How to create and sell online courses in 2024 ( Make your First dollar online)

Do you want to create and also sell online courses  in other to generate your first course sale ? That is not a bad idea because many knowledge enterpreneurs  are doing the same and they are generating millions of dollars online on a daily basis . In this post , I will be sharing with you a step by step guide on how  to create and sell online courses in 2024 and make your first dollar.

Just as I earler said , Knowledge enterpreneurs which are also known as edupreneurs are making money by turning their knowlege and expertise into a profitable online business while establishing their authority with their target audience . You too can be one of them because after going through this post , you will be able to build a profitable online course business and also create great courses . Ensure you read this post to the end . I will also introduce you a learning management system that will help you  monetize your  knowledge fast and easily.

This post covers the following subtopics below

• What is an Online Course
• What is a learning Mangement System ( LMS)
• Guide to Course Creation ( step by step guide)
• A Leaning Management System to get started

WHAT IS AN ONLINE COURSE ?

An Online course is a set of lessons delivered through the internet . Most modern elearning courses include a combination of videos , webinar recordings , PDFs and slideshows , podcasts etc . These can be uploaded directly to a learning management system .Online courses are sold as information or knowledge products by creators usually as a standalone offerings or following a membership-based business models .

WHAT IS A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ? 

This is a software or an app or a web-based technology that is used to plan, implement and asses a specific learning process  It comprises two elements – a server and a user interface . The server perfoms the base functionality while ther user interface is operated by instructors , students and administrators .

Basically , an learning management system provides the course creator or an instructor with a way to create and deliver course content, monitor students participation and access their performance as well . It might also provide stidents with interactive features like threaded discussions, video conferencing and more .

THE STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CREATING ONLINE COURSE 

These are the tried and tested step by step guide to creating your first online course, Just follow them carefully

STEP 1 – DEVELOP THE RIGHT MINDSET

Developing the right mindset or having a positive mindset is the cornerstone of success for just about anything you desire to achieve in life . You must do away with all negative thoughts that make their appearances and will start spinning around your heads especially when you want to go after your dream of succeeding online or starting something new .

You may had the following thougts crossing your mind

• I do not have enough money to get started
• I do not have the technical skills needed and all that

You must understand that waiting to be perfect before you take a step will make you not to get started . Therfore be positive minded and take the required steps and you will never regret it in the end

•  CHOOSE A TOPIC FOR YOUR COURSE 

If you have enough knowledge about a topic that you love , it could be your hobby or anything at all you love to do  be it cooking the best dish or how to make an icecream, etc , then you are set for a profitable course idea . Million of people are always searching the internet to learn a particular skill from someone who already has the right knowledge and also passionate about what they know. How then do you know what if your course topic is exactly popular or what people are searching for? Simple – start your research especially from social media – facebook groups, quora and other platforms where millions of people engage in discussions. I recommend  Quora as the best platform to start your research .

• KNOW AND UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE

This is very important so that that you will know their weakpoints and what they actually want . You can ask important questions like the following so that you will know a few things about them

• Are they experienced with online education?
• Why are they joining the course?
• What is their preferred way to learn?
• Have they taken a similar course before?

You can also send out surveys – this will go a long way to help you better understand your audience and know their liks and dislikes.

• LIST YOUR LEARNING OBJECTIVES

You need to state your learning objectives- This is what the learner will be able to do at the end of the course . These explain the benefits your audience will get from your course. Ensure you mention these in a prominent spot on your sales page .

These learning objectives prove that your course is worth buying so it is very important to oincludethem on your salespage

• CREATE A STORYBOARD

In this step, all you will do is to sort through your content , throw out anything that does not directly relate to the learning objectives you have listed. Using storyboard helps you to organize your content and vissualize your course flow .

• CHOOSE WHERE TO HOST YOUR ONLINE COURSE

Once you have your course outline ready , it is now time to choose where to host your course material. Hosting your course  simply means uploading your course materials on the hosting platform and then sell it as a complete course offering . In this care , there are 3 options available to you

• You can choose to host the course yourself ( Self hosting) . This involves having a wordpress website . You then find an LMS plugin and multiple add-ons so that you can create a course and website with full functionality
• You can host your course on course marketplace like Udemy . This option is mostly used because it will help you get some visibility faster . One downside of hosting your courses through a third party is that you will give them a big percentage of your profit because they charge a high fee per sale 
• The last option is that you can use  a Learning management System or course creation platform to host your online courses .There are different course creation platforms available like thinific, podia, Teachable , learnworld etc.

This option makes online course creation a lot more simple because you will have everything in one place .

• CREATE YOUR CONTENT

This is where the work begins .You need to be aware of instructional design basics for distance learning and the different ways you can deliver your course to ensure it is more engaging and appealling to your audience .For this reason, you should always have an instructional plan in mind. Try these tips below

• SMALL WINS- these are activities that give students a sense of accomplishements and confidence, so you should include them throughout the course . Remember to award your learners with congratulatory messages everytime they complete a challenge.
• ACTIVE LEARNING- Ensure that your learners do something to learn , ensure they interact with you and with other learners when necessary . You can use quizzes, assignments , discussions , workshops etc. These makes the course interesting and engaging
• VIDEO – Videos makes your course captivating so ensure you include some videos in your course

To price your online course, you must locate that sweet spot where your price is attracive to your learners without looking cheap . A cheap price will make people to see your course as low quality and will have low expectation. Give your course a price that equals to the value they will get from the course

• CREATE A HIGH CONVERTING SALESPAGE 

Salespage has one aim – to make buyers buy your course. So ensure that  your salespage is converting enough . I recommend that you visit Fiverr and hire a good copywriter to write a high converting salespage. .You should follow the SEO copywriting checklist to allow search engines to discover you. But, more importantly, you need to be persuasive and get people to enroll.

• BUILD A COURSE SALESFUNNEL

This is the step that comes after you have finish your course creation process. A salesfunnel is a is a multi-step process that turns visitors to your site into buyers. It comprise 4 stages

• Awareness
• Interest
• Decision
• Action

Awareness:

Potential students first become aware of your course, which offers a solution to their problem.

Interest:

You attract the interest of the potential customer.

 Decision:

Potential buyers are trying to decide whether to buy or not from you.

Action

The point when they take action by clicking on the Buy Button to get access to the Course. . There are many tips you can apply to increase your conversion rates when selling online courses . These includes the following below

• Giving coupons, discounts and bundles to your customers
• Using lead magnets and email marketing
• Using facebook ads
• Affiliate marketing
• SEO marketing
• Ask for reviews and testimonials and so on

CONCLUSION 

Creating and selling Online course is a great way to monetise your knowledge when you it the right way. As I earler said , I will  introduce to you a learning management system that will help you  monetize your  knowledge fast and easily. This Learning Management System is called learnworlds 

Learnworlds is an AI -powered LMS built for Course creators .From digital products to marketing and selling tools, Learnworlds has  everything you need to build a profitable business, all in one scalable platform as shown below

So what are you waiting for ? Launch your online course today with learnworlds using their 30-day free trial

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED