24 Facebook Strategies No One Talks About for Selling Online Courses

You know what’s wild?

People are still sleeping on Facebook.

While everyone’s off chasing shiny new platforms, Facebook’s over here like, “Hi, I still have 3 billion users, Karen.”

If you’re selling online courses and ignoring Facebook, you might be leaving serious money on the table.

Let’s talk about the less obvious, slightly sneaky, and super effective Facebook strategies that can actually move the needle.

24 Underrated Facebook Marketing Strategies To Sell Online Courses in 2025

1. Use Facebook Groups for course sales—but not how you think

Don’t just create a group and ghost it like your last Bumble date.

Instead, create a value-first, niche-specific community. Think “Nutrition for Night Shift Nurses” instead of just “Healthy Living.”

And here’s the kicker: make it private but searchable. It adds exclusivity and discoverability.

In 2017, Condé Nast Traveler launched the ‘Women Who Travel’ Facebook group, which grew to over 50,000 members within a year by focusing on a specific community and encouraging active participation.

2. DM people who comment 

If someone comments on a post about your course, that’s not just engagement—that’s interest.

Send a genuine, non-salesy DM like:

“Hey! Saw you commented on the post about our new UX design course—curious, are you in the industry or just exploring?”

It’s about starting a convo, not dropping a link like a desperate NFT bro.

3. Run Retargeting Ads to Video Viewers, not just website visitors

Most folks just retarget people who’ve visited their landing page.

But Facebook lets you retarget people who watched your videos—even just 25% of them.

And guess what? These are warmer leads than you think.

Run a simple “Did you see this?” ad with a link to your course. Low pressure, high impact.

4. Go Live and teach, not pitch

Facebook Lives still work. Especially when you don’t make it feel like a webinar.

Pick one super juicy topic from your course and teach it for free. No fluff. Just value.

At the end, say: “If you liked this, the full course dives deeper. Link’s in the comments.”

It works. It feels natural. It doesn’t scream used car energy.

5. Pin a value post, not a sales one

The first post someone sees on your page or group matters.

Pin something useful—a free checklist, your favorite tools, or a mini case study.

Then mention your course subtly at the end. Think soft CTA, not hard sell.

6. Create a “Facebook-only” bonus

Here’s some psychological magic: exclusivity.

Offer a bonus only for people who find your course through your Facebook group or ad.

Something like:

“Bonus worksheet for Facebook fam only—link in comments!”

Watch people go full FOMO.

7. Turn your students into micro-influencers

Encourage your students to post about their course experience on Facebook, not just Instagram or TikTok.

Make it easy. Give them prompts, graphics, or badges.

You’d be surprised how many people still trust “real” Facebook posts over slick promo content.

8. Use Facebook Events for your course launch

Yes, Events. That tab everyone forgot about.

Create an Event for your launch date, a free workshop, or course Q&A.

Facebook actually notifies people when an event they’re interested in is coming up. Crazy, right?

9. Test Polls to warm up cold leads

Polls are a subtle way to segment your audience without them feeling sold to.

Example:

“If you had to level up one skill this month, what would it be?”
A) Copywriting
B) Public speaking
C) Time management
D) Drinking more water 🍷

Slide into the DMs of anyone who chooses A, B, or C and start a convo.

Leave the hydration squad alone. They’re clearly thriving.

10. Use “tag a friend” psychology in content

Make posts that are so specific, people want to tag their friend who needs that course.

Example:

“This is for the freelancer who’s had ‘Build my own course’ on their to-do list since 2021.”
Tag them. Be that friend.

It’s soft viral growth. And it feels organic.

11. Use your personal profile wisely

No, not to spam people with course links.

But if you’re building a brand, your profile is prime real estate.

Sprinkle in behind-the-scenes content, testimonials, “aha” moments from your students—and link to your biz in the intro section.

12. Comment like a boss in OTHER people’s groups

Find groups where your audience hangs out.

Then actually participate. Answer questions. Drop insights. Be helpful.

Not spammy. Just smart.

You’ll start getting profile views, DMs, and yes… sales.

13. Use Facebook Stories to tease your course (or show your face)

Yep, Facebook has Stories. And people watch them—especially your lurker friends who never like your posts but suddenly know about your dog’s birthday party.

Use Stories to:

• Show course behind-the-scenes

• Share testimonials

• Do a mini “FAQ Friday”
  Keep it short, keep it chill, and use captions—most people watch with sound off while pretending to work.

14. Resurrect old posts with strategic comments

Have a killer post from three months ago that’s gathering digital dust?

Drop a new comment on it. Something like:

“Still getting great results with this strategy 👇 Just had another student try it!”

Facebook will boost it back into some people’s feeds. Sneaky. Effective.

15. Create a Facebook Guide series in your group

Facebook lets you create “Guides” in groups—a perfect spot for organizing bite-sized course previews, free tips, or onboarding content.

Think of it as your mini Netflix section:

“Module 1: What most people get wrong about _____.”

Let them binge.

16. Run engagement contests 

Ask your group or page:

“What’s one skill you wish schools actually taught?”

Reward the best comment with a discount or free mini-module.
It creates buzz without being a cheesy giveaway machine.

17. Use the “Topics” tag feature in groups

If your Facebook group is turning into a chaotic soup of memes, questions, and rants—organize it with Topics.

Tag posts by theme: #TechTips, #StudentWins, #AskMeAnything

Now when someone says “Do you have a post about [insert problem]?” you can actually point them to it.

18. Run “Ask Me Anything” threads before you pitch

Instead of always posting “Check out my new course!”, flip the script.

Try this:

“AMA: I’ve helped over 500 people launch their first product. Ask me anything about creating a profitable online course.”

People ask. You answer. You build trust. THEN you mention the course.

It feels like value, not a pitch.

19. Add keywords to your group name and description

Facebook Groups are searchable. So treat your group name like a mini SEO headline.

Instead of:

“Marketing Insiders”

Try:

“Marketing Tips for Coaches & Course Creators | Grow & Sell Online”

Facebook’s algorithm actually notices the keywords.

20. Feature student wins in public posts (and tag them)

Your students are your best marketers.

Post their story—just a short blurb like:

“3 months ago, Olivia hadn’t even launched. Now she’s got 12 students enrolled in her very first course.”

Tag her (with permission), and thank her. It makes them feel good—and lets their network peek in.

21. Add a Facebook Messenger chatbot to your page

Use a tool like ManyChat or Chatfuel to welcome visitors and send automated FAQs to boost engagement and answer questions about your online course automatically.

It’s like having a friendly assistant who works 24/7, never complains, and always knows your refund policy.

22. Use carousel-style posts with micro-lessons

You know those swipe-style Instagram carousels? You can do a low-key version on Facebook too.

Post:

1. A hook (the “what no one tells you” moment)

2. A few numbered tips

3. A final slide with: “This is just a slice of what I teach inside [Course Name]. DM me if you want details.”

It’s visual. Digestible. Shareable.

23. Start a “Course Creation Journey” series (even if your course is already done)

Post mini updates like:

“Day 2: Just re-recorded a lesson on email onboarding—had no idea how many people struggle with what to say in the first email!”

This works even after your course is launched. Why?

People love transparency. It invites them behind the curtain.
It makes them go, “Hmm, maybe I could make a course too…”

And then they buy yours to figure out how.

24. Add social proof to your page’s cover image

Most people treat their Facebook cover photo like digital wallpaper. Big mistake.

Use that prime real estate to build instant credibility.

📣 Add things like:

• “Trusted by 5,000+ students”

• “Voted #1 Course for Freelancers in 2024”

• Screenshots of real results or testimonials

Think of it like a billboard: fast, clear, trust-building.

People judge fast. Let your cover image do some of the heavy lifting before they even scroll.

Why Facebook marketing still works for online course creators

Facebook isn’t just alive—it’s thriving for course creators who know how to use it right. With the right Facebook course promotion strategies, you can build real community, boost engagement, and increase conversions without needing to go viral.

Next steps

The online course industry is booming, but here’s the hard truth—most courses don’t make it.

Over 85% of online courses fail to retain students, and a major reason is poor platform usability and lack of engagement.

Research shows that the average completion rate for online courses hovers around 15%, with some dropping as low as 3-5%.

The solution? An intuitive platform, interactive content, and a smart marketing strategy.

And Graphy solves exactly this.

Graphy has helped over 200K creators launch and sell their AI-first courses, webinars, memberships and other digital products.

Get your free consultation today!

FAQs: Using Facebook to sell your online course

1. Can Facebook really help me sell online courses in 2025?

Yes—big time. Facebook still has over 3 billion monthly users, many of whom hang out in niche communities and groups. It’s one of the most underrated platforms for course creators who want to build trust, run smart retargeting ads, and create meaningful engagement.

2. What’s the best Facebook strategy for selling my course?

It depends on your audience, but a mix of value-driven Facebook Group content, retargeting ads, and live sessions tends to work best. Focus on helping before selling—people want teachers, not infomercials.

3. Are Facebook Groups or Facebook Pages better for course marketing?

Groups win for community and engagement. Pages are great for credibility and running ads. Use both: run ads and host content on your Page, and build relationships and exclusivity inside your Group.

4. How much should I spend on Facebook ads to promote my course?

Start small—$5–$10/day is enough to test the waters. Focus on retargeting video viewers or engaged users first. Once you know what works, you can scale without setting your wallet on fire.

5. Do I need a personal brand to sell on Facebook?

Not necessarily, but it helps. People buy from people. Even if your course is under a brand name, showing your face, story, or process builds trust fast—especially on a platform like Facebook.

6. What kind of content should I post on Facebook to sell my course?

Educational posts, student wins, FAQs, polls, behind-the-scenes, and Facebook Lives work well. The goal is to engage first, then sell—think “teach, tease, and tag,” not just “pitch and pray.”

7. Is Facebook still relevant for course creators compared to TikTok or Instagram?
Absolutely. While TikTok and Instagram are great for reach, Facebook dominates when it comes to depth, discussion, and conversion—especially if your audience is 25+ and values community-based learning.