How to Set Up a 7 Day E-Course

Be a Winner! Answer the Challenge! An e-course is a sequence of emails set up to be delivered automatically without any effort on your part after the initial set up. Just set it and forget it. Setting up a free e-course is a great way to keep your services on top of mind and educate people about what you can do for them.

I highly suggest you subscribe to other people's e-courses in your field and study what information they offer too. Psst! To make this e-course work, you'll need a sequential autoresponder service. I use http://www.clickstartcart.com. (It's an entire shopping cart system, but I actually signed up with them initially because of the sequential autoresponders. They have a free 30 day trial).

HERE'S HOW TO GET STARTED

STEP ONE: Outline your topics. First you have to figure out what you think people would want to know about. Do a brainstorm exercise where you limit yourself to 5 minutes (use a timer). Write down all the topics you can think of on your area of expertise. Then edit down what you think is most relevant. For example, here's the basic outline of my free e-course on copywriting.

• Day 1: Overview of copywriting
• Day 2: Tips on attracting your target market
• Day 3: Features/benefits brainstorm exercise
• Day 4: Single most important aspect of writing copy -- headlines
• Day 5: Keep them reading with the inverted pyramid
• Day 6: Copywriting tricks the pros use
• Day 7: The Cardinal Rule of Copywriting: Expect to Rewrite

STEP TWO: Go deeper in each subject. Really provide some content here.

Make 2-3 points about each topic. Don't be afraid to do some hardcore research. Find statistics and trends and use them. Two of my favorite resources for current info are http://answers.google.com/answers/ and http://www.ceoexpress.com. Your message doesn't have to be long, just information-packed. You have the attention of people who "asked" to learn from you. So give them something valuable.

STEP THREE: Tease them till next time. After you've educated them, let them know that the next lesson will have something even more mouthwatering. The less specific you are, the more tantalizing the copy. Here are some teaser phrases I used in my e-course. Feel free to swipe versions of them for your own use:

• Hang on till tomorrow and I'll give you some tips to turn the heads of your target market.
• In Day 3, you'll learn the secret method I use to getting copy to sell.
• Tomorrow you'll learn the SINGLE most important aspect of copywriting.
• Next I'll show you how to keep them reading once you've snared them with your headline.

STEP FOUR: Sign off. End your email like a real letter with a closing like "sincerely", your name, business and some ways to get a hold of you. Add your website and any tagline you use too.

STEP FIVE: P.S. Alert them to your other products or services. You have something to sell, right? But the purpose of your e-course is to educate and develop a relationship, isn't it? Don't worry. You can do both. As long as you're giving good content, people often like to know if you have something else to buy they would be interested in. For a gentle call to action, I recommend putting a product link with very little text in the P.S. (Studies show that people read the headline first THEN the PS. Weird, huh? But it's true.)

So to recap. Follow up is one of the biggest problems in doing business. Autoresponders do it effortlessly.

THE CHALLENGE Write your 7 day e-course and have it ready to go in 7 days. For sequential autoresponders, again, I recommend http://www.clickstartcart.com. Writing a free e-course is a great way to get business. And you'll use it for years with only minor tweaks. It gives people a reason to go to your page. Best of all, they get to test drive your material at no risk. Autoresponders save you time and make you look professional. I can't wait to read YOUR free e-course!

Author Blog: http://www.red-hot-copy.com/blog.htm

World class copywriter, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero is the author of the highly acclaimed home study course, Red Hot Copy to Woo Your Target Market and founder of the online copywriting school Red Hot Copywriting Bootcamp, (http://www.red-hot-copy.com/rhcbootcamp.htm). Learn insider secrets to great copywriting from a pro who's been in the trenches with Lorrie's f^ree ezine, Copywriting TNT. Sign up at http://www.red-hot-copy.com.

---

Find Your Niche

If you haven't heard the word 'niche' being batted around... Read More

Sales Marketing: 10 Blockbuster, High Octane Strategies To Explode Your Website Sales And Profits

Do you want to ignite sales at your website?Do you... Read More

Do Online Business Ethics Exist?

In the world of online busines something has gone wrong.... Read More

Ten Tips for Getting More Sales From Your Website

(1) Create a Direct Response Website, with the minimum number... Read More

Internet Marketing Solution - Content, Content, Content

If you're looking for the number one, hot Internet marketing... Read More

The Budget Webmasters Guide to Increased Credibility - Part One

Hey, I just noticed something. I've been sitting here filling... Read More

New Form of Click Fraud Discovered

If you use PPC advertising and are in a highly... Read More

Paid Customer List On Autopilot?

How do you get a truckload of buyers eager to... Read More

Wanted - Sheep for the Marketing Flock?

Hoo boy, I am sticking my neck out here! Ready... Read More

Targeting Online Customers

Although generating online traffic is an important goal of any... Read More

To Survey Or Not To Survey

I have learned over the years that when it comes... Read More

12 Steps to Creating a Business Online

"E-commerce"A word pervading our society, making headlines around the world,... Read More

Growing Your Business On-line: A Fresh Perspective

Rather than thinking about the web as technology, let's consider... Read More

Differentiate and Grow Rich: The Importance of a Strong USP

"With 50 other companies selling the same products and services,... Read More

Im Talking, But is Anyone Listening?

Internet marketing is a wonderful thing, but it has it's... Read More

Using Web Technology as a Means to Strengthen Competitive Advantage

Many firms underestimate the value of using their websites to... Read More

How To Use the Multiplier Effect in Web Marketing

One of the most exciting things about doing business online... Read More

How to get an Internet Marketing Education Without Spending a Nickel

Do you want to create a passive income? Are you... Read More

Niche Marketing - How to Find Your Perfect Niche Market

If you don't find a niche market for the product... Read More

Top 10 Internet Marketing Tips For Your Home Based Business

This article can determine the success or failure of your... Read More

The Tao of Web Marketing

A few months ago I was watching a stream meandering... Read More

Strategic Internet Marketing Is Planning

Strategic Internet marketing is a way to define your potential... Read More

Limited Time Offers ? Time Limits That Will Improve Your Sales

Using limited time offers can spark a feeding frenzy that... Read More

Website Sales: 10 Super-Charged Tactics To Spark Up Your Sales

If your website sales are down and you desire to... Read More

Internet Marketing - A Leap Of Faith

Do you remember as a child having to do something... Read More

5 Sure Fire Ways To Send Visitors Away For Good

Way No. 1 - Clog Up Their Internet ConnectionImagine it.... Read More

Viral Marketing - Use This Free Reminder Service to Go Viral

The busier you are the harder it is to remember... Read More

How To Make Money Online With Your Website

So you have a website that has been a white... Read More

Product Marketing for Internet Based Home Businesses

All small business owners, especially those internet based, are concerned... Read More

Why Online Business - The Harsh Reminder Why Online Business Is For You

Many people want to achieve financial freedom and they know... Read More

Your E-Business Strategy: Is It Love ... Or Fear?

I read recently that every human thought originates from either... Read More

Planning Your Way to Success

Whether you are a small company or a larger corporation... Read More

Online Marketing And Promotion: 10 Profitable Ways To Recycle Your Content

You may have heard the expression that "content is king".Yes,... Read More