You are a creator with extensive knowledge in your field. Whether you’re practicing yoga, baking, or teaching dance, your experience and skills are amazing.
But turning that knowledge into a successful online course that will earn you good money? It seems a little bit difficult.
But don’t worry! Selling online courses is not just for a select few. With a little planning and dedication, you, too, can launch a profitable course.
In this blog post, we are going to give you a clear roadmap, which will explain to you step by step how to sell successful online courses. Along with that, we will also share real-life examples that will serve as inspiration for you.
Let’s get started!
The Future Of Online Courses 2025 And Beyond:
Today I’m going to say something that might surprise you: Online courses are dying!
This doesn’t mean that online courses are dead, but the old strategies just don’t work as well anymore. Online courses started as a side hustle, which creators gradually turned into a profitable business. If you look at the market size, online courses have reached $58.4 billion in revenue!
Today, it’s still a great way to share your expertise and make money online. But it also has some big challenges.
For example, let’s say you launched a $100 course and 20 people signed up. That’s a great way to make $2,000 in one go. But next month? The month after that? It’s a matter of consistency because courses sell once, not over and over again.
Challenges Of Online Courses:
One-time purchase:
You are always looking for new customers, which can be a tedious process. With everyone launching their online courses, the competition is also increasing.
Static content:
Once a course is created, it stays the same. People want new and updated content, and static content starts to look outdated after a while.
Low completion rate:
Only 5-15% of people complete their courses. People today prefer a structured community and engagement.
Lack of Connection:
Online courses don’t feel very personal. Nowadays, people want content, an active learning environment, and a community.
But Are Online Courses Worth It?
Absolutely! If you use them correctly, they can be the entry point to a stable and profitable business.
Justin Simon’s Journey: From a $199 Course to a Membership Business:
Justin Simon is a marketer who specializes in content repurposing. He built his audience through LinkedIn and his newsletter and then launched his $199 “Content Repurposing Roadmap” course.
He enrolled about 250 students and generated $50,000 in revenue from this course. But it was a one-time income, not a stable one.
So, he adopted a membership model and launched a club called “Distribution First.” Not just courses, but:
Webinars
Community forums
Office hours
Exclusive content
This model has helped him generate recurring revenue. Now, they charge a quarter at $199. If even just 60 people subscribe, they can make the same $50,000, but this money will keep coming back.
The Smart Business Strategy Of The Future: Membership Model:
It helps to realize that you must go with a long-term plan if you wish to develop an online course. Creating a vibrant community around a course is just as important as simply launching it.
How Creators Sell Their Courses Online: A Step-by-Step Guide:
1: Define Your Target Audience and “True Fans”
If you’re already making educational videos on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, you already have an audience.
Your audience will consist of different types of viewers:
- Engaged Fans: Those who occasionally watch your content and occasionally interact.
- Advocate Fans: Those who actively follow your content and occasionally buy a product or service from you.
- True Fans: Those who want to engage with you at all times and are willing to support every product and service you offer.
Your goal is to create an online course that is most valuable to True Fans, as these are the people who are most likely to take each of your courses.
You need to understand:
- Who are your True Fans?
- What topic do they need the most help on?
GUE.tv has cracked it perfectly on their membership platform for Scuba Divers. They know that their True Fans are interested in complex areas of diving culture.
That’s why they designed a High-Flow Cave Diving Course:
If you’re having trouble figuring out what topic to create a course on, you can ask your audience directly through a survey or poll.
Pro Tip: If you have an Engaged Community, you’ll find answers to your audience’s interests there!
2: Create Your Course Content:
Now that you’ve figured out what topic your course will be on, it’s time to create the content.
If you’re a creator, you probably already know what works best for your audience. But still, here are some universal tips that can make course creation even better:
Choose An Interesting Title:
If your course title isn’t catchy, people won’t click on it. Your primary topic should be included in the title.
Here’s an example:
If you create a great course on “Urban Gardening,” which is all about:
- Choosing the Best Plants
- Urban Planting Techniques
- Pest Control Techniques
- General Plant Care
If you just write “Urban Gardening Course,” it won’t stand out in the market.
But if you make it a little more engaging and write “Become an Expert Gardener: Urban Gardening Techniques for Spring,” it will be more effective.
Here are some things that will help you choose a great title:
Highlight the main benefits: What will people learn from your course? This should be in the title.
Keep it short and simple: Make the title simple and easy to understand.
Test: Have your title reviewed by different people or do A/B testing by creating multiple landing pages.
Recommended reading: “How to Create Effective Messaging That Converts.
Structure Your Course:
You must now consider it from the viewpoint of your students. Make a sensible flowchart that divides the course into manageable lessons. Knowing what your student wants to achieve in the end and working backward from there is the greatest strategy. For instance, how can you logically guide a student step-by-step toward becoming a proficient classical guitarist? Your course will be well-structured, engaging, and successful in this manner!
An example of a course structure:
Module 1: Overview of Classical Guitar
Module 2: Fundamentals of Music Theory and Sheet Music Reading
Module 3: Fundamental Guitar Skills
Module 4: Techniques for Intermediate Guitar Studying the Classical Guitar Repertoire
Module 5: A Brief Overview of Classical Guitar
Module 1: Overview of Classical Guitar
- Classical Guitar’s History and Evolution
- The Classical Guitar’s Anatomy
- Well-Known Classical Guitarists and Their Impact
- Different Types of Guitars and Classical Guitars
Module 2: Reading Sheet Music and Fundamental Music Theory:
- Music Language: Comprehending Foundational Theory
- Fundamentals of Reading Sheet Music
- Overview of Chords and Scales
- Sheet Music Time and Key Signatures
Module 3: Initial Guitar Techniques:
- Left-hand technique: chord formation and fretting
- Fundamentals of Right-hand Technique: Fingerstyle Guitar
- Acquiring Fundamental Scales and Chords for Classical Guitar
- Techniques for Intermediate Guitar Players:
- Contemporary Fingerstyle: Alternating Bass and Arpeggios
- Slivers: Pull-offs and Hammer-Ons
- Impression Methods: Muting and Vibrato
- Classical Guitar Tremolo Mastery
Module 4: Studying the classical guitar repertoire is covered:
- Old Guitar Music and Renaissance Melodies
- Baroque Period Harmony
- The Classical and Romantic Eras’ Magnificence
- Classical Guitar in Contemporary Music: Modern Melodies
Choose The Best Online Course Platform:
You must choose the right platform for your course if you want to have a successful online course.
Price appropriate for you and your audience:
Pricing your course is easy but you also need to price to maximize your earning potential.
Always make sure the price that you are charging for yourself and your audience is affordable.
Costs Associated With Creating An Online Course:
Time and labor to shoot videos, write scripts and graphics, and organize course material.
Software and hosting cost: Platform subscription or tools used to handle content preparing and developing software.
Advertising cost: Advertising cost on social media, email marketing SEO and content marketing.
Payment processing charges: Payment platforms charge a fee per transaction.
So be sure to consider all these things when you set your price!
Course Price Planning AND Marketing: A Guide for the Design of Colleges and Universities, Community Building – and Marketer
Course Pricing And Business Costs:
Depending on your business structure and country of operation you may have to pay taxes, license fees, and other business-related costs.
How To Price Your Course?
Second, identify your income goal and then use an online course cost calculator. Just enter these details:
Is there a single-time buy or a membership course?
How much revenue do you want to collect from your course?
How many followers do you have?
What is your estimated conversion rate? If you’re not sure about the number use 1-3%.
How much did development cost?
What time frame do you want to see a return on investment?
What does the market demand for similar courses?
Tip: Provide your buyers with the option of buying a membership subscription and a one-time purchase. This will allow you to reach a higher number of people.
Example:
Filmmakers Academy is a content-driven platform that educates directors and filmmakers. It also gives users the option to purchase a single master class as well as a full membership subscription.
Increase The Value Of The Course By Building A Community:
A strong community is the lifeblood of any good course! If your students have an attached community area, they are more likely to engage.
According to research:
When students are part of a connected community, they are more likely to renew their membership and explore your digital products.
Example:
M/BODY is an online fitness platform where members can use the live chat feature to get workout modification tips from the founder and team.
Justin Simon offers community access with his course, for which he charges an additional $400 – because the community is so valuable!
Your community can also be a marketing tool:
Highlight the member area
Share success stories and testimonials
Promote community challenges and exclusive content
Showcase student results
Future trend: Community-based courses are going to be the biggest trend in the next few years. Now is the best time to start!
Market And Sell Your Online Course:
Your business needs students to grow. So, you need to create an effective marketing plan for your course.
Goal:
Build relationships with your potential students and encourage them to buy your course or become a member.
If you want marketing and promotion ideas for your course, let me know!
How to market your online course?
After creating a great online course, marketing is just as important! If people don’t reach your course, how will sales come?
That’s why, here are the best marketing strategies that can boost your online course sales!
1. Create a professional website:
A good website is a must in today’s digital age!
You can create a customized and attractive website that represents your branding with the help of a drag-and-drop builder.
A website should have these things:
Professional Design: Your brand’s colors fonts and images match your brand.
Clear call-to-action: Display prominent buttons like “Enroll Now” or “Try for Free” in the top menus.
Easy navigation: Make it easy for users to understand how to purchase the course.
2. Active Social Media:
If you’re already active on social media, drive organic traffic from there!
Best Social Media Platforms:
YouTube: Give away free content and guide people to the course.
Instagram & TikTok: Promote the course through reels and short videos.
LinkedIn: This is the best platform for professionals and business owners.
Tips:
Share a teaser video of the course.
Show success stories or testimonials.
Mention exclusive discount codes or free trials.
3. Build Sales Funnels:
Building a strong sales funnel can help you convert your potential customers into leads.
Build an email list: Offer a freebie or giveaway that people can get just by giving their email.
Offer discount offers: Have a special discounted price for the first month.
Send follow-up emails: Send an email with a reminder or special offer to those who don’t sign up.
4. Run A “Refer A Friend” Campaign:
If your current students liked your course, give them the option of a referral program!
What to do?
Give each student a custom referral link.
If someone signs up through a new student, the referrer gets a month free!
A win-win strategy! You’ll get new customers and your existing customers will be happy too.
5. Use Abandoned Cart Emails:
A lot of times people add your course to their cart but don’t complete the purchase.
Sending reminder emails to these users is crucial!
Solution?
Set up automated emails:
First email: Reminder: “Hey, you didn’t check out your course!”
Second email: Special offer: “Check out and get 10% off!”
Third email: Last chance: “This offer is only for 24 hours!”
This technique can help you win back lost sales!
6. Offer A Free Trial:
If people get a taste of your course, they’re more likely to enroll!
Offer a 7-day or 14-day free trial
Show a small portion of premium content for free
Send personalized email follow-ups to trial users
Example: “If you liked this course, you can get full access for just ₹499/month!”
7. Prevent Membership Cancellations:
If people are canceling, get feedback from them and bring them back by offering a discount or bonus!
Solution?
Offer a special discount at the time of cancellation
Send a “win back” email series that will re-engage lost customers.
Offer premium bonuses or exclusive content!
This technique will help you grow your long-term subscribers!
How To Choose The Best Online Course Website?
Now that we’ve talked about how to sell online courses let us talk about the platform to launch the course on! Every business’s needs are different, but these 4 key things should all be kept in mind:
1. Ease Of Use:
The platform should be easy for both you and your students.
2. Features:
Does your course require quizzes, certificates, live streams, or just video content? Decide that.
3. Price And Revenue:
Check the platform’s cost, membership model, one-time sale, or transaction fees.
4. Customizable:
Can you maintain your branding? Is there a drag-and-drop website builder?
Best Online Course Platforms!
Uscreen: Best Membership-Based Course Platform
Features:
- All-in-one membership model – course + community
- Branded website and app creation
- Livestream, webinar, and interactive content
- Recurring revenue system
Revenue benefits:
- Steady income from monthly subscribers
- Community engagement increases course completion rates
- Customizable options available are the best choice if you want to build a long-term course business!
Start a free trial today!
Final Thoughts – Now it’s your turn!
If you want to launch a profitable online course, just creating a course isn’t enough—marketing it and choosing the right platform are also essential!
Follow these steps and make your online course journey a success!
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to subscribe to Fix It’s YouTube channel and stay tuned for new tech and online earning ideas!
Which is the best online course platform?
If you want to launch an online course, it’s very important to pick the best platform. They also all have their pros and cons. You should decide on the best platform according to your needs.
Let’s go through the top 3 online courses platforms
Thinkific – Best for Beginners
If you’re a new instructor and want to launch your course outside of the marketplace, Thinkific is a great option!
Key Features:
- Website Builder – Create a professional website with your branding.
- Community Access – Your students can interact with each other and ask you questions too.
- Marketing Tools – Attract more students with email marketing and website SEO.
- Thinkific App – Students can also access their courses through the app!
Who is it best for?
- New course creators – who don’t have a full course library yet and want to start small.
- Instructors building a focused course – who want to start with a high-quality, single course.
Pricing:
Free plan available! You can get started with no investment and upgrade for advanced features later.
Start your free trial today!
Mighty Networks – Best for community-based courses
If you value community engagement and student interaction, Mighty Networks is a great option!
Key Features:
- Built-in community space – discussions and live interaction with students possible.
- Live Events & Group Discussions – Online group calls and live classes with Zoom integration.
- AI Functionality – AI tools for quick and easy setup.
- Scalability – A custom-branded app is also available in Mighty Network Pro.
Who is it best for?
If you’re already running an established community. If group discussions and student interaction are very important to your course.
Cons:
No free plan available. This means that this platform is best for those who already have an engaged audience and want to transition into a high-level learning community.
Grow your community with Mighty Networks!
Your course has launched – what next?
If your course has been successfully launched, what next? Launching a course is a big milestone, but success will only come when people complete and use it!
Follow these steps to keep your students engaged!
Get your community active!
Why?
Self-paced online courses have an average completion rate of only 3-6%! If you want people to complete your course and share their feedback, you need to build a community.
How to do it?
- Send regular emails – Ask students how they’re doing.
- Hold milestone celebrations – Encourage people to share their successes.
- Hold community posts & Q&A sessions – So people can share their questions and experiences.
- Hold live Q&A sessions and bonus classes!
If you want to give extra value to students, hold a free live session monthly!
The benefit?
- Students’ problems will be solved.
- You will get direct feedback.
- Students will feel like they are getting an extra benefit (which will motivate them).
Introduce challenges and assignments!
Why is it important?
Many students drop out of the course halfway through, but if you have a fun challenge or assignment, they will stay interested!
Examples:
- Progress Challenge: Ask students to share their learning progress.
- Motivation Playlist: A fun activity where everyone shares their favorite study music or motivational tricks.
- Photo Submissions: If your course includes practical work, have students share photos of their work.
Collect Student Feedback!
Why?
If you’re not collecting student feedback, you’ll never know what’s working well and what needs to be improved in your course!
How to do it?
- Send a survey: Send them a short customer satisfaction survey form asking them how their experience was.
- Ask detailed questions: Don’t just ask “Did you like the course?”—ask “What was the most helpful?
- Ask for video testimonials: If a student had a great experience, ask them to create a short testimonial video that you can use for future marketing.
Final Thoughts – Now it’s your turn!
If you want to run a successful online course business, it’s not enough to just create and launch a course—you also need to promote and improve it!
Follow these steps and unlock the maximum potential of your online course!
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to subscribe to Fix It’s YouTube channel and stay tuned for new tech and online earning ideas!
Online Course Success – What to Do Next?
If your online course has been launched, it’s not enough to just wait! You need to work on keeping students engaged, collecting feedback, and making plans for the next level.
Let’s see how you can get maximum success from your online course!
Bring back students who aren’t engaging.
If some students start the course and drop out, reach out to them directly and ask:
- What’s the problem?
- Do you need any additional support?
- Would the content have been more helpful in another format?
Benefits?
- These insights will make your future courses even better.
- You can motivate these students back and encourage them to complete them!
- Send an email or message with a solution to their problem.
Collect Reviews & Testimonials!
If you want to increase the credibility of your course, you need real student reviews. When new people see that other students learned and benefited from the course, they will be motivated to enroll too!
How to collect?
- Send a short survey: Ask students what their best experience was and what could be improved.
- Record video testimonials: If a student has made significant improvements, ask them to create a short video testimonial.
- Use social proof: If students are sharing their progress or reviews on social media, repost and promote it!
The benefit of this?
- The trust factor of the course increases.
- Get more enrollments.
- You can make your marketing strategy stronger.
Plan your next step!
You created a course – now what?
Three options that might be best for you:
- Launch an advanced level course: If your first course was beginner-friendly, create a next-level advanced course that gives existing students a chance to learn further.
- Cover a new topic: If students are in demand for a new topic, you can create a fresh course on it.
- Improve Existing Courses: Based on student feedback, you can improve your existing courses and then relaunch them!
