Essential Tips for Image Optimization, Domain Setup, and Course Marketing Success

Learn how to optimize images for faster loading, troubleshoot custom domain issues, set up Stripe payments, & market your online courses effectively.

Running an online course platform comes with its challenges, from technical setup to marketing strategies. In a recent Zenler's Educational Live Support Desk session, course creators received expert guidance on common issues and best practices. Here's what you need to know to optimize your Zenler experience.

Watch the full recording of this session here and see live demonstrations of all the techniques discussed in this blog post.

Optimising Images for Better Performance

One of the most common mistakes course creators make is uploading oversized images that slow down their websites. The recommended standard image size for Zenler is 1920x1080 pixels, which works universally across course cards, blog posts, and backgrounds.

How to Resize Images in Canva

Using Canva's Pro feature, you can create multiple image sizes from a single template:

Start with your base image at 1920x1080
Duplicate the slide
Click "Resize" at the top
Enter your desired dimensions (e.g., 500x500 for smaller images)
Select "Apply to current page only"
Download both sizes

Pro Tip: Always label your page names in Canva before exporting. This ensures your downloaded files have meaningful names instead of generic numbers.

Why Image Optimization Matters

A properly optimized image can reduce file size from 12 megabytes to just 254 kilobytes. When you have multiple images on a page, this optimization dramatically improves loading speed and user experience. Large, unoptimized images from sources like Shutterstock (often 4,000+ pixels wide) should always be resized before uploading.

Organizing Your Course Dashboard

Managing multiple courses becomes easier when you know how to organize them effectively. To reorder your courses:

Navigate to your course area
Click the "Reorder" button
Simply drag and drop courses into your preferred sequence

This simple feature helps you prioritize active courses and keep your dashboard organized.

Troubleshooting Custom Domain Setup

Custom domain configuration can sometimes encounter delays. If your setup shows as "in progress" for more than 48 hours, here's what's happening:

Understanding DNS Propagation

When you change DNS records with your hosting provider (like Ionos, NameCheap, GoDaddy, or Hostinger), the changes need to propagate globally. This typically takes 12-48 hours.

SSL Certificate Installation

Zenler automatically applies an HTTPS security certificate once your domain is authorized. If you're experiencing delays:

Take a screenshot of your DNS records
Email support@zenler.com with your screenshot
The support team can verify your configuration and provide specific guidance

Zenler offers detailed documentation for popular hosting providers at support.newzenler.com.

Adding Courses to Your Website Menu

A frequently asked question involves linking courses to navigation menus. Here's the correct process:

Ensure your course is published (not secret or hidden)
Visit your course as it appears to students
Copy the URL from either the sales page or checkout page
Go to your page editor and access the menu settings
Add a dropdown menu item if needed
Paste your course URL into the link field
Save your changes

Important: Courses must be published for the link to work properly. Secret or unpublished courses won't display correctly even with a direct link.

Setting Up Stripe Payment Integration

Connecting Stripe to accept payments is straightforward, but disconnecting requires precautions to protect your revenue.

Disconnecting an Existing Stripe Account

Zenler requires you to contact support before disconnecting payment gateways. This security measure prevents unauthorized changes that could redirect your course revenue.

Before disconnecting, verify:

No active subscriptions are running
No recurring payment plans are active
All existing payments have been processed

Connecting Your Stripe Account

Once the old account is removed, connecting a new one is simple:

Navigate to Integrations in your dashboard
Click the Stripe connection button
Enter your Stripe username and password
Zenler handles the rest automatically

Payment plans you create for courses will automatically integrate with Stripe—no additional configuration needed.

Marketing Your Course Effectively

The most critical insight from the session: 95% of your time should be spent on marketing, not course creation.

Essential Marketing Resources

Zenler provides comprehensive marketing training at tutorials.newzenler.com. The Marketing Basics course covers:

Choosing the right marketing tools and resources
Analytics and tracking
Marketing techniques across platforms
YouTube and Facebook setup strategies
Lead magnets and incentives
SEO fundamentals
Market research methods

The Marketing Funnel Approach

For course creators who already have content ready, the recommended strategy includes:

Lead Magnet: Offer valuable free content to capture email addresses
Community Building: Invite leads to engage in your community
Mini-Course: Provide a low-ticket offer to build trust
Main Course: Present your premium offering to warmed-up leads

This sequential approach helps potential students experience your teaching style before committing to paid courses.

Customizing Course Certificates

Creating professional certificates requires working with SVG files and variables. While Zenler is developing a simplified certificate designer, current options include:

Using Adobe Illustrator with variable fields
Trying Gregor Hillman's tool for Canva-based certificate creation
Working with design tools that export SVG format

The certificate variables work like email personalizations, automatically inserting student names and course details.

Managing Calendar and Bookings

For one-to-one student consultations, Zenler's calendar system displays public events, but it differs from dedicated booking platforms like Calendly.

Current Calendar Limitations

Zenler's built-in calendar shows scheduled live events but doesn't offer the self-service booking functionality of Calendly. For one-to-one bookings where students select their own time slots:

Consider integrating Calendly with Zenler
Use Zapier to automate user additions
View integration tutorials at the Zenler support site

Finding Help and Documentation

Zenler offers multiple resources for finding answers:

Complete Guide to Zenler: A comprehensive course available at tutorials.newzenler.com/learn-zenler covering every platform feature with searchable content.

Support Documentation: Visit support.newzenler.com for:

Searchable help articles
Step-by-step guides
Video tutorials
Live chat with developers

The search function allows you to find specific topics quickly. Keep search terms short (e.g., "live" instead of "live event calendar") for best results.

Student Management Best Practices

Handling Minimal Name Entries

Some students sign up using only initials instead of full names. While this can be frustrating, consider:

These are still legitimate leads with valid email addresses
You can create a help page showing students how to update their profile
Focus on engagement rather than perfect data collection

Login Issues and Email Deliverability

The most common support issue involves students claiming they never received emails. Solutions include:

Create a help page with login troubleshooting steps
Include instructions for checking spam folders
Show students how to search for "Zenler" in their email
Provide a simple video demonstration

This proactive approach reduces repetitive support emails.

Students vs. Leads

Understanding the distinction matters for your workflow:

Students: Have accounts and can access logged-in content
Leads: Contact list members without platform access

If you've created a free course requiring login access, those users must remain as students. Converting them to leads would remove their access. Consider this distinction when planning your funnel strategy.

Branding and Customization

Changing Course Player Button Colors

Button colors in the course player can be adjusted through:

Navigate to Site Settings → Branding
Scroll to "Body Color" section
Modify "Button Color" and "Hover Color"
Ensure text color contrasts with button color

For specific elements not covered by standard settings, custom CSS code may be required. Contact support@zenler.com for assistance.

Email List Management

For bulk student management, tagging is more efficient than traditional email lists. Instead of manually selecting students across multiple pages:

Tag students automatically upon course enrollment
Filter by tags when sending targeted emails
Combine tags for precise audience segmentation

This modern approach streamlines communication with large student groups.

Key Takeaways

Success with Zenler comes from balancing technical setup with strategic marketing:

Optimize all images before uploading to improve site performance
Allocate 95% of your time to marketing, not endless course refinement
Use proper navigation techniques to link courses effectively
Secure payment integration protects your revenue stream
Leverage comprehensive tutorials at tutorials.newzenler.com
Access support documentation at support.newzenler.com
Automate student management with tags and filters

Whether you're launching your first course or managing multiple offerings for corporate clients, these best practices will help you create a professional, efficient learning platform.

About Zenler's Educational Live Support Desk

Zenler hosts regular Educational Live Support Desk sessions via Zoom where course creators can ask questions and receive real-time help, every Thursday at 4PM UK Time.

These sessions are recorded and made available on Zenler's YouTube channel with chapter markers, making it easy to jump to specific topics. Whether you're troubleshooting technical issues or seeking marketing advice, these live sessions provide invaluable support directly from the Zenler team.

Want to attend a future session? Subscribe to Educational Live Support Desk and stay updated on upcoming live support sessions or watch replays on Zenler YouTube channel.

Additional Resources

Zenler Tutorial Site
Zenler Support Documents
Marketing Basics with Zenler Course
The Complete Guide to Zenler: Comprehensive platform training
Zenler Technical Support Email: support@zenler.com

Remember: The platform is a tool, but your success depends on reaching your audience. Master the basics, then focus your energy on marketing and student engagement.

Categories: : Live Support Desk