Do you know how to create an online course? As an edupreneur, life can be easy and you don’t have to struggle to make money when you know the right methods.
I am going to teach you how to make cool cash from the comfort of your space by launching an online course. You do not need a million dollars worth of tech equipment or be a programming guru to create an online course.
However, before you can create an online course there are some things you need to know. This article will educate you on how to create an online course in few easy steps.
Let’s get started.
1. Select the right topic for your online course
It can be somewhat tedious to select the right topic for your course because that is what showcases you to your viewers. Before choosing a topic you need to consider asking yourself questions such as:
- What kind of questions does your target audience ask?
- What challenges does your audience experience?
- What skills took you more time to learn?
- What subjects do people hope to discuss more often?
- What difficulties does your target audience struggle with job-wise?
Once you have carefully studied these factors, I am sure that you have some topics in your head already.
You can then narrow the topics down to the least you can with some of these points. See if you can expand on a chosen topic, if not discard it.
If you have finally found a topic you can broaden you would also consider if it can cover your entire course content. At this stage, you would find out the best topic to suit you.
The simplest way to go about these questions is by conducting a survey. Here are some of the survey tools you can try out, Survey Monkey or Google Forms.
2. Select the right format and platform to create your online course
After deciding what your topic would be, you have to select the right format to sell your courses. Before you go ahead you would have to ask and answer these questions yourself:
- Do you want a platform where you can only sell and make money?
- Do you prefer one-on-one training?
After answering these questions you can now choose the platform you want.
There are several platforms available:
- Email course: This is really easy. All you need to do is write out the course and using software, schedule a series of emails that automatically sends out your course contents every week.
- Live training: Here you host a live meeting to offer training to a select number of people. It is harder to grow as the number of people you interact with is limited.
- Membership site: This allows your audience to sign up to your site to be able to access your content. This can be very expensive but good because it allows you to have an intimate connection with your audience.
- Blended: This allows you to incorporate any of the above-mentioned platforms into your course. You can do a live meeting, an email drip campaign, or create a Facebook group.
See also: Best online course platforms you can use
3. Plan your content
This is the next step after choosing a topic and deciding on the content marketing platform you prefer.
Creating content can be very technical, you would be faced with lots of options if you should create downloads, videos, and all sorts of ideas.
Before creating content you need to ask and answer these questions yourself:
- How many weeks is the duration of the course?
- What subjects will you address each week?
- Will there be additional content? Like PDFs and worksheets?
After answering these questions you would have to create a basic outline for each week.
4. Creating your course content
Creating a course content might be tiring and time-consuming. I have a few tips to make your work a lot easier and faster too and to also help create better content whether you are writing or recording.
Content writing
The idea of writing a week’s worth of content might be so overwhelming. I would suggest you consider outsourcing some of your tasks through a content writing service.
You might have to edit, but having an outline can make it easier for you to get high-quality content.
See also: A better way to create online course like a pro
Video recording
Before you, record videos make sure you have written down what you would say and made a few rehearsals so that you can get familiar with the lines and flow.
Screen recordings are good if you have an online class. You should always time yourself so that you do not exceed the allotted time.
5. Design your course landing page
The design of your course page is as important as the course itself because it gives a firsthand impression of your course.
I know you probably want to know what makes your landing page attractive. Here are a few features that it should possess:
First of all, you should make sure that you are using a very reliable web hosting provider when setting up your site. This will make things would run smoothly in the background.
You would also need to use clear and direct language. If possible you can include testimonials about your previous customers to establish trust.
6. Market your course
It is one thing to have the skill to create content, and then it is another very important skill to market your content to potential buyers who need them.
There are different ways to reach out to your buyers. These includes:
Social media
Social media is the next best place to advertise your business. You can use a social media tool like SocialPilot to post your content weeks in advance on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can even partner with a social media influencer who can work with you to help promote your course to their audience.
Ads
You can consider purchasing ads on social media to help advertise your courses. There are different resources that can help you create your social media ads.
You should also consider targeting this advert to your audience so that you don’t end up wasting resources.
Emails
You can create an email list if you do not have one. This method is great for letting those on your email list know about your course. You can also offer small incentives or discounts to loyal customers.
See also: 15 best email marketing services to increase your conversion rate
7. One last check
I know you must have put a lot of work into creating content for your online course.
And after doing all the work to make it a success, you would be in a hurry for the world to see your masterpiece, hold on! I think you should give the entire content one last check before launching it.
I have created a checklist as a guideline:
- Have you proofread all your written content?
- Did you back up all your content in the cloud or an external hard drive?
- Have you double-checked your social media posts?
- Did you check for broken links?
- Have you created and scheduled your Welcome Email?
8. Get feedback and reviews
After you have done everything stated above and launched your course, you need to send out a survey for feedback and reviews
You might want to find out things like:
- Was a specific section hard to understand?
- Was the platform user-friendly?
FAQs
What makes a good online course?
A good online course is fascinating and encourages students to contribute to it. It also holds their attention and piques their interest.
How long does it take to create an online course?
One hour of online learning course content takes about 100-160 hours to create.
Can you make money with online courses?
Yes, you can. Once you’re able to produce your content and market it to your target audience, you can start making money from online courses.
Final thoughts
You asked for it. I have given you most of what you need to know about launching your online course. You need to listen to the feedback and improve where necessary.
Armed with the tips in this article, you’re all set to go on your next vacation at the beach and watch your money pour in!