What the experts say...
Online courses are a great way to reach a large audience, and they can be more affordable than live courses. They also allow you to reach people all over the world, including those who are busy and don't have time to attend live courses.
In fact, many experts agree that online learning is here to stay: "Online education will become the standard for teaching and learning." - Michael Horn (author of Disrupting Class)
Keep it simple.
If you want to build highly effective online courses, then keep it simple.
That's right: keep it simple! It may sound obvious, but many people forget this when they're creating their courses. They get carried away with all the bells and whistles they can add in order to make the course look more professional or sophisticated; however, what really matters is whether or not your students can easily understand what you're teaching them. If your course isn't easy enough for them to follow along with, then there's no point in making it at all because nobody will enrol!
You should always try to keep things as short as possible, don't waste time on fluff when there are better ways of communicating information such as visuals or animations (more on those later). And don't forget that keeping things short doesn't mean cutting out important details either; rather than drowning us in information overload by throwing everything at once onto our screens without any context behind why each piece matters (or even how), explain things slowly over time so we have time digest everything before moving onto another concept/topic/lesson etcetera...
Use a great title and description.
The title and description of your course are the first thing potential students will see, so it's important to make them as enticing as possible.
- Describe what the course is about. The best way to do this is by using action verbs that describe what they can expect from taking the class: "learn," "improve," "master."
- Show how it'll help students. Highlight how their lives will change for the better if they take your course by showing them how much more money they'll make or how much less stress they'll have when all is said and done with their new skillset!
- Make sure you include some benefits for yourself as well - this could be anything from building up credibility through referrals (if applicable) or even just getting paid for doing something that would otherwise be free.
Treat your course like a product.
When you treat your course like a product, you'll be able to create something that is:
- Clear on purpose and audience (what are they going to get out of it? Are they the right people?)
- Focused on solving a problem (why should anyone take this course?)
- Easy to use (can someone follow along without getting confused?)
- Well-designed (does it look nice? Does it feel good in the hands?)
Create a workbook or checklist for students to use with the course.
A workbook is a great way to give students something they can refer back to over and over again, especially if you're teaching a subject that requires some practice or skill development. Workbooks are also useful for students who want to go at their own pace, since they can complete each section without feeling rushed or pressured by anyone else's schedule.
When creating an online course with a workbook component, consider how much information you want students to access at once, and how much time it may take them before revisiting certain concepts in future lessons or assignments. You don't want people feeling overwhelmed!
Here are some tips for getting started:
- Decide what goes into your workbook before starting on the actual creation process (e.g., videos). This will help keep everything organised as well as ensure that nothing gets left out later down the road when things get busy around here :)
Pick the right topic for you and your audience.
- You should be passionate about the topic.
- Make sure you are an expert on the topic.
- The topic should be something you can teach others and that they want to learn about.
- The course needs to have potential for making money from it (either by selling it or using it as a lead generation tool).
Personalise your content and make sure students can connect with you in some way, shape or form!
One of the best ways to make sure your students are getting what they need is by connecting with them. You can do this in a number of ways, but here are some ideas:
- Give them a way to ask questions and get answers. This could be through email, live chat or even phone calls.
- Make sure that each lesson contains time for feedback at the end so you can gather information on how well they understand what was taught in that particular lesson.
Offer up different sections of your course at different times so that students can start anytime and have access to the full program later on down the road.
For example, if you're teaching a course on how to build effective online courses, offer three modules: 1) How To Get Started With Your First Course; 2) How To Make Your Courses Better (with Additional Training); 3) How To Make A Career Out Of Building Online Courses That Students Love!
When the first module is completed, give them an option to buy modules two and three separately or together as part of an add-on package. This way you can still make money from those who want more information about improving their current courses but also sell additional products for those who want more advanced training in building profitable online programs.
Include a group coaching component to get feedback from fellow students and build community within your course offering.
- Group coaching can be done in a variety of ways, including real-time or asynchronous.
- Group coaching is a great way to build community and help students feel less alone. In fact, it's one of the most effective ways to make sure they stay engaged with the material and each other throughout your course offering.
- By sharing their questions, challenges, and successes with each other, and getting feedback from other members of their cohort, students will be more likely to stick with their studies until they reach completion (or at least until they feel confident enough about what they're learning).
FAQs on building online courses
In the FAQ section below, we'll address common questions and concerns related to building highly effective online courses and increasing enrollments. This section aims to provide additional insights and guidance to help you create compelling, results-driven online courses that attract and retain learners, ensuring a rewarding educational experience for all.
What is the best platform to host my online courses?
When choosing the best platform to host your online courses, it's essential to consider several factors such as ease of use, customization options, pricing, and support for multimedia content. While numerous platforms cater to various needs and preferences, we'll highlight a few popular and reputable options to help you make an informed decision.
- Teachable: Teachable is a user-friendly platform that allows you to create and sell online courses with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It offers a range of customization options, integrated payment processing, and marketing tools to help you grow your online course business.
- Thinkific: Thinkific is another popular choice for hosting online courses, offering a comprehensive suite of features, including multimedia support, customizable design, and seamless integration with other tools. The platform also provides a variety of pricing options to accommodate different budgets.
- Kajabi: Kajabi is an all-in-one platform for creating, marketing, and selling online courses. It combines a course creation platform with marketing tools, a website builder, and a CRM system, making it an excellent choice for those who want a comprehensive solution for their online course business.
- LearnDash: LearnDash is a powerful learning management system (LMS) plugin for WordPress, offering advanced course creation features and a high level of customization. It's an ideal choice for those who already have a WordPress website and want to integrate online courses seamlessly.
- Podia: Podia is a user-friendly platform for creating and selling online courses, digital products, and memberships. It offers an intuitive course builder, email marketing tools, and unlimited hosting, making it a great option for creators looking for a simple yet powerful solution.
In conclusion, the best platform for hosting your online courses depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences. Take the time to explore each platform's features and pricing to determine which one aligns best with your goals and requirements.
What are great marketing strategies to promote online courses?
The first thing you need to do is figure out which marketing channels are right for your niche. Here's a list of some of the best:
- Social media
- Affiliate marketing
- Influencer marketing (e.g., if you're selling a course on making macarons, reaching out to famous chefs or food bloggers who have large followings)
- Email marketing (via an autoresponder) - this can be used in conjunction with other methods listed below!
Once you've got those down, there are several more advanced strategies that are worth trying if they fit into your business model:
- Paid ads (Facebook Ads, Google Adwords etc.) * Content Marketing/Video Marketing
What are the advantages of pre-recorded courses vs live courses?
- Live courses are more interactive.
- Live courses can be more fun.
- Live courses can be more engaging.
- Live courses can be more flexible, allowing you to change the content of your course and add new modules as needed, based on student feedback and demand for new skills in the job market (and not just when you have time). In addition, live classes allow you to interact with your students directly through video chat or voice calls, and this helps make them feel like they're receiving personalised attention from an expert who cares about them (which makes them happier customers). You'll also get real-time feedback on how well things are going and where improvements could be made without having to wait until after class has ended!
What are the advantages of live courses vs pre-recorded courses?
Live courses are more interactive and engaging. Live courses allow you to engage with your students in real-time, which makes them more fun for both you and your students. And because they're live, you can offer immediate feedback on what's working well in the course, as well as what needs improvement.
Live courses also have a sense of urgency about them, you can't just watch a prerecorded video at any time; people need to tune in when it airs (or buy access). This adds an element of personalization that helps boost engagement levels even further!
Conclusion
So, what are you waiting for? It's time to get started building your own online course and start making money!
