I need your opinion on a course "teaser"

Heya JB! 

Is there an All of the above option?

I always liked how Lynda.com includes both a welcome overview which serves as a hook or enticement video and opens up a handful of free movies.

Since the commercial overview may seem too "marketing" for some users, having the option to try out the course gives users a better feel for the course pacing, author style, and overall instructional approach.

Example: https://www.lynda.com/Photoshop-tutorials/Photoshop-Photographers-Color-Emphasis/142959-2.html

I suspect what gets people interested in learning is highly variable. Personally, I would probably prefer option b. To me, your two options seem similar to the choice between receiving voicemails and receiving texts; and I actively dislike receiving voicemails (which is not uncommon).

Thanks so much you guys!!

And hi DA!! I like the idea of including both... but do you think that would mean too much on the page? (Too many possible actions to take?) The main goal is really just to get people to click a big fat Enroll button, so I don't want to obfuscate that. If you did make both options available, would you give them both equal visual prominence?

Hi Katherine!  I know what you mean about personal preference... like you, I too prefer option b... the one thing I don't love about that, though, is that unlike a video, a course excerpt doesn't lend itself to being embedded right in a webpage. So if the person did launch the excerpt, I'd have to bounce them away from the page in order to open the content. Not the end of the world, but that always feels a little clumsy to me. An iframe isn't a good solution because it doesn't do great on mobile.

I really appreciate the help with noodling this. :) 

Hi Jeanette

I would go with a  demo embedded in the page, I would also be tempted to put another call action button within the course

Hey Phil - thanks for weighing in! That's what I'm leaning toward also. Maybe with some voiceover, giving a short tour of some highlights. 

Of your choices, I think an animated gif with experts of the course and select screens would work.

I'd consider something perhaps more like click-bait. Why would someone be interested in the course?

• Are you making these mistakes at work?
• Check out what happened when David dropped a dresser on his toe
• Here's a common issue and how to fix it.

What problem does the course solve for them and then a compelling reason they may be interested.

Thanks Tom! An animated gif could work! In your opinion, what's an ideal length?

(And we really must stop David from dropping that dresser on his toe)  :) 

With the animated gif, it's going to jump from frame to frame and then loop. Time may not be as much an issue as how many frames do you want to show and how fast do they advance. I think a 20-30 second loop works. It really just depends on what you're showing.

Too soon, Tom.