The Top 5 Best Platforms to Sell an Online Course

Understanding the Difference: Marketplaces vs. Course Creation Software

Before diving into which platform might be right for you, it's important to understand the two main ways you can sell online courses, marketplaces and course creation software.

Course Marketplaces

‍Think of marketplaces like bustling city squares: your course sits alongside many others, ready to be discovered by learners browsing the catalog. These platforms make it easy to launch your course with minimal setup, and you’ll benefit from the site's built-in audience, perfect if you don’t have your own following yet. While you usually don’t pay upfront, the tradeoff is that the platform will take a percentage of your course sales and limit the amount of branding and customization you can add.

Course Creation Software

‍If you want more control over the look, feel, and experience of your course, course creation software is your go-to. Here, you’ll have tools to make personalized landing pages, tailor the course experience, and set your own brand apart. These platforms typically operate on a subscription model, charging a fixed monthly fee with possible transaction costs, but give you the flexibility to design your content, use a variety of teaching formats, and implement marketing strategies tailored for your unique audience.

So, whether you’re looking to quickly test the waters with a ready-built audience or craft a fully branded educational experience from scratch, your choice will depend on where you are in your teaching journey and the level of customization and control you want.

Skillshare

Skillshare is a free membership platform that offers courses in all sorts of areas, from illustration to music production to knitting. The site has a wide range of instructors and classes, so there's something for everyone.

If you're looking to make money as an instructor on Skillshare, there are two ways you can do this: by charging students who enrol in your course or by earning revenue through advertising on your page. If you choose the latter option, keep in mind that Skillshare doesn't take any cut from ad revenue generated by your class page, you keep 100%!

CourseApp

CourseApp has swiftly emerged as one of the top platforms for selling online courses, and for good reasons. The platform stands out for its robust suite of features designed to facilitate the creation, management, and scaling of online education businesses. 

With unlimited capacity for courses, lessons, and students, it enables educators to grow without constraints. Its unique features such as course bundles, events, milestones, and nudges enhance the learning experience, driving engagement and accountability among students. 

Additionally, CourseApp offers opportunities for customisation and community-building, including the option to remove the CourseApp logo for a more personalised look and a weekly townhall feature to foster a sense of community. All these elements combine to make CourseApp an excellent choice for educators seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly platform to sell their online courses effectively.

After successfully launching your first online course, the next step is scaling your business for long-term success. CourseApp makes this process seamless by allowing you to expand your offerings. whether by creating entirely new courses, bundling complementary content, or launching live events to keep students coming back for more. By leveraging these tools, you can encourage your learners to continue their educational journey with you, increasing retention and fostering a loyal student base. This scalability ensures that as your audience grows, your platform grows with you, supporting everything from new ideas to recurring learning communities.

Additionally, CourseApp offers opportunities for customisation and community-building, including the option to remove the CourseApp logo for a more personalised look and a weekly townhall feature to foster a sense of community. To keep learners engaged and motivated, CourseApp enables you to make your courses interactive by incorporating assignments, live Q&A sessions, discussion boards, and peer collaboration activities. Gamification features like quizzes, badges, and completion certificates help encourage participation and reward progress. By nurturing a strong sense of belonging and providing avenues for students to share their progress and insights, CourseApp helps drive higher course completion rates and greater overall satisfaction.

Supporting Multiple Content Formats for a Richer Learning Experience

A key advantage of using modern online course platforms is their versatility when it comes to delivering a diverse range of content. Whether you’re looking to share engaging videos, insightful audio lessons, downloadable PDFs, or striking images, most leading platforms, such as Teachable, Thinkific, and Udemy, have built-in support for all these formats.

This flexibility means you can:

• Mix and Match Media: Easily incorporate video walkthroughs alongside audio interviews or podcast snippets.
• Share Study Materials: Upload lesson notes, worksheets, or reference guides as PDFs that students can download and keep.
• Enhance Visual Learning: Embed images, infographics, and charts to break down complex topics or add visual interest to your course.
• Interactive Quizzes and Assessments: Many platforms go a step further by offering tools to create quizzes, assignments, and other interactive elements, helping reinforce learning and gauge student progress.

This multi-format compatibility not only helps you cater to different learning styles, but also keeps your course content dynamic and engaging. When your lessons leverage a blend of media, students are more likely to stay motivated and absorb the material effectively.

Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks puts community front and center, making it easy for course creators to build an engaging and interactive learning environment. This platform is designed with features that encourage students to participate, connect, and collaborate as part of their learning journey.

For starters, you have the flexibility to offer memberships, individual courses, or bundles, each with completely customizable pricing, whether that's a one-time payment or a recurring subscription. You can price each course separately, or allow your members to access certain courses for free as part of their membership perks.

A standout aspect is the built-in Activity Feed for every course, which functions much like a social network to keep the conversation flowing. Learners can share text updates, post images or links, and respond to prompts you set up, keeping everyone active and engaged. As an instructor, you can use icebreaker questions, polls, and live or virtual events to spark discussion and gather real-time feedback from your students.

In terms of customization, Mighty Networks gives course creators control over the language and labels used throughout the community. Want to call your “table of contents” a “syllabus” or rename instructors as “mentors”? You can tailor these terms to match your course’s tone and brand. This attention to detail not only adds a layer of personalization but also helps your course stand out and feel unique to your members.

The Importance of Building a Learning Community

One of the biggest game-changers for online course success is the sense of community you create around your content. A lively learning community isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s a cornerstone that keeps students motivated, engaged, and coming back for more.

Here’s why community matters:

• Stronger Connections: When learners can connect with each other, they’re more likely to stick around and participate actively. Real conversations, peer-to-peer help, and shared achievements foster a supportive atmosphere.
• Peer Support: Students aren’t just learning from you, they’re learning from each other. A vibrant community allows learners to ask questions, share tips, and celebrate successes together, making the whole experience richer.
• Increased Accountability: Group challenges, regular milestones, and open discussions encourage everyone to keep making progress. Learners are more likely to finish your course, and get results, when they feel seen and supported.
• Greater Value: When students feel part of something bigger, the course isn’t just a one-off transaction. It becomes a journey. This sense of belonging is what turns your students into loyal fans who spread the word for you.

Simply put, building a strong learning community isn’t just about teaching, it’s about giving your students a place to connect, grow, and thrive together.

Boosting Community Participation with Consistent Content and Thoughtful Rewards

One of the keys to maintaining an active and engaged course community is through regular content updates and well-timed recognition. Simply put, if you want people to stick around, give them something worth returning for. Consider sharing conversation starters, behind-the-scenes insights, or even hosting interactive live sessions to keep your group vibrant and involved.

On top of fresh content, don’t underestimate the power of recognition. Publicly celebrating active contributors, whether through special mentions, digital badges, or exclusive perks, encourages others to join in. Think of it like the gold stars in elementary school or loyalty programs at your favorite coffee shop; a little acknowledgment often inspires ongoing participation and strengthens the sense of community. All these elements combine to make CourseApp an excellent choice for educators seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly platform to sell their online courses effectively.

The Importance of Listening to Community Feedback

Paying attention to community feedback is essential for any platform aiming to foster lasting engagement. Just as musicians fine-tune their set lists based on audience reactions, educators and course creators benefit from adapting their offerings to fit what their learners actually want and need.

Being responsive isn’t just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about actively creating an environment where everyone feels their input matters. Whether it’s adding fresh lessons, launching new events, or reworking course structures based on suggestions, the ability to pivot shows students that their voices are valued.

By staying flexible and encouraging open dialogue, you ensure your community keeps growing and evolving, making it more welcoming, supportive, and, ultimately, more likely to thrive.

Pros and Cons of Using Mighty Networks for Your Paid Online Community

If you’re looking for a platform with community spirit at its core, Mighty Networks is worth considering for your online course business. It shines when it comes to building a lively, engaged paid community, but, as with most things in life, there are a few tradeoffs to keep in mind.

Where Mighty Networks Stands Out:

• Community-First Approach: At its heart, Mighty Networks specializes in weaving together members, content, and conversations. If your vision involves vibrant discussions, group events, and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, you’ll appreciate the focus on community engagement. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a buzzing student union.
• Flexible Monetization: You’re in full control of how you charge, single courses, ongoing memberships, or creative bundles. Each can be priced as a one-time payment, a recurring subscription, or even offered free to active members if you like to mix things up.
• Customizable Experience: From renaming sections of your course to tweaking what you call yourself (prof, mentor, sensei, you do you), Mighty Networks lets you shape the learning environment to fit your brand and style.
• Built-In Engagement Features: With built-in activity feeds, the ability to prompt lively conversations, share all sorts of media, and host live events, everything from quick polls to full-blown webinars, it’s easy to keep the community buzzing.
• Smart Course Creation Tools: Their AI-powered course outline generator can give you a jumpstart if you ever find yourself staring blankly at a lesson plan. (And yes, it’s as handy as it sounds.)

Potential Drawbacks to Consider:

• Heftier Starting Price: Compared to some alternatives, launching your community here can cost a bit more upfront, think upwards of $99 per month for access to course features.
• Marketing Gaps: While the platform does many things creatively, its built-in marketing and sales tools are limited. If you rely on detailed analytics, advanced automations, or intricate promotional funnels, you may find yourself leaning on external platforms to fill those gaps.

The Bottom Line:

‍Mighty Networks is tailor-made for creators who want to put connection and interaction at the heart of their online course business. It packs a punch with its customizable community features and flexible payment options, but you’ll want to weigh the higher starting cost and limited marketing tools before you dive in. For educators who want their students to learn together, not just alongside each other, it’s a platform that delivers on the promise of community.

Udemy

Udemy is a great platform to sell an online course. It's a marketplace for online courses, so you won't be competing against other instructors to get your content in front of consumers. It also has a large audience and is well known. You can make sure that buyers will see your course by using the best keywords in its title, summary and description pages.

Udemy offers some powerful tools for instructors such as detailed analytics reports (including sales data), email marketing campaigns and affiliate programs where you can earn commissions when someone buys through links on your site or social media channels like Twitter or Facebook!

One standout feature is Udemy’s email marketing capabilities, which let you nurture your audience and convert prospects into paying students. With automated email sequences, you can:

• Welcome new students: Introduce yourself, share helpful resources, and set expectations for your course.
• Educate and build trust: Send tips, success stories, and bonus insights to keep students engaged and confident in your expertise.
• Promote sales: Announce limited-time discounts, share testimonials, and offer incentives to boost enrollments.
• Follow up: Reach out to those who haven’t enrolled yet, answer questions, address common concerns, and provide more value.

Udemy streamlines this process so you can focus on teaching, while automated emails help nurture leads and drive conversions. Pair these tools with your social media or website efforts for even better results.

Marketplace vs. Course Creation Platforms: What Makes Udemy Unique?

When diving into online course creation, it’s helpful to understand the two main types of platforms out there:

• Course marketplaces (like Udemy): Your course joins a large catalog, and while customization is mostly limited to your course landing page and the course content itself, you immediately benefit from a built-in audience. Most marketplaces let you publish for free but take a percentage of your sales, think of it like opening a shop in a bustling market.
• Course creation software: These platforms offer far more control over branding and course delivery, with options to build dedicated landing pages, customize your student experience, and leverage a range of marketing tools. They typically charge a monthly fee, and sometimes a transaction fee on top.

The big advantage of a marketplace like Udemy? If you’re just getting started and don’t have an established online presence, you tap into their existing pool of eager students, making it simpler to gain traction and build your reputation.

Overall, Udemy blends ease of entry with robust instructor tools, making it a smart starting point for course creators ready to share their expertise without the heavy lifting of building an audience from scratch.

CreativeLive

CreativeLive is a great platform for online course creators. The platform offers a variety of tools that can help you create and promote your online course, including:

• Broadcast live online classes
• Host Q&A sessions with students
• Create a community of students
• Host a live event

Udacity Nanodegree

If you're looking for a new way to learn something, Udacity offers nanodegrees in many different disciplines. These are credentials that show you have mastered a subject, and they can be earned in just six months. The best part? They aren't free; but if you're willing to pay for your education, then this is one of the best platforms out there.

Coursera

Coursera is a MOOC platform that offers over 1,000 courses from top universities around the world. Coursera has a free plan and paid plans. You can earn certificates of completion by passing quizzes, tests and exams offered by your course instructors.

The flexibility of the payment plan allows you to pay for your course in small increments throughout its duration (which may be weeks or months). This means you won't have to shell out hundreds of dollars up front if you don't want to!

Understanding Course Platform Revenue Models

Choosing the right platform to host and sell your online course often comes down to how revenue is shared and how pricing is structured. Each popular platform takes a different approach, so let’s break down some common models to help you pick what fits your business best.

Revenue Sharing vs. Subscription Plans

• Revenue Share: Many course platforms operate on a commission basis, meaning they take a percentage of your course sales. This share can vary widely, sometimes as low as 3%, but it can soar as high as 60% if the sale comes through the platform’s own promotions or mobile apps. If you’re driving your own traffic (using a unique coupon or referral link), your share of the sale will often be higher.
• Subscription Royalties: Platforms that act like online classrooms often pool revenue from student subscriptions. Instructors get paid based on how many minutes students spend watching their content, or may collect referral fees when they bring in new premium members.
• Monthly Subscriptions: Some sites charge instructors a monthly fee rather than (or alongside) claiming a cut of sales. These plans often come in tiers, with more advanced features and allowances for more students or courses at higher monthly rates. Extra transaction fees might still apply, so always double check the fine print.
• Upfront or Per-Student Fees: You might also run into platforms with an upfront cost to host your course, or ones that charge a small fee every time a student enrolls.

Pricing Flexibility

• Free Course Options: Most platforms allow you to offer a limited free course, but there’s usually a cap on the length or number of students unless you switch to their paid plans.
• Pay-As-You-Grow: Look for services that let you start without paying until you have a few students, ideal if you’re just testing the waters.

In short, if you’re focused on minimizing platform fees, seek out those with lower revenue share percentages or flat monthly rates. If you’d prefer a hands-off approach and access to a sizable student pool, platforms with higher revenue shares but robust marketing tools may be the right fit.

Understanding these differences will help you keep more of your hard-earned course revenue, while ensuring you pick a model that matches your goals and growth stage.

How to Launch a Course on Popular Online Course Platforms

Launching your first online course on a recognized platform is straightforward, but each marketplace has its own process and perks to help you succeed. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:

• Sign Up and Get Approved: Most platforms require you to create an instructor account and, in some cases, submit an application to become a premium or verified instructor. After approval, you’ll get access to their course creation toolkit.
• Meet Content Requirements: Typically, you’ll need to provide a certain amount of video content (think 30 minutes or more) and a minimum number of lessons or lectures, usually five or more. You can often enhance your course with features like quizzes, assignments, and interactive discussions.
• Leverage Platform Support: To help you craft a high-quality course, leading marketplaces often offer review services for your video and audio quality. Some even provide tutorials and guides on everything from outlining your curriculum to recording engaging lessons.
• Promotional Programs: Getting visibility for your course doesn’t have to fall entirely on your shoulders. Most marketplaces feature robust marketing tools, these might include email campaigns, site-wide discounts, or affiliate programs designed to put your course in front of the right audience. You can typically opt in or out of these promotional channels, with the platform taking a small share when their marketing drives a sale.
• Market Intelligence: Not sure what to teach? Many sites include analytics tools that help you analyze which topics are trending, the popularity of specific search terms, and the potential competition in different categories. You’ll gain insights into how much successful courses earn, the number of existing courses for a topic, and which marketing channels perform best.

With these resources at your disposal, launching your course becomes less of a guessing game and more of a structured process, setting you up for the best chance at reaching learners and growing your reputation as an instructor.

Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks stands out for anyone interested in more than just creating and selling online courses, it’s designed to help you cultivate an engaged online community around your content. Think of it as a one-stop-shop where you can offer both courses and paid memberships, all while fostering active participation among your learners.

Here’s what makes Mighty Networks a strong contender:

• Community-Centric Approach: At its core, Mighty Networks is about bringing people together. You can sell courses, host community groups, manage live and virtual events, or bundle these offerings however you like. Pricing is fully customizable, set one-time fees or recurring subscriptions, and even offer certain courses free to your paying members.
• Customizable Experience: You have plenty of freedom in how you present your material. Rename standard elements (like “table of contents” or “instructors”) to match your course’s personality, whether that’s calling yourself a “professor,” “coach,” or something quirky and unique to your tribe.
• Engagement Tools: Each course includes an Activity Feed, so learners can share posts, images, and links as they make progress. You can prompt discussion with topics, icebreaker questions, and polls, or organize live events to keep your audience involved and coming back.
• AI Assistance: If you’re looking to streamline course creation, Mighty Networks features an AI-powered assistant, “Mighty Co-Host,” that quickly generates detailed course outlines based on your subject. A real time-saver if you’re building new content or revamping what you already offer.
• Integrations: If you’re tech-savvy, you can connect Mighty Networks with other tools to automate tasks like managing invites or syncing your event schedule, making it easier to keep things running smoothly.

Plans that include online courses start at $99 per month, and you can create unlimited courses at that level. If community-building is at the top of your priority list,and you want modern features that support both teaching and networking, Mighty Networks is well worth a look.

Pathwright

Pathwright stands out as a platform designed specifically for those who want their online courses to be highly interactive and action-driven. If your teaching style leans toward hands-on learning and getting students involved every step of the way, Pathwright is well worth a look.

What Sets Pathwright Apart

• Engage Through Action: The platform emphasizes action-oriented course paths, allowing you to build lessons that go beyond passive consumption, think embedded media, interactive tasks, and real-world activities all seamlessly woven into the curriculum.
• Easy Course and Lesson Creation: Pathwright’s builder is straightforward, so adding new lessons, uploading documents or media, and integrating activities is a smooth process. You can customize your school’s look with your logo, preferred fonts, and main colors, and, if you like to tinker, there’s room for custom CSS enhancements.
• Foster Community: There are built-in tools to encourage student interaction. You can host discussions, facilitate student questions, and create a learning community right inside the platform.
• Diverse Assessments: Pathwright supports multiple question formats, such as multiple choice, matching, open-ended responses, as well as practical, task-based activities. All are easily accessible in the lesson builder, so you don’t need to juggle multiple tools to assess student progress.

Considerations

While its educational features are impressive, there are a couple of downsides to keep in mind:

• Design: The interface feels a bit dated compared to some sleeker options on the market, although all the essential design customizations are present.
• Pricing: Pathwright doesn’t offer a free plan, and paid tiers are on the higher side, especially if your business or school is scaling up. Some features, such as subscriptions or certificates, require further upgrades, making it less budget-friendly than competitors like Udemy or Coursera.

For instructors who prioritize active learning and building a cohesive classroom community, Pathwright’s focus on student engagement is a major strength. Just be sure to weigh the higher cost and design limitations against your course goals and budget.

Podia

Podia offers flexible pricing options for course creators looking to get started or scale up. You can start building your course for free and upgrade only when you’re ready to launch. The entry-level Mover plan, starting at $33 per month, unlocks the ability to sell unlimited courses and welcome as many members as you like. While there’s a modest 5% transaction fee on sales, you’ll have access to key features needed to launch and grow your course business.

Higher-tier plans provide even more perks, including lower transaction fees, advanced marketing tools, and priority support, perfect if you plan to expand your offerings down the road or want to streamline your workflow as your community grows. This structure lets you test things out without commitment and upgrade as your course and student base flourish.

Podia is another excellent choice for creators selling a variety of digital products. Whether you’re planning to launch an online course, offer downloadable resources, set up coaching sessions, or build a membership community, the platform brings everything together under one roof. This all-in-one approach takes the hassle out of managing multiple tools, making it easy to experiment with different types of offerings as your business grows.

When it comes to building your storefront, Podia keeps things straightforward. Each digital product, be it a course, membership, or download, gets its own dedicated landing page, automatically structured for clarity and impact. The layout includes sections for a product overview, details about what’s included, dedicated space for content or curriculum, FAQs to address common questions, and a bio so you can show off your unique background.

If design isn’t your strong suit, you’ll appreciate Podia’s simple, consistent templates that help your content shine without needing to fuss over endless customization options. The streamlined setup makes it easy to get started and ensures your branding and information remain clear across all your digital products.

Advantages of Podia

• User-Friendly Course Builder: The course outline builder is a breeze to use, helping you quickly organize your materials without a steep learning curve.
• Supports a Range of Digital Products: From one-off downloads like cheat sheets and eBooks to recurring memberships and coaching, Podia handles it all under one roof.
• Affordable Pricing: The platform is competitively priced, making it accessible for solo creators and small teams.

Considerations to Keep in Mind

• Limited Customization: If you love tweaking every design detail, Podia may feel a bit restricted, as all storefronts use a familiar template. This consistency does make setup painless, but you’ll have fewer options to match your site to unique branding.
• Transaction Fees: While pricing is straightforward, note that there are transaction fees in addition to payment processor costs, so it’s worth crunching the numbers if you’re on a tight budget.

Podia also allows you to immediately publish your course or set up a pre-launch to capture interest and emails ahead of time. If you have bonus resources, like video lessons, webinars, checklists, or audiobooks, you can sell these individually or bundle them together for extra value.

One notable feature is the built-in community tool. Instead of relying on Facebook or LinkedIn groups, you can foster your own exclusive environment for your audience, complete with customizable membership tiers, special perks, and direct updates. This means you’re not at the mercy of shifting algorithms or platform policies and can stay directly connected with your members.

For those who work across multiple platforms, Podia’s integration options let you connect with popular tools (like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or PayPal), simplifying your sales and marketing workflow and helping you scale as your business grows.

You can make money online by selling a course

You can use a course to market your business, build your brand, and get more clients. You'll be able to reach people you never imagined were interested in what you have to offer! The best part? Courses are easy for customers because they're self-contained learning experiences that don't require much time or effort from the student (unlike books).

Selling online courses is also great for getting more followers on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people love being educated about new things!

Grow Your Audience and Community

Promoting your course goes beyond just listing it on a marketplace. Social media marketing on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram can help you engage your audience through interactive posts, live sessions, and sharing promotional content. Try organic methods like posting in groups, hosting live Q&As, or sharing helpful tips related to your course subject. These efforts not only drive interest but also help you build an engaged following.

Build a Thriving Learning Community

A thriving learning community gives your course long-term value by fostering deeper relationships and encouraging peer-to-peer support. When your students feel connected to each other, and to you, they stay motivated and are more likely to finish your course (and even recommend it to others).

To keep your community active:

• Regularly share discussion prompts, exclusive tips, or host live Q&A sessions.
• Encourage students to interact and support each other through group discussions or collaborative projects.

The more you nurture your course community, the more value everyone gets from the experience.

Understanding Course Pricing Models: One-Time Payment vs Subscription vs Tiered Pricing

When it comes to selling your online course, picking the right pricing model is key to attracting students, and growing your business. Generally, you’ll come across three main options:

• One-time payment:
  This is perfect for courses that are self-paced or have a clear end point. Your students pay once for full access, there are no ongoing fees, and you pocket the revenue all at once. It’s great for straightforward topics or evergreen content, where students value lifetime access and you want to keep things simple.
• Subscription model:
  Here, learners pay a recurring fee (monthly or annually) to access your content. This model works best if you’re regularly updating materials, adding new courses, or building a membership-style community. If you like the idea of consistent income and encouraging ongoing engagement, think Netflix or Skillshare, this setup might be for you.
• Tiered pricing:
  Want to offer more value to motivated students? With tiered pricing, you can create multiple levels (like “basic,” “pro,” and “premium”). Each tier comes with its own set of features, such as Q&A sessions, one-on-one coaching, downloadable resources, or community access. Think of it as giving students a menu to choose how much support they want, or how much they’re willing to invest.

Every approach has its upsides, and the best fit really depends on your course content, how often you’ll update lessons, and what your audience values most. Don’t be afraid to experiment or combine models, many top creators do!

Kajabi Pricing: How Does It Stack Up?

If you're considering Kajabi as your course platform, you’ll want to understand how its pricing structure works, and how it compares to other popular tools out there.

Kajabi offers tiered plans to fit different stages of your online business:

• Kickstarter Plan – Ideal for getting your feet wet, this entry-level option lets you launch a single course or membership and start building your customer base.
• Basic Plan – Great for growth, the Basic plan expands your capacity with multiple products and funnels, more automation options, and a higher limit on active members.
• Higher tiers – As your business scales, you can unlock advanced features like more products, additional admin accounts, sophisticated analytics, and priority support.

Compared to other platforms like Teachable and Thinkific, Kajabi’s plans tend to include built-in marketing tools and unlimited emails, which can be a big plus if you want to run everything under one roof. While the starting price is a bit higher than some entry-level competitors, Kajabi often replaces the need for several separate tools, think landing pages, email marketing, and course hosting all bundled together.

Ultimately, which plan makes sense comes down to the size of your audience, your desire for “all-in-one” convenience, and how many features you want right out of the gate. It’s always smart to review what each tier offers before committing, and to compare with what platforms like Teachable and Thinkific provide at similar price points.

Comparing Teachable Pricing & Alternatives

If you’re curious about what it actually costs to set up shop with an online course platform, Teachable gives you a few options to fit different needs and budgets. Their free plan lets you dip your toes in, offering one published course or product plus space for up to 10 students. While it’s a great way to get started, keep in mind that each sale comes with higher transaction fees, so it’s best for testing the waters.

Ready to grow? Teachable’s Basic plan starts at $39/month, unlocking features like unlimited students and up to five products, along with tools for email marketing, coupon codes, scheduling content releases (“drip” content), even setting up your own custom domain. There’s still a small transaction fee on this plan, but you’ll get a lot more flexibility for running and marketing your course.

Of course, Teachable isn’t the only fish in the course-creation sea. Miestro, for instance, offers an intuitive course builder and plans that scale as your student base grows. This can be handy if you want something simple, but expandable as your needs change.

Whether you’re building your very first course or looking to move an existing community elsewhere, it pays to compare these options side-by-side to see which platform best matches your growth strategy and teaching style.

Pathwright Pricing Plans and Features

If you’re considering Pathwright for hosting your course, you’ll find a range of pricing plans to fit different needs and budgets. The entry-level plan (billed annually) opens the door to unlimited courses (called “paths”) and covers all the essentials to get you started, so you don’t need to worry about outgrowing your platform too soon.

Higher-tier plans unlock extra perks, like advanced analytics, enhanced member management tools, white-label branding, and more powerful integrations. Whether you’re a solo educator launching your first course or a growing team serving a wide community, Pathwright’s flexible pricing makes it easy to pick a plan that matches your goals and scales as your audience grows.

Simplero: Pricing Structures and Key Features

Simplero stands out as an all-in-one platform for building and selling online courses, combining course creation, customer management, and marketing automation in a single, streamlined dashboard. Let’s take a closer look at how their plans stack up and what you get with each.

Main Features

• Comprehensive course creation tools: Easily outline and launch new courses with a few clicks, then add modules and materials as you go.
• CRM and list management: Keep track of your students, segment your audience, and manage communications, no need for separate tools.
• Integrated email marketing: Build robust, automated campaigns to drive engagement, nurture leads, and boost course enrollments.
• Sales and analytics: Track student signups and revenue all in one place, so you always know how your business is performing.
• Automations and workflows: Design advanced sequences, such as welcome series or course launch challenges, to make your student experience seamless.
• Flexible integrations: Connect with popular third-party apps to extend the platform’s capabilities, whether you want to sync new students to your list or manage forms with services like Google Sheets.

Pricing Structure

• Starter Plan: Designed for new course creators, this plan is priced at $59 per month. It covers up to five products and five courses, along with unlimited landing pages, giving you plenty of flexibility as you build your first few offerings.
• Scale Plan: Ideal if you’re ready to grow, at $149 per month you’ll unlock features for 1,000 contacts, unlimited courses and products, access to affiliate marketing tools, advanced automations, and more.

With Simplero, you don’t just get a course builder, you get a full toolbox for creating, launching, and scaling your online education business, all bundled into one easy-to-manage subscription.

Why Use Limited-Time Offers and Pre-Selling for Your Online Course?

If you’re serious about scaling your online course business, limited-time offers and pre-selling can be secret weapons in your marketing toolkit.

Limited-time offers spark urgency and excitement

‍Flash sales, seasonal discounts, or bonus bundles give potential students a nudge to enroll now rather than putting it off for “someday.” These short-term incentives turn browsers into buyers by leveraging FOMO (fear of missing out), especially if you pair them with a countdown timer or exclusive perks. It’s a classic move you’ll see with everything from Black Friday deals to early bird ticket sales for big events.

Pre-selling lets you validate your idea, before you build it

‍Instead of guessing what your audience wants, pre-selling your course means you can gauge genuine interest before pouring weeks (or months) into content creation. If people buy early, you’ve found a hot topic and generated cash flow upfront. Even better, your early students can offer feedback so you can refine the course as you create it.

Plus, pre-selling acts as a built-in pulse check for your course idea. If you’re not sure your content or delivery style is hitting the mark, consider offering a sample, like a short video lesson, downloadable worksheet, or even a sneak peek of your course outline. Early feedback can help you tweak everything from the audio quality to your course structure before you go all-in. Think of it as your own focus group, but one that pays you for the privilege.

If sales are slow out of the gate, don’t sweat it. You can experiment with early-bird discounts, limited-time bonuses, or even partner with affiliates to boost visibility. Just like major platforms offer programs to help creators get those first enrollments, you can tap into your own network, email list, or social channels to build momentum. By the time you hit launch day, you’ll know you have a course people actually want, and a handful of engaged students ready to cheer you on.

In short, these strategies help you:

• Build hype and anticipation around your launch day
• Secure early revenue to fund production or marketing
• Avoid wasted effort on courses that might not sell
• Create a more engaged, invested student community from day one

Combine both approaches, and you’ll be on your way to a buzzworthy launch, and a healthy bottom line.

How to Choose a Profitable Online Course Topic

Finding the right topic is the foundation of any successful online course, and it's a lot simpler than you might think.

Start with what you know best. Think about your talents, work experience, and the topics you’re genuinely passionate about. If you could talk for hours about it at a dinner party or your friends always come to you with questions, that's a good sign you're onto something teachable.

But knowing your stuff is just one part of the equation. Before you dive in, it’s crucial to see if people are actually interested in learning what you have to offer. Here’s a quick process to keep you on track:

• Do a Little Detective Work: Pop your ideas into Google Trends or check out what’s popular on platforms like Udemy or Coursera. Do certain skills or topics get lots of attention? Are courses in your area racking up reviews?
• See What’s Missing: Once you spot what’s currently selling, think about how you can do it differently or better. Maybe there’s a gap you can uniquely fill or a twist only you can offer.
• Talk to Your Audience: Don’t just guess what people want, ask them! Reach out on Instagram, LinkedIn, or even Reddit communities related to your field. A short survey or a simple “What’s your biggest challenge with X?” in a post or poll can be incredibly revealing.

When you combine your expertise with proven demand, you’re on your way to a course topic that sells, and makes a real impact.

FAQs on the best platforms to sell an online course

Selecting the ideal platform to sell your online course is crucial. Our FAQ section provides a deeper dive into the top 5 platforms - CourseApp, LearnWorlds, Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi - covering aspects like user-friendliness, interactive videos, ease of use, comprehensive features, and all-in-one solutions. Get answers to your pressing questions and make an informed decision for your online course business.

What are the standout features of the most popular online course platforms?

CourseApp: Known for its intuitive course creation tools, CourseApp makes it easy to build, launch, and manage your course, even if you’re just starting out. You’ll find guided steps for uploading content, creating quizzes, and launching your course to your audience.

LearnWorlds: If customization is your thing, LearnWorlds offers extensive visual design options, interactive videos, and advanced analytics. It’s a great fit if you want your course to stand out with a unique look and feel.

Teachable: Teachable shines with its built-in marketing features and flexible pricing models. From customizable sales pages to coupon codes, affiliate programs, and automated email campaigns, Teachable helps you grow your student base and nurture your audience with minimal fuss.

Thinkific: Thinkific’s course templates, drag-and-drop builder, and pre-populated sample content mean you can get your course off the ground quickly. The platform also supports communities, assignments, and quizzes, helping you create a more interactive learning experience.

Kajabi: For an all-in-one solution, Kajabi bundles course creation, marketing automation, email campaigns, and community features under one roof. If you’re looking for a platform that can scale with your business, Kajabi’s robust toolkit and marketing automations make it a top contender.

What should I look for in an online course platform?

• Ease of Use: Look for platforms with simple course builders, intuitive dashboards, and support resources to help you get started, especially important if you’re launching your first course.
• Interactive Features: Consider platforms that support quizzes, assignments, and community discussions to boost student engagement.
• Marketing Tools: Built-in email marketing, coupon codes, and affiliate management can make a big difference as you grow.
• Customization: Whether it’s branding, landing pages, or course layouts, having control over the look and feel of your course helps you stand out.
• Pricing and Revenue Share: Compare monthly fees, transaction costs, and revenue share models. Some platforms are free to use but take a larger cut of your sales; others charge a flat monthly rate for more predictable costs.

How do these platforms support course creators?

Many leading platforms offer extra perks like:

• Guided course creation flows and checklists
• Built-in audiences or marketplaces (helpful for first-time creators)
• Video review tools to help polish your lessons
• Detailed analytics and insights, see what’s working, and where you can improve
• Community-building features so your students can connect and share progress

Choosing the right platform depends on your specific needs, goals, and the type of learning experience you want to offer. Take advantage of free trials, compare features, and don’t be afraid to start simple, you can always scale up as your business grows.

What makes Thinkific a suitable online course creation platform, and what are its main advantages and disadvantages?

Thinkific stands out as a solid contender for creators who want an intuitive, flexible way to build and sell online courses without breaking the bank. If you're looking for a platform that isn't overwhelming for beginners but still packs plenty of punch for growth, Thinkific hits a sweet spot.

What you'll love about Thinkific:

• Budget-friendly pricing: Thinkific’s plans are affordable, so you won’t feel like you’re draining your profits just to get up and running.
• Easy drag-and-drop builder: Designing your course site is refreshingly straightforward. Pick your pages, choose a theme, drop in your content (video, audio, text, PDFs, whatever you need), and rearrange modules with a few clicks.
• Comprehensive content options: The platform supports a range of media types and interactive features, so whether you want to embed quizzes, host discussions, or share downloadable resources, you’re covered.
• Seamless integrations: Thinkific hooks into popular tools like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and Zapier, making it easy to automate your workflows or expand functionality as your business grows.
• Student engagement: Features like course reviews and testimonials make it easy to showcase social proof and build trust with new learners.

A couple of drawbacks to keep in mind:

• No free forever plan: Unlike some competitors, Thinkific doesn’t offer a completely free plan, so you’ll need to invest from the outset.
• AI tools lag behind top rivals: While there’s an AI curriculum builder onboard, several newer platforms are ahead of the curve with more advanced AI-powered features.

If you want a platform that’s approachable, lets you build a professional presence, and scales as your course business grows, Thinkific is definitely worth a look.

What unique features, such as AI-generated outlines and question banks, does LearnWorlds offer to course creators?

LearnWorlds stands out with some genuinely helpful tools designed to make course creation smoother (and dare we say, even a little fun).

First up, their AI-powered course outline builder is a serious time-saver. Instead of trying to hash out your own structure from a vague course title, you’re guided through a series of customizable prompts, you’ll choose your preferred media types, highlight the must-have topics, set the tone, and even pick your instructional style. The system then generates a tailored course outline, complete with suggested activities. Of course, you’re in the driver’s seat: once your skeleton is laid out, it’s easy to tweak, add lessons, or make the final product your own using their user-friendly course builder.

Another highlight: their Question Banks feature. Here, you can create and store your go-to quiz and exam questions in one place, ready to be reused or updated as your curriculum grows. This makes crafting assessments feel less like reinventing the wheel and more like assembling building blocks, efficient and organized.

These features, along with LearnWorlds’ intuitive platform, offer extra support for both new and veteran course creators looking for a streamlined workflow and engaging student experience.

Pros and Cons of Using LearnWorlds for Online Courses

LearnWorlds is a popular choice among course creators thanks to its flexibility and powerful customization options, but it’s not without a few quirks. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect:

What’s great about LearnWorlds:

• Deep Customization: If you crave creative control, you’ll love how much you can personalize your course site. Tweak layouts, play with color schemes, adjust typography, and design every button and widget, almost as if you’re building from scratch, but without the tech headaches.
• User-Friendly Course Builder: The platform makes it refreshingly easy to put your course together, whether you’re a design enthusiast or a beginner. Pre-made templates give you a polished starting point, and you can mix and match features to suit your content.
• Smart AI Features: One standout is LearnWorlds’ AI-powered course outline tool. Instead of simply guessing, the system includes options for you to steer the structure, select preferred media types, set the tone, highlight key topics, and even request activity ideas. You can always tweak anything after the draft, which means less time staring at a blank screen.
• Efficient Assessment Tools: Have a bank of quiz or test questions you want to reuse? LearnWorlds lets you save and reuse them, making assessment creation a breeze as your course library grows.

A few potential drawbacks:

• Limited to Media-Based Lessons: If you’re hoping to build a course that’s anchored in pure text (as in, text-only lessons), you might hit a wall. LearnWorlds leans into multimedia content, so it’s best suited for creators who want to blend video, images, and interactive elements.

In short, LearnWorlds is ideal if you want a highly customizable, visually engaging learning environment with modern AI-powered course creation tools. Just make sure your teaching style fits their format, if you’re all about video, quizzes, and interactive activities, you’ll feel right at home here.

What makes Simplero a strong all-in-one platform for online course creators?

If you’re looking for a platform that doesn’t just host your lessons, but helps you run the entire show, from your first email campaign to your final sale, Simplero is well worth a look.

This tool goes beyond traditional course building. With Simplero, you can quickly map out your curriculum with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, upload your content, and structure your lessons without any technical headaches. But where Simplero really shines is its ability to keep everything connected under one roof.

Think of it as your digital headquarters:

• Course creation and delivery: Build and organize your courses with ease, whether you’re offering a single workshop or an entire series.
• Built-in marketing automation: Launch full marketing campaigns, schedule email sequences for launches or enrollments, and segment your audience, all from within the same dashboard, no need to juggle multiple tools.
• Customer management: Automatically keep track of your students, manage your email lists, and monitor your sales, making it simple to understand what’s working and where you can improve.
• Ready-made campaign templates: Not sure where to start with promoting your course? Simplero includes pre-designed campaign templates (like a 21-day launch challenge) you can tailor to fit your brand and goals.
• Integrations with tools you already use: Simplero plays nicely with your favorite software, think Mailchimp, Stripe, and more, so you can further automate tasks like adding new contacts or syncing payments.

With everything centralized, you spend less time on tech headaches and more time engaging your students and growing your business. It’s an ideal solution for creators who want a streamlined, professional presence without stitching together half a dozen different platforms.

How can I do content marketing for my online course business?

Content marketing is one of the best ways to build trust with your target audience, get more social media followers and generate sales. It's also a great way to promote your online course business.

In fact, content marketing has become so popular that it's now one of the most effective ways for businesses to get new customers and generate revenue.

Advantages and Challenges of WordPress LMS Plugins

If you already have your own website, you might be considering WordPress learning management system (LMS) plugins like LearnDash or WPLMS to turn it into a fully-fledged course platform. These plugins offer a high degree of flexibility and customization, letting you tailor the look, feel, and functionality of your course pages to match your brand perfectly.

You get to control your content, set your own prices, and even integrate additional features as your business grows. For course creators who love tinkering and want a hands-on approach, this can be a huge plus.

However, there are some important challenges to keep in mind:

• Technical Know-How Needed: Setting up and managing an LMS plugin takes more time and tech skills than using an all-in-one platform. You’re responsible for things like updates, plugin compatibility, and troubleshooting.
• Additional Costs: Besides plugin licenses, you’ll need to budget for website hosting, domain fees, and possibly hiring a developer if things get tricky.
• Ongoing Maintenance: Security, backups, and keeping everything running smoothly will fall on your shoulders.

So, while WordPress LMS plugins can give you ultimate control and freedom to customize, they do demand a bit more effort behind the scenes. Choose this route if you’re comfortable managing a WordPress website, or have someone on your team who is!

Do you need a license to sell an online course?

In general, you don’t need a special license to start selling your online course. Most creators can dive right in and start sharing their expertise without jumping through legal hoops. However, if your course covers regulated fields, think finance, health, or law, you might need relevant certifications, or be required to provide specific disclaimers to stay compliant. Always double-check the rules if you’re teaching sensitive topics to avoid any bumps down the road.

How can collaborations with influencers and guest appearances help promote your course?

Partnering with influencers and industry experts is a fantastic way to broaden your audience and boost enrollments for your online course. When you work with influencers or well-known bloggers in your niche, their recommendations serve as trusted endorsements, giving your course instant credibility. Happy students can also become powerful advocates, helping spread the word within their own networks.

Appearing as a guest on popular podcasts or webinars is another smart strategy. These platforms let you share your expertise, answer questions, and connect with potential learners in a more personal way. By providing insightful tips or behind-the-scenes stories, you position yourself as an authority, which encourages listeners to check out your course.

Don't underestimate the power of these partnerships:

• Influencer collaborations: Tap into established communities who already trust their recommendations.
• Podcast and webinar appearances: Reach new audiences while showcasing your personality and knowledge.

Together, these efforts make it easier to generate buzz around your course and attract learners who are eager to sign up.

How can affiliate marketing, guest blogging, and podcasting increase visibility for your course?

Looking for even more ways to put your course in the spotlight? Affiliate marketing, guest blogging, and podcasting are dynamic avenues for boosting your reach and attracting new students, without having to reinvent the wheel!

• Affiliate marketing lets you tap into the audiences of established influencers or industry experts. By partnering with people who have an existing following, you can introduce your course to potential students who already trust your affiliate’s recommendations. In exchange for a commission, affiliates spread the word about your offering, helping you connect with learners you might never reach on your own.
• Guest blogging gives you the chance to showcase your expertise on popular websites and blogs within your niche. By sharing valuable insights, how-to guides, or personal stories, you establish authority and encourage readers to check out your course. A well-placed link or call-to-action at the end of your guest post can funnel quality leads directly to your course landing page.
• Podcasting, either hosting your own show or appearing as a guest, puts your voice in front of engaged listeners who are eager to learn. Sharing your journey, tips, or opinions in a conversational format builds trust and familiarity. Plus, it’s an excellent way to connect with people who prefer to learn while on the go.

Mixing these strategies into your marketing efforts can dramatically expand your reach, build credibility, and, most importantly, draw in a thriving community of enthusiastic students.

How do you create a high-converting sales or landing page for your course?

A high-converting sales page is your online course’s secret weapon. Think of it as your digital storefront, you want it to be inviting, informative, and persuasive without being overwhelming. Here are some tried-and-true tips for designing a landing page that turns casual browsers into eager students:

• Showcase Benefits, Not Just Features: Instead of rattling off what’s included, highlight the outcomes, how will your course help someone solve a problem or reach their goals? Paint a picture of success!
• Leverage Social Proof: Sprinkle in testimonials from past students, display success stories, or add “as seen on” logos if you’ve been featured elsewhere. When people see others benefiting, they’re more likely to jump in themselves.
• Clear and Compelling Call to Action (CTA): Whether it’s “Enroll Now,” “Get Instant Access,” or “Start Learning Today,” make your CTA bold, obvious, and encourage immediate action. Don’t make visitors hunt for the sign-up button!
• Keep It Visual & Simple: Use engaging images, short demo videos, or infographics. Break up text with bullet points and short paragraphs. Make it easy for someone to scan and find exactly what they need to know.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Smartphones and tablets are everywhere, so double-check your landing page looks great and functions smoothly on all devices.
• Build Trust: Add money-back guarantees, security badges, or FAQs that answer common concerns to put potential buyers at ease.

By blending these elements, you’ll create a course sales page that welcomes visitors, answers their questions, and smoothly guides them toward hitting that enroll button.

How can you validate your online course idea before investing significant time and resources?

Validating your online course idea is a smart move, think of it as making sure your plane has wings before you start selling tickets. Before diving into full-scale course creation, it's a good idea to gauge interest and ensure there's genuine demand for what you plan to offer (and not just from your mum).

Here are some reliable strategies:

• Survey your audience – Use tools like Google Forms or Typeform to collect feedback from your email subscribers, social media followers, or niche Facebook and LinkedIn groups. Ask them about their biggest challenges, interests, and what format they prefer for learning.
• Host a free mini-workshop or webinar – Invite people to sign up for a live session on your core topic. You’ll quickly find out whether they're interested, and you get real-time feedback to boot.
• Share bite-sized content – Test your topic by posting tips, videos, or short lessons on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or even Reddit. Pay attention to questions, comments, and engagement levels, these are goldmines for validation.
• Join and participate in forums – Engage in communities like Quora, StackExchange, or relevant subreddits. See if people are asking questions about your subject area and how much buzz there is around it.

If you see strong engagement, sign-ups, insightful replies, people asking for more, it’s a good signal you’re onto something. If not? It’s better to tweak your idea now than after months of work.

What is the role of cold outreach in promoting online courses?

Cold outreach can be a powerful tool for getting your online course in front of new eyes. By directly contacting potential students via email or social platforms like LinkedIn, you can introduce your course to audiences who may not have discovered it otherwise. This approach allows you to personalize your message and highlight the specific value your course offers, making it more appealing than a generic advertisement.

When done thoughtfully, cold outreach can:

• Help you connect with professionals or niche groups interested in your subject matter.
• Drive targeted traffic to your course landing page.
• Build early momentum, especially for new course launches.
• Open doors for partnerships or collaborations, think of reaching out to influencers or industry leaders who could share your course with their network.

Of course, always ensure your outreach is respectful and provides real value. The goal is to start genuine conversations, not just fill inboxes with unsolicited spam!

What strategies can you use to drive traffic to your lead magnets?

Getting eyes on your lead magnets is all about spreading the word in the right places and meeting your audience where they hang out. Here are some creative and effective ways you can start attracting more people to your sign-up offers:

• Leverage social platforms: Share your lead magnet through engaging posts, catchy stories, and prominent links in your Instagram bio or LinkedIn profile. Let your followers know what’s in it for them, something that’ll really solve their problems or ignite their curiosity.
• Run targeted ads: Consider investing in paid ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, or Instagram. Well-placed ads can help you get in front of a highly relevant audience who’re actively looking for solutions like yours.
• Optimize for search engines: Create helpful blog posts or resource pages designed around keywords your ideal students are searching for. Over time, this will mean consistent, organic traffic flowing right to your lead magnet.
• Build partnerships and collaborations: Team up with influencers, existing customers, or other businesses in your niche. A simple share, a shout-out, or a co-hosted live event can introduce your free offer to new circles, and some may even become brand ambassadors for a commission.
• Tap into guest features: Say yes to guest blog spots, podcast interviews, or participating in relevant webinars. These opportunities quickly add credibility and put your lead magnet in front of motivated, new audiences.

By mixing a few of these approaches, you'll quickly boost your visibility, funnel more leads to your course offerings, and create lasting momentum for your online course business.

How can you promote lead magnets to build your email list?

Promoting lead magnets is a smart, actionable way to grow your email list with engaged prospects. Here are a few effective methods:

• Share on Social Media: Post your lead magnets, whether it's a free checklist, guide, or mini-course, across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Eye-catching visuals and a clear call to action can help attract your ideal audience.
• Leverage Email Marketing: Send your offer to your existing subscribers and encourage them to forward it to friends who might be interested. Consider offering exclusive bonuses for referrals.
• Run Targeted Ads: Use Facebook Ads or Google Ads to reach new, highly targeted audiences who are likely to be interested in your course topic. A compelling landing page can turn clicks into signups.
• Collaborate with Others: Partner with bloggers, influencers, and Facebook Group admins who share your target audience. A shoutout or guest post can expand your reach.
• Add Prominent Signups Across Your Website: Feature your lead magnet in pop-ups, sidebar banners, or after blog posts to catch casual visitors and turn them into subscribers.

By consistently promoting your lead magnets through these channels, you'll quickly build a robust email list filled with people genuinely interested in your expertise.

What are effective types of lead magnets for attracting potential students?

If you want to attract more students to your online course, offering enticing lead magnets is a tried-and-true strategy. A lead magnet is simply something valuable you give away (usually for free) in exchange for a potential student's email address or contact info. The goal? Build your email list with people who are genuinely interested in what you have to teach!

Some popular, and effective, types of lead magnets you can create include:

• Mini-courses: Short video or email courses that give students a taste of your teaching style and spark their curiosity for your main program.
• Ebooks or Guides: Actionable resources that help solve a real problem your ideal students face, making them eager to learn more.
• Downloadable Checklists & Worksheets: Practical tools that can be put to use right away, such as study planners, progress trackers, or step-by-step guides.
• Template Libraries: Ready-made templates, spreadsheets, or calendars that save time and make life easier for your audience.
• Reports or Industry Insights: Share your expertise with an exclusive report or deep-dive analysis relevant to your course topic.

Share these lead magnets across your website, social channels, and in your email campaigns to grow your list with warm, interested leads. Make sure your offer is directly related to your course material so that your new subscribers are a perfect fit for your main offering!

What steps should I take if I want to migrate my course content from one platform to another?

If you’re ready to move your course to a new online platform, whether you’re graduating from a marketplace or just want more control over your content, it’s easier than you might think! Here’s how to make the switch smoothly:

• Review Content Compatibility: Start by checking if your new platform supports the types of files and media you’ve used (video, PDFs, quizzes, etc.). Most major platforms make this fairly seamless, but a double-check saves headaches later.
• Export Your Existing Material: Use your current platform’s export tools to download your videos, course outlines, worksheets, and student lists. Some sites bundle these for you, while others take a bit more manual work.
• Import to Your New Platform: Follow your new provider’s import process. Platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, and Thinkific offer step-by-step assistance or even concierge services to help migrate materials and, often, user data.
• Update Internal Links & Resources: Give your content a once-over to update any platform-specific links or instructions, ensuring everything points to your new home base.
• Announce the Move: Let your students and email list know about the switch. Share step-by-step instructions for accessing the new platform, and offer support for anyone having trouble logging in.
• Test Everything: Enroll in your own class as a student to catch any hitches before your learners do.

Remember, migrating your course isn’t just about moving files, it's a chance to refresh your content and potentially add even more value for your students. Plus, committed support from most platforms means you won’t have to navigate this transition alone. With these steps, you'll keep your course, and your student community, moving forward without missing a beat.

How can I scale my online course business?

As your business grows, you'll want to make sure that you are maximising revenue and reducing costs. Here are some tips for how to scale your online course business:

• Use a marketing automation tool like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. This will help you automate your follow-up emails so that they go out at the right time and in the right order (for example, after someone has purchased but before they start their course).
• Use a CRM tool like Salesforce or Zapier. The goal here is to have all of your customer information in one place so that it's easy for salespeople on your team (or even customers) who don't have access to other systems like Stripe or PayPal accounts yet!
• Create an automated sales funnel using LeadPages (or similar) so people can sign up for more information about whatever topic interests them most - then send those leads through multiple steps until they're ready to buy something from you! This also helps prevent losing potential customers because they didn't know how much money was involved upfront; instead they can see what kind of value proposition works best for them before committing any funds themselves.

What are some ways to automate email notifications when students complete a course?

Automating your email notifications is a fantastic way to keep the learning momentum going, without lifting a finger every time a student hits “complete.” Here’s how you can set it up so they (and you) never miss a milestone:

• Use Your Course Platform’s Built-In Features: Many platforms (like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi) include automated completion emails. Just jump into your course settings and customize the message students receive as soon as they wrap up your content.
• Set Up a Marketing Automation Tool: Tools like ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or ConvertKit allow you to trigger a congratulatory email based on course completion tags or events. Build a workflow so your systems celebrate achievements for you, plus, you can invite students to the next step or gather valuable feedback while you’re at it.
• Integrate with CRM Tools: If you’re using a CRM, connecting your course platform to software like Salesforce or HubSpot can auto-fire a completion email, update student records, and notify your team, all at once.
• Connect with a Third-Party Integration Tool: Consider using tools like Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat) to bridge your course platform with your email provider. That way, every time a student completes a module or entire course, a personalized email is whisked off to their inbox automatically.

Automating these emails not only delights your students but saves you hours, keeps your progress tracking on point, and opens the door to ongoing engagement, everything you need to keep your course community thriving!

How do marketing funnels work in Kajabi, and what are some typical automations you can set up for student engagement?

Kajabi makes it surprisingly easy to turn curious visitors into active students by using its built-in marketing funnels. Think of a funnel as a guided path that takes someone from discovering your offer, to signing up for your free material, to eventually enrolling in your main course. With just a few clicks, you can set up every step, landing pages, email follow-ups, and checkout forms, all under one roof.

Here’s a typical example: You might offer a free guide or cheat sheet in exchange for an email address. Once someone signs up, they’re automatically added to a pre-written email sequence that nurtures the relationship, maybe sending a thank you note, delivering the freebie, and gently introducing your paid course as the next step. If they decide to enroll, the system routes them to a thank you page and enrolls them in the course instantly, eliminating any manual work on your end.

But that’s just the beginning. Kajabi lets you create custom automations without needing a tech degree. You could set it up so that:

• When a student completes a quiz or assessment, they get a congratulatory email or an invitation to a new module.
• If someone hasn’t logged in for a while, they receive a friendly reminder to continue progressing.
• After course completion, learners could automatically receive a certificate or an offer for your next-level program.
• Cancelled subscriptions might trigger a re-engagement email or a feedback survey to learn why they left.

All of this can be managed through their library of templates (so you don’t have to start from scratch), plus if you want more control, there are if-this-then-that style options to craft exactly the response you want at every touchpoint. Since email marketing is baked into the platform, you also get reliable tracking, making it simple to see which messages are opening doors and which could use a tweak.

With robust tools like these, you’ll be able to keep your students engaged and your business running on autopilot, freeing you up to focus on what really matters: creating great content and helping your students succeed.

What types of automation and CRM capabilities does Simplero offer to online course creators?

Simplero goes far beyond basic course delivery, it's a full-featured solution that brings together course creation, customer management, and powerful automation under one roof. If you're juggling multiple tools to keep your business running, Simplero’s all-in-one approach can save you serious time and hassle.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

• Robust Marketing Automation: Build automated email sequences to nurture prospects and students. You can set up entire campaigns that guide new leads from curiosity to enrollment, without lifting a finger after setup.
• Flexible List Management: Organize your audience using tags, segments, and lists. This makes it a breeze to send the right message to the right person, whether you’re marketing a new program, upselling graduates, or checking in with past students.
• Centralized CRM Tools: Keep all your customer info in one place, from contact records to purchase history, survey responses, and course completion data. Tools like Salesforce or Zapier can often be cobbled together, but Simplero gives you one dashboard for a clear snapshot of your audience.
• Sales and Financial Tracking: Monitor revenue, subscriptions, and student purchases, all inside the platform. No more bouncing between spreadsheets and payment providers.
• Prebuilt Automation Templates: Not sure how to structure your marketing? Tap into ready-made templates like Course Launch Challenges or onboarding sequences and customize them for your own brand.

Plus, with integrations for third-party services like ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit, you can easily connect Simplero to your favorite funnels, forms, and lead gen tools. If you’re looking for a system where CRM, automation, and course creation work seamlessly together, Simplero makes it simple to run, and grow, your course business.

What is the process for logging new course orders into a spreadsheet for sales tracking?

Keeping tabs on your course sales is key to scaling efficiently, and the good news is, you don’t have to rely on manual data entry. Most online course platforms, like LearnWorlds and Thinkific, offer smooth integrations with tools such as Google Sheets. With a few clicks, you can automatically record each new course order into a dedicated spreadsheet.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Connect Your Course Platform and Spreadsheet: Most platforms support integrations (either built-in or via third-party tools) that let you link your online school with Google Sheets.
• Set Up Order Logging: Once connected, every time a new student enrolls or an order is placed, a new row is added to your spreadsheet. This row usually includes details like student name, purchase date, course purchased, payment amount, and any other key info.
• Track, Sort, and Analyze: With all your sales data in one central sheet, you can filter by date, course, or student, helping you spot trends and manage finances with ease. You can even use this data to automate follow-up emails, send thank-you notes, or create custom reports.

By streamlining this process, you’ll always have an up-to-date snapshot of your sales, and your growing customer base will never slip through the cracks.

What is the best way to keep a record of new users or customers from my online course platform in a centralized spreadsheet?

One of the simplest ways to manage your student data across multiple platforms is to set up an automated system that logs every new sign-up or order directly into a Google Sheet (or similar spreadsheet tool). This not only gives you a real-time, centralized database, but also makes it easy to track customer details, purchase history, and course enrollments at a glance.

Here’s how this can help streamline your workflow:

• Automatic Updates: With the right automation in place, every new student or sale is instantly recorded, no manual data entry required.
• Easy Organization: View and sort your customers by course, date joined, or status with simple spreadsheet filters.
• Enhanced Insight: Add custom columns for notes, status updates, or tags, making it easy to segment your audience for targeted emails or future promotions.
• Seamless Integration: Once your data lives in a spreadsheet, you can easily connect it to email marketing tools, CRM software, or other apps for advanced automation.

If you’re using course platforms like LearnWorlds or Thinkific, check if they offer integrations with tools like Google Sheets. With these integrations, you can automatically log new users or sales and keep your records clean, updated, and always at your fingertips.

How can I log new purchases from my online course platform into a spreadsheet for easier sales tracking and analysis?

Keeping up with your online course sales doesn’t have to mean wrangling endless downloads or getting lost in your platform’s backend. Luckily, you can set up automations that push every new purchase directly into a Google Sheet (or your spreadsheet tool of choice), giving you a real-time, organized sales ledger, without any heavy lifting.

Here’s how you can make this work:

• Connect Your Course Platform to Google Sheets: Most popular platforms like LearnWorlds or Thinkific allow for integrations that automatically log each new sale as a row in your chosen spreadsheet. No manual entry required!
• Customize the Data You Collect: Decide which details you want tracked, such as the buyer’s name, course title, purchase amount, and purchase date. This way, your spreadsheet isn’t just a receipt log, it’s a full-blown sales dashboard.
• Sort, Filter, and Analyze With Ease: Once your sales data lands in the spreadsheet, you can use filters, charts, and even pivot tables to spot trends, track growth, and make informed decisions about what’s working best.

With these automations in place, not only do you save precious admin time, but you’ll have instant access to insights that help you fine-tune your course offerings and marketing strategies.

Manually tracking every sale can quickly become a headache as your course business grows. The good news? You don’t have to do it by hand! Many online course platforms, like Podia, Teachable, or Thinkific integrate seamlessly with tools such as Google Sheets to automatically log each transaction.

For example, you can set up an integration using a workflow automation service (like Zapier or Make). This way, whenever you make a sale, the relevant details (such as the buyer’s name, course purchased, date, and amount) are instantly added to a Google Sheet of your choice. Here’s how this helps:

• No more copying sales data by hand, saving you hours each month
• Sales records stay up-to-date for easy tracking and reporting
• It’s simple to review your revenue, spot trends, and plan your next moves

To set this up, choose your course platform and connect it to your spreadsheet tool via your preferred automation service. Configure the workflow once, and you’ll have real-time records without lifting a finger! This frees you up to focus on what really matters: delivering great learning experiences and growing your business.

How can I improve completion rates for my online courses?

• Make sure your course is well-structured.
• Use a course structure that makes sense to your audience.
• Have good marketing copy.
• Use a video that is engaging and easy to follow.

There are many ways you can improve completion rates for your online courses, but these steps will help ensure that students stay engaged throughout their time with you as an instructor!

What are best practices for creating high-quality video lessons for online courses?

Creating compelling video lessons is essential to keeping students motivated and invested in your course. Here are some simple strategies to make your videos both memorable and professional:

• Prioritise crisp audio and sharp visuals. Use a decent microphone and film in a well-lit, quiet spot. Even affordable smartphones can produce impressive results when paired with softbox lights or a ring light from Amazon.
• Keep videos concise and focused. Break content into short, manageable modules, think TED Talk length, not feature film. This makes ideas easier to digest and helps students track their progress.
• Enhance clarity and accessibility. Edit your videos using beginner-friendly tools like iMovie or DaVinci Resolve. Add captions, graphics, or on-screen keywords to reinforce learning and accommodate different learning styles.
• Bring energy and personality. Speak clearly, inject a bit of your own enthusiasm, and use anecdotes or real-world examples (imagine you’re explaining a concept to a friend over coffee).
• Plan a logical structure. Outline your lesson flow before hitting record so students always know what to expect, and can easily jump to the topics that matter most to them.

These simple tweaks can make your course videos far more engaging, practical, and professional, no Hollywood budget required!

How can I improve customer retention for my online course business?

As an online course business, you need to make sure that all of these things are in place. If any one of them is missing, it could cost you customers and money.

The first step is to have a great product. You can't have an excellent customer service team if your product isn't worth buying in the first place! So make sure your course content is high quality and relevant for people who want to learn about it, if it isn't, then no amount of marketing will help increase sales because there won't be enough interest from potential students for them to buy into what you're selling.

Next up: customer service! Once someone has signed up for one of our courses (or any other online course), we always try our best not only deliver great content but also provide excellent support throughout their entire experience with us, whether that means answering questions via email or phone call/video call sessions where possible depending on how much time each student wants me spend working with them personally versus just providing materials through email updates etcetera). This way everyone gets exactly what they need without feeling overwhelmed by having too many options available at once.

What pricing plans and features are available from Thinkific?

If you’re considering Thinkific for your online course business, you’ll find a range of pricing options designed to fit your needs as you grow. Plans start at a reasonable monthly rate and include generous features, even at the entry level.

• Core features across all plans: Unlimited courses and students, the ability to use your own custom domain, and zero transaction fees - so you keep more of your hard-earned revenue.
• Drip content and course delivery tools: Even on the most affordable plan, you can schedule lessons to release at your own pace, helping keep students engaged without overwhelming them.
• Professional upgrades: As you scale up, higher tiers unlock advanced options like private or hidden courses, bulk student email features, custom branding, and more detailed analytics.

There’s usually a free trial or even a free tier so you can get a feel for the platform before making a commitment. With flexible choices, you can pick the plan that aligns best with your teaching goals and business ambitions.

How does LearnWorlds stand out in terms of customizability and AI-assisted course creation?

One of the biggest reasons some educators gravitate toward LearnWorlds is its almost-unmatched flexibility in course site design. While many platforms have moved toward locked-down page templates, LearnWorlds still lets you truly make your courses your own. Picture this: you start with a solid selection of templates, but you can tweak virtually everything, layouts, color schemes, font styles, and even the smallest interactive elements like buttons and input fields. It’s the closest you’ll get to crafting a custom-branded experience without hiring a web designer.

But the customizability isn’t just skin-deep. LearnWorlds has also stepped up their AI game. Instead of simply generating a generic course outline based on a title, it walks you through a bunch of content preferences first. You’ll check off the types of media you want to include (think videos, quizzes, downloadable resources), pick the tone and instructional style that matches your teaching approach, and even identify core topics or recommended activities right from the start. The result? A tailored course framework that you can then refine in their remarkably intuitive editor, saving you hours of outlining and organizing.

Whether you want the creative freedom to make your course site truly your own, or you’re craving a head start with smart automation, LearnWorlds covers both bases, making it a standout choice for instructors who value both polish and efficiency.

What built-in marketing features are available in Kajabi, and how do they streamline course promotion?

When it comes to promoting your online courses, having an all-in-one toolkit can really lighten your workload, and Kajabi steps up to the plate with a robust set of features designed for busy instructors.

• Plug-and-play marketing funnels: Kajabi provides ready-made blueprints, think of them as step-by-step pathways guiding a potential student from your landing page all the way to checkout. Whether you’re offering a free resource (like an eBook or cheat sheet) to collect emails, inviting users into a carefully crafted email sequence, or presenting your paid course with a polished sales page, the platform handles the heavy lifting. You just plug in your content, and your marketing funnel is practically ready to roll.
• Automated email campaigns: Once someone joins your email list (perhaps after downloading your freebie), Kajabi can automatically send targeted emails. Welcome them, nurture their interest, or follow up with exclusive offers, all without you having to manually hit send. Built-in templates keep everything on brand, and you can tailor your messaging to different audience segments with just a few clicks.
• Customizable automations: For those who want a more hands-on approach, Kajabi lets you set up custom automations based on actions your students take. For example, you can automatically send a congratulatory email when a module is completed, remind students who’ve been inactive for a while, or even trigger an invitation to a live Q&A after a form submission.
• Native tracking and analytics: Since email is baked into the platform, you can easily monitor how your campaigns are performing, open rates, click rates, and more, right from your dashboard.

All together, these features mean you can build, launch, and fine-tune your entire marketing process inside one platform, no juggling a dozen different tools, no need for coding, and no technical headaches. This kind of setup frees you up to focus on what really matters: creating top-notch course content and building relationships with your students.

Conclusion

The best way to start selling your online course is by creating a website and promoting it on social media. You can also promote your business through paid ads on Facebook and Google, but this might not be necessary if your content is good enough. Once you have enrolled some students, try sending them personalised emails every week with new lessons or assignments that help them progress at their own pace.