Whether you’re an expert or just an amateur, creating your own online course can be a great way to make money. However, before you can launch a profitable online course, there are several things you should know first.
Create a learning outcome
A major part of an effective online course is a clear and well-defined learning outcome. By determining what skills your students need to master by the end of the course, you can then start creating modules that cover those skills.
Select a topic
The subject you choose for your course should be something you’re passionate about or that you’re willing to learn thoroughly. The subject will help you determine your teaching style, how you present information to your students and much more.
Plan your course properly
The most common mistake people make when creating their own online courses is trying to throw all the information together without a clear framework in mind. This can lead to a quagmire of structural issues, and a disorganized course that doesn’t flow smoothly.
Get a storyboard
A storyboard is a rough, visual outline of the learning pathway you want your students to follow. It helps you and your team see how text, pictures, and other elements look on the page, and makes it easier to plan out each lesson.
Set your price
One of the most important considerations in deciding on an online course price is the going market rate. It’s a good idea to do some research on competitor prices and creation time, so that you can come up with a pricing strategy that works for your business.
Build a community
An important step in building a successful online course is to create a supportive and welcoming community. A strong course community can help you promote your business, attract new students and increase your revenue.
Offer a free course
Having a free version of your online course can be a great way to boost traffic and generate leads for your paid courses. You can also use it as a way to build an audience and show off your expertise.
Test your course before selling it
Before you even start writing or designing your course, run a few tests to validate whether there is a demand for your product. This will give you a chance to learn what your audience is interested in and make changes to the course before it launches.
Pre-sell your course
Before launching an online course, it’s always a good idea to pre-sell it to build a list of potential customers. This can be done through a landing page or email marketing campaign.
Create a unique landing page
A good landing page will have a clear, eye-catching description of your online course and eye-catching imagery. This will ensure that your page is easy to navigate and that it will convert.
Include a one-page description of the course that explains what people can expect to learn and why they should take it.
