How to create, sell, and market an online course in 2021

This article provides you with all the information you need to create, launch, promote, and sell an online course. 

Chances are you have something to teach the world. Maybe it’s something you learned, or a long passion of yours, or answers to popular questions. No matter what your knowledge and aptitudes are, you know that if you’d be able to deliver it to the world, you’d be unstoppable. 

But when it comes to creating an online course, it’s easier said than done. 

It doesn’t have to be. You can become a creator who translates their passion for teaching in an income-driving course that packs your knowledge and changes the purchasers’ lives. That’s why online courses are so valued; they do more than drive six-figure businesses; they also allow creators to share their knowledge with the world and change lives. 

But you already know that your course can make a difference. 

That’s not what stops you from creating one. But the process of developing and selling it. 

This guide can get you started because it provides answers to most of your questions. 

Image source https://unsplash.com/photos/n8Qb1ZAkK88

Who should create an online course?

To determine if you should create one, answer some simple questions. 

Do you have something to teach? Maybe you’re great at online marketing or baking. Or perhaps you are a fitness coach who wants to share your knowledge with those who hit the gym for the first time. If you’re the one your friends and family come to when they need help and expertise in a particular field, then you have what it takes to create an online course. 

Do you want to start an online business? You probably follow a couple of individuals who are running an online business. Don’t believe it’s an easy job to build an online business; it can be hard work. But it’s also rewarding because it allows you to reach a broad public and earn extra money. 

How can you come up with ideas for your online course?

It’s frustrating to find a profitable idea, but don’t let the process stop you. There are three strategies you can use to identify the most worthwhile idea. 

Look at what’s already making money – if you want to find the idea that’ll bring you money in the future, identify what’s making money now. In what areas are you already being paid for your expertise? Those are the perfect subjects to create an online course for because your knowledge is already validated. 

Survey your target public – supposing nothing comes to your mind, move to research your audience. Check on social media platforms, ask your co-workers and friends, and get in touch with online communities because, at this point, an idea can come from anywhere. Engage people in 15-minute conversations and ask them 5 questions to uncover the challenges they experience and the solutions they would want. If you hear an interesting idea, dig deeper. 

Find a gap in the market – if you don’t like any of the above ideas, get to researching the market for a gap. Find a broad topic you’re interested in, then go to a website like Reddit, and check real people’s problems. Read the specific discussions people have about struggles connected to that topic. 

How to plan the content for your online course?

You should know that you don’t need to teach the buyers everything about the subject. You need to provide them with the information they need to achieve the result you promised. 

Determine what the end result of the online course should be. After identifying it, break it into the various steps one would have to follow to achieve it. The steps provide you with the outline, so you can get to planning the course content. Now that you know what each course will teach, you can decide what method you want to use to teach your students. 

Do you want to provide the course in a text format? Then it would help if you used a tool to convert the documents to PDF files with a tool like PDFChef to ensure that their form stays unaltered when sending them to your students. Do you want to create a video course? Ensure you use a high-quality camera to register the modules. 

How much should you ask for the course?

Now that you built your product, it’s the moment to get to the three main components of your marketing campaign, pricing, packaging, and pitching. 

Naming and pricing your course are essential steps because they can make or break sales. The name is the first thing the public encounters when they engage with your course, and you need to pique their curiosity and make them eager to learn more. Pick a name that is targeted, results-oriented, and unambiguous. 

Pricing is a complex subject, but you can get at the bottom of it if you follow a goal-based pricing model. Determine what you want to achieve with your course (earn revenue, make a high total number of sales, or reach a high number of buyers). 

Don’t set the price in stone, try different pricing as you improve the course. 

How should you market your online course?

Most marketing trends come and go, but email marketing remains the most reliable marketing method an online business can use to create a network. Your email list is the most valuable asset you have when you market your online course to your target public. If you don’t have an email list, don’t worry. You can easily build one. Create a website and provide the readers with valuable free content. Ask the visitors to subscribe to your newsletter if they want to get targeted content. 

Add lead magnets (cheat sheets, templates, guides, and eBooks) to your website to increase your signup rates. When the lead magnet is valuable, your website visitors are happy to provide their contact details to get them. 

Once you have a list of subscribers interested in the content you provide, use email marketing to convert them into course buyers. 

Final thoughts

Creating an online course is as much art as it is science. If you take it one step at a time, you can engage and retain buyers and start an online business from it.