Hey there! After creating and launching multiple online courses (and helping others do the same), I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a course actually succeed. Let me break down the exact process I use for course creation to develop courses that people love – and actually complete.
I know how overwhelming it can feel when you’re trying to pick the perfect topic. Should you teach what you know? What’s trending? What will actually sell?
You need a sweet spot between what you’re good at and what people actually want to learn. Ideally you should validate your online course idea… confirm there is market demand and willingness to pay for it.
1. Start With What You Know
What do people already ask you for help with?
What problems have you solved that others struggle with?
What skills have you developed that others want to learn?
2. Validate Your Idea (Before Investing Tons of Time) Use these tools to check if people are searching for your topic:
Google Trends (free and super helpful)
Keywords Everywhere (my personal favorite)
Answerthepublic.com (great for finding specific questions)
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just look at search volume. Pay attention to the questions your target audience is asking in Facebook groups, Reddit, and other communities in your niche. That’s where you’ll find the gold.
Before you spend months creating your course, let’s make sure people will actually buy it. Here’s my tried-and-tested approach:
Thorough market research and understanding your audience’s needs are essential steps to ensure your course will be a profitable online course.
Create a simple landing page with:
Course curriculum outline
“Coming soon” signup form
Early-bird discount offer
Run a small test campaign:
Share with your existing audience
Post in relevant Facebook groups
Run minimal ad spend ($50-100) to test interest
Look, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not just about dumping information into videos. The secret sauce is creating an online course that keeps people engaged and actually helps them achieve results.
Start With the End Goal
What can students actually DO after taking your course?
What specific skills will they have mastered?
How will their life/business be different?
Break It Down Into Bite-Sized Pieces I like to follow this formula:
Modules = Big concepts (4-6 total)
Lessons = Specific skills (3-5 per module)
Action steps = Immediate wins (1-2 per lesson)
💡 Pro Tip: For successful online courses, people love quick wins. Start each module with something they can implement immediately. Trust me, this keeps them coming back for more.
Let’s be real – nobody wants to watch hours of talking head videos. Here’s how I mix it up:
By establishing a learning community, you can foster peer support, engagement, and collaboration among students, making the learning experience more interactive and enjoyable.
Short, focused video lessons (5-15 minutes max)
Downloadable worksheets (people love these!)
Audio versions for on-the-go learning
Live Q&A sessions (great for building community)
Action-based assignments
Learning community online education (foster connections among learners for enhanced experience)
🎥 Quick Production Tips:
Use a decent mic (audio quality > video quality)
Keep it conversational (script key points, not every word)
Include screen recordings for technical stuff
Don’t stress about perfection – authenticity wins
Here’s what I actually use and recommend for course platforms:
Course Platform: Teachable or Thinkific (both super user-friendly)
Video Recording: Loom for screens, iPhone for talking head
Audio: Blue Yeti mic (worth every penny)
Editing: CapCut (free and surprisingly powerful)
Online course platforms like Canva for graphics and workbooks
Otter.ai for transcriptions
Notion for organizing content
This is where a lot of course creators get stuck. Here’s my approach:
Effective pricing strategies are crucial for selling online courses, as they can significantly impact your ability to attract and retain students.
Tiered Pricing:
Basic: Core course content
Premium: Course + templates/resources
VIP: Everything + group coaching
Launch Pricing:
Start lower for beta students
Increase price with each update
Offer payment plans (this is huge!)
💰 Pro Tip: Don’t undersell yourself. If your course helps someone learn a valuable skill or solve a real problem, price it accordingly to create a profitable online course.
The “build it and they will come” approach doesn’t work. Here’s what does:
Having a high-converting sales page is crucial, as it highlights the course’s value, includes clear learning objectives, and features strong calls-to-action to persuade potential customers to enroll.
Build Anticipation:
Share behind-the-scenes content
Post snippets of valuable info
Tell stories about your journey
Create FOMO:
Early-bird bonuses
Limited spots for beta round
Special launch pricing
Optimize Your Course Page:
Ensure your course page is well-optimized for SEO
Use guest blogging to drive traffic to your course page
Create a persuasive sales page that answers key questions about the course
Email Sequence:
Value-packed emails
Student success stories
Clear call to actions
To successfully create online courses, it’s crucial to have a well-planned email sequence. This includes value-packed emails, student success stories, and clear call to actions.
Social Proof:
Screenshots of wins
Video testimonials
Before/after results
Here’s something most guides won’t tell you – in online education, the community around your course can be more valuable than the content itself. Here’s how to build one:
Create a private Facebook group or Discord server
Host weekly live sessions
Celebrate student wins publicly
Encourage peer-to-peer support
Share additional resources regularly
Creating a successful online course isn’t just about having great content (though that’s important!). It’s about mastering online course creation to create an experience that transforms your students’ lives.
Remember:
Start with a clear problem you’re solving
Create content that drives action
Build a community around your course
Keep updating and improving based on feedback
Ready to create your course? Don’t get stuck in perfection paralysis. Start with what you have, and improve as you go. Your first version won’t be perfect, and that’s totally okay.
