Most instructors put a lot of effort into creating their courses, but when writing the course description, they often fall short. Your course description sells your course to potential students, so it’s essential to get it right. Here are 13 tips and best practices for writing a course description that converts:
Keep it short and sweet
A course description briefly overviews a course’s content and learning objectives. In most cases, it is created by the instructor and included in the syllabus.
A well-written course description can help students understand what they can expect to learn in the class and gauge whether or not the class is a good fit for their interests and needs. It is essential to be clear and concise when writing a course description.
Avoid extraneous details and focus on communicating solid course information. Concise, well-crafted description sentences will help students understand what the class will cover and ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start
Focus on the benefits
A course description is a document that provides an overview of a course and its learning objectives. It is used by potential students to assess whether the course is right for them and by instructors to plan and structure their teaching.
Therefore, it is essential that course descriptions focus on the benefits of the course and its key learning outcomes.
This will ensure that students have a clear understanding of what they will gain from taking the course and that instructors can effectively communicate the value of the course to their students. Course descriptions should be clear, concise, and informative to provide potential students with the information they need to decide whether to take the course.
Use keywords wisely
When writing a course description, it is essential to use keywords wisely. Including relevant keywords can help potential students find your course when searching for something specific.
However, stuffing your description with too many keywords will make reading difficult and turn off potential students. The key is to strike a balance – include enough keywords to be easily found, but don’t go overboard.
With a bit of thought and care, you can ensure that your course description is informative and enticing.
Write for your target audience
Always keep your target audience in mind. The description is an important marketing tool that will help you attract students to your course. Therefore, it is essential to write specifically for your target audience. What are their needs and interests?
How can your course help them achieve their goals? Include these critical points in the description, and avoid any unnecessary details. With a clear and concise description, you will be able to reach your target audience and convince them to enroll in your course.
Use persuasive language
A well-written course description can be the key to attracting students to your class. When crafting a course description, it is essential to use persuasive language that accurately reflects the key content and tone of the class.
Use positive adjectives to describe the class material and highlight the unique aspects of your teaching approach.
Be sure to mention any relevant guest speakers or field trips that will be part of the class, as these can be powerful motivators for potential students.
Finally, avoid jargon or overly technical language, dissuading potential students from enrolling. Using persuasive language in your course description ensures that your class is well-attended and successful.
Be specific
A course description is a document that outlines the goals, objectives, learning outcomes, and methods of assessment for a particular course.
The course description should be clear and concise, providing students with enough information to decide whether or not the course is right for them.
Course descriptions can be found in various places, including online course catalogs, departmental websites, and syllabi. When writing a course description, be sure to include the following:
- The name and code of the course
- A brief overview of the course content
- The course goals or objectives
- The course learning outcomes
- The course methods of assessment
Appeal to emotions
As anyone who has been through a tough breakup knows, emotions can be powerful motivators. And when it comes to getting people to sign up for your course, appealing to their emotions is often the most effective strategy.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should try to manipulate your students’ emotions in an unethical way. Instead, simply focus on creating a course description that resonates with them personally.
Describe how your course will help them achieve their goals and overcome challenges. Paint a picture of how their life will be transformed after taking your course. If you can make your students feel like your course is exactly what they need, you will surely see a boost in enrollment.
Use positive words
As you craft your course description, use positive and upbeat language. After all, you want your students to be excited about taking your class! Use phrases like “you will learn” and “you will be able to” to describe the skills and prior knowledge they will gain. Additionally, avoid using negative words like “don’t” or “won’t.” Focusing on the positive aspects of your course will help ensure that your students have a positive and productive experience.
Avoid negative words
A course description is typically a brief, one or two-paragraph summary of a course. It is essential to avoid using negative words when writing a course description, as this can discourage potential students from enrolling. For example, instead of describing a course as “difficult” or “challenging,” it would be better to use positive words such as “engaging” or “stimulating.”
Descriptions are designed to give potential students an overview of the course. Positive language can ensure that your course description accurately represents your course’s key content and tone.
Use active voice
Course descriptions are essential to the college catalog and can significantly influence a student’s decision-making process. It is therefore essential that they be clear, concise, and accurate. One way to achieve this is to use an active voice throughout the description.
For example, rather than saying, “The course will cover X, Y, and Z,” it is better to say, “This course will cover X, Y, and Z.” Active voice makes the description more lively and engaging. It also helps to ensure that the information is presented in a clear and straightforward manner.
In short, using an active voice in your course descriptions is an easy way to make them more effective.
Use simple language
It is essential to use simple language in your description so that potential students know what they can expect from the class.
Course descriptions should be clear and concise, and free of jargon. Jargon can make a course description challenging to understand and may turn potential students away.
Furthermore, using simple language in your course description shows that you respect your student’s time and intelligence. Course descriptions are an essential marketing tool, so it is crucial to ensure they are effective. Using simple language is one way to ensure that your course descriptions are clear and concise and that potential students will not be discouraged by jargon.
Use images and videos
An effective way to make your online course description stand out is to include images and videos. A few well-chosen visuals can help convey your course’s key points and give potential students a better sense of what they can expect. In addition, images and videos can help to break up the text and make your course description more visually appealing. When used judiciously, visuals can be a powerful tool for drawing attention to your course and making it more memorable.
Get feedback
By providing a detailed overview of the course material, they can help students choose courses that match their interests and abilities. Course descriptions can also help instructors plan their lessons and develop their materials.
However, course descriptions are often only written by the instructor and may not accurately reflect the actual content of the course. As a result, seeking feedback from students when developing or revising a course description is essential.
By getting input from those taking the class, instructors can ensure that their course descriptions are accurate and helpful.
Following these tips, you can write an excellent course description that converts and helps you sell more courses.
Why do you need to write a good course description?
A course description is an essential tool for both students and instructors. For students, it provides essential information about the course content and goals. It can also help them to choose courses that fit their interests and needs.
For instructors, a course description can be used to develop the syllabus and plan major learning activities. In addition, a well-written course description can attract students to the class and help to set expectations for the semester.
As a result, it is essential to take care when crafting an online course description. By clearly articulating the goals of the course and describing the major learning activities, you can create a document that will benefit students and instructors alike.
Summary
By following these tips, you can write a course description that is clear, concise, and compelling.
By taking the time to craft a practical course description, you can help to attract students and set your course apart from others. So what are you waiting for? Get started on writing your course description today!
