There is no better way to demonstrate your expertise on a subject than by creating an online course on the subject. By teaching what you know, you leave no doubt that you are competent and know what you’re talking about―that you’re an expert at what you do.

Online courses are important to entrepreneurs, experts and thought leaders. One of the most impactful ways to get your knowledge out to a global marketplace and make money is to aggregate that knowledge and turn it into an online course. Click To Tweet

The fact that everyone is creating online courses does not mean you should also jump right into it. There are steps that you must follow, and that is what we are sharing with you. We know that trying to make an exhaustive list of things you need to do may be far-reaching.

So, we’re only providing you with an overview of the major milestones. It is always good to know what to expect and how the journey will be before you set out. Let’s jump right into it, shall we?

Pick the perfect course topic

This is crucial. The subject of your proposed course must be something that resonates with you. It won’t be hard to tell if you are not passionate about the subject. It will be evident in the manner with which you handle the course, how it turns out, and the engagement it gets.

Ensure your course has a high market demand

Nobody wants to spend so much time creating a course that no one needs. The aim in the first place is to create value for people and help them solve their problems.  People will buy your course only when they are convinced it will help them in some way.

So, once you have chosen your online course topic, you should conduct a market survey to see if there is a demand for it not.  In the course of your survey, you may find that there is a lot of competition in your topic area. This does not mean your course will not do well. Rather, it shows that there is a high market demand for it and your course has a good chance.

You should seek to answer the following questions. Are people talking about it? Are people asking questions about it? Is there a gap in what your competitors are offering that you can leverage on? If you answer “yes” to these questions, then you have a viable course idea.

The learning outcomes must be compelling

You would not give your money to someone for a product you do not know its benefits. Would you? Of course not. It is for the same reason you cannot overlook the importance of your course having compelling learning outcomes.

Most times, people would want to know beforehand how beneficial a course is to them―what it can help them achieve. If they don’t have this knowledge, they are likely not going to enroll. So don’t assume they know, spell it out for them in plain, simple words.

The learning outcomes should clearly explain, with measurable verbs, what the learner will know and be able to do by the end of your course. Having clear learning outcomes also ensures that only the right students enroll for your course, thereby ensuring higher completion and satisfaction rates.

Select and gather your course content

One of the reasons people get stuck at this stage and begin to procrastinate is often because of the volume of information we have in our heads and around us. We take so much time to figure out what to include or leave out. This is where the findings from the market survey and learning outcomes should be put to use.

If something does not directly relate to achieving a learning outcome, don’t include it. Rather, include content that addresses your audience’s pressing questions. Also, ensure that every learning outcome has content aligned to it.

Structure your modules and course plan

Take a look at all of your content and start to group similar themes, tips, and ideas into modules.  Arrange the lectures within those modules into the most progressive and logical manner so that they form a flowing sequence of lessons.

Choose the most engaging and effective delivery methods

Now is the time to decide on the best way to deliver your course. Bear in mind the principles guiding adult learning and the different ways you can deliver your training to ensure it is engaging. Determine if you will have text, video or audio content.

Aim to have a balance of visual, practical methodologies which might mean a combination of text, audio and video so that everyone is engaged and gets the optimum learning experience.

Create your course

This is the production phase and it’s what some people refer to as the fun part. The method of your course delivery depends on your audience’s preference, i. e. what they consider the most effective method to realise the learning outcomes.

However, the most effective method of delivery presently is video. There are also different types of videos you can use. Learn about them and choose the type that best suits your purpose. You can also learn how to edit your videos yourself or outsource the process.

Setting up your online school

Of course, you might not need any of these advanced options at the very beginning. You can improvise and deliver your course via closed social media groups such as on Facebook, Telegram or WhatsApp.

Get the perfect pricing models

The price you place on your online course depends very much on the value you are delivering. As a starting point, it is good to analyse what your competitors are charging and what for, then look at how you can be different and better.

If you’ve made your course better, then you can price a bit higher. The important thing is to practice value-based pricing.

Launch and continue to market your online course.

The work is not over yet, in fact, this is where the real work lies. The reason is simple: all your effort in creating this online course can go to waste if you don’t sell it. You need to constantly promote your course and enroll students.

Consider running early bird discount promotions, running ads on social media or partnering with influencers. Word of mouth advertisement is also a viable marketing method. Remember that the moment you stop marketing is the moment you stop selling. Click To Tweet

If you enjoy reading this article and plan on creating an online course, our course creation training is the perfect plug for you. Alternatively, you may visit our Virtual Business School to get started on creating video courses.

Remi Collins is a freelance writer and food blogger at www.remrem.com.ng. A graduate of Agriculture from the University of Ibadan, she currently interns with The Plenipotent Company Limited. She also works with Ask the Paediatricians Foundation (askthepaediatricians.com) as an online volunteer.

Remi Collins

Remi Collins is a freelance writer and food blogger at www.remrem.com.ng. A graduate of Agriculture from the University of Ibadan, she is currently an intern with The Plenipotent Company Limited. Remi also works with Ask the Paediatricians Foundation (askthepaediatricians.com) as an online volunteer. Remi is an avid learner.