A complete step by step process on how to create an online course.
So you’ve been thinking of creating your first online course, or maybe you have been creating courses for a while now and want to get more people enrolling in them.
But the thing is, you’re having a hard time getting started on what step comes first in creating your first course.
Don’t worry, this is a common problem for online course creators. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why people never get around to creating their online courses.
But don’t let that stop you! There are plenty of ways to make the process easier, and we’re here to help. In this article, I show you the 31 steps to creating and launching your first online course.
Here is a step-by-step online course creation process in 31 steps that help launch a valuable online course for your audience.
1. Define your online course goals
Before you start creating your online course, take some time to define what you want to achieve with it. What are your goals for the course? Do you want people to learn a new skill, or improve their current skills? Are you looking to create a course that sells? Once you know what the goal of your course is for your audience you will have a clearer picture of each subsequent step in the course creation process.
2. Identify what you are an expert in
It’s important to be clear about what your area of expertise is before creating a course. When you are very clear and confident about the topic or subject matter you will be teaching in your online course, it will show in your content. People are more likely to buy and enroll in a course that is taught by an expert than someone who is not.
3. Determine your audience
Who is your online course for? Be as specific as possible. What age range are they in? Are they men or women? As well as identifying who your online course is for, it’s also useful to identify what problems and struggles they might be experiencing related to the subject of your online course.
4. Identify the goals of your course
The purpose and goals of each online course you create should always be clearly defined before you start creating it. At this stage, write down at least 3 goals for your online course. These could include increasing revenue; driving leads; improving customer relationships; growing a following, etc.. Keep these goals in mind when writing and designing each element, throughout your online courses, such as video scripts, PowerPoint presentations, and supplemental resources.
5. Create a compelling course title
The title of your online course is very important, as it will be the first thing potential students find when they search online. You want a compelling title that makes people want to enroll! How do you create a good online course title? The most common practice online is using numbers in your online course titles, such as “Social Media Marketing 2022” or “Creating An Online Business In 3 Days.”
6. Come up with your online course idea
Now that you’ve identified your online course goals, audience, and the problems they are facing it’s time to come up with an online course idea. Do some research online to see what kind of courses are already out there in your niche or industry. If there are several courses available online similar to yours, try coming up with a unique way to approach the online course topic. Or, if there are no courses available online related to your area of expertise it’s time to create an online course that fills the gap in the market.
7. Identify online course tools and software
Once you have decided on a topic for your online course it’s time to identify what online course tools and software. You’ll need software to create your online course content such as videos, audio files, and slides. You’ll also need tools to help you build your online courses such as a learning management system (LMS) or an online course platform.
8. Choose the format of your online course
The format of your online course will determine the delivery method of your online course content. Will you be creating videos, writing articles, or recording audio files? The delivery format will also determine the length and structure of your online course.
9. Develop the content outline for each module of your course, including any prerequisites and required readings
Now that you have chosen a format for your online course it’s time to outline the topics that will be covered in each online course module. You’ll also need to identify the online resources and readings required for each online course module.
10. Create your course content
Now that you have a well-developed outline, it’s time to create all of your online course content. This includes creating PowerPoint presentations, video scripts, downloadable worksheets, and any other supplemental material.
11. Determine your launch date
Your online course should already have a compelling online course title and a well-developed online course outline. Now it’s time to determine when you will launch your online course. Your online course needs to go through several quality control processes such as proofreading, formatting, and final edits before you can publicly release it, so be sure to factor in this process when determining your online course launch date.
12. What, where, and how to market your online course
Now that you have built the online course it’s time to figure out how you will promote your online course to potential students online! Some online instructors are successful with just releasing their courses online via an LMS or even YouTube, but many online courses are marketed through online course directories, social media, and email marketing campaigns. Your online course marketing plan should include how you will market it on social media, email list building, blog posts, etc., as well as any partnerships that can help increase the visibility of your course (i.e., partnering with other bloggers who have large audiences)
13. Build up anticipation on social media by sharing posts about how excited you are about teaching this class, what topics will be covered, etc…
By creating an online course, you’re entering the world of online entrepreneurship. The total time it takes to create an online course can vary greatly depending on your input and output. You’ll need to build up anticipation by sharing posts about how excited you are for this online course, what topics will be covered, etc…
14. Set up your online course payment gateway
One of the final steps in launching your online course is setting up your online course payment gateway. This is the process by which students will pay for your online course. I absolutely love that my course payment gateway is powered by Stripe or PayPal. And my online learning management software (Systeme.io) makes it so easy and foolproof because I don’t need to set anything up in my LMS, just connect my Stripe and PayPal accounts.
15. Hire a coach or editor to help with content creation and online course launch
If you know someone who has experience creating online courses and can recommend a coach or editor to help with content creation, hire them! The online course creation process is time-consuming so it’s important to have the right team in place. They’ll help edit your online course material and answer any questions that come up during the online course creation process. I’ve helped numerous solopreneurs create successful online courses. You can learn more about it HERE.
16. You should also consider whether or not you’ll be teaching the course yourself or if someone else will do it for you
If you plan to teach online courses in your spare time, then that’s totally fine; but I really recommend hiring a coach to help make online course creation easier and faster. Believe me, it made a world of a difference for my clients.
17. What action steps will students take when they finish your online course
One of the most important aspects of creating an online course is determining what action steps students will take when they finish your online course. This could be anything from purchasing a product or service to filling out a contact form on your website. Be sure to determine this before you create your online course, so you can design it. Always lead your students to take the next step in the sales funnel process.
18. Consider what topics are most relevant and interesting in order to keep students engaged
Keep in mind that you will likely have returning students (if you create a great online course), so it’s important to consider what topics are most relevant and interesting in order to keep them engaged. You may also want to consider creating different versions of your online course, such as a basic and advanced version so that returning students can continue learning at their own pace.
19. Plan for online course updates and additions
As your online course grows, you’ll likely want to make updates and additions. This could be anything from new content to bonus modules. Be sure to plan for this in advance so that you can ensure a high-quality online course experience for your students.
20. Create an outline of what each lesson will cover so that there’s consistency throughout the entire class
One of the best ways to ensure a consistent online course experience for your students is to create an outline of what each lesson will cover. This will help you stay on track and ensure that each lesson flows well into the next.
21. Once all the content has been created, hire a professional photographer/videographer in order to make your online courses look more appealing
One of the biggest mistakes online course creators make is not hiring a professional photographer/videographer. This is a HUGE mistake because it can make or break your online course. By hiring a professional, you’ll ensure that your online course looks more appealing, which in turn will help increase student engagement and conversions.
22. Make sure that your website is ready before launching because this will help generate interest in your online course
If you don’t have a website, I highly suggest creating one before launching. This will help generate interest around your online course because it’ll be easier for students to find out more about you and the course. When people visit my site, I always want them to know exactly what they can expect when they sign up for my course and what solutions I offer for their problems or challenges they need to overcome.
23. Get feedback on your course before launching it to a wider audience
It’s always a good idea to get feedback on your online course before launching it to a wider audience. This will help you determine if there are any areas that need improvement and make necessary changes before putting your online course out into the world. You can do this by sending out a survey or conducting interviews with students who have taken your one on one or in-real-life course.
24. Make an engaging introduction video or blog post to attract people to sign up for your course online
Once you’ve launched your online course, it’s important to promote it in order to attract people. A great way to do this is by creating an engaging introduction video or blog post that will help convince people why they should take your online course. Don’t be afraid to brag about all the amazing things students are saying online because this will help build your online course’s credibility.
25. Create urgency so people feel the need to take action right away
This can be done by creating an offer that will expire in a certain amount of time, such as a free bonus for signing up before it expires. For example, if you’re creating online courses related to copywriting, you can offer a free copywriting mini-course to people who sign up within the next 48 hours.
26. Create an email list and send out a launch announcement email in order to get more sign-ups
An easy way to do this is by creating an email list and sending out a launch announcement email. You can then automate follow-up emails that will keep people engaged and convince them why they should purchase your online course. For example, you could send out an email one week later reminding them of the great things they’ll learn in your online course and how it can benefit them in their personal or professional lives.
27. Offer pre-launch pricing for the course in order to increase sales
One way to increase sales is by offering pre-launch pricing for the course. This will help create a sense of urgency and encourage people to take action right away. You could also offer a discount for signing up before a certain date or early bird pricing for people who sign up in the next few days.
28. Create a Facebook event and invite people to join
Another great way to promote your online course is by creating a Facebook event and inviting people to join. This will help you reach a wider audience and generate more sign-ups. You can also encourage people to share the event with their friends so they can learn more about your online course.
29. Host a webinar or online summit
Another great way to promote your online course is by hosting a webinar or online summit where you can teach people what they’ll learn in your online course. This will help build the course’s credibility and trust as well as increase sales. You can also offer bonus material such as worksheets, PDFs, e-books, templates, group support, one on one support, or other supplemental material related to the course.
30. Designate someone in charge of answering questions on social media, such as Twitter or Facebook, during the launch period so you can focus on other aspects of running your business
Running an online course launch can be a lot of work, so it’s important to designate someone in charge of answering questions on social media, such as Twitter or Facebook, during the launch period. This will help you focus on other aspects of running your business and ensure that all your bases are covered. You can also create a landing page on systeme.io for your students to submit support questions.
31. Block off time the days after your launch to troubleshoot, do updates, edits, and tend to your students.
One of the most important things you can do after launching your online course is to block off time the days after your launch to troubleshoot, do updates, edits, and tend to your students. This will help ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you’re able to provide the best possible experience for your students. You can also create a course FAQ section and Q&A video.
Finally, launch your online course!
Creating an online course has many steps but taking your time to stay consistent in the creation process is crucial to launching. Don’t rush the online course creation process and instead take your time to ensure you create something valuable for your students. Once this is done, you can launch your online course!
Creating online courses is a great way to share your knowledge and expertise online. Furthermore, online course creation is a fast-growing industry that has seen tremendous growth in recent years. According to eMarketer, online learning will be worth $107 billion by 2020. So if you’re inspired by creating online courses and building an online business, there are some great online course creation tips to help you on your way.