The Steps to Creating an Online Course: A Comprehensive Guide
Natalia Kuna 
A step-by-step guide that takes you through the process on what you need to do to create an effective online course.
Creating a course is quite an experience! It can be a daunting task, especially if you've never done it before. When you first start out in this world, it can be overwhelming as you start to realize there are A LOT of moving parts! Once you let that toothpaste out of the tube you might want to squeeze it all back in. In this blog, I break down the process into its separate parts so you can gain some clarity and breathe a sigh of relief.
As a budding course creator, you know you have a spark inside you wanting to ignite that flame. You most likely have a passionate desire to create a course and come from a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise in your topic/field that you want to share and scale. Here are the steps you need to take, broken down into parts:
Define your Target Audience:
The first step in creating an online course is to define your target audience. Who are you creating this course for? What are their needs and goals? Understanding your target audience will help you create a course that resonates with them and meets their needs. On top of this you will be more likely to make sales.
Choose a Topic:
Once you've defined your target audience, it's time to choose a topic for your course. Choosing the right course topic is crucial to the success of your course.
It is a good idea to start with a topic that you're passionate about and that you have expertise in. It's also important to choose a topic that is in demand and that your target audience is interested in learning about. This is something you can test quite simply, just by asking them via social, email or survey. Keep in mind that your course topic should also be relevant, up-to-date, and in line with current market trends, so research that also.
Create a Course Outline and Plan:
Determine the scope of your course: Decide what topics you want to cover and how much detail you want to go into. This will help you create a clear outline and plan for your course.
Creating a clear course outline will help you organize your content and ensure that you cover all the important points. Start by brainstorming the main topics you want to cover and then break them down into smaller, more manageable sections. If you write your ideas on sticky notes or an online organizer like Trello or Notion, you can rearrange key pieces as needed.
Once you feel you have a good system and structure, you will have the skeleton for the course in terms of modules, lectures, goals and topics. Take the time to plan your course content carefully and make sure it is comprehensive, well-organized, and easy to follow. You can always make changes as you go along.
Determine the Format of your Course:
There are several different formats that you can use for your online course, including video lectures, written content, interactive quizzes and exercises, and live webinars. Determine the format that will work best for the content of your course as well as what is appropriate for your particular your target audience.
Ensure that your course is well-structured and that you introduce yourself and the topic clearly at the beginning. Make sure your content is visually appealing and easy to understand.
Create your Content:
Now it's time to start creating your course content. Creating high-quality course content is essential for student engagement and success.
This can include creating presentations, videos, quizzes, and other materials. Be sure to include a mix of media to keep the course engaging and interactive.
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Whether you're using video lectures, written content, or a combination of both, make sure to create high-quality, engaging content that will keep your students interested and motivated.
Do the research you need but try not to get too lost in this part of the process, which quite honestly can drag on, especially if you are a perfectionist. Sometimes content creation can be like letting toothpaste our of a tube, and it can get overwhelming.
Ensure that you think out of the box, in the eyes of the student and provide them with all the resources they need to succeed.
Get the Basic Tools You Need:
For the first time, keep things simple. You will most probably need to be able to make videos (using your phone or laptop), and then look at purchasing editing software and a good enough quality microphone at minimum.
Find a Hosting Platform:
There are a number of options of platforms you can choose from in order to host your course online. A platform, otherwise known as an LMS (Learning Management System) allows you to at the very least have a sales page, checkout, and the capability for you on the backend to upload videos, text and audio in an organized way within an online curriculum structure.
Here are my top 5 picks to choose from (they are all popular or upcoming in the industry):
1. New Zenler
2. Tekmatix
3. Teachable
4. Kajabi
5. Thinkific
Upload all Your Media into your LMS:
Your course will likely have video and text, and possibly some audio. You might also have resources such as PDF Workbooks that all need to be uploaded and arranged into your curriculum appropriately.
Once complete, go through and check that everything is in the right place and in good working order. It is a good idea to view your curriculum as a student, from their perspective, a good LMS systems will allow you to do so easily, such as New Zenler.
Price your Course:
Though you might have some free courses that you provide as lead magnets, the majority of your courses will be priced. Monetizing your course is essential for making a return on your investment and moving ahead with your business.
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Determine the price of your course based on your target audience, the value of your content, expertise and the competition. Make sure to value yourself. Remember that you are the expert and look at what a great job you've done! Really take a good look at what is out there in the online market and price yourself accordingly. Make sure your pricing strategy is in line with industry standards and takes into account the value you are offering to your students.
If it is a small, starter course it can be priced lower. If you have a comprehensive, high value or signature type course, then offer it at a premium price to attract high-quality students. Over time, depending on your plans, you might have a range of courses at various price structures depending on their length or value.
You can also offer different pricing tiers or packages to appeal to different segments of your target audience. When you have more than one course in a particular theme, you can also create bundles and join them together as an offer on its own. Some people also make packages that include other bonuses such as extra resources, classes or coaching. The possibilities are endless!
As you progress as a course creator, in order to maximize revenue you can use upsell techniques, such as offering additional resources, courses or services.
Complete the Sales Page & Checkout:
Your course sales page is your piece of highly valuable real estate on the internet. It is important to really work on making it highly informative and attractive. Add your branding and fill it with your personal style and vibe. Make your course and its features look and sound great so that it sells.
Pay close attention to your copywriting to ensure it answers any objections your lead might have. Be clear in your wording so that potential buyers know what to expect and get a feel for your online course. Make sure you have set up your payment system and test out your checkout as a buyer before publishing your course live. Be sure to offer a variety of payment options, such as one-time payment, subscription, or payment plan, to make your course accessible to a wider audience.
SEO Your Course
Make use of keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to make your course more discoverable online. Consider partnering with influencers or other course creators to promote your course.
Promote & Launch your Course:
Once your course is complete, it's time to start promoting it to your target audience and go live with your launch. Promoting your course effectively is essential to attracting the right students for your topic and niche. Make sure you let as many people know as possible. Though exhausting, you can really have fun with this process.
Use social media, email marketing, and other marketing channels to reach potential students and relevant companies or organizations and let them know about your course, and how it can help them.
Don't be afraid to keep repeating your message and letting people know about it.
Once you've promoted your course and have a solid group of students enrolled, you will feel fantastic that you went through this whole process.
Create Free Content & a Quality Lead Magnet
Be sure to also include valuable free content so that you attract attention and traffic on your specific topic. This also lets potential leads get to 'know, like and trust' you. They get a taste of your material and teaching style and get to learn something for free.
Create a quality, valuable, well-thought-out lead magnet to aid in this process so you can keep building your list with the right people interested in your topic.
You could even offer a free sample of your course to attract potential students and give them a taste of what your course and teaching style is like.
Engage with your students:
After you launch your course, it really is so important to stay engaged with your students and provide support throughout their learning journey. They will thank you for it and it will add a richer, deeper layer to the whole learning experience. Keeping students engaged is critical to the success of your course and can include answering questions, providing feedback on assignments, and hosting live Q&A sessions.
You can also encourage student engagement by offering interactive activities, such as discussions, group projects, and quizzes. Be sure to respond promptly to student questions and provide constructive feedback on their work. Consider offering bonus content or additional resources to keep students motivated and interested. Creating a sense of community among students can also help increase engagement.
If you are with a robust all-in-one platform like New Zenler, you will be able to have extras to help with this, such as the capability of sending out email broadcasts and having an online Community all-inclusive on your course site! A community is such a great bonus feature, as it provides a place your students to ask and share. you can also give an extra personal service and touch of answering questions and getting more involved and intimate in their student journey. This can give your a lot back in return.
Provide Student Support
Student support is an extension of student engagement. Providing genuine, helpful support to students is crucial to both their success as well as satisfaction.
In order to help students feel supported, try to respond promptly to their questions and provide helpful, personalized feedback. Consider offering additional resources or support materials to help students succeed. Make yourself available to students through email, chat, or other means to address any questions or concerns they may have.
I like to let my students know how I can support them and be contacted. I clearly lay out of this information right off the bat in the 'Welcome' or 'Introduction' section. You can also let them know of your working hours or any boundaries you might have. Provide students with a clear understanding of your policies and procedures, such as your refund policy, and be transparent about your expectations.
Evaluate, Review and Revise:
After your course has been delivered and you've had some students purchase the course, take time to reflect on how it went. Be sure to gather feedback from participants via a survey or through your communication by email or in your community. Use the information and insight they give you to make any necessary revisions, tweaks or add-ons to improve the course for future iterations. Ensure that your course content is updated regularly to keep it relevant and current.
Reap the Rewards!
Creating an online course can be a challenging but rewarding process. I have found that when you break all the tasks and steps down to manageable parts and keep your focus sharply on the target, you will get there in the end. By putting in the time and effort, you can create a successful course that helps you share your knowledge and expertise with the world in your own unique way, and the end result can give you a real sense of accomplishment.
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Categories: : Course Creation, Passive Income