREE guide
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