If you’ve thought about creating an online course, this is the time to get started.

Here’s the deal, traditional education has gotten crazy expensive.

The advantage is that if you package your knowledge and experience into an affordable video series, you can make good money and help others level up their skills.

We get it, online courses can have a less than favorable reputation. 

But, instead of talking about this from “here in my garage” we’re just going to share some tried and true principles that will help you structure your knowledge into something that will help others learn.

Let’s go!

Why Create an Online Course?

Online learning has been booming, especially since COVID.

According to this article by Devlin Peck, “Online learning is set to grow by more than 200% between 2020 and 2025”.

Online video courses offer a scalable way to generate somewhat passive income and add real value to the world.

Coach, creative, entrepreneur, or hobbyist, if you have valuable knowledge to share, there’s an audience ready to learn from you.

Choosing the Best Topic for a Course

The success of your online course starts with picking the right topic.

What are you knowledgeable about and enjoy talking about? 

Here’s how to find the sweet spot.

Think About What you Already Know

This could be something you do for your day job, coding, marketing, sales, or logistics. 

Or, this could have nothing to do with your day job, baking, knitting, playing piano, or painting.

Think about 3 to 5 things you love talking about and are decently good at.

Another approach is to think about what people are always asking you about.

You don’t have to have fully mastered these things to share what you know, but maybe avoid creating a course on stock trading if you just started last week.

Make Sure People Want Your Course

Before doing all the work of creating a course, see if there’s a demand for what you’ll offer.

Try:

• Google & YouTube Searches – See if people are searching for tutorials and content on your topic.
• Checking out Existing Courses – If others are selling courses on the same subject, that’s a good sign.
• Asking Your Community – Check out Facebook groups, Reddit, or Quora to see what questions people are asking about your topic. Or just ask your friends.

Prove Your Concept

Another way to see if you’ll have success creating a course is to see if you can generate some engagement by offering free content.

Try:

• Offering a Free Mini Training – Gauge interest with a live webinar, challenge, or free guide before committing to a full course.
• Creating Some Youtube Content – This is a fantastic way to put some content out based on what you want to teach and gain an audience you can eventually pitch a full course to.

Creating a course is a great opportunity to create some passive income but it’s worth doing some investigating to avoid working on the wrong thing.

Plan Out Your Course

A well-organized course keeps students engaged and helps them learn.

Avoid overwhelming learners with information.

Instead, focus on creating step-by-step content that makes it simple to follow and apply. (at least as much as the subject allows)

Break Your Course into Modules & Lessons

A good way to structure your course is by breaking it into modules (big main topics) and lessons (small, focused teachings within each module).

For example, if your course is on teaching someone to shoot wedding photos, a module would be “Lighting” and lessons within that module would be “Lighting Basics”, “When to Shoot, and “Essential Tools for Better Lighting”

Cater to Different Learning Styles

People absorb information in different ways, so try to include a mix of learning formats in your course.

Think about:

• Visual Learners – Use slides and infographics to help show concepts.
• Auditory Learners – Include detailed spoken explanations and downloadable audio versions
• Hands-On Learners –  Provide exercises, worksheets, or action steps

Catering to each style of learner will take some extra time, but the more accessible your course is, the more likely it is to sell.

Create a Course That Flows

Having a well structured outline will ensure your course is easy to follow.

Here’s a few quick tips:

• Start with an introduction – Welcome students and set expectations of what they should understand by the end.
• Organize content in a logical order – Each module should build on the previous one. For example, start by talking about what equipment you’ll need for taking photos before talking about a specific technique
• End with a strong conclusion – Sum up the key takeaways and provide the next steps to help your students apply what they’ve learned.

Think about the student’s journey where they start, what challenges they face, and how your course helps them reach their goals.

Creating High-Quality Course Content

The way you present your content impacts how well students learn and stay engaged. 

Whether you use video, written materials, or live sessions, the key is clarity and simply communicating what you want a student to understand.

What Kind of Content Works Best?

Each content format has its pros and cons.

The best approach depends on your teaching style and audience preferences.

The main three are video lessons, written guides, and live training/Q&A sessions.

Video Lessons

A lot of courses have a video component if not an entire video series. 

Videos are engaging and a good format for demonstrating concepts visually.

People also like to see and hear from their instructor, videos are pretty much the best way to add personal touches to your course.

Think about this, what if there’s already a course on what you want to teach, but, you’re good on camera and have a strong personality?

That’ll make it easier for you to market your course.

Written Guides & PDFs

A good fit for learners who prefer reading, taking notes, or referencing material at their own pace. 

Even If you have a video course, you could still include some extra downloadable resources like summaries and worksheets to keep students engaged.

Live Sessions & Q&As

These encourage interaction and real-time learning. 

Great for coaching, feedback, and building community.

A mix of formats works best.

Videos for core lessons, written resources for deeper understanding, and occasional live sessions for engagement.

Tools for Recording and Producing Your Course

Alright, so you’ve got your topic, you’ve got an outline, now how do you actually record and produce this course?

We’ve done our best to compile a list of resources to help you record and distribute the content for your course.

This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, but these are some ideas to help get you started.

Recording Software Options

• Loom – Easy-to-use screen recording tool with instant sharing. Great for quick tutorials and walkthroughs.
• Camtasia – Professional screen recording and video editing software with built-in effects. Best for polished, high-quality lessons.
• ScreenFlow – Mac-only screen recording and editing tool with a simple interface. Ideal for high-resolution recordings with animations.
• Zoom – Best for live sessions, webinars, and interactive Q&As. Can also record sessions for later access.

Options for Editing Software

• iMovie – Free and beginner-friendly video editing software for Mac users. Great for basic cuts, transitions, and adding text.
• Adobe Premiere Pro – Professional-grade editing software with advanced features for high-quality video production. Best for detailed edits and effects.
• Descript – Unique tool that edits video like a text document, with automatic transcription and AI-powered features. Ideal for quick edits and captions.

Microphone Options

• Blue Yeti – High-quality USB microphone with multiple recording modes. Great for voiceovers and talking-head videos.
• Rode NT-USB – Crisp, professional audio with a built-in pop filter. Ideal for clear voice recordings.
• Audio-Technica ATR2100x – Budget-friendly dynamic microphone with both USB and XLR options. Good for reducing background noise.

Webcams:

• Logitech C920 – A solid, budget-friendly HD webcam for clear video quality. Great for recording lessons and live sessions.
• Sony ZV-1 – A compact vlogging camera with great autofocus and a built-in mic. Perfect for higher-quality recordings without a big setup.

There are plenty of good options out there for good mics and webcams. 

A quick Google search will give you tons of options to choose from.

Include Some Interactive Elements

Engagement is the key to keeping students motivated and completing your course. 

Try adding:

• Short Quizzes – Test their knowledge and reinforce key takeaways.
• Worksheets & Action Steps – Help students apply what they learn with guided exercises.
• Community & Discussion Groups – Facebook groups, Discord, or private forums encourage interaction and support.

A course should feel like an experience, not just a series of lectures.

When students take action and feel supported, they’ll stay engaged and see results.

Hosting Your Online Course

Once your content is ready, you’ll need a reliable place to host and deliver your course. 

There are two main options: self-hosting or using an online course platform. 

Each has its pros and cons, so let’s break it down.

Self-hosting gives you more control over design, branding, and ownership of your content, but it does require more setup and tech know-how, including handling payments and security. 

Course platforms, on the other hand, are easier to use and come with built-in tools for video hosting, email marketing, and payment processing, though they offer less customization and often come with monthly fees. 

If you already have a website (like one built on Showit) and want more control, self-hosting is a great option. 

If you want to launch quickly and simply, go with a course platform. You can always bring things onto your own website once you start getting more traffic.

Popular Course Hosting Platforms

Here are a few widely used platforms for hosting and selling online courses:

• Teachable – Beginner-friendly with an intuitive interface, good for solo creators.
• Thinkific – Flexible and scalable, great for those who want more customization options.
• Kajabi – All-in-one platform with courses, email marketing, landing pages, and automation. Higher price point, but robust.
• Podia – Clean, simple platform for selling courses, digital downloads, and webinars. Great for creatives and small teams.
• Circle – More community-focused, ideal for combining course content with an interactive learning space.
• LearnWorlds – Great for interactive elements like quizzes, certificates, and assessments.
• Udemy – A course marketplace with a massive built-in audience. Great for exposure, but less control over pricing and branding.
• Skillshare – Subscription-based platform where students get access to all classes. Ideal for creatives, but earnings are based on watch time, not course price.

What Should You Look for in an Online Course Platform?

• Ease of use – Is the platform intuitive to set up and manage?
• Video hosting – Can you upload or embed videos easily?
• Payment processing – Does it support different currencies, payment plans, and subscriptions?
• Student experience – Is the course easy to navigate and visually appealing?
• Marketing tools – Built-in landing pages, email campaigns, and upsells can save you time and money.
• Analytics & progress tracking – Helpful for knowing how students engage with your course.

Most platforms offer a free trial so try a few and see what feels right for your content and workflow.

Pricing and Monetization Strategies

Choosing the right pricing model can have a big impact on how your course performs. It’s not just about how much to charge, it’s also about how you package your offer to add value.

How to Price Your Course?

Here’s the truth, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing,

But here are the 4 main approaches:

• Free – Yep, you read that right, offering some free content is good for lead generation or building trust. You can’t offer everything free forever, but for a short time, it can help give you credibility.
• One-Time Payment – Simple and straightforward. This works well if your course delivers a clear, specific t
• Subscription – Students pay monthly or annually for access to a library of content. Good if you plan to create ongoing material or build a membership community.
• Tiered Pricing – Offer multiple levels (e.g. basic, pro, VIP) with increasing access or bonuses. Ideal for reaching different types of learners and increasing average order value.

The reality is, if this is your first course, you’ll probably need to be more competitive with your pricing, but over time you can step into higher ticket prices.

Offer Bonuses and Upsells

An easy way to boost the value of your course and increase revenue is to offer bonuses, course bundles, or upsells. 

You can include extras like checklists, templates, or bonus trainings as free extras, or bundle your course with a related digital product or mini-course. 

For example: if the course is on social media management, create some downloadable social media Canva templates students can only access by taking your course.

Should You Offer a Payment Plan?

Like with other high value items, payment plans can remove price barriers for students who might not be ready to pay in full.

But there are a few things to consider.

The Pros:

• Makes your course more accessible to a wider audience
• Increases conversion rates for higher-ticket offers

The Cons:

• Increases the risk of failed payments or cancellations
• May require follow-up systems or third-party tools to manage recurring payments

If your course is priced above $200, offering a 2- or 3-month payment plan may be a smart move.

 Just make sure the terms are clear and easy for you to manage while you’re busy with the rest of your life.

 Attracting Students to Your Course

We actually have a separate article all about how to attract students to your course, but here are a few things to get you started.

A good first step is trying to build a sales page website page that clearly communicates who the course is for, and what problem it solves.

Strong visuals, testimonials, and a clear call to action go a long way. (this is where you may need to find some people to try it for free to get testimonials)

Promote your course through social media and email marketing if you already have an engaged audience.

If you are starting from the very beginning, consider creating some social media content around your topic, create a YouTube channel and try writing some articles (like this one you’re reading).

The goal is to start educating people for free and providing value, once you've built trust, then you can offer your audience a paid option.

Launch Your Online Course

Once your course is built, it’s time to launch it with intention. 

A smooth launch strategy might include a waitlist, a pre-launch email sequence, or a limited-time offer to build urgency. 

Don’t worry about making it perfect—just focus on creating momentum and learning from your first launch.

After launch, look for ways to scale your course with automation. 

Tools like email sequences, evergreen funnels, and retargeting ads allow you to consistently bring in new students without having to manually promote every time.

 Over time, you can expand your offerings by creating advanced courses, digital products, or coaching programs that complement your original course—turning a single idea into a fully digital business.

Take The First Step

Creating a course is a great way to add value to others and make some additional income. 

You need to be prepared to put in some work though, maybe learn new skills, and be willing to try again if your first attempt doesn’t go the way hoped.

The good news is that if you keep showing up and keep learning even when it isn’t fun, all of that knowledge and experience will pay off.

Go get started.