How Google Ads Helped an Online Course Generate 3x ROI

Running an online course? Paid advertising can accelerate your growth—if done right. This case study reveals exactly how we helped an online education provider achieve 300% ROI in just 45 days using strategic Google Ads campaigns.

Client Overview

Business: Financial Investment Course Provider

Course Name: "Master Stock Market Investment"

Course Price: ₹4,999

Target Audience: Working professionals aged 25-40

Location: Pan-India (Tier 1 & 2 cities)

Challenge: High competition, low brand awareness

Initial Situation

Problems Faced:

• CPL (Cost Per Lead) averaging ₹500+ on Facebook
• Low quality leads with <5% conversion
• No systematic follow-up process
• Burning ₹50,000/month with minimal returns
• Competing against established players like Coursera

Our Objective:

Generate quality leads at <₹300 CPL with 30%+ conversion rate

Strategy Implemented

1. Comprehensive Keyword Research

High-Intent Keywords Targeted:

• "stock market course online" (₹45 CPC)
• "share trading course with certificate" (₹38 CPC)
• "best investment course India" (₹52 CPC)
• "mutual fund course for beginners" (₹41 CPC)
• "technical analysis course online" (₹48 CPC)

Long-tail Keywords:

• "learn stock market trading in 30 days"
• "online share market course with placement"
• "certified financial planning course under 5000"

2. Campaign Structure

We created a strategic campaign architecture:

Campaign 1: Search - High Intent

• Budget: ₹40,000
• Bidding: Target CPA ₹300
• Ad Groups: 15 (by course modules)

Campaign 2: Search - Competitor

• Budget: ₹20,000
• Bidding: Target Impression Share
• Targeting: Competitor brand keywords

Campaign 3: Display Remarketing

• Budget: ₹15,000
• Audience: Website visitors (last 30 days)
• Frequency cap: 5 impressions/day

Campaign 4: YouTube

• Budget: ₹25,000
• Targeting: Financial content viewers
• Ad format: 6-second bumpers + skippable

3. Landing Page Optimization

Before: Generic course page with 2.3% conversion rate

After: Dedicated landing page with:

• Hero section with video testimonial
• Countdown timer (batch starting in X days)
• Course curriculum breakdown
• Instructor credentials
• Success stories with earning proofs
• FAQs addressing objections
• Multiple CTAs: "Enroll Now" & "Book Free Demo"
• Exit-intent popup with 10% discount

Result: Conversion rate jumped to 12.7%

4. Ad Copy That Converted

Winning Ad #1:

Learn Stock Market Trading | Get Certified in 45 Days
Master technical analysis, options trading & portfolio management.
500+ students already earning. Free demo class available.

Winning Ad #2:

₹5K to ₹50K Monthly: Real Student Results
Professional stock market course with lifetime support.
Pay after free demo. Limited seats - Batch starts Monday.

5. Conversion Tracking Setup

• Google Ads conversion tracking
• Google Analytics goals
• Call tracking for phone inquiries
• Offline conversion import from CRM
• Enhanced conversions for better matching

Campaign Timeline & Execution

Week 1-2: Setup & Launch

• Keyword research and competitor analysis
• Landing page creation and testing
• Campaign structure setup
• Conversion tracking implementation
• Initial budget: ₹25,000/week

Week 3-4: Optimization Phase

• Paused underperforming keywords
• Increased bids on converting terms
• Added negative keywords
• Refined audience targeting
• A/B tested ad copies

Week 5-6: Scaling Phase

• Doubled budget on winning campaigns
• Launched YouTube campaign
• Implemented smart bidding
• Added more ad extensions

Results Achieved

Overall Performance (45 Days):

Investment:

• Total Ad Spend: ₹1,00,000
• Landing Page Development: ₹15,000
• Total Investment: ₹1,15,000

Returns:

• Leads Generated: 410
• Demo Bookings: 287 (70%)
• Enrollments: 131 (32% of leads)
• Revenue Generated: ₹6,54,869
• ROI: 469% (4.69x)

Detailed Metrics:

Cost Metrics:

• Average CPC: ₹42
• Cost Per Lead: ₹244
• Cost Per Enrollment: ₹763

Quality Metrics:

• CTR: 4.8% (Industry avg: 2.1%)
• Conversion Rate: 12.7%
• Quality Score: 8/10 average

By Campaign Performance:

• Search High Intent: 67% of conversions
• YouTube: 18% of conversions
• Competitor: 10% of conversions
• Display: 5% of conversions

Key Success Factors

1. Landing Page Psychology

• Urgency: Limited seats, batch starting soon
• Social Proof: Success stories with earning screenshots
• Authority: Instructor's market experience
• Risk Reversal: Money-back guarantee

2. Follow-up Sequence

Automated email + WhatsApp sequence:

• Day 0: Welcome + Free resources
• Day 1: Success stories
• Day 2: Course benefits
• Day 3: Limited offer
• Day 4-7: Daily value + soft sells

3. Offer Optimization

• Free demo class (increased conversions by 40%)
• Payment plans available
• Early bird discount for quick decisions
• Bonus modules for immediate enrollment

Challenges Overcome

1. High Competition

Solution: Focused on specific long-tail keywords and created superior landing pages

2. Trust Issues

Solution: Added video testimonials, instructor credentials, and money-back guarantee

3. Price Sensitivity

Solution: Introduced EMI options and emphasized ROI rather than cost

Learnings & Insights

What Worked Best:

• Video testimonials increased conversion by 35%
• Countdown timers created urgency effectively
• Free demo reduced decision-making time
• WhatsApp follow-up converted fence-sitters

What Didn't Work:

• Broad match keywords ate budget quickly
• Generic display ads had poor ROI
• Desktop-only campaigns missed mobile traffic

Replication Framework

For Course Creators:

• Start with ₹50,000 test budget
• Focus only on search initially
• Perfect your landing page first
• Install all tracking before launch
• Give campaigns 2 weeks before major changes

Budget Allocation Guide:

• 60% Search campaigns
• 20% YouTube
• 15% Remarketing
• 5% Testing new formats

Future Recommendations

Immediate Next Steps:

• Scale winning campaigns by 2x
• Test new course offerings
• Implement marketing automation
• Create lookalike audiences
• Expand to regional languages

Long-term Strategy:

• Build organic content for SEO
• Develop referral program
• Create course bundles
• Partner with corporations
• Launch mobile app

Conclusion

This case study proves that Google Ads can deliver exceptional ROI for online courses when executed strategically. The key is not just running ads, but creating a complete funnel from keyword to conversion.

Success came from:

• Precise targeting
• Compelling landing pages
• Strategic bidding
• Continuous optimization
• Integrated follow-up

The client continues to scale, now spending ₹3,00,000/month profitably.

Want similar results for your online course? Brandmind specializes in education marketing with proven frameworks. Schedule a Free Google Ads Strategy Call and get a custom growth plan for your course!