Looking for a way to boost sales of your online course and increase engagement?
You need an outcome statement. This essential element is often overlooked by course creators, but should be high-up on your to-do list.
Not only will an outcome statement add value for your students, but it will help keep you on track as you design and refine your course.
To be effective, your course outcome statement should succinctly communicate to students what value they will get out of the course.
In this blog, we’ll dig deeper into what an outcome statement is, why it’s important, and talk you through the steps of creating the perfect statement for your online course.
What Is An Outcome Statement
An outcome statement (often called an objective) is a simple, short piece of writing describing what your students should be able to do, know and feel once they complete the course.
Using measurable, precise wording, it conveys to your potential customers what your course will offer them.
For example, let’s say you’re creating an online course to teach people how to take professional selfie shots to promote their business. Your outcome statement might sound like this:
“By the end of this course, you will be able to create professional-style self-portraits using your phone camera in just six simple steps.”
Why Do You Need One For Your Online Course?
Not only is it a great marketing tool for letting people know exactly what to expect from your course, but an outcome statement also provides you with clarity. It gives you a pathway to make it easier when creating your course.
You can keep referring back to the outcome statement throughout the process to keep yourself on track by asking, “Does this help my students meet the outcome statement?”
An effective statement will also help sell your course to the right people. Prospective students will quickly be able to see how they’ll benefit from the course, filtering out customers who aren’t the right fit.
How To Craft An Effective Outcome Statement For Your Course
Be mindful not to overcomplicate your statement with too much information. Instead of trying to cram a bunch of objectives in, focus on one specific objective with multiple benefits.
Your outcome statement should be based around your students, not around you. Don’t talk about what you’ll do or provide, only about what the outcome will be for them.
The key to a great outcome statement is to utilise the correct verbs, and make it measurable. You need to capture exactly what your students will be able to do, what they will know, or how they will feel or behave upon completion.
Avoid using vague words such as “understand” or "learn". These terms are not measurable and don’t effectively capture the desired outcome.
Instead, use dynamic verbs, such as:
- Formulate
- Determine
- Describe
- Explain
- Recognise
- Measure
- Identify
- Analyse
- Construct
- Craft
- Implement
- Conduct
- Gather
- Create
- Master
- Produce
- Accomplish
Get Specific With Your Outcome Statement
Be as specific as you can in your statement. To what level will they be able to “do” the thing? How will they do it? How long will it take? How many steps are involved?
Here’s another example:
“By the end of this course, you will be able to research, write, and edit a 500-word blog for your business using five simple steps in less than two hours.”
Outcome statements help you describe what you want your students to achieve. They also support you to develop the ideal content to guide them to the destinations, ensuring your course provides your audience with exceptional value.
A well-crafted objective lets your students know what to expect and helps connect your online course with the right audience.
Want to know more about how to create an excellent online course? Then, let’s work together to do it. Book a discovery call with me today to find out how I can help you plan, create and launch your course. Here’s the link to book:
If you’re interested in setting up a course or want to know more about how it all works, sign up for your FREE four-page online course planning checklist.
Perhaps you just want to get started on your online course, then my 90 min Zoom Online Course Planning Session might be just what you need.
Checkout my Online Course Creation Packages:
Online Course Planning Session
Online Course Setup Package
Online Course Complete Package
Would you like to check out my preferred online course platform, here's a one month free trial of Thinkific (note this is an affiliate link).
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Author
Debbie Mills Robertson
Online Course Creation & Email Marketing
debbie@taskdiva.co.nz
027 345 7000
