How to Create an Online Course?

In this AI-generated reality with tons of AI content and no expertise behind it, your experience is more than valuable, and online courses provide a genuine way to deliver meaningful content. 

Multiple online learning platforms enable the creation and sale of courses online. Yet, to truly grasp the importance of developing an online course, we need to start with the basics and gradually explore the steps involved in creating a successful online learning experience.

What Is an Online Course?

An online course refers to a series of educational lessons or activities delivered via the Internet with a specific learning objective. The course’s structure can take various modalities, including self-paced/asynchronous, instructor-led/synchronous, blended, or hybrid formats.

Modern eLearning courses typically incorporate a mix of content such as videos, webinar recordings, PDFs, slideshows, podcasts, and quizzes. These components can be directly uploaded to a learning management system (LMS) or created using an authoring tool to develop a SCORM-compliant course.

Course creators and eLearning businesses often market online courses as knowledge products, either as standalone offerings or through a membership-based business model. Moreover, online courses serve as the foundation for corporate training initiatives implemented by organizations for their employees, customers, and partners. 

Benefits of Creating an Online Course

The online course is a win-win project for a creator and a learner. It can be an excellent side hustle or a full-time job if you master online course creation. At the same time, users will have access to valuable knowledge. Here is a quick overview of the benefits for stakeholders. 

For training managers:

• Streamline employee training through automation.

• Reduce training and development costs by creating reusable online courses.

• Provide wide accessibility for employees to learn at their own pace.

For businesses:

• Enhance the customer or client base by educating them about products and industry trends.

• Generate additional revenue streams by selling courses.

• Build credibility and establish authority in the industry.

• Showcase expertise to emerge as an industry leader.

For online educators:

• Gain a global platform to share knowledge and assist others in achieving their goals.

• Generate passive income by publishing and selling courses online.

• Develop a personal brand and establish prominence in the chosen niche.

• Explore topics of personal passion and connect with like-minded individuals.

Steps to Create an Online Course

Whether you are a first-timer or have done it several times, these best practices make building an online course easy and quick and promote online collaborative learning. 

Choose the Topic of the Course

Selecting the course topic is an essential step in creating an online course. It is essential to choose a subject you are passionate about, possess expertise in, and can confidently discuss. Choosing the right topic ensures that your course is valuable for your audience and that they can take part in engaging online learning.

Conduct Customer Research

Ensuring there is an audience for the chosen topic is another crucial detail. Here are a few suggestions you may want to consider.

• Conduct a poll to gather opinions on what people are interested in learning, providing them with options.

• Research social platforms such as Reddit or Quora. Make sure to use platforms and websites that offer focused searches on trending topics.

• Develop a brief tutorial and share it with your audience to gather feedback.

• Explore online course platforms and examine trending topics. If you find a course you admire, make sure to analyze reviews to understand student preferences and concerns, allowing you to create your content accordingly.

Select the Format of the Course

Online courses are available in various formats and mediums, and how you structure and deliver them has implications for marketing, pricing, and curriculum content. There are three main types of courses. Let’s explore each of them.

Mini Course

• Takes one to two hours to complete and can be delivered through various platforms.

• Priced at a lower point, often under $100 or even offered for free, serving as a marketing tool.

• Ideal to test the market and gain insights into creating more extensive and effective courses.

Multi-day Course

• Intermediate digital educational products that require several days for completion.

• Typically include pre-recorded videos organized into modules accompanied by supplementary materials.

• Priced in the range of $250 to $2,000.

Masterclass

• These courses extend over weeks or months and aim to provide a comprehensive system for success.

• Priced in the range of $300 to $5,000.

• Recommended for experienced course creators.

Outline the Course Content

When outlining the course content and determining its components, it is essential to adopt the student’s perspective. Begin by envisioning the ideal learning outcome you want the students to achieve. Afterward, proceed to structure the content logically, working backward from that desired end state.

Set Course Pricing and Sales Goals

Your course price depends on its type: free or low-cost for a mini-course, moderate for a multi-day course, and higher for a masterclass. In addition, check the competitors’ pricing in your niche to find a fair balance- make sure not to undersell or overprice. Moreover, you should set a sales goal to help determine your pricing and guide your marketing strategy.

Choose the Right Course Platform

Next, choose the platform where you want to host your course content online. Various course platforms offer unique features, and they generally fall into three basic categories: standalone, all-in-one, and online course marketplace.

Test the Course Market Demand

Before launching your product, validate your idea to ensure it is worth your time and money. Create a scaled-down version of your course, like a mini-course or a free webinar. 

Launch and Advertise Course

Once you have dedicated effort to ensuring your course content meets your customer needs, start promoting your product. First, begin with a few marketing channels, identify what works best, and focus on strategies to engage customers. 

Collect Feedback and Testimonials

Make sure to gather feedback and testimonials from satisfied customers who have experienced positive results from your course. Incorporating these positive stories of transformation into your landing page and marketing materials is a compelling way to persuade customers to join the course.

How to Use AI to Create an Online Course?

To make the most of AI in creating online courses, think of it as a useful assistant, not a replacement for your unique touch. Indeed, AI is speedy and smart, but it surely cannot share your personal experiences or connect with students on a human level.

Rather than relying on AI, use it to automate routine tasks, get lesson ideas, and review your work. In other words, AI is similar to a tool that lightens your workload, but you should bring the essential human touch to teaching.

4 Ways to use AI when creating online courses

Here are the four main ways AI can help when it comes to developing your online course. 

Generate Content Ideas

AI writing tools, such as ChatGPT, help ensure comprehensive course creation. With proper prompts, these tools generate ideas based on topic and target audience data, facilitating efficient and informed training course development.

Create useful course descriptions

Using AI to craft clear course descriptions outlining the purpose and outcomes. A concise summary enhances understanding, encourages participation, saves time, and benefits the organization in general.

Producing visual elements

AI can do more than just writing: use it to enhance your course with visually appealing and multimedia elements. Effective training often requires a mix of media types. Moreover, graphics aid quick information processing, and many individuals learn better through video or audio instruction than text alone.

Refining your text

AI editing and revision tools are highly advanced, scanning content for context and meaning to identify and correct subtle human errors. These tools provide various services, including grammar checks and rephrasing, ensuring your writing is clear and professional.

Conclusion

Find your niche and become an influencer, sharing your expertise and skills. Be the one who is cited and start by sharing a short course. Today, knowledge is money; without knowledge, one can be easily replaced. Continuous learning is the only way to keep up with the ever-evolving world of technology. Be the one to give knowledge to others and your contribution will be invaluable.

P.S. Use AI to be more productive!