Do you use mini-courses in your online marketing?  If not then 
maybe you should!  Mini-courses are an important part of 
Internet marketing.  A mini-course is a tool that enables you 
to provide valuable content to your subscribers and promote 
your own or affiliate products at the same time.

A mini-course is fr*ee information on a specific topic.  It is 
normally distributed as multiple articles in e-mail format over 
a defined period of time.  The mini-course also goes by the name 
eCourse, fr*ee report or autoresponder course.  

Before attempting to write your mini-course, identify a "niche 
market" that has a unique need for information.  A niche market 
is a small segment of the total general market.  It is a group 
of individuals with a common interest that have specific wants 
and needs.  Individuals in a niche market may also have a 
common problem that needs a solution.

Creating a mini-course is similar to creating an ebook but on a 
smaller scale.  You need to select a "killer" topic that is of 
interest to your niche market and satisfies a want or need or 
solves a problem.

There is an unlimited amount of information that can be used 
in a mini-course.  The key is to know what information to use.  
What information do most people want?  Individuals look for 
informational products that satisfy their most important wants 
or needs.  This includes information on: how to do something, 
money, time, work, health, self-improvement, entertainment, 
hobbies and se*x.

How can you find your killer topic?  

* Listen to your customers.  Look for problems they are 
  experiencing when they communicate with you.  
* Conduct a survey of your customers and the visitors to your 
  website and ask for comments.    
* Join niche discussion boards and chat rooms.  What items are 
  discussed on a repeating basis?  
* Subscribe to article announcement lists in your niche and 
  identify the key topics being published.  

Next, look for common issues or problems in the information you 
have collected.  Can you solve any of them?  If not, locate an 
expert that can help you.  

Identify creative and useful solutions to the issues or 
problems.  Develop an outline to be used as a guide in writing 
your mini-course.  Perform the necessary research to obtain 
the information you need for the mini-course.  Present your 
information in a manner that satisfies the wants and needs or 
solves the common problem of your niche market.

You need to have a killer title to grab the interest of your 
visitors.  Select a title that compels your visitor to want to 
see your report.  You want your visitor to request the report, 
download it, read it and purchase your product offerings.

All of your work in creating the mini-course is of no use if 
nobody reads it.  You want a title that reaches out and pulls 
the individual into downloading your course.  Instead of using 
a title like "My Report on Golf " use something like "How to 
Take Strokes Off Your Golf Game."  Which title is more likely 
to grab the interest of the high handicap golfer?

Once you have the attention of your audience you want to be 
able to keep them.  The opening paragraph must excite your 
reader and make them want to know more.  Use an opening 
sentence that pulls them into your report like "Everything you 
ever wanted to know about improving your golf game and more!"  
Your opening paragraph also needs to define the main objective 
that will be presented in your mini-course.  

The course content is the most critical part of your mini-course.
Make certain your information is presented in an organized and 
meaningful manner.  Content can be presented to your readers in 
many different writing formats.      

Some of the most common formats include: 

  * How-to-do something tutorial
  * List of ways or tips to accomplish a desired objective
  * Interview of one or more experts regarding your topic
  * Narrative discussion of the issues at hand.  

Whatever format you select, it must be easy to read and 
understand.  Do not use difficult words or long sentences and 
paragraphs.  Write in a straightforward manner.  Let your 
personality show in your writing.  People that are comfortable 
with your writing are more likely to buy from you.

Be careful in promoting your own products or affiliate products 
in the mini-course.   The products and services promoted need 
to relate to the content you are providing.  Blend the product 
or service promotions into your content so that it supports the 
content.  Find ways to weave your product or affiliate program 
information into your content in a low-key manner.    

Avoid outright blatant advertising except in the top sponsor, 
bottom sponsor and other designated areas of your articles.  
Blatant advertising in the wrong section will be a quick 
turn-off.  Your mini-course will be viewed as a sales letter 
and probably not read.  Keep your audience in focus.  They are 
reading your mini-course primarily for the valuable content you 
promised to deliver in the beginning.    

The last segment of your mini-course needs to provide a 
conclusion or closing section.  Pull together what you have 
presented in the course and present your findings.  It should 
satisfy the original objective of your course or provide a 
solution to the stated problem.  Finalize the mini-course with 
words of value to your readers.  Direct your readers to utilize 
the information you provided.  Instill in them the desire to 
get involved and follow through with your conclusions or 
implement your solutions.  

Organize the information into article segments of roughly 700 
to 1,500 words per segment.  Keep the length of the mini-course 
in the range of 3 to 8 segments.  Try to avoid information 
overload and unnecessary padding in your articles.  Determine 
the distribution cycle of the articles.  In general, one segment 
should be delivered each day or every 2 days.  Personally, I 
prefer once every 2 days to avoid overloading the recipient with 
too much information if they don't check their e-mail on a daily 
basis. 

The best way to distribute your mini-course is by autoresponder. 
 Set up the autoresponder to automatically distribute your 
articles according to your defined time schedule.  

Use the mini-course to promote yourself, your business and your 
products.  It is fr*ee advertising.  You can use the following 
methods to promote your mini-course:

  * Include in the resource box of an article you wrote
  * Include in your newsletter
  * Include in your signature file
  * Provide as a fr*ee bonus on the purchase of your product
  * Place in an advertisement 
  * Provide as a promotional tool for your affiliates to use.

In conclusion, your mini-course should deliver valuable content 
to your audience with the side benefit of promoting your ezine 
and products.  Create your mini-course with a clear picture of 
wants and needs of your audience.  You have wasted your time 
and effort if the report has little or no value to your reader. 
Produce a quality mini-course and both you and your subscribers 
will benefit.

Best of success in your online business activities.