Blueprint for Launching a Profitable Online Course
Ever thought about creating and selling your own online course? Maybe you've built up expertise and knowledge in a particular subject over the years and want to turn that into a new revenue stream. Launching an online course is an exciting way to build your business and share your wisdom with students. But where do you start? This article will walk you through the essential steps to create and sell a profitable online course. You'll learn how to choose a course topic, build the content, set a price, market your course, and get students in the virtual classroom door. If you've been wanting to become an online course creator but didn't know how to begin, this blueprint will set you up for success. By the end, you'll be well on your way to launching your very own online course and turning your knowledge into a money-making machine.
Identify Your Area of Expertise
To create a profitable online course, you first need to determine your area of expertise. What do you know that others want to learn? Think about your career, education, life experiences, skills, and interests. What are you passionate about sharing with others?
Some potential topics could be:
- A skill you have mastered (coding, photography, learning a new language, etc.)
- A hobby you enjoy (gardening, cooking, yoga, etc.)
- Your professional expertise (marketing, business strategy, health and wellness, etc.)
Once you identify your area of expertise, narrow down your topic to something specific you can teach in an online course. For example, if your broad area is marketing, focus on a niche like social media marketing, content creation or email marketing.
The key is choosing a topic you know inside and out. You should be able to easily speak about it for hours without running out of things to say. You'll need to create lessons, activities, and resources for your students, so pick something you can enthusiastically share your knowledge about.
When selecting your topic, also consider your target audience and what they want to learn. Do some research on popular or trending topics in your industry. See what kinds of online courses or subjects your potential students are already interested in. Choose a topic with a wide appeal that solves a common problem or need.
With your expertise identified and a focused topic selected, you'll be ready to start creating your profitable online course! Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to becoming an online course creator.
Choose an Online Course Platform
Once you’ve decided to create an online course, the next step is choosing a platform to host it on. There are a few popular options for course creators:
Udemy
Udemy is one of the largest course marketplaces. They have a simple course builder and handle all the marketing and sales for you. You can price your course however you like and earn up to 97% of the revenue share. The downside is that with so much competition, it can be hard to get noticed. Using social media and email marketing to promote your course is key.
Teachable
Teachable is a popular platform if you want to build your own course website. They offer beautiful templates and the ability to create a customized course experience. You have full control over pricing, branding and student data. However, you’ll be responsible for driving all traffic and sales to your site. Teachable starts at $99/month but you keep 97% of revenue.
Thinkific
Thinkific is a great all-in-one platform for creating and selling online courses. They provide the course builder, website, and marketing tools to help promote your course. Pricing starts at $49/month and you earn up to 97% commission. They do take a higher cut of your sales compared to other platforms, but in exchange handle more of the technical details for you.
In the end, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each platform based on your needs and experience. Don’t be afraid to start with one option and switch to another if it’s not the right fit. The key is just getting your course launched so you can start serving students and generating revenue. With time and experience, you’ll find what works best for you.
Owned Platform
Or you can own your course platform by hosting it on a site like SamCart, Groove, or Live Your Message.
Outline Your Course Content
Once you’ve identified your course topic and ideal audience, it’s time to outline exactly what you’ll cover in your course. A solid course outline will ensure your content flows logically and keeps students engaged from start to finish.
As you outline your course, think about both the high-level topics or modules as well as the specific lessons and learning objectives for each section. For example, a course on building an online business may include:
- Course Introduction
Explain what students will learn and how the course is structured. Share your experience and credentials in the topic area.
- Developing Your Business Idea
Help students evaluate different business ideas and select one to focus on. Discuss how to assess opportunities and competitive landscapes.
- Building Your Website
Give step-by-step guidance for setting up a professional website, from choosing a domain and web host to designing pages and content.
- Marketing Your Business
Explore different marketing channels like social media, email marketing, and search engine optimization. Provide strategies and examples for each channel.
- Providing Your Service or Product
Share details on how to operationalize a business by setting up payment processing, fulfillment, customer service, and everything else required to serve customers.
For each module and lesson, list out the specific topics, tools, examples, and action items you want to cover. Figure out the right mix of video, text, downloads, and interactive elements to bring your course to life. Keep your audience's needs and technical abilities in mind as you outline the content.
With a comprehensive course outline in place, you'll have a blueprint to efficiently develop your video lectures, workbooks, assignments and other course materials. And your students will have a clear path to gaining the knowledge and skills you promise to deliver.
Set Your Pricing and Promote Your
Course
Once you’ve created your amazing online course, it’s time to price it and get the word out. How much you charge depends on your audience and goals. Keep these tips in mind:
Set a fair price
Consider your target students and what they can afford. Factor in how much value your course provides. A good rule of thumb is to charge at least 2-3 times your production costs. You can start on the lower end ($97-$297) or higher end ($500-$2000) depending on your experience and audience. Don’t underprice your course! You can always offer discounts and promotions to drive more sales.
Offer payment plans
Allow students to pay in installments to make your course more accessible. Use a payment plan service like Teachable or Thinkific to handle the logistics for you. Many students prefer paying over 3-6 months versus all upfront.
Promote everywhere
Start promoting at least a month before your launch date. Build hype through social media, your email list, and joint venture partners. Do pre-launch contests and giveaways. On launch day, open up for enrollment and continue promoting. Offer time-limited bonuses to encourage fast action.
Get affiliates on board
Recruit affiliates and partners to help spread the word about your new course. Offer them a percentage of each sale they refer in exchange for their promotion. This is an easy way to reach new potential students and boost your sales.
Stay engaged with students
Once your course launches, stay active in the community. Answer questions, provide extra resources and continue to engage with your students. Happy students will spread the word about your amazing course through reviews and word-of-mouth marketing.
Keep following up with your list and promoting consistently after launch. Use social proof from your students to build credibility and encourage more people to enroll in your profitable online course! With the right marketing and community engagement, you'll have a successful course in no time.
Continuously Improve Your Course
Offerings
To keep your online course profitable over the long run, you need to continuously improve the content and offerings. As new technologies, techniques, and information emerge in your field of expertise, update your course materials to reflect them.
Refresh course content
Go through your course materials at least once a quarter and look for places to refresh the content. Update outdated information, swap in new examples and case studies, and re-record any video or audio components if needed. Keeping your content current will give students a reason to revisit the course and encourage new students to sign up.
Add bonus modules
Create short bonus modules that cover new topics or go deeper into concepts you introduce in the main course. Offer these as a free or low-cost upgrade for your current students. Bonus modules are also a great incentive for potential new students and give your course more value.
Conduct live Q&A or coaching calls
Once you have an established group of students, consider offering live video Q&A or small group coaching calls. These interactive sessions allow students to ask questions about the course materials and get guidance from you in real time. Record the calls and provide the recordings as an additional resource for students.
Seek student feedback
Don't be afraid to ask your students what they think about your course and how you can improve it. Send out surveys or set up calls to get targeted feedback. See what they found most and least valuable, what they'd like to see more of, and how you can strengthen the course overall. Making changes based on student feedback shows you value their input and are committed to optimizing their experience.
Continuously refreshing and enhancing your online course will pay off through repeat customers, word-of-mouth promotion, and a steady stream of new students eager to learn from you. Keep at it and your course can be a source of income and impact for years to come.
Conclusion
So there you have it—the blueprint for launching your own profitable online course. You now have the tools and know-how to create an engaging course, build your audience, and make sales. While it may seem like a lot of work upfront to outline your content, film the videos, and put it all together, the rewards of running your own course business are well worth it. Focus on your passion, share your expertise, and deliver real value to your students. If you do that, you'll have happy customers and a steady stream of income from your online course. The opportunities are endless if you take action. What are you waiting for? Start creating your course today and open up a whole new source of income and impact. You've got this! Now go out there and make your online course a reality.
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