September Product Updates and Marketing Opportunities on Outschool

Product Highlights: Enhancements for Courses and Assignments

Course Fixes and Updates

1. Assignments Feature
   • What’s New:
     • Improved sorting options for learners (e.g., “Due Next,” “Recently Added”).
     • Clickable assignment tracker for easier navigation.
     • Educator feedback is now expanded by default for quick viewing.
   • Why It Matters:
     Assignments streamline learner organization and provide clearer communication pathways between educators and students. Learners can easily track what’s required and receive feedback in a more intuitive manner.
2. Schedule Adjustments for Courses
   • A new process for rescheduling meetings without the need for the red dot:
     • Cancel a Meeting: Adjust without affecting the course timeline.
     • Reschedule and Shift Lessons: Move lessons forward and extend the class by a week.
     • Reschedule a Single Lesson: Amend without shifting the remaining schedule.
   • Action Step: Double-check payment schedules in the Enrollment Management tab to avoid unnecessary refunds or confusion when making changes.
3. Additional Updates:
   • Scheduling sections via the calendar view now connects lessons automatically.
   • Announcements have been removed from self-paced classes to minimize clutter.
   • Late-enrollment courses are now correctly displayed as bookable on profiles and listings.

Marketing Images for Class Listings

• Why You Should Add Them:
  • Square images improve class visibility on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
  • Only 14% of active classes currently include optimized marketing images.
  • Visually appealing, relevant images can significantly increase click-through rates.
• Best Practices:
  • Add a small amount of text to clarify the image’s purpose.
  • Ensure the image is colorful and visually engaging.
  • Use images that are relevant and understandable without additional context.

Marketing Insights: Optimizing Visibility

1. Carousel Marketing on Outschool
   • Featured carousels highlight specific groups of classes, such as ESL, tutoring, or language.
   • Key Insight: Badges (Rising Star, Star, Popular) play a significant role in determining placement.
   • Educators with badges enjoy higher visibility and benefits such as:
     • Increased enrollment numbers (7 vs. 41-60 enrollments/month on average).
     • Higher booked dollar values ($1,750 vs. $5,300+ in monthly bookings).
2. Retention and Reengagement Metrics
   • Educators with badges demonstrate better retention rates and learner engagement.
   • Repurchase rates are higher for badge holders (47-52%) compared to non-badge educators (43%).
3. Action Step:
   • Work towards earning badges like Rising Star and Star to increase your visibility and success on the platform.

Professional Learning Opportunities

1. Workshop Wednesdays
   • Topics rotate weekly, covering class formats like enrichment, clubs, self-paced classes, and courses.
   • Why Attend: Educators who participate have higher approval rates and faster class listing approvals.
2. Retention Boot Camp Office Hours
   • Final session for this series offered open-ended support for educators.
3. Outshine & Empower Webinar
   • Focused on branding and marketing strategies to help educators build their businesses.

Q&A Highlights

Assignments and Course Questions

1. Can I Use Assignments for Clubs or Enrichment Classes?
   • No, assignments are exclusive to courses. Use posts in the classroom for enrichment and club updates.
2. How Does Rescheduling Work with Payments?
   • Payments for courses are installment-based. Families are billed weekly, even if a specific week does not include a class meeting.

Marketing and Visibility Questions

1. Do Badges Really Make a Difference?
   • Yes! Metrics show badge holders enjoy significantly higher enrollments and revenue. Badges also increase eligibility for marketing carousels and platform promotions.
2. How Can I Improve My Class Listings for Marketing?
   • Add square marketing images, use descriptive text, and ensure your profile reflects your expertise and unique offerings.

By leveraging these updates and tools, you can further enhance your teaching experience, grow your enrollments, and retain learners for long-term success. Remember to monitor your metrics, take advantage of professional learning opportunities, and continuously refine your strategies.

Happy teaching!