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In this episode, I talk about the top questions that get online creators stuck and how to fix them. I get asked a lot of questions by course creators and I narrow them down to the top 7. There are quite many issues that get online course creators stuck but I’m going to address the most asked questions by course creators. Without further ado, let’s get to the main course:
This is probably the most popular question. The truth is, it might not matter that much as you think because many of the available platforms primarily do the same thing. The two things you might want to consider are whether you want a hands-off approach or flexibility in control. If you want more control or you’re a techie person, you might consider a WordPress website or using something such as LearnDash to deliver your courses. On the other hand, a software service is a great solution to those who want hands-off perspective. Generally, your content and course requirements, of course, will determine the ideal learning management system for you. I recommend you go to the Resources section download the 7-step checklist to know which LMS is best for your online course.
Building your audience is the most critical part of the success of your online course. Some of the ways I recommend in doing this include creating guides, tips, quizzes, checklists, assessments – literally anything that can provide value to your audience so that they can give you their emails for you to build your email list. Podcasts and Facebook live videos are also a great way of introducing yourself and influencing others to follow you. If you are doing Facebook videos, make sure they are short and up to the point. Don’t forget to give a tip at the end of your video – quiz, guide, assessment – which guys can follow to your website and download. Again, check out my resources page to learn the “5 Ways to Build an Audience for your Online Course”.
The first thing you want to do here is gathering all the ideas for your course. Then, determine the 20% of those ideas that will give the 80% most value. Next, you will need to find your ideal students and pitch them the idea of your course. Sell your idea to them as beta testers and custom create a course just for them. Obviously, your students are going to give feedback about what they want to learn in the course. This way, they help you refine the content, which you can later sell to a wider audience.
This is where a Learning Management System comes in. Basically, you can a WordPress plugin or a software service to protect your course. These methods allow students who pay for your course to access your content while it restricts those who haven’t paid for your course. Depending on the platform, you can put your audience in groups based on various factors. Perhaps you have different stages of your course and you want to ensure that students are only accessing the content they have paid for – some platforms can allow you to do this.
I’ve covered this section in details on my course, Easy Video for Courses. The big question is, what type of videos would make your content the most engaging and help your students learn the best way possible? Some people prefer to do screen capture videos, whereby you show your audience your screen. Others go to the field and capture the events of what they are teaching to their audience. So choose a method that engages your audience best. When it comes to devices, use what you are comfortable, whether your iPhone, Tablet, Webcam or DSLR. Just don’t be afraid to start no matter what you have. Make sure you are getting good audio, about good lighting too and ensure that your camera is stable.
An online course generally has a beginning and end for the learner. You might add lessons or modules to it over time and even replace the content if it changes. A course usually has a one-time fee. On the contrary, a membership site has a collection of content. The site might contain multiple courses on a single subject or various subjects. It usually has a monthly or annual fee to continue being a member. Watch this short video for more details on this topic.
It all starts with building your audience and knowing what they really want. You then need to promote your course and the best way to do that is through your email list and even your email signature. Another strategy to get more sales is by using Facebook Ads. Speaking of FB ads, sign up for my upcoming Facebook Ads for Online Courses program and I will alert you when that will be about to happen. Doing content marketing on your blog can also create an avenue for people to buy your courses from your site. Let’s not forget the power of videos such as tutorials, FAQ’s and about me. Add as much value as you can and teach more people and you will see them asking for your course. Last but not least, do some partnerships and joint ventures such as affiliate relations and other profit-sharing programs.