How to Market Online Courses in 2022 [Ultimate Guide] -
Selling online courses on can be extremely cost-effective and simple. Which course you decide to make is your choice - we're just here to support you and make the process as simple as it can be.
In that same spirit this is the full guide that will help you along your way. You will also find information on tools for free that you can use in the creation and sale of an online course that is profitable.
Find links quickly to the things we'll be covering:
- Pick a course topic
- Study Market Demand
- Outline Course Content and Learning Outcomes
- Find the Course Formats
- Write Script, Film and Edit
- Select a Platform to Sell On
- upload Your Course Online
- Set Pricing
- Start and Promote
- Receive feedback, refine and Improve
What You'll Need to Create Online Courses
People equate production values with the quality of their work and know-how. Therefore, it's worthwhile to invest in a set of tools that will make your courses look professional. However, before we dive into the many tools will be required to make your online course, always be sure to put the quality of your content before the video quality that you produce for your course online.
Here are some things that can help you create a successful online course.
1. Camera
Most smartphones nowadays can record very decent quality videos. It is possible to improve the quality of the video you record by making sure that your smartphone is firmly seated on a platform, like the tripod, or a stack of books! It's also an excellent option to invest in a basic lighting kit or make your video in a location with lots of daylight.
If you're considering making a an investment in the field of instructor, we would recommend investing in DSLR cameras as well as a high quality lighting setup.
2. Green Screen
You might want to consider purchasing green screens that you can use to project various backgrounds on your videos. This makes your videos look more professional. The most important thing is that you could decide to film your online class over many days. Therefore, a green screen can ensure the background remains consistent through the videos.
3. Microphone
Be sure your students be able to hear your voice clearly. It is possible to start by using a clip-on mic or a lapel mic that usually costs around $25. There are also some great podcasting USB microphones on the market that won't cost the budget.
4. Software for Video Editing
Editing software may also be you'll be looking at on the wish agenda. If you're not looking for anything complicated, you can use an editing software that is free, like iMovie (for Mac users) and OpenShot, VSDC, and ShotCut (for Windows users).
5. Screen Recording Software
If you want to create slide shows or perform tasks on your computer, you may need the software to record your screen. There are free programs and tools online that may work including QuickTime and Loom. Be aware that some of these software can only record up to the resolution of 720p, not 1080p or higher.
How to Create and Sell Profitable Online Courses
1. Pick a Course Topic
Your subject of study must be a blend of your passions and experience, and also your future customers' requirements and demands.
What ever your expertise, fine-tuning your online courses to meet the requirements of an audience in particular will pay dividends. Take a look at the motives for why somebody would look for courses online related to your area of expertise: are you looking to make a change in their life, learn how to do something else, fix problems or boost the prospects of their careers?
Make sure you are specific in the course concept. Course topics such as "How to take wedding Photos for Beginners are likely to be a more defined market and have a greater chance to convert new customers "How to Enhance Your Photography'.
2. Demand for Research Markets
You're excited about your course subject and are ready to film. However, you need to wait! Be sure to understand your target market before you even begin writing the scripts and filming the online courses. Who wants to put in hours creating an online course only discover that the course isn't being sought-after by your target audience? Nobody - that's who!
The importance of making data-driven choices in the development of your online course business. Below are some options to do your market analysis:
- Review interest volume. Using Google Trends, you can input the search terms for the subject of your class and determine the interest level globally and by specific countries, or time-frame.
- Find out what your ideal public might be asking questions about. Using Answer The Public, you can learn about the different questions individuals are asking regarding specific topics.
- Join communities on Reddit and Quora. Identify various questions as well as issues people face within your field. Post your own questions to encourage other people to ask questions in your thread. This might even provide you with extra content that you can include within the course content.
- Reach out to your targeted market. There's nothing better than to hear from your prospective customers first-hand. Contact them and schedule 1:1 calls to understand their requirements and concerns. Make sure to make enough phone calls to make sure that the results you get aren't influenced by.
- Study your competition. Find out who your competition are, and what they're providing. Don't fret if there are others who've covered topics within your niche which indicates that there is a revenue stream to your chosen topic. Think about how you can offer a distinct selling point within your program. Ask yourself:
- Does anyone know a more efficient method of explaining the issue to the public?
- Do I have the option of tailoring the subject so that it appeals to a different audience group?
3. Outline Course Learning Outcomes and Content
Based on your findings Based on your research, determine the learning outcomes in your online class. Be sure you as well as your students know what is expected from your course. Setting ambiguous or inaccurate expectations can not only leave your students frustrated, but it will also create a course that is quite difficult for you.
An excellent practice is to add this line: "By the end of this class, you'll be able to_____"
Here are some instances of learning outcomes:
- After completing this course, you will know how to take wedding photos within an indoor space
- After the completion of this course it will allow you to prepare amazing recipes with leftover food
- At the conclusion of this program, you'll be able to prepare vegan meals without using processed ingredients
Coming up with succinct results from your course will help you to promote your course online for a certain market down the line.
When you've established your goals for learning, you can begin piecing together all the information into smaller lessons within each section. The online course can be divided into clear sections so that students will be able to progress from one part into the next section.
For example:
The topic of the course: How to Take Wedding Pictures for beginners
- Section 1 The introduction to wedding photography equipment
- What are the tools you need to invest in
- How can you change the settings of your camera like a professional
- Section 2: How to frame your models
- How to frame your models outdoors
- How do you frame models inside
Once you have a clear plan of the course, you'll have a clear direction for building your course content, each lesson by itself. Each lesson needs to include a detailed outline and a variety of exercises for students to work through. Each lesson should aim to have clear learning objectives that the students walk away with.
4. Determine the Course Formats
The majority of online course creators concentrate on video-based lessons, but there are many ways to create different types of lessons, including:
- Video
- Text
- Quiz
- Assignment
- Survey
- Downloadable
- Embed
Utilize a range of instructional styles to enhance your online class and make it more enjoyable. Remember that every student learns differently. Some students learn better with visual demonstration, and some learn better when they get active participation in assessments and quizzes.
5. Write Script, Film and edit
At this point, you'll be able to clearly define your plan of action. Now is the time to organize your material and start creating your lessons!
If you are teaching using video, begin by writing a script. Careful scripting makes sure that your lesson is logically structured, easy to understand, and succinct. Teleprompter is an application to show your lesson in a tablet display that is placed next to your camera. This is more efficient than trying to remember it all!
If you're truly lucky, you'll have a flawless shot at the first go. Most people aren't this fortunate and that's not even in Hollywood. The majority of course authors require several attempts. Practice your script, and anticipate that it will take at minimum three times before you can create the course's content in a way that you'll love.
Remember to edit your videos in order to enhance the quality of your production. Fix your sound, as well as add pop-ups, text and other pop-ups where it's required.
6. Pick a platform to sell on
Here are some of the top features available at
- In contrast to other platforms for online learning out there, is free! And yes, it's not simply a trial offer and it's completely free for the duration of time. You can access every single feature on without paying anything. It charges an amount of 5% when you make a sale. This is great especially when you're just starting out with your business and don't have lot of traffic just at the moment.
- has a variety of features for online course creators, including on-site video hosting, customized branding, drip courses, and a variety of engaging kinds of lessons like video, text, quizzes, downloads, assessments, surveys and embeds.
- is an eCommerce platform so you can create the perfect landing page that is fully customized. You can also create a complete website with its powerful store builder. It will be easier to control your online course when selling through your own site.
- You can set various pricing options including one-time fees, subscriptions, and payments plans.
- You have access to store analytics and Marketing tools to conduct successful campaigns.
7. Upload Your Online Course on
Within your account, navigate to the Products tab then click the "Add New Product" button. After that, choose "Course" You'll be taken to the screen where you can enter your online course item specifics.
Be sure to keep:
- Customize your sales page. This is where you'll give a detailed explanation of the online course will be about to prospective clients. Information you provide on the sales page is likely to affect the amount of traffic that comes from the search engines and the process of turning your website visitors into paying customers. At , you can also customize your customers' checkout and thank-you pages as well.
- Create a certificate of completion. At you can automatically provide a completion certificate to prove that a student has successfully completed the online course. Certificates offer a sense of satisfaction for your students plus you can encourage them to boast about their accomplishments on social media This will be a free promotion for you!
- Set up a drip schedule (if necessary). You can provide certain content for students to access over a certain period of time.
8. Set Pricing
This is a problem for those who are trying to market online classes for the first time. It is possible to research the average rate for similar content but it's likely that you'll need to evaluate the market and prepare for some trial and trial and. You may have to start at a lower price in order to gain a foothold and get some reviews prior to charging a more expensive rate later on.
There are various pricing options on the platform. These include a the one-time cost per course, payment plans as well as subscriptions.
Extra content like downloadable guidebooks, live classes and even coaching are excellent strategies to generate additional selling opportunities.
9. Start and promote
Now that you've finished creating your content for your course It's the time to go live with it and start driving customers to your website!
Participate in relevant Facebook Groups and engage with the community by providing your expert advice for free. The growth of your social media presence is an effective strategy to expand your audience.
Then, you can use email marketing to promote the course you are offering to your email subscribers. Email marketing is more effective when you've built a base of trust with your prospective clients.
Make a blog in order to grow your email list. Build your blog content and social media posts around what your potential students are hoping to achieve and give hints of answers that can be found within your class.
Testimonials are like gold dust. Make every effort in order to earn them. Do all you can to use them. If somebody has a good encounter with the online course you offer, they're generally happy to tell about the experience, but they will typically need to ask. So don't be shy. Testimonials are among the most effective marketing that you could get.
10. Get Feedback, Refine and Improve
The most well-known subject areas, creating online courses is a competitive business. Feedback from students will assist you in improving the value of the content. Ask for specific comments on what people find the most helpful and the least useful elements of the program and what they feel could be better.
The feeling isn't always pleasant when you've put an enormous amount of work into the course's creation. This isn't the right time for thin skin. Respond positively to feedback , and then use it to make your courses further improved.
Hopefully, these tips will help you plan how to make money selling online courses. The steps to follow through are, as ever, straightforward. There's always someone to help you if you get stuck.
Have a great time!