Want to know everything there is to know about online course development? There\u2019s one simple way to get there. Take an online course that teaches you how to create an online course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online course platforms will help you create your class, and while doing so, you\u2019ll get plenty of inspiration for what they will look like.
Check out these 3 free online courses on how to create an online course:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Thinkific Fast Track Training (Free)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Thinkific](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Thinkific-fast-track-training-on-how-to-create-an-online-course.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith Thinkific Fast Track<\/a>, you can learn how to build your own! It helps you fast-track your way to publishing your online course in under 30 days, but most people will do that even faster. Thinkific says it already helped over 40.000 course creators get started.
We found it an easy-to-understand guide that focuses on the essentials. You\u2019ll learn everything you need to know to create a successful online course. And best of all – it\u2019s completely free.
What\u2019s included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Welcome to Fast Track<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create your Course – a guide to creating a course, adding lessons and support<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create your Course Website – how to set up the course website with branding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Publish your Course – add a price, set up checkout, then publish and test<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Running Your Business – how to manage students and users and analyze reports<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Finishing Up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n Get Fast Track from Thinkific Academy<\/a>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>LearnWorlds Academy<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe LearnWorlds Academy<\/a> has various guides on every aspect of successful online course development. Building a course from scratch, creating video content, and marketing your class. You\u2019ll find everything you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet free training from the LearnWorld Academy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Teachable<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTeachable\u2019s blog<\/a> is a fantastic place to learn everything related to online courses. You\u2019ll surely be off to a great start, from strategies to tried-and-true tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLearn course creation from Teachable<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>How to create an online course in 8 steps<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe deeper you dig, the more daunting building your online course seems. The same goes for almost any new project or activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t know where<\/em> to start, that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe first thing to do is take a step back and look at the online course creation process step-by-step. Things will become much clearer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the 8 steps to creating your online course:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Choose your subject.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Validate the idea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set income goals and price the course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Gather the information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Prepare an online course outline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Research and choose a platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create the online class content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Publish, market, and sell the course.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get you on your way to creating online courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>1. Choose a topic for your online course<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"choosing](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choosing-a-topic-when-creating-an-online-course.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis probably comes as no surprise. But I\u2019ll say it anyway. Choosing a topic to teach<\/strong> should be the first thing for course creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIs there one specific skill you want to share your expertise in? Then this is a no-brainer. But you don\u2019t need decades of experience or a PhD to build an online course. All you need is to ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- What do you want to teach?<\/strong>
This can be anything that you\u2019re passionate about. Topics you\u2019re not committed to aren\u2019t a great choice. After all, you\u2019ll have to spend some serious time on it. The more you know about the topic already, the less research you’ll have to do. <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n- What are you good at?<\/strong>
To make this choice easier, think about what people consider you an authority on. What are the topics they want your help with? You don\u2019t need to be a recognized expert in the field, you just need to be good enough to add some value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- What do people want to learn?<\/strong>
This one\u2019s a bit harder to pinpoint. There\u2019s no point in creating online courses no one wants to buy, right? You want to find out if your topic and curriculum are interesting enough for people to open their wallets for your training. So it\u2019s a good idea to validate your course idea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nAnswering the first two questions will give you at least a list of ideas for online course topics. Once you\u2019ve got your list, it\u2019s time to test the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>2. Validate your subject idea<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCheck if you\u2019ve chosen the right subject.<\/strong> This is essential to your online course\u2019s success. So, I\u2019ll give you a couple of methods you can use. More often than not, the best option is to use multiple. This will give you better results.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTwo effective strategies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating a landing page<\/strong>
This might sound a bit strange. You haven\u2019t even created the course yet! What\u2019s the point of a landing page? Yes, the online course doesn\u2019t exist. But you already know what you want to teach. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ll need 4 things to validate you idea. Great visuals, a clear description of the course<\/a> and its subject, the expected learning outcome, and a great landing page builder<\/a>. If you can put your idea into enticing words, you\u2019re good to go. A landing page is a good way to collect email leads, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSee what the public is talking about<\/strong>
Don\u2019t underestimate online groups and forums. They can be your greatest source of insight! Look for any place where there\u2019s a discussion on your chosen course topic. Facebook groups, Quora, and subreddits are great places to start. You can expand the search radius to more specific sites based on the topic. For example, DIY or gardening forums. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you choose the second method, consider actively engaging with the community. Answer questions, share a tip or two, etc. I\u2019ll talk about why this is important a bit later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I said, the best tactic is using both a landing page and groups and forums. If you have an attractive landing page, you can share it with the community to pique their interest. It\u2019s a great way to promote your online course before you\u2019ve even started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After some time, you\u2019ll have enough data to analyze. This will show you if you\u2019ve chosen a good subject that people are interested in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>3. Set your income goals and price the course<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou now have your topic and a good idea of how many people are interested in such a class. The next step is to set clear goals<\/strong> for the online course. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis step can seem difficult, I know. How do you know how many people will buy the class? You haven\u2019t even set a price yet! Don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s simpler than you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting target goals for your online course is one of the more important parts of the whole course creation process. It\u2019s how you measure whether the class is successful. And what\u2019s more, setting an income goal will help you figure out how much you should be selling it for. Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, you already know what the demand for your course is. You\u2019ve validated your idea. With that in mind, set realistic goals. If you\u2019ve only seen a couple of people talk about it online, you probably won\u2019t be able to sell it to 100 others. But how exactly do you figure all this out? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The folks over at Teachable<\/a> have come up with a simple and effective formula you can use to set your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"formula](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/formula-for-calculating-income-goals-and-price-the-course.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Expected number of sales<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOne of the most important parts of this formula is the number of sales you can expect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe standard conversion rate is 2%. So, if you have an email list of 100 people, two of them will probably buy what you\u2019re selling. From a list of 1000, you can expect to make around 20 sales. Pretty simple, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just multiply the number of subscribers you have by 0.02, and voila! You have your expected number of sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Course price and revenue goal<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis part is a bit tricky. Not because it\u2019s difficult to calculate. Lots of people fall into the trap of either unrealistic expectations or underpricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I mentioned above that you\u2019d want to set realistic goals<\/strong> for your course. Here\u2019s how this plays into your pricing. Let\u2019s say your revenue goal is $5000. If you set the course price at $200, you\u2019ll need to sell it to 25 people to reach your target.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe two most common ways to go about this when creating an online course are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Set the revenue goal and the course price first.<\/strong> Then, use them to find the number of sales you need to make.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set the revenue goal and find the expected number of sales first.<\/strong> Then, use them to set the course price.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
One way isn\u2019t necessarily better than the other. It\u2019s all about what works for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might have seen the example price of $200 and thought, \u201cWow, isn\u2019t this a bit expensive?\u201d<\/em>. That depends on how much value you\u2019ve added to your online course. I\u2019ll cover this in more detail later, so stick with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce you\u2019re happy with the revenue goal and the course price, it\u2019s time for the real work to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>4. Gather your knowledge and information<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"gathering](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gathering-knowledge-when-creating-an-online-course-in-2022.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBefore you start working on your first online course content, you must prepare. That\u2019s right – it\u2019s time to research<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s safe to say you have a good idea of what you need to talk about in the class. So, gathering the information shouldn\u2019t be too difficult. But you can make it even easier by simply paying attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What parts of the course material are people the most interested in? What are they talking about often? What do they want to know? That doesn\u2019t mean you should only<\/em> focus on these specific areas. But knowing your audience\u2019s pain points will help you tailor an online course that helps them learn exactly what they want!<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, when I say \u201cresearch\u201d, I don\u2019t mean doing a few Google searches. If your students can easily find the same information online for free<\/em>, then there\u2019s no point in paying for the course, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\nSo, go above and beyond! After all, you\u2019ll want to provide as much value as possible, so your students don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re being ripped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>5. Prepare an online course outline<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOnce you\u2019ve gathered all the necessary knowledge and information, you can start organising it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know it\u2019s probably not an easy task to just write a perfect course outline from scratch. But that\u2019s ok! It doesn\u2019t need to be organised immediately. You just have to start somewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep in mind your research from the previous step. Start writing down everything you want to talk about. Don\u2019t worry about the order yet. Just let loose a stream of consciousness! This can be anything you want to cover, from main topics to the smallest details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Prepare a course timeline<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNow that you have all your talking points, you can start organising them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When creating an online course outline, think about an order that would feel natural to a beginner<\/strong>. Normally, this means starting with the basics – the ABCs – and diving deeper as you go along. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis can be difficult if you\u2019re a long-time expert on the topic. After all, it\u2019s been ages since you learned this stuff! But that won\u2019t be the case for someone just starting. They probably won\u2019t have any idea about things that you consider common knowledge at this point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, take the time to explain all the essentials to your students. Trust me, they\u2019ll appreciate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Break down each lesson<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve already decided on a natural progression for the course. As with all other online courses, each lesson will have its own set of new information. You most likely haven\u2019t written down every single talking point<\/em>. So, now\u2019s the time to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTake the main subject of your first lesson. Then, write down everything you need to talk about<\/strong>. You don\u2019t need to go into detail – after all, you should know your course material well enough by now. <\/p>\n\n\n\nJust make a simple bullet list so you don\u2019t accidentally skip an important bit of information. If you need to, you can add bullets for each bullet, too. That way, you can be sure you won\u2019t forget to mention anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then just do the same for all of the remaining lessons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These lists of talking points will act as a script of sorts. You won\u2019t have to stop in the middle of recording and rummage through piles of notes to find what you need to talk about next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro Tip:<\/strong> Make sure to include an introduction and a conclusion to the course. It will make the whole course feel natural. You\u2019re gently introducing the course to your students, then recapping everything they\u2019ve learned at the end. A short introduction and conclusion for each lesson or video can help your students retain the information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Specify learning objectives for every lesson<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNow that you have an outline for your lessons, set a learning outcome<\/strong> for each. You can include them in the video’s description or list them in the intro. Or both!<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should do this for the entire course, too. Still, small \u201cmilestones\u201d are very helpful. They will give your students a sense of progression and accomplishment. And we all love being encouraged and feeling like we\u2019re making progress!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6. Research and choose a platform<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne aspect that can play a huge part in your success is where you choose to publish your online course<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you have a website, you can easily host your course there. It\u2019s not that difficult to do and gives you much more freedom. But an online course platform can be a great option for those who aren\u2019t tech-savvy or just want to go the easier route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tough part is choosing the right one. It might seem more logical to create the course content and find a home for it afterward. It makes sense. But if you want to publish on an online course marketplace, you might have to work within certain restrictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might have to keep the files under a specific size or the videos over or under a specific length. So, deciding where you want to host your online class can make a difference in how you create the content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We put together a list of the best online course platforms<\/a>. Here\u2019s a shortlist of the 3 top ones we recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Thinkific<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Thinkific-online-course-platforms.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThinkific<\/a> is one of the most popular online course platforms. They help you create and sell your online courses. The platform has easy-to-use features, email marketing tools, membership site integration, and 5-star-rated 24\/7 customer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt is an all-in-one online course system, but you can also use it with your site and marketing tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thinkific has a free version<\/a> with unlimited students, 1 admin account, the drag and drop course builder, ecommerce tools, website templates, email and phone support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPricing starts at $74\/month<\/a> for the Start plan if you sign up for a year. The Start plan has unlimited courses, students, and content. Plus custom domain, coupons, promotions, drip content, one-to-one student emails, and Thinkific Academy<\/a> Basic courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTry Thinkific for free <\/a>or read our full Thinkific review<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/span>LearnWorlds<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"LearnWorlds](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/LearnWorlds-online-course-platform-for-creating-and-selling-your-online-courses.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLearnWorlds<\/a> is another top online course platform for creating, selling and marketing your online courses. It\u2019s almost an all-in-one teaching tool. It has more functionality to create amazing online courses and training programs than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can add interactive videos with pop-up texts and quizzes, social learning, communities, and even interactive eBooks with note-taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LearnWorlds doesn\u2019t have a free plan, but they\u2019ve a 30-day free trial<\/a> with all features.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLearnWorlds\u2019 pricing starts at $24\/month<\/a> for the Starter plan if you opt for a yearly subscription. This plan includes 1 admin, custom domain, unlimited courses, website & popup builder, communities, coupons, payment gateways, drip courses, integrations, and email support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet Started with Learnworlds for free<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Teachable<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Teachable](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Teachable-online-course-creation-software.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTeachable<\/a> is a very popular online course creation software. They have over 124,000 instructors and over 28 million students. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe online courses look beautiful. Teachable is great for course creators to get started fast. You won\u2019t be able to customize every small detail of your pages. In return, it is easy to use, and you don\u2019t need any technical knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get Teachable for free<\/a> with 1 course, 1 admin user, unlimited students, website builder, referral marketing, payment processing, and email support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTeachable pricing<\/a> starts $29\/month for their Basic plan, billed annually. It includes unlimited courses and students, 2 admin users, custom domain, integrations, and email marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSign up to Teachable for free<\/a> or read our full review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith Thinkific Fast Track<\/a>, you can learn how to build your own! It helps you fast-track your way to publishing your online course in under 30 days, but most people will do that even faster. Thinkific says it already helped over 40.000 course creators get started. The LearnWorlds Academy<\/a> has various guides on every aspect of successful online course development. Building a course from scratch, creating video content, and marketing your class. You\u2019ll find everything you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get free training from the LearnWorld Academy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Teachable\u2019s blog<\/a> is a fantastic place to learn everything related to online courses. You\u2019ll surely be off to a great start, from strategies to tried-and-true tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn course creation from Teachable<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The deeper you dig, the more daunting building your online course seems. The same goes for almost any new project or activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t know where<\/em> to start, that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing to do is take a step back and look at the online course creation process step-by-step. Things will become much clearer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are the 8 steps to creating your online course:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get you on your way to creating online courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This probably comes as no surprise. But I\u2019ll say it anyway. Choosing a topic to teach<\/strong> should be the first thing for course creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there one specific skill you want to share your expertise in? Then this is a no-brainer. But you don\u2019t need decades of experience or a PhD to build an online course. All you need is to ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answering the first two questions will give you at least a list of ideas for online course topics. Once you\u2019ve got your list, it\u2019s time to test the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check if you\u2019ve chosen the right subject.<\/strong> This is essential to your online course\u2019s success. So, I\u2019ll give you a couple of methods you can use. More often than not, the best option is to use multiple. This will give you better results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two effective strategies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a landing page<\/strong> You\u2019ll need 4 things to validate you idea. Great visuals, a clear description of the course<\/a> and its subject, the expected learning outcome, and a great landing page builder<\/a>. If you can put your idea into enticing words, you\u2019re good to go. A landing page is a good way to collect email leads, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the public is talking about<\/strong> If you choose the second method, consider actively engaging with the community. Answer questions, share a tip or two, etc. I\u2019ll talk about why this is important a bit later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I said, the best tactic is using both a landing page and groups and forums. If you have an attractive landing page, you can share it with the community to pique their interest. It\u2019s a great way to promote your online course before you\u2019ve even started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n After some time, you\u2019ll have enough data to analyze. This will show you if you\u2019ve chosen a good subject that people are interested in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You now have your topic and a good idea of how many people are interested in such a class. The next step is to set clear goals<\/strong> for the online course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This step can seem difficult, I know. How do you know how many people will buy the class? You haven\u2019t even set a price yet! Don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s simpler than you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting target goals for your online course is one of the more important parts of the whole course creation process. It\u2019s how you measure whether the class is successful. And what\u2019s more, setting an income goal will help you figure out how much you should be selling it for. Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you already know what the demand for your course is. You\u2019ve validated your idea. With that in mind, set realistic goals. If you\u2019ve only seen a couple of people talk about it online, you probably won\u2019t be able to sell it to 100 others. But how exactly do you figure all this out? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The folks over at Teachable<\/a> have come up with a simple and effective formula you can use to set your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important parts of this formula is the number of sales you can expect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard conversion rate is 2%. So, if you have an email list of 100 people, two of them will probably buy what you\u2019re selling. From a list of 1000, you can expect to make around 20 sales. Pretty simple, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just multiply the number of subscribers you have by 0.02, and voila! You have your expected number of sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This part is a bit tricky. Not because it\u2019s difficult to calculate. Lots of people fall into the trap of either unrealistic expectations or underpricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mentioned above that you\u2019d want to set realistic goals<\/strong> for your course. Here\u2019s how this plays into your pricing. Let\u2019s say your revenue goal is $5000. If you set the course price at $200, you\u2019ll need to sell it to 25 people to reach your target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two most common ways to go about this when creating an online course are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One way isn\u2019t necessarily better than the other. It\u2019s all about what works for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You might have seen the example price of $200 and thought, \u201cWow, isn\u2019t this a bit expensive?\u201d<\/em>. That depends on how much value you\u2019ve added to your online course. I\u2019ll cover this in more detail later, so stick with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019re happy with the revenue goal and the course price, it\u2019s time for the real work to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you start working on your first online course content, you must prepare. That\u2019s right – it\u2019s time to research<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s safe to say you have a good idea of what you need to talk about in the class. So, gathering the information shouldn\u2019t be too difficult. But you can make it even easier by simply paying attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What parts of the course material are people the most interested in? What are they talking about often? What do they want to know? That doesn\u2019t mean you should only<\/em> focus on these specific areas. But knowing your audience\u2019s pain points will help you tailor an online course that helps them learn exactly what they want!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, when I say \u201cresearch\u201d, I don\u2019t mean doing a few Google searches. If your students can easily find the same information online for free<\/em>, then there\u2019s no point in paying for the course, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, go above and beyond! After all, you\u2019ll want to provide as much value as possible, so your students don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re being ripped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve gathered all the necessary knowledge and information, you can start organising it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I know it\u2019s probably not an easy task to just write a perfect course outline from scratch. But that\u2019s ok! It doesn\u2019t need to be organised immediately. You just have to start somewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind your research from the previous step. Start writing down everything you want to talk about. Don\u2019t worry about the order yet. Just let loose a stream of consciousness! This can be anything you want to cover, from main topics to the smallest details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you have all your talking points, you can start organising them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When creating an online course outline, think about an order that would feel natural to a beginner<\/strong>. Normally, this means starting with the basics – the ABCs – and diving deeper as you go along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be difficult if you\u2019re a long-time expert on the topic. After all, it\u2019s been ages since you learned this stuff! But that won\u2019t be the case for someone just starting. They probably won\u2019t have any idea about things that you consider common knowledge at this point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, take the time to explain all the essentials to your students. Trust me, they\u2019ll appreciate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve already decided on a natural progression for the course. As with all other online courses, each lesson will have its own set of new information. You most likely haven\u2019t written down every single talking point<\/em>. So, now\u2019s the time to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take the main subject of your first lesson. Then, write down everything you need to talk about<\/strong>. You don\u2019t need to go into detail – after all, you should know your course material well enough by now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just make a simple bullet list so you don\u2019t accidentally skip an important bit of information. If you need to, you can add bullets for each bullet, too. That way, you can be sure you won\u2019t forget to mention anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then just do the same for all of the remaining lessons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n These lists of talking points will act as a script of sorts. You won\u2019t have to stop in the middle of recording and rummage through piles of notes to find what you need to talk about next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> Make sure to include an introduction and a conclusion to the course. It will make the whole course feel natural. You\u2019re gently introducing the course to your students, then recapping everything they\u2019ve learned at the end. A short introduction and conclusion for each lesson or video can help your students retain the information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you have an outline for your lessons, set a learning outcome<\/strong> for each. You can include them in the video’s description or list them in the intro. Or both!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should do this for the entire course, too. Still, small \u201cmilestones\u201d are very helpful. They will give your students a sense of progression and accomplishment. And we all love being encouraged and feeling like we\u2019re making progress!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One aspect that can play a huge part in your success is where you choose to publish your online course<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a website, you can easily host your course there. It\u2019s not that difficult to do and gives you much more freedom. But an online course platform can be a great option for those who aren\u2019t tech-savvy or just want to go the easier route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The tough part is choosing the right one. It might seem more logical to create the course content and find a home for it afterward. It makes sense. But if you want to publish on an online course marketplace, you might have to work within certain restrictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You might have to keep the files under a specific size or the videos over or under a specific length. So, deciding where you want to host your online class can make a difference in how you create the content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We put together a list of the best online course platforms<\/a>. Here\u2019s a shortlist of the 3 top ones we recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinkific<\/a> is one of the most popular online course platforms. They help you create and sell your online courses. The platform has easy-to-use features, email marketing tools, membership site integration, and 5-star-rated 24\/7 customer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is an all-in-one online course system, but you can also use it with your site and marketing tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinkific has a free version<\/a> with unlimited students, 1 admin account, the drag and drop course builder, ecommerce tools, website templates, email and phone support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pricing starts at $74\/month<\/a> for the Start plan if you sign up for a year. The Start plan has unlimited courses, students, and content. Plus custom domain, coupons, promotions, drip content, one-to-one student emails, and Thinkific Academy<\/a> Basic courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTry Thinkific for free <\/a>or read our full Thinkific review<\/a>\n\n\n\n LearnWorlds<\/a> is another top online course platform for creating, selling and marketing your online courses. It\u2019s almost an all-in-one teaching tool. It has more functionality to create amazing online courses and training programs than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can add interactive videos with pop-up texts and quizzes, social learning, communities, and even interactive eBooks with note-taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LearnWorlds doesn\u2019t have a free plan, but they\u2019ve a 30-day free trial<\/a> with all features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LearnWorlds\u2019 pricing starts at $24\/month<\/a> for the Starter plan if you opt for a yearly subscription. This plan includes 1 admin, custom domain, unlimited courses, website & popup builder, communities, coupons, payment gateways, drip courses, integrations, and email support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet Started with Learnworlds for free<\/a>\n\n\n\n Teachable<\/a> is a very popular online course creation software. They have over 124,000 instructors and over 28 million students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The online courses look beautiful. Teachable is great for course creators to get started fast. You won\u2019t be able to customize every small detail of your pages. In return, it is easy to use, and you don\u2019t need any technical knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get Teachable for free<\/a> with 1 course, 1 admin user, unlimited students, website builder, referral marketing, payment processing, and email support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teachable pricing<\/a> starts $29\/month for their Basic plan, billed annually. It includes unlimited courses and students, 2 admin users, custom domain, integrations, and email marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sign up to Teachable for free<\/a> or read our full review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We found it an easy-to-understand guide that focuses on the essentials. You\u2019ll learn everything you need to know to create a successful online course. And best of all – it\u2019s completely free.
What\u2019s included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/span>LearnWorlds Academy<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Teachable<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How to create an online course in 8 steps<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>1. Choose a topic for your online course<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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This can be anything that you\u2019re passionate about. Topics you\u2019re not committed to aren\u2019t a great choice. After all, you\u2019ll have to spend some serious time on it. The more you know about the topic already, the less research you’ll have to do. <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
To make this choice easier, think about what people consider you an authority on. What are the topics they want your help with? You don\u2019t need to be a recognized expert in the field, you just need to be good enough to add some value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
This one\u2019s a bit harder to pinpoint. There\u2019s no point in creating online courses no one wants to buy, right? You want to find out if your topic and curriculum are interesting enough for people to open their wallets for your training. So it\u2019s a good idea to validate your course idea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>2. Validate your subject idea<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This might sound a bit strange. You haven\u2019t even created the course yet! What\u2019s the point of a landing page? Yes, the online course doesn\u2019t exist. But you already know what you want to teach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t underestimate online groups and forums. They can be your greatest source of insight! Look for any place where there\u2019s a discussion on your chosen course topic. Facebook groups, Quora, and subreddits are great places to start. You can expand the search radius to more specific sites based on the topic. For example, DIY or gardening forums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>3. Set your income goals and price the course<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Expected number of sales<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Course price and revenue goal<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>4. Gather your knowledge and information<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>5. Prepare an online course outline<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Prepare a course timeline<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Break down each lesson<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Specify learning objectives for every lesson<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6. Research and choose a platform<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Thinkific<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>LearnWorlds<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Teachable<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"creating](\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Creating-the-content-for-your-online-class.jpg\")
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