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We all want to create effective online courses but most courses are too complex and complicated for students. And that's why most students don't complete online courses.
Think of your course as having 101, 201, levels, just like at a university. Your students will be able to learn at their own pace and not be overwhelmed. Don't overcomplicate your content. Remember that your students are coming in at a basic understanding. Your job is to give them what they need to know now, not 10 steps down the road.Additionally, you will be able to make more money because you offer different courses for different skill levels. Your students will like it and you will like the additional opportunities for more income. Is your course topic complex? I also recommend that you find a niche and make a course just on one part of the overall topic.
While some courses are open for students to jump around to any part of the course they want, you might want to limit the course progression so everyone goes through the course content together. This alone may help your online course become more effective. Just think, everyone will go through it together and have similar questions. They can ask you or if you have a private Facebook group or forum then your students can also ask each other.
Course abandonment is high and one of the reasons is that students want to go quickly through the course content without thinking about the material and how to apply it. Ask them to reflect on the content, share what they learned with a friend or post in the Facebook group their key takeaways.
Students want step by step instructions. They want to learn from someone with more experience and success. Students don't want all the variables but the exact process you took to get success and they want to follow you. Sometimes little things like cheatsheets and templates are easy to create but provide the biggest value and allow the students to move ahead faster.
Online courses that include videos are 83% more effective in helping students remember the information better. We all know that video content is the best content for your course but what if you don’t want to buy a camera or use complex software? Use your Smartphone or tablet to record your course videos. I teach a full module just on how to effectively use your smartphone and tablet to record your course videos. I also give you my the best apps and software to use to film and edit directly on your phone or tablet. You can find the course at EasyVideoForCourses.com.
One of the biggest factors in both the success of the course for your students as well as how much money you make is what access you provide. While it takes more time to provide more access and you might lose money, you might actually get more students because they want to learn directly from you.Plan out how much time per week you’ll be there and make sure you’re not losing money on your course. Consider offering:
If your course is inexpensive then don’t offer a private FB group. Use these tips to create an effective online course that doesn't overwhelm your students.