How Referral Marketing Can Transform Your e-Learning Business

For prospective students looking to start or continue their education online, the possibilities are endless. In fact, a recent study projected that the online learning industry would reach $848 billion by 2030. In such a rapidly growing, over-saturated industry, referral marketing is the best way to reach prospective students and drive enrollment for your education programs.

The challenges facing the online education industry today

The current marketing environment for education companies is highly competitive. The rise of online learning has made it easier than ever for people to access educational content from anywhere in the world. This has led to an increase in competition for education companies, as they are now competing with a wider range of providers.

The needs of learners are also evolving. As technology advances, learners are demanding more personalized and interactive educational experiences. Education companies need to be able to adapt their marketing strategies to meet these changing needs.

Of course, the cost of marketing is constantly increasing. The rising cost of advertising, as well as the increasing complexity of marketing campaigns means that education companies need to be able to find cost-effective ways to reach their target audience.

Referral marketing is changing the online education industry 

Referral marketing is a low-cost way to acquire new customers, as the only cost is the incentive you offer for referrals (and the technology running your program). This can be a discount on a future course, a free course, or some other type of reward - it doesn’t need to be monetary.

Not to mention, referrals are one of the most effective ways to acquire new customers. Studies have shown that referrals have a conversion rate that is 2-5 times higher than other marketing channels.

Referral marketing creates credibility. When people hear about a service from a friend or colleague, they are more likely to trust it. This is why referral marketing campaigns have a 30% higher conversion rate - because the person who is referring them is someone they trust, and they are more likely to be influenced by their opinion.

As your business grows, you can simply increase the number of incentives you offer to your existing customers. This will help you to continue to acquire new customers at a low cost. Plus, referred customers are 4 times more likely to refer their friends and colleagues. Referral marketing is a scalable marketing strategy. 

In addition to these benefits, referral marketing can also help to:

• Increase brand awareness. When people see that their friends and colleagues are recommending a product or service, it can help to increase brand awareness.
  
  
• Build customer loyalty. When people refer their friends and colleagues to a product or service, they are essentially saying that they are happy with the product or service. This can help to build customer loyalty.
  
  
• Generate positive word-of-mouth. Referral marketing is a great way to generate positive word-of-mouth. When people see that their friends and colleagues are recommending a product or service, they are more likely to be interested in it themselves.

See fast, effective results and create long-term, sustainable solutions

Our online education companies like Strayer University, Western Governors University, Kumon, Learner’s Edge, Aceable, and more have trusted Ambassador with their referral marketing. After just two months, they reported a 700% increase in customer referrals and a 2x return on investment after using our referral marketing software. If you’re looking to increase your marketing efforts and see a faster and higher ROI than ever before, relationship marketing is the way to go. 

In addition to seeing short-term impact, our online education customers also saw sustainable results over an extended period of time. Upon surveying our customers over a six month period, we found that customer referrals continued to grow past the initial spike after the referral program’s launch. Generating organic and sustainable growth results in more qualified leads over time, and more enrollments for your e-learning platform. 

Referral marketing is a win-win for everyone 

When students and educators have a positive experience with your online education platform, they want to share their great experience with their personal networks. Incentivize customer recommendations by launching an effective referral marketing program. 

Your new students and customers have the advantage of enrolling in a program they already trust and your referring customers feel valued and rewarded for spreading the word about your program. Best of all, you see a higher ROI and build a sustainable pipeline of prospective and returning customers. With referral marketing, everyone wins. 

Referral marketing strategy for your online education company

Here are some specific strategies that education companies can use to overcome these challenges and take advantage of the opportunities:

Focus on personalization. Education companies need to focus on providing personalized educational experiences that meet the needs of individual learners. This can be done by using data analytics to segment their audience and by creating content that is relevant to the interests and needs of each segment.

Use social media effectively. Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to connect with potential learners and to promote educational content. Education companies should use social media to create engaging content, to build relationships with their audience, and to drive traffic to their website.

Invest in data analytics. Data analytics can be used to track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and to identify opportunities for improvement. Education companies should invest in data analytics tools and to use them to make informed decisions about their marketing strategies.

The big picture 

Combine an effective referral marketing program with excellent customer service, and watch your online education business reach new and exciting heights. Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about how you can launch a referral marketing platform for your own online education platform.