A Beginner’s Guide To Creating and Selling An Online Course

Now that you know why you should create an Online Course, how do you get started?

10 Key Steps To Create & Sell Your Group Coaching Program

1. Identify your target audience and course topic. Determine who your course is designed for and what specific problems keep them up at night. Narrow down which problems your course will solve, which will give you clarity on your course topic.

2. Create a course outline. Start with a high-level outline that lists the modules your course will include and the bite-sized lessons you’ll teach within each module. You don’t need to create detailed lesson plans yet - just get the skeleton down so you know what you’ll make.

3. Grow your audience. With a clear audience and outline defined, start sharing content to grow an engaged email list. Create a lead magnet related to your course topic, then share it on social media and during networking events. Growing your audience should alway be happening in the background so you have people to sell to when you’re ready to launch your course. Click here for more about growing your email list.

4. Choose the delivery format. Decide how you will teach your course lessons: Will you record videos of yourself talking to the camera, share your screen as you present a slide deck, show a hands-on demo, or a combination? Also, identify if you’re including additional materials and resources to complement certain lessons.

5. Create your program content and materials. This is when you need detailed lesson plans so you know the exact content you’re delivering. From there you’ll design slides, workbooks, and any other materials you will use to teach. You’ll also record and edit your videos.

6. Set your price: Determine how much you will charge for your course. Then decide if you want to offer payment plans in addition to a pay-in-full option.

7. Choose a platform for hosting your course. An online course platform enables you to create a course curriculum where you can upload your videos and teaching materials for your lessons. It allows people to enroll in the course and automatically grants them access to the course, which they can log into at any time. I recommend and use New Zenler, an all-in-one platform for courses and group programs.

8. Design and build a sales page. A high-converting sales page conveys the value of your course and lets visitors pay and checkout after choosing one of your payment options. (New Zenler includes a sales page builder.)

9. Plan how to promote and market the course. Decide if you’re using a Live Launch vs Evergreen Launch model. In a Live Launch model, your audience can enroll during a specified period of time - usually a 1-2 week enrollment period. If you’re launching an “evergreen” course, that means your audience can buy it at any time and get immediate access.
   
   Then you need what’s called a LAUNCH PLAN which sets the objectives, launch timeline, marketing strategy and content strategy to get your course in front of ready buyers. Discover how to Create Your 90-Day Launch Plan In 90 Minutes here.

10. Launch your course! Let your audience know your course is available! Promote your course on your email list, social media, and other channels to reach your target audience.