Create a successful online course in 10 steps that sells!

In recent years, the e-learning industry has exploded, and it has become an increasingly popular way for people to learn and upskill in a convenient and affordable way. According to Shift Elearning participants learn 5 times more During the global pandemic, many of us to had to stay indoors. That’s when e-learning has seen even more growth, and it’s not surprising that many are now exploring the potential of creating their own online courses.

Creating an online course that sells can be a daunting task. There is no shortage of online courses out there, and competition is fierce. You need to ensure that your course stands out, is engaging, and delivers value to your target audience to attract and retain paying customers.

In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap for creating a successful online course in 10 steps. We will cover everything from planning your course and choosing your target audience, to creating engaging content, designing a user-friendly platform, and marketing your course effectively. Our aim is to give you the tools and knowledge you need to create a profitable and sustainable online course that resonates with your audience and makes a real difference in their lives.

Whether you are an experienced educator, an entrepreneur looking to monetize your expertise, or just starting out, this guide will provide you with the step-by-step process and best practices that can help you create a successful online course. So, let’s get started!

Benefits of online course

Online courses provide a flexible, cost-effective, and convenient way for individuals to learn new skills, pursue higher education, and advance their careers. With the increasing availability of online courses, individuals can access high-quality education from the best instructors and institutions around the world, and achieve their education and career goals. You will get to know the detailed benefits of online courses below:

• Flexibility: Online courses offer students the ability to learn at their own pace, on their own schedule, and from anywhere in the world. This makes online learning ideal for individuals who have busy schedules, work full-time, or have family or personal commitments that limit their ability to attend traditional classroom-based courses.
• Cost savings: Online courses are often more affordable than traditional classroom-based courses, and can provide significant savings. According to research by EdSurge, the savings for online courses ranged from $12 to $66 per credit hour. This makes it easier for individuals to pursue education and professional development without incurring significant financial burdens.
• Variety of courses: Online courses offer a more comprehensive range of courses than traditional classroom-based courses. Students can choose from a variety of subjects and levels, from basic skills to advanced degree programs. This variety of courses is particularly beneficial for individuals who live in remote or rural areas, where traditional education may not be easily accessible.
• Personalized learning experience: Online courses offer a customized learning experience. Students can engage with course content at their own pace and in their own way. This allows students to focus on the areas where they need more help, and skip over the content they already understand.
• Convenience: Online courses eliminate the need for commuting to a physical classroom. This allows students to study from the comfort of their own homes or office. This can save students time and money, and make learning more convenient and accessible. From the statistics of Guru99, we got to know that online course takes 40% to 60% lesser time for employees and students than conventional learning.
• Global access: Online courses can be accessed from anywhere in the world. This makes it possible for students to learn from the best instructors and institutions, regardless of their geographic location.
• Improved technical skills: Online courses require students to use various digital tools and software. These can improve their technical skills and make them more employable in the digital age.
• Interactive and engaging content: Online courses often use interactive and engaging content, such as videos, quizzes, and interactive simulations, to make learning more fun and enjoyable for students.

Why online courses are a great opportunity for entrepreneurs and educators

Online courses have become a game-changer for entrepreneurs and educators. As per the statistics from research.com it’s expected to reach $336.98 billion by 2026. It’s providing an unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow, and expand their knowledge in a way that was previously unimaginable. For entrepreneurs, online courses provide a flexible and convenient way to learn new skills and gain knowledge in areas critical to their success.

For example, they can learn new things about marketing, finance, and leadership easily. This allows them to expand their skill set and remain competitive in an ever-evolving business landscape. Online courses provide entrepreneurs with the ability to access high-quality education at a fraction of the cost of traditional education. This is really beneficial for those who may not have the financial resources to attend traditional universities.

For educators, online courses are a powerful tool to expand their reach and impact. Educators can create and distribute their own curriculum, reaching students around the globe with the help of online courses. This allows them to share their knowledge with a much broader audience. Also, online courses provide educators with a flexible and accessible way to continue their own education and stay up-to-date with the latest research and trends in their field. This benefits not only the educators but also the students they teach. The students get benefited by having the most current information through the courses.

Online courses also have the potential to make education accessible to people from all walks of life. With online courses, anyone with an internet connection can gain access to high-quality education financial resources and anywhere in the world. This has created more opportunities for individuals who are unable to pursue a traditional education.

10 Steps to create a successful online course

Creating an online course can be a great way to share your knowledge, expertise, and passion with others while also generating income. However, creating a successful course that sells requires careful planning and execution. Below we have outlined 10 key steps you can follow to create a successful online course. These steps will help your courses to resonate with your target audience, provide value, and ultimately drive sales. By following these steps, you can create a successful online course that will stand out in a crowded market and help you achieve your goals.

1. Define your online course topic and target audience
2. Conduct market research and validate your idea
3. Outline your online course content and structure
4. Choose a tool and set up your course website
5. Build your audience and create a pre-launch buzz
6. Launch your course and deliver value to your students
7. Create a community and offer ongoing support
8. Scale your course and diversify your revenue streams
9. Evaluate your course performance and optimize for growth
10. Celebrate your success and keep learning and evolving

1. Define your online course topic and target audience

Defining your online course topic and target audience is a critical first step in creating a successful online course. Here’s a list of 100 popular topics you can choose from. Your topic should be something you’re knowledgeable and passionate about, while your target audience should be a specific group of people who are interested in your topic and will benefit from your course. To determine your target audience, think about who would benefit most from your course and what their needs and interests are.

Consider demographics such as age, gender, occupation, education level, and location. You can also conduct research, surveys, or interviews to gain a better understanding of your target audience’s needs and interests. Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, you can tailor your course content, marketing copies, and pricing to appeal to their specific needs and interests.

2. Conduct market research and validate your idea

The second step to creating a successful online course that sells is conducting market research and validating your idea. This step is very important as it helps you determine whether there is demand for your course and whether your idea is viable.

To conduct market research, you can start by using online tools such as Google Trends, which can give you insight into the popularity of your course topic over time. You can also conduct keyword research to see what terms your potential audience is using to search for information related to your topic. For this, you can use a popular keyword research tool called Ubersuggest. This can help you understand the language and vocabulary to use in your marketing materials.

Conducting surveys of your potential audience is another effective way to validate your idea. Surveys can help you gather valuable feedback about what your audience is looking for in an online course and what they would like to learn. You can use tools such as Jotform Survey Maker or Google Forms to create a survey and share it with your potential audience through social media, email, or online forums.

To optimize the survey process, you can also consider integrating a WordPress form plugin like WPForms, streamlining data collection and ensuring efficient feedback from your potential audience.

You should also reach out to industry experts, influencers, and other thought leaders in your field to gather insights and feedback on your course topic. This strategy can help you validate your idea and gain valuable input on what your potential audience is looking for in an online course.

3. Outline your online course content and structure

Once you have validated your online course idea and determined that there is demand for it, the next step is to outline your course content and structure. The success of your courses largely depends on the quality of your content and how well it is structured to meet the needs of your audience.

You need to create a comprehensive outline for your course that covers all the key topics and concepts. This will keep your target audience engaged and motivated to complete the course. With a clear and well-structured outline, you can ensure that your course provides maximum value to your audience and sets you up for success in the competitive world of online education.

4. Choose a tool and set up your course website

One of the essential steps in creating a successful online course is to choose a tool and set up your course website. The platform you select will depend on the type, of course, you’re offering, your budget, and your technical expertise. You can use tools like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi to create a website where you can host your course content and handle payments.

If you want more control over your website’s design and functionality, you can build a self-hosted learning platform using WordPress and CoSchool. CoSchool helps you set up your course website correctly as it’s the primary way you will communicate with your students and deliver your course content.

CoSchool is a Learning Management System (LMS) plugin for WordPress that allows you to create and sell online courses directly from your WordPress website. With the help of this LMS plugin, you can easily create and manage your courses, lessons, and quizzes without any technical expertise. The plugin provides a simple interface for organizing your content and creating engaging learning experiences.

CoSchool includes features like assignments and quizzes which adds elements of competition and reward for the students. The plugin also allows you to create certificates for courses to keep the students motivated. CoSchool has premade certificate templates to help you save more time and invest time in making courses more attractive.

CoSchool integrates with a variety of popular eCommerce plugins including WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. You can easily integrate it with popular payment processors including PayPal, Stripe, 2CheckOut, Square, and FastSpring. This allows you to sell your courses without any hassle. You can also allow other instructors to sell on your platform with the multi-instructor feature and sell courses in bundles to let the students save money and spread the word about your learning platform. The plugin is fully responsive too! This means that your courses will be accessible from any device.

CoSchool is a robust LMS plugin for WordPress that provides all the features you need to create and sell online courses. Its ease of use, flexibility, and integration with other WordPress plugins make it a popular choice for individuals and businesses looking to create and monetize their educational content.

5. Build your audience and create a pre-launch buzz

Before launching your online course, it’s crucial to build your audience and create a pre-launch buzz. This step involves promoting your course to your target audience through various channels like social media, email, and content marketing. You can create engaging blog posts, videos, and infographics related to your course topic to generate interest and attract potential students.

Building an email list and sending regular newsletters is an effective way to keep your audience informed and engaged. You can also use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your course and build your following. By creating a pre-launch buzz, you can generate anticipation and excitement for your course. This can result in more sales and a successful launch.

6. Launch your course and deliver value to your students

Before launching your online course, it’s crucial to build your audience and create a pre-launch buzz. This step involves promoting your course to your target audience through various channels like social media, email, and content marketing. You can create engaging blog posts, videos, and infographics related to your course topic to generate interest and attract potential students.

Building an email list and sending regular newsletters is an effective way to keep your audience informed and engaged. If you are using WordPress then you should try Fluent CRM to send out newsletters and build email lists. You can also use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your course and build your following. By creating a pre-launch buzz, you can generate anticipation and excitement for your course. This can result in more sales and a successful launch.

7. Create a community and offer ongoing support

Creating a community and offering ongoing support is a critical step in creating a successful online course. By providing a platform for students to connect with each other and ask questions, you can foster engagement and create a sense of community. This can be done through various channels like discussion forums, private Facebook groups, or live Q&A sessions. You can even build your own forums on your WordPress website using BuddyBoss.

Offering ongoing support to your students is essential to ensure their success and satisfaction with the course. This can include providing regular email updates, hosting webinars, or offering personalized coaching sessions. By building a community and offering ongoing support, you can help your students stay motivated and engaged. This can lead to better results and a positive reputation for your course.

8. Scale your course and diversify your revenue streams

Scaling your course and diversifying your revenue streams are crucial steps in creating a successful online course. Once you have developed your core content, it’s time to think about ways to expand your reach and generate more income. This can involve creating additional modules or supplementary materials, offering one-on-one coaching or consulting, or even partnering with other businesses or influencers in your industry.

In an IBM study, they mentioned that every dollar invested in online training resulted in $30 in productivity. This is because e-online learning can happen “in the flow of work,” which allows employees to apply what they learn much sooner than with face-to-face training. It’s also important to explore different platforms and distribution channels to ensure that your course is accessible to as many potential customers as possible. By scaling and diversifying your course, you can increase your revenue and establish yourself as a leading expert in your field.

9. Evaluate your course performance and optimize for growth

Evaluating your course performance is crucial to its success. You can identify areas for improvement and optimize your content for growth by analyzing your course’s engagement, completion rates, and student feedback. Monitor your metrics regularly and make adjustments based on your findings. CoSchool has a detailed analytical dashboard to monitor the progress of your self-hosted online learning platform.

Implementing quizzes, surveys, and assessments throughout your course can provide valuable feedback from your students. Addressing their concerns and adjusting the course accordingly can improve student satisfaction. It can also increase the likelihood of positive reviews and recommendations, ultimately leading to a successful online course.

10. Celebrate your success and keep learning and evolving

Celebrating your success is an essential part of creating a successful online course. Take the time to acknowledge your hard work and the accomplishments you’ve achieved. It’s also essential to keep learning and evolving, even after your course is launched. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, techniques, and tools to enhance your content and delivery.

Continuously gather feedback from students, evaluate their needs, and make changes to improve your course. As you evolve and grow, your course will continue to evolve and grow, keeping your students engaged and your course relevant. With this mindset, you can create a successful online course that not only sells but stands the test of time.

Final Words

Creating a successful online course takes time, effort, and dedication. By following the 10 steps discussed in this post and using the tools mentioned, you can increase your chances of creating a course that sells and provides value to your students. Remember to identify your audience, develop clear learning outcomes, create engaging content, and build a strong brand.

Use the right tools and platforms to market your course and track your metrics to optimize for growth. Most importantly, celebrate your successes, learn from your failures, and continuously evolve and improve your course. With persistence and a commitment to excellence, you can create a successful online course that leaves a lasting impact on your students. Whether you are starting out or running an existing online course business you should take a look at the effective steps to make money selling online courses. Good luck!