Creating a successful course is easier than you think! Whether you’re looking to generate passive income or simply want to share your knowledge with others, there are a few key things you need to know in order to make your course a success.

1. Choose a topic that people are interested in and that you’re passionate about. 

Do some research and see what topics people are searching for because you want to choose a topic that people want to learn about. Make sure there’s a demand for the type of course you want to create. What topics are people searching for online? What do you want students to learn by taking it?  Turn your knowledge into a course. Yes, there are many online courses available, however, your understanding and knowledge of the topic is unique to you. Breathe depth into your content. Expanding on what you know about the topic will be the blueprint for your course.

2. Choose a format and create a course outline that covers the basics of the topic. 

Make sure it’s well organized and easy to follow. Choose a topic that people are interested in learning more about. Do your research – make sure there is a market for your course. Write high-quality content that is both informative and engaging for your target audience.

The cost of creating an online course will depend on the amount of work you want to invest. If you’re creating the course yourself, that means other than your time your expenses are minimal. There are services that will help you with preparing your content, but you will still need the basics.  Online course platforms are experiencing huge growth. While purchasing one of these platforms might be above your budget, they often give unlimited access allowing you to create more courses in the future. Either way creating a format is critical if you want people to actually buy your course. 

3. Visual and interactive content will help you stand out to appear as the authority in your course. 

Consider adding questions, quizzes, or slides to add life to your online course. Not only will your students be impressed by what they’re learning, but it will also keep their attention. If possible invite student participation. Creating involvement is an effective skill that will create a connection with your audience. You can record your course in advance using a teleprompting app. Otherwise, you can record your live training and repurpose onto your course platform. The good news is that there are ways to edit your video material either way. The key is hitting the record button. 

4. Create a landing page to promote your course. 

Make it easy for students to enroll and pay for your course. You can create a landing page yourself or hire someone to create one for you. Your landing page is your sales page. It is your all-in-one page where visitors learn the value of your course and can get started with one click. The landing page will collect your student’s contact information so you can add more value to their course experience.

5. Market your course to attract students. 

Be your own public relations resource. Use multimedia to add visual interest. The more people that know about your course, the more revenue you can generate. Offer bonuses and incentives to encourage people to sign up for your class. Create a free offer, otherwise known as a tripwire to introduce your landing page. Create a blog post announcing your online course and send out emails to your subscribers. Market your course across every social media platform possible. Can you be a guest on a podcast? Finally, if you don’t have a website yet, now is the time.

Whether you’re an expert in a particular topic or you’re just starting out, these are the things you can do to set yourself up for success. When the course is over, ask your students for testimonials. Using social proof will add credibility towards promoting your new online course you’ve created over and over again. There has never been a better time than now to create an online course.