The Ultimate Blueprint For Building An Engaging Online Course From Scratch

Developing an online course can be both thrilling and fulfilling. It expands your horizons and enables you to connect with a larger audience, and most importantly, you make money from selling your course. Since you are reading this blog post, you are probably wondering how to create online course?

Yes, online courses are popular, and people every day enroll in online courses to learn a new skill, build up their expertise, or get ideas to start a new business. This presents a great opportunity for you to take advantage of this demand.

This blog will explore the advantages of creating an online course, the process involved, how to make this process fast and easy, various types of online courses, and the top platforms to create them. Let’s begin!

What is an online course?

An online course is a type of educational program that can be taken over the internet. A user just needs to have a stable internet connection and can listen to any online course covering any topic.

These courses offer the flexibility to learn at one’s own pace and on their schedule, making them a convenient option for many individuals. If you are a busy individual with a full-time job, taking an online course is a great option. You can listen to it after work or over the weekends, and there is no time pressure.

Online courses can range from beginner-level to advanced and can cover a variety of subjects, such as technology, business, and design. They typically consist of multimedia content, including videos, slides, and interactive exercises, and may also offer virtual support from instructors and peers. Many online courses lead to certification or can be used toward a degree program.

You are probably familiar with Coursera – which is the most popular course platform where you can take courses and University classes and even get a certificate. Coursera’s courses are the most expensive, and to obtain a certificate, you need to pay extra. However, other platforms, such as LinkedIn Learning (Lynda) and Udemy, offer courses at more affordable prices.

With the increasing popularity of online learning, online courses have become a popular choice for individuals looking to upskill or gain knowledge in a specific area.

My experience with online courses

I’m on both sides when it comes to courses: course taker and course creator. I’ve taken courses from Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Teachable, and so on. I love taking these courses because I can always learn some skills, and I can set my own pace.

I’ve created three courses, and I have over 8000 students on Udemy. I’ve always known that I can create good courses that teach the right skills that can be applied immediately. You can check out my course portfolio here. That lead me to become a successful course creator freelancer on Fiverr. I’ve created dozens of courses for clients, and the reviews are just amazing. Over 70 hours of content created on different topics: crypto, business, AI, ChatGPT, etc.

Benefits of creating an online course

There are many benefits to creating an online course. Here are just a few:

Reach a wider audience: You can reach a global audience with an online course. This means you can reach people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. You get wider adoption. If your course is successful, you can leverage that and create more courses and thus make more money.

Make money: probably the first reason that people create online courses. You can monetize your course by charging a fee for access. This is a great way to generate passive income because once you create a course and publish it, it’s on autopilot. You can update it occasionally, but you don’t have to worry about your course daily. You can either charge a monthly subscription for people to have access, or you can price your course as a one-time fee where your students have lifetime access.

Build your reputation: you can use your course to showcase your expertise and build your reputation as an expert in your field. This is a great way to build your portfolio as well.

Flexibility: you have complete control over the content of your course and pricing and can adjust it as needed. This gives you the freedom to be creative and experiment with different ideas when it comes to marketing, course development, course materials, and so on. Not all course platforms offer such flexibility. Udemy is very limiting and takes most of your profits. However, course hosting platforms such as Forento can help you scale. You can read Forento Review on our blog.

Self-improvement: you can also use online courses to improve your skills and knowledge. This can help you become more marketable and increase your earning potential. I improved my MS Excel skills when I was creating a course on Excel and Stock Analysis. I even learned some new formulas that I had never used before.

Steps to create an online course

Creating an online course can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways how you can approach it. You can do some work yourself and then outsource the rest and hire Freelancers. Or you can do everything yourself.

Here are the steps you need to take to create an online course:

Select a course topic and format

You need to decide on the topic of your course and the format it will take. For your first course, pick a topic you are familiar with and knowledgeable about. Also, look at how other people covered the same topic and see how you can offer more value and distinguish yourself. Do your research before you begin. Many people talk about the same topic, but some courses really pop out.

You also need to decide on the format of your course. This could be in the form of text, video, audio, or a combination of these. I always do narrated presentation style– a combination of slides and screencasting of tools and websites with my voiceover.

You also need to decide on the length of your course. It could be a short course, a full-length course, or even a series of courses. Start with shorter courses to break the ice and to see how the audience will react. Once you are skilled, you can make longer courses.

You also need to decide on the pricing of your course. You can charge a one-time fee, a subscription fee, or a combination of both. Not all platforms will allow you to choose the pricing model. On Udemy, you can set a one-time fee, and Udemy will take most of your profits. Other platforms, such as Thinkific and Teachable, will allow you to set a one-time fee, and you control the price cuts. On Forento, for example, you can choose a one-time fee or a subscription model. You can check Forento hosting platform review on our blog.

Plan your course outline

Next, you need to plan out the content of your course. This includes deciding on the modules, lectures, and activities. Let’s say that the preferred duration of your course is 1 hour. Great for starters! Then list the topics you want to cover and talk about in those 60 minutes.

In addition, you need to think about the structure and flow of your course and make sure each module builds on the previous one.

You also need to decide on the length of each module and lecture. In addition, you should also consider including activities and quizzes to test the knowledge of your students. These don’t have to be complicated. Make it short and easy.

If you are stuck at this stage, one AI tool can help you write an outline in seconds. ChatGPT can generate a perfect outline for you based on the topic of your course. You can read our blog post on how to create a course with ChatGPT.

Build your course content

This is where you create the content for your course. This includes writing the course material (script plus any additional material you will give to your students), recording video lectures, and creating activities.

You should make sure the content is engaging and easy to understand. Of course, your content has to be relevant to the audience and up to date. If you are talking about the latest trends in real estate investing, then skip those trends from 2007 to 2008.

Also, consider using visuals and graphics, as this can help to make your content more interesting and engaging. You should also consider using animations or interactive elements to engage your students. However, don’t overdo your course with unnecessary animations. Focus on the content quality.

You can really choose different paths on how you will build your course content. You can talk in front of a camera; you can only create slides and have narrated presentation as your course (this is how I make courses because it’s the easier and fastest solution); you can hire someone to be your spokesperson for the course; or you can use text to speech tools to generate a voiceover for your course. (I also do this for my clients).

There are many tools that can help you with that: Canva for slide creation, and Murf for AI voiceover. You can choose from other tools that can boost your productivity here.

---

---

Market and promote your online course

This is probably the most difficult stage. You need to make sure people know about your course. You can do this through social media, email marketing, and other promotional activities.  

Think about creating a video trailer for your course. This can be a great way to capture people’s attention and get them excited about your course. Another way to excite your students is to create a free sample of your course so people can get a taste of what it is like (you can see this often on Udemy).

Depending on which platform you choose, expect to spend some money on advertising if you don’t already have an established mailing list or audience. Check Upwork and Fiverr to find freelancers who can help you with course promotion.

Manage your course

Once your course is ready and published, you must ensure it is properly managed. This includes setting up payment systems, managing user accounts, and providing customer support. Answering students’ questions and posting regular updates all fall under course management.

Other tips for creating and delivering an online course

Creating and delivering an online course can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you create and deliver a successful online course:

• Understand your audience – Always start by researching your audience. It is important to understand who your audience is and what their needs are. This will help you create content that is relevant and engaging, and the right fit for your target audience. If you are targeting a more advanced group, then don’t make a course that is for beginners.
• Add value – Make sure your course is adding value to your students. Ask yourself: will my students learn a new skill? How can my students benefit from this? Am I showing something completely new?
• Keep it simple – Try to keep your course as simple as possible. This will help to ensure your students are able to understand and absorb the content. Since you are making an online course, don’t beat around the bush. Your students can always pause your videos, rewind, and rewatch some parts. Stick to the topic.  
• Quality content – Make sure the content of your course is of high quality. This includes the visuals, audio, and any other elements you use. Buy a new microphone and/or camera before you start recording. It pays off in the future.
• Offer support – Offer support to your students. Reply to emails, participate in discussions, or schedule one-on-one sessions. This will help to ensure your students are getting the most out of your course and that the price of your course is justified.

Types of online courses

There are many different types of online courses that you can create. It really depends on your topic and which type of online course you will choose. Here are some of the most popular:

• Tutorials: instructional videos or articles that teach a particular skill or concept.
• Certification: courses are designed to teach a specific skill or topic and are often used to gain accreditation or recognition in the industry. (Think Coursera)
• Mentoring: courses are more personalized and involve one-on-one sessions with an expert in a particular field.
• Educational: courses are designed to teach a particular subject or topic and are often used by students or professionals in a certain field. (Similar to a college class, also Coursera)

The best online course platform

Once you have created your course, you need to decide on the best platform to deliver it. There are many different platforms available, and it is important to choose one that meets your needs. Some of the most popular platforms include Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, and Udemy. It all depends on your budget and technical knowledge, which platform you will pick.

Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi are popular platforms for creating and delivering online courses. All of them have different features and tools to help you create and deliver your course. Pricing plans also differ, and you can pick one that suits your budget.

Udemy is a little bit different than other platforms. Udemy is a marketplace, and thus it will cost you nothing to use Udemy and publish your course. However, that means that Udemy controls when your course is offered at a discount. You can’t control the sales funnel or mailing list. Udemy takes most of your profits (over 70%), which can be a bit discouraging for course creators.

However, one platform has it all. Forento is the newest course-hosting platform that is affordable and lets you publish your course with a perfect landing page. It also has better features than Teachable or Kajabi. Check out Forento pricing here.

Conclusion

Creating an online course can be an exciting and rewarding venture if done right. It can open up a world of opportunities and help you reach a wider audience. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can create an online course and start reaping the benefits.

So don’t wait any longer; get started now and start making money from your online course!