how to beta launch your online course

Launch Like a Pro: 8 Steps to Beta Test Your Online Course Idea

1. Define your goals. I don’t know who said it first, but one key to business is to “fail fast, fail cheap, and fail...
2. Define and build your beta audience. Since the beta phase is a time to check and validate your course idea without...
3. Create your timeline and outline content. Consider keeping a...

Full Answer

Should you beta test your online course?

The benefits that come when you beta test your online course don’t end there, though. With targeted feedback to improve your course, you’ll likely be able to raise your prices, launch with raving testimonials, and secure confidence that your course will have a real transformational impact on the lives of those who take it. P.S.

Should I Sell my beta course?

(Yes, I do recommend that you sell your beta course, even at a discount. This adds value to the experience and is the only way to truly know if people will be open to paying for your Big Launch .) Does the thought of selling your beta test scare you?

How long should a beta launch pilot course be?

From what I’ve seen in the corporate world, the average pilot course is about 30 days, but it’s good to stay flexible during a beta launch. A successful pilot course usually strikes a balance between structure and experimentation. Be prepared to cut it short or expand the test phase as you experiment with what works.

What does it take to launch an online course?

To a beginner it might seem like launching your online course just consists of uploading your content, hitting the "publish" button, and waiting to see sales start rolling in. But there's a lot more to successfully launching a course than that.

How do I launch a beta course?

How to beta test your online course in 8 stepsDefine your goals. ... Define and build your beta audience. ... Create your timeline and outline content. ... Create course materials. ... Price and soft launch your beta course. ... Collect feedback. ... Document results. ... Evaluate your pilot.

What is the best way to launch an online course?

Online course launch checklistChoose a “first steps” course idea.Create the course outline and the first module.Make your sales page.Set up a post-purchase thank you page.Devise your sales emails.Create a landing page for your live challenge.Set up a thank you page for your live challenge.More items...•

How can I launch my own course?

Share this articlePick the perfect course topic.Ensure your course idea has high market demand.Create Magnetic and Compelling Learning Outcomes.Select and Gather your Course Content.Structure Your Modules and Course Plan.Determine the most engaging and effective delivery methods for each lesson.More items...•

Should I beta test my course?

Beta testing courses is one of the most important steps in the whole process. Anyone can come up with a good idea. If you're experienced in your industry, you'll likely be good at teaching your course material. Yet none of this matters unless you create a course your audience needs.

How do you announce a new course?

Short Course Announcement Letter We are delighted to bring a new opportunity to you, one of our most loyal admirers. This summer we are launching a new series of short courses aimed at rejuvenating the things we ordinarily dismiss as insignificant. The range of areas and subjects covered is vast and interesting.

Is selling online courses profitable?

Are online courses profitable? Yes. They're actually one of the best business models you can adopt as a digital business because they're in demand and more and more people are willing to pay top dollar for them.

How do you make an online course and get paid?

To get you started, here are 7 proven ways to make money selling courses online.Charge up front. ... Offer the course for free, then charge for certification. ... Charge a subscription. ... Use a tiered payment system. ... Pre-sell your course. ... Sell your online course for free—then funnel it into a product or service.More items...•

How long does it take to launch an online course?

Creating an online course is a rewarding process, but not one that doesn't come with a bit of commitment. But if you go in with a plan, creating your online course doesn't have to be an overwhelming process and with a bit of planning your can easily create and launch your online course in just 60 days.

Which online platform is best?

10 Best Online Learning Platforms In 2022 To Jumpstart Your CareerSkillshare.Coursera.Mindvalley.Udemy.Brilliant.org.Edx.org.Udacity.LinkedIn Learning (Ex Lynda)More items...

What is a course beta?

A beta test (or beta run) is an early test run of your online course before you launch it to the general public. You may have also heard it described as a private beta. Successful course creators do these, but you'll also find them in the SaaS world too. Beta testing works great for just about any product.

How beta testing is performed?

Beta Testing is performed by “real users” of the software application in “real environment” and it can be considered as a form of external User Acceptance Testing. It is the final test before shipping a product to the customers. Direct feedback from customers is a major advantage of Beta Testing.

How do I run a Facebook group course?

0:5411:24How to Use Facebook Groups for Your Online Course Platform - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you would just click on create. And then create group and it'll tell you to name your group you'MoreBut you would just click on create. And then create group and it'll tell you to name your group you're not going to add some people right away and you're gonna make it a closed.

What is a beta test?

A beta test (or beta run) is an early test run of your online course before you launch it to the general public. You may have also heard it described as a private beta. Successful course creators do these, but you'll also find them in the SaaS world too. Beta testing works great for just about any product.

Should your beta be free?

Okay, let's get one thing out of the way: your beta can be free or paid. There’s no hard rule that you have to make your beta free. However, it is a good idea to make it free to a small group of people if it's your first run of the course.

Who Should Beta Test Their Online Course?

Every online course creator should beta test their product, but especially:

Why bother beta testing your course?

Beta testing will give you the opportunity to gather feedback, test your course's user experience and find out if your course delivers the results you promise.

3 tips for running your beta test

Tell people they’re in a beta and let them know what they’re getting in exchange for being part of it.

What Course Beta Launching Is and Why You Should Beta Launch Your Course or Digital Product

Your beta product is a lot like the pilot episode of a new TV show. It’s kind of accepted that pilots change over time and that future episodes and seasons will be different.

The Value of a Beta Product For Your Customer

Some people don’t like to use the term “beta” launch because they don’t want their customer to think that they’re buying something that’s less valuable as opposed to a non-beta product.

How to Price Your Beta Course or Digital Product

So how do you determine what your beta course is actually worth, and price it accordingly?

How Many People You Should Allow in Your Beta Course

It’s important to be intentional about how many people you want to include in your beta course. If you have too many people, it can be hard to support all of them and engage with all of their feedback.

The Goals of a Beta Launch

Remember, the goal of your course beta launch is not necessarily to make money. That can come later! The goal is to help you refine your product that will eventually make you money.

Getting Valuable Feedback From Your Beta Course Students

Feedback is critical to the process of a beta program. You want to make sure that you’re fostering an environment where your customers and students are willing to give feedback, and continuously giving the feedback that you’ve asked for.

How to Plan Your Beta Course with Future Improvements in Mind

While you’re planning and creating your beta course, it’s important to remember that you’re creating this with future improvements in mind. The goal here isn't to have a completely polished product, it's to gain insight on what would make the product better.

When should you launch your course?

Ask yourself these key questions when you’re deciding on whether you’re ready to launch your course:

What do you need to launch an online course?

Two things are an absolute must-have if you want to launch your course successfully:

Step 2: Launch trigger

Once you’ve built an audience and you’ve told them about your launch, it’s time for your launch trigger.

How to ensure success in a beta?

To ensure success for your beta, set expectations upfront with your students. Remind them that this is a beta. Things may not be perfect, but you can still provide great value. Get feedback along the way from your students and make adjustments as needed. Ask your students where they are getting stuck.

How to deliver a beta test?

How to Deliver Your Beta Test for Your Online Course: You have two options for delivering your content for your online course. The first option is to create all content, load into your course platform, and give your students X number of weeks to complete. The second option (which can be easier and provides an avenue for you to adjust based on ...

What is the goal of beta testing?

One of the goals of a beta test is to collect customer testimonials for your course. Give your students an incentive for completing the testimonial. An example would be, if they complete the honest testimonial by X date, they can have full access to your new (revised) course.

Can you charge for a beta course?

You will also need to cover how much it will cost (yes, you can charge for a beta!), and the support you will provide throughout the process to help them succeed. Additionally, on your landing page, be sure to include the start and end date of the beta, how the course will be delivered such as live workshops or prerecorded videos.

What does it mean to pre-launch a course?

Pre-launching your online course means first validating your course idea with your audience. This creates buzz around your course topic, which helps you pre-sell your online course to students who enroll before launch date at a discounted rate.

Why did John Saunders pre-launch his online course?

The reason why pre-launching online courses works so well is the validation process happens before your course hits the market.

What is pre launch marketing?

According to BuzzSumo, the goal of pre-launch marketing is two-pronged: To build interest and buzz for your upcoming product or project.