Our all-star panel looks into the new decade and beyond with their predictions for the future of Digital Courses
[bctt tweet=”25 leading #digitalmedia experts make their predictions for the future of #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020 and beyond”]
2020, a new year, a new decade, a new window of opportunity for course creators and businesses looking to maximize their impact and time ROI.
But what is in store?
Our 25 experts share their predictions as it relates to
- Consumer demand for online courses
- Marketing online courses (check out the audio from John Lee Dumas)
- and Student Experience within online courses
Listen to the top 3 Predictions here:
Consumer Demand Predictions:
Robert Anthony Martinez
The growth in the number of online courses available to help and support people in almost every are of life has been astronomical in the past 3 years. This trend will continue in 2020, but with so much good content being taught online, we will see the value being delivered go up, while prices come down. A great combination for those who seek help with online course.
[bctt tweet=”Robert Martinez shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Ross Brand
People will seek to earn credentials online through on-demand, intensive education focused on the knowledge and skills needed to work in a specific profession, field or job. The opportunity is there for the curriculum developer and course creator who can design a program of instruction that aligns with the needs of employers and builds a track-record of successful program alumni. In an era of rapid change, the affordable, fast-paced digital education program that wins the endorsement of its industry will become the most practical choice for career-focused learners.
[bctt tweet=”.@irossbrand shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Ray Brehm
Online course delivery will start pivoting towards individualization, and will become subscription based. Course takers want the ability to access a larger selection of information, that they can use to fit their individual needs at a much more competitive price. The concept of renting information, content and courses as needed, Netflix style, will become the new norm. You will also see a large increase in partnerships among those who provide the courses. It will be a win-win for all involved.
[bctt tweet=”.@RayBrehm shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Andy Crestodina
Universities are catching up, but still aren't the best sources of digital marketing knowledge, so online courses will stay in high demand in 2020. There are a gazillion options, so it's tough to pick one, but there is still no better source for education than the digital course offered by a brand or blogger.
[bctt tweet=”.@crestodina shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Carlos E. Vargas
2020 will be the year in which online courses enable entrepreneurs and companies to reach goals never thought of before.
[bctt tweet=”Carlos Vargas shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Digital Course Marketing Predictions
John Lee Dumas
We are going to continue to see a massive push towards the micro niche online courses. Gone are the days of the vague and broad courses of learn how to do this or do that in a very stand back way. And here are the days of solving one specific pain point, providing one solution to one obstacle, one challenge, one struggle, and it's going to be very micro niche. You're going to see a bunch of micro niches for very, very narrow and specific topics and it's going to be a trend that continues in 2020 and beyond.
[bctt tweet=”.@johnleedumas shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Heather Campbell
In 2020, marketers are going to get more and more creative about how they drive more organic traffic to their website and bypass Facebook advertising all together. Not only are their guidelines confusing and stringent. I believe with the upcoming election it's only going to get worse and people are getting so frustrated already with review times and lack of support.
[bctt tweet=”Heather Campbell shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
James Archer
Traditional web site landing pages will continue to be replaced by funnels. Course creators will benefit by nurturing their prospects before making the course offer. It's another way to offer (and demonstrate) value.
[bctt tweet=”James Archer shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Corina Holden
In 2020, online businesses and course creators will increase their focus on SEO as an organic marketing strategy.
[bctt tweet=”.@nowthaticando shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Thembi Bheka
More people and so called experts will be coming into the market. Increased competition. Increased Marketing costs. Authenticity, leadership and frequency is what will sell. Meaning that those who show up truly in who they are (not what FB says we should be), those who show up frequently and those who are taking a leadership position in their businesses will win. Leadership is not about following what influenceer A is doing. Leadership is about doing you and what works for you and your audience. Show up in an inauthentic way, frequently and lead your audience with your unique style to win.
[bctt tweet=”.@investorthembi shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Kate Ahl
In regards to marketing courses on Pinterest, I think the older courses that relied on older models with have to change and update for the all the rapid changes on Pinterest. I also think they will have to find space for more custom feedback with their buyers so people can get an up-to-date strategy for their business and test and approve tactics. Plus, they will have to add teaching about video as Pinterest is incorporating this more and more.
[bctt tweet=”.@simplepinmedia shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Bob Regnerus
I predict courses that include both a teaching element with a “done for you” element will get greater sales than just content alone. Combine course content with some sort of service or software will increase the value of your course.
[bctt tweet=”.@BobRegnerus shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Michelle Huddleston
I believe without a doubt that the online course and resource creation market will double in 2020! Why? Because people are realizing that they don't have to know everything to teach people what is EASY to them… and that it is worth something. It's something they can profit from!
[bctt tweet=”Michelle Huddleston shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Jill & Josh Stanton
Our prediction for 2020 is that it will be an explosive year for online courses! Last year we saw Tony Robbins complete a $35 Million dollar launch of his signature program, Knowledge Business Blueprint–an online course. Tony is doing a second launch of his course in 2020 and we are expecting it to be an even bigger launch for him, as well as other online course creators!
[bctt tweet=”.@screwthe9tofive shares their predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Student Experience Predictions
Katie Hornor
Course creators will become less interested in how to “create a course quickly to increase your income” and more interested in creating quality curriculum that gets their students the transformation they desire. You'll see more emphasis on student experience and community shared experiences as the importance of culture, causes and impact increases.
[bctt tweet=”Katie Hornor shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Matt McWilliams
The entire industry is shifting alongside the world at large. More experiential learning, shorter lessons, more “quick wins” to keep interest, less theory and more actionable advice. More than ever, people are looking for community over content, to find a group of people like them, on the same journey as them, building relationships with people who get them and relate to them.
[bctt tweet=”.@MattMcWilliams2 shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Tracie Fobes
In 2020, I see the digital course space continuing to thrive. People want information that is easy to digest without needing to research it all on their own. We are a busy society and these courses teach us what we need to learn in the simplest most compact way possible.
[bctt tweet=”.@TracieFobes shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Kate Bee
I predict that in 2020 courses which create strong communities will thrive and have the most impact. When I think about the programmes I'm in – as well as the course I run myself, to help women stop drinking – it's the community piece of each course that is vital to student success. People sign up thinking “I just need to know how to do x,y,z” but actually, they need more than that. We're not meant to go it alone. There is real power in being part of a tribe and getting support from people who truly get us.
[bctt tweet=”.@TheSoberSchool shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Bryan Kramer
People are looking for more course intimacy vs on demand courses. So many people bought a course and never used it. The level of human interaction and coaching will need to be upleveled in order for more coursework success to happen. In other words, more human-to-human connection!
[bctt tweet=”.@bryankramer shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Jessika Phillips
I believe 2020 will be the year where brands will need to focus more on personalized experiences. We're moving into the growth of Dark Social so brands creating a winning strategy in relationship marketing will focus on areas like helpful webinars, podcasts, video emails and creating the destination for their ideal audience to connect with like-minded individuals all while growing closer to their goals and the company who's providing the solution.
[bctt tweet=”.@jessikaphillips shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Chris Patao
My prediction is that course creators are going to really think about their customer’s journey and give them some success from Step 0. Also, the ethics of businesses and their tactics will be in question by people calling out unethical practices in business (there are Youtube shows calling people out already). The winners of 2020 will be the businesses that get results for their FANS and challenge the way we have done business in the past to move the industry forward.
[bctt tweet=”Chris Patao shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Brian Dixon
We are going to see a continued move towards implementation coaching. People are overwhelmed with content, they are willing to pay much more for results.
[bctt tweet=”.Brian Dixon shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Elizabeth Henson
People will begin to rediscover the value of live and in person learning opportunities. I do think online courses will continue to thrive, but I think students are learning more about how they prefer to learn. Some LOVE courses, some realize they never finish them. I'm excited to watch the industry grow either way!
[bctt tweet=”.@EHensonPhotos shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Stephanie Liu
We’re going to see a rise in entrepreneurs wanting to hone in on soft skills such as leadership and management, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills. Small businesses are looking for like-minded individuals to bounce ideas off of so having courses with a built-in community to help solve issues related to these soft-skills will be more important than ever.
[bctt tweet=”.@heystephanie shares her predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
Mac Prichard
Smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices will continue to grow in popularity as the primary way people use digital courses. To be successful, course developers need to create online content that is not just mobile ready, but designed for mobile devices.
[bctt tweet=”.@Mac_Prichard shares his predictions for #digitalcourses #onlinecourses in 2020″]
What will you do with digital courses in 2021?
If you don't have a digital course yet, or want to improve your course, check out the Course Creation Cheat Sheet below – a 15-page checklist for making your online course amazing!
