How to Sell an Online Course? Quick Guide

It is said that a person is a lifelong learner. In 2024, adults are increasingly choosing to learn new qualifications and expand their knowledge. Pandemics and changes in society caused online courses have become a popular option in the 2020s. Online course platforms offer students the ability to consume educational content at their own pace and gain new knowledge virtually anywhere in the world. With our presentation creator, you can easily demonstrate and sell online courses on the Internet.

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This flexibility is driving the growing demand for online courses. You may already have the knowledge and talent to teach – so why not try your hand at selling online courses to position yourself as a thought leader, gain new followers, and help others learn new skills?

In this article, you will learn how to create and sell online courses and publish materials on the web to gain loyal students and popularity among these adepts.

Rising demand for online courses

If you want to sell courses online, you should know that competition is very high. You can easily find an online course platform that can offer an online course, regardless of what you’re teaching. There are so many students online, so you can still sell online courses and the demand is growing every day.

According to statistics, before 2020, there were about 60,000 online courses available on various professional, official platforms. Today, this number has increased over 12 times. If you create online courses, you may still have a lot of competition in the online course market, but also many opportunities.

1. Choosing course topic

To start, think about what you want to teach. When selling online courses to prospective students, it’s best to start with what you know – and what you can make money at: Consider your areas of expertise, passion, and current market trends. You can’t teach things you know nothing about, and selling your online course should reflect that.

Find out what skills or topics are in high demand and consider how to relate the online course to your interests and personal qualifications. Remember, for example, online courses on personal finance are in high demand because they are written by people who know about personal finance – you too should write on a topic you’re keen on.

Also, if you want to be an online course creator, make sure the topic is specific enough to provide in-depth knowledge but doesn’t become too broad to not overwhelm the audience.

2. Study the course topic

Thorough research and knowledge of the chosen course topic are essential if you want to sell online courses and deliver high-quality educational content. Start by gathering the information you need to create your course content: for example, you need to conduct extensive research. Read a few books, review other courses, gather relevant resources, and stay up-to-date on industry trends.

Understanding your target audience’s needs, weaknesses, and desired outcomes will guide your online course design and content creation.

3. Defining course goals

Once you have an idea of your online courses, you need to define the specific goals and learning outcomes you want your students to obtain from the online course. What knowledge, skills, or abilities do you want your online students to acquire? You need to be specific – “personal finance knowledge” is not a very detailed idea for course content.

To successfully sell online courses, narrow down your expectations. Quantify expected measurable outcomes, such as increased productivity, greater knowledge, or improved problem-solving skills. These clearly defined goals will serve as a roadmap for course content development. For example, “the user will gain budget planning knowledge related to this specific information” – or “after completing the course, the user will be able to plan finances” are good goals for an online course lesson.

4. Creating an online course

Below you’ll find some tips you’ll need if you want to sell online courses using third-party online course marketplaces or selling your online course using your own platform. You can learn more about how to create an online course in our Knowledge Base.

Course structure

Start by determining the structure of the course. Consider how many lessons are needed and how to divide the material from beginner to advanced concepts. The length of your course will affect your course sales – some people might feel they get more for less!

Create engaging content

Prepare high-quality content that is visually appealing, interactive, and easy to understand. Use a variety of formats such as videos, presentations, quizzes and assignments – a platform like Publuu can enable you to do this. Publuu allows you to integrate online course materials with additional data, such as quizzes and interactive games.

Pricing

To sell courses online, determine the correct price. Calculate your costs, and profit margin, and compare the price with the competition. Consider whether your target audience will be able to afford it. Consider having the first online course class to be free to encourage readers to subscribe. Check if your online course platform allows for free trials.

Record or share source lectures

If you plan to include lectures or presentations, record them professionally for the benefit of your target audience. Use high-quality audio and video equipment, and make sure you have proper lighting and backgrounds. Look at expert presentations and model them after them – or provide students with something you think these professionals don’t have.

Create books and handbooks for your online courses

Use Publuu to convert your PDF materials into interactive course content. Your online course will look great when it’s an interactive ebook with a realistic page-flipping effect. Thanks to Publuu you can share your free course materials online, independent of popular online course platforms.

5. Marketing and selling online course

Content marketing

You can talk a lot about how to promote your course, but the truth is one – if it’s good, people will come. Marketing and selling online courses boils down simply to convincing others that it’s a good choice. The foundation of any marketing attempt is to create valuable content that attracts potential students and validates your expertise. Show people why your course is good: share informative blog posts, infographics, and videos related to the course topic.

You can learn more about content marketing and selling your online course in our guide in Knowledge Base. Creating and selling online courses requires good marketing efforts and adjusting them to your needs.

Email marketing

Many people say that email marketing works very well for successful online course marketing. The more information about the offer reaches the customer, the more likely they are to decide to take your course online.

Build an email list and nurture relationships with potential students through informative emails. Offer valuable content in your newsletter, such as course announcements, tips, and exclusive promotions. If you’re interested in email marketing software, you can check our guide to methods and newsletter creation.

Social media marketing

If something works to create a contact via email, it will work for social media. That’s why it makes sense to take advantage of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to promote your course and connect with your target audience. To run a successful online course marketing campaign, start with engaging content in your posts, publish sample lessons, hold contests, and collaborate with influencers.

For more details about social media marketing, see our guide.

6. Enhance your online course

Once your online course is ready, plan a launch strategy. Gather feedback from early users and continually refine your course. Regularly review and update your online course content to reflect changes in the industry and improve learning. Your industry – and the education industry – is changing all the time and you need to keep your finger on the pulse.

To enhance your online courses it is worthwhile to take care of each learner’s needs. Provide additional resources, such as study guides, supplemental reading, and activity materials, to support student learning. Use Publuu to add extra materials to your online course and share them with anyone qualified.

Conclusion

Successfully selling online courses requires a strategic approach that includes course creation, marketing, and continuous improvement. With our advice, you can easily adapt to the changing demands of the online learning environment. If you know how to create a learning plan, you can increase your chances of reaching a wider audience and achieving your course goals.

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Ola Swiderska Author View profile

Aesthetics and minimalism enthusiast. Loves to explore the world, and travel is the meaning of her life. Amateur photographer and passionate about dogs. At work, she points her energy into crafting content that reflects her interest in literature and design.