how to create an online course for your website

by Darien Schowalter DDS 6 min read

How to create an online course
  1. Choose the right subject matter.
  2. Test your idea.
  3. Research the topic extensively.
  4. Write a course outline.
  5. Create the course content.
  6. Bring your course online.
  7. Sell your online course.
  8. Market your content.
Jun 23, 2021

Full Answer

How to create and launch an online course?

Some of the other ways that I test the sellability of an online course idea include:

  • online discussion forums
  • pay-per-click testing
  • surveys
  • analyzing popular blog posts (on your own blog and other expert blogs in your niche)
  • posting the right questions on social media

How to create a successful online course?

  • Pick the perfect online course topic.
  • Validate your idea to confirm whether it has high revenue potential.
  • Create magnetic and compelling course outcomes.
  • Structure your course modules and plan.
  • Select and create your course content.
  • Film, record, and edit your course.
  • Host your course online. ...

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Should you create an online course?

  • The FIVE BIGGEST MISTAKES people make when creating online courses
  • The ONE BIG DIFFERENCE between a SUCCESSFUL course business and an UNSUCCESSFUL one
  • How to find a course topic your audience wants to learn about SO BADLY, they’ll be falling over themselves to THROW THEIR CREDIT CARDS AT YOU

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How to start creating online courses?

Vo learned to practice mindfulness and completed her yoga training and certification while in India. 'This is an investment in me' After returning home, Vo founded Omflow, an at-home, interactive, live online yoga studio. "I said, 'I'm going to make an ...

How do I add an online course to my website?

4:141:32:40How To Create An Online Course LMS Website With Wordpress ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep three we are going to install the Divi theme now the Divi theme is the number one most popularMoreStep three we are going to install the Divi theme now the Divi theme is the number one most popular WordPress theme in the world. So you're gonna be using the most modern. And up-to-date software.

How do I create an online course for free?

How to create an online course for freeThinkific: Software to create an online course for free. ... Canva: Free and low-cost design tool. ... Beaver Builder: affordable WordPress page builder. ... Camtasia: Cheap software for editing online course videos, with a free trial. ... Vimeo: Free video hosting.More items...•

How much does it cost to build an online course website?

It can cost anywhere from $200 to $10,000 to create an online course. The main source of expenses is the labor involved, followed by the equipment and software. If you are creating the online course yourself and not paying someone else to do it, this means that other than your time there are very few expenses involved.

How do I create an online course quickly?

How to Create an Online Course for FreeChoose Your Course Topic.Identify the Target Audience.Gather and Structure Your Knowledge.Create an Online Course Outline.Choose Your Online Course Software or Platform.Create the Course Content.Make Sure Your Content is Engaging.Create a Community for Your Online Course.More items...•

Can I create an online course with WordPress?

Thanks to the variety of plugins and themes available, WordPress makes creating an online course for free simple and straightforward. Plus, you'll be able to exercise more control over the course content and distribution than you would if you choose another type of platform, such as an online course marketplace.

What is the best platform to teach online?

11 Free Online Teaching PlatformsEdApp. Teaching online has never been easier with EdApp, a top-tier online teaching platform applauded by several organizations and companies for its advanced but ultimately user-friendly tools and features. ... ProProfs LMS. ... Blackboard. ... EasyWebinar. ... CourseCraft. ... LearnCube. ... WorkWize. ... Arlo.More items...•

How many hours does it take to create an online course?

Depending on the duration and detail of the program, it can take anywhere between 25 – 500 hours to formulate an online course. A mini-course with just 4 or 5 videos you could develop it in a couple of days. An in-depth flagship course with numerous modules and assignments could take eight weeks or more to accomplish.

How do you make an eLearning course?

How To Easily Create eLearning CoursesChoose an authoring tool that is right for you. ... Research your eLearning audience and subject matter beforehand. ... Create an eLearning template or use an existing one. ... Choose a cloud-based learning management system. ... Use links to add multimedia and resources.More items...•

How long does it take to develop 1 hour of eLearning?

How long does it take to develop 1 hour of eLearning? A average 1-hour interactive elearning course will take 197 hours to develop. But development of a 1-hour elearning course can range between 49 hours for the low end of the range of a “basic” course to 716 hours for the high end of the range of an “advanced” course.

Is selling online courses profitable?

Are Online Courses Profitable? Yes, they are. Online courses offer one of the best business models to digital entrepreneurs. The demand is rising and people are more than willing to pay for them, and they are one of the top ways to make money online.

What is the most important part of creating an online course?

One of the most important components of creating an online course is setting a learning goal for the course . However, there’s more to it. Every online course consists of various sections, and each individual section also needs to have a clear learning goal.

How to make an online course more engaging?

An easy way to make online courses more engaging is to stimulate the student visually. This means pictures and videos. The simplest method of using picture and videos in an online course would be constructing your online class more like a PowerPoint presentation:

What does it mean to get started teaching?

Which means you need to get your knowledge together.

What is the target audience of an online course?

The target audience is the group of people to whom you are writing your course.

Is it a waste of time to create an online course?

It’s crucial that you decide on a specific course subject in the beginning phase of creating your online course. Be as specific as possible.

Do online courses require money?

Contrary to popular belief, the process of creating online courses doesn’t require a large chunk of money. If you know what you are doing, you can develop profitable online courses at no cost whatsoever. Creating successful online courses is like building powerful magnets.

Do you have to create all the content for an online course?

That being said, you don’t need to create all of the content for your online course before you start selling it. It’s always better to start off with a smaller batch of content, as this will allow you to take in feedback from your students and make improvements accordingly.

SiteGround

SiteGround is a highly recommended web host online because they have catered to WordPress users and yet still have affordable pricing. They are most known for their fast performance and equally fast support.

Astra Theme

Astra is a free WordPress theme that is focused on speed. Optionally you can purchase the Pro version for $59 which adds some additional settings and options.

Elementor

Elementor is a WordPress page builder that has taken WordPress web design by storm. It has the deepest feature set, yet is very easy to use and master. Elementor is the most full-featured free page builder. There is also a Pro add-on to add additional developer features.

LifterLMS

LifterLMS is a free learning management system for WordPress. They also have paid extensions available that start at $99 per year per site.

How to create an online course?

1. Define your target audience. First and foremost, think about your prospective learners before you hire a team to make a website for online courses for you.

Do paid courses come with a one off payment?

It may take away from the educational value of the course. Most paid courses come with a one-off payment. Subscriptions. In this case, you offer your customers a recurring payment option where they can pay for their membership of the course on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

1. Teachable

The most important tool in your arsenal will be an online course platform. You’ll need it to host your course and build your online school website.

2. Screencast-O-Matic

To make screencast videos for your course, you’ll need screen recording software, and the one I recommend is Screencast-O-Matic.

3. Google Docs

Google Docs is the most popular tool for writing text content for any purpose, and online courses are no exception. So you’ll be using it pretty extensively while creating your online course.

6. Canva

Canva will be one of the most important tools in your arsenal as an online course creator.

7. Unsplash

Stock photos can be an important part of your course creation process. You may want to add stock photos to your course lessons, presentation slides, course videos, or even use them to design your Canva graphics.

8. TestMoz

Although Teachable allows you to create quizzes to evaluate students, it offers only the basic features on the free plan.

9. Zoom

Creating blended learning experiences by introducing live sessions in your course is a great way to boost learner engagement.

How long does it take to create a course?

Keep the 10-minute rule in mind, that is, any chapter (containing text, presentation, or video) should take only about 10 minutes for learners to complete.

Can you create a course without software?

Create online courses without any software installation. Courses are adaptable to different devices including laptops, smartphones, and desktops to facilitate ‘anytime’ and ‘anywhere’ accessibility. You can create a course in multiple languages. Configure over 100+ settings to develop secure courses online and provide private or public accessibility.

What is the purpose of building an online course?

Building an online course requires you to make a shift from the more creative thinking and planning of content creation to technical know-how and patient work integrating systems in your tech stack and troubleshooting issues.

What is beta release in online courses?

That’s why many online course builders and membership site owners recommend a limited release ( often called a “beta” release) before you do an official launch of your online course to potential course participants, especially if this is your first course.

What is self hosted WordPress?

Self-hosted solutions include WordPress LMS plugins, and are often chosen by those who view their courses as an integral part of their business and want to create a truly custom user experience for their course participants.

What does it mean to find the right LMS theme for your online course?

Finding the right LMS theme for your online course website means that you need to be clear on what kind of layout you want, how many menus you’ll be using, whether you’re hosting videos or just written content, etc.

What does it mean to run a beta release on a hosted platform?

On the negative side, running a beta release on a hosted platform means you’ll likely have to start from scratch again with a migration to an alternative LMS solution when you start to experience limitations in your growth and the flexibility needed to deliver a great user experience.

Can you lose revenue if you don't have access to your online courses?

You could even lose revenue if you’re not able to deliver access or sell online courses during this downtime. Another important consideration when choosing a hosted solution to sell online courses is that you’ll most likely have to build and host your main website somewhere else.

What is Udemy course?

Basically, courses on Udemy are mostly video-based. This means you record lessons for your course in the form of videos. Simply get in front of the camera, have an idea of the lesson you’re going to give, and record as you narrate. Make sure you are looking straight at the camera, to keep your student engaged.

How long does it take to get approved for Udemy?

There are two options that Udemy offers for payment: either PayPal or Payoneer. Once you submit your application, it could take up to three days before your application gets approved. But as soon as it does, you can get right down to creating your Udemy course and setting your own price tag for it.

Can Teachable be used to create a website?

If you like using WordPress to create websites, you’ll love using Teachable to create courses! After your course is finished and ready for sale, keep in mind that, just like with Udemy, Teachable will keep a portion of every sale you make with your course.

Can you put a course on Thinkific?

You can put up your course on a free website with the Thinkific subdomain (example.thinkific.com) or you can pay extra to publish your course website on its own domain. Just like Teachable, there are no extra fees with Thinkific except for the transaction fee you will pay if you make a sale with your online course.

Is Udemy beginner friendly?

Udemy ( Beginner Friendly) If you’re new to the idea of creating an online course, Udemy makes it easy to become an online instructor and the best part is: it’s for the most part free to use! That’s why, if you’re a beginner, I highly recommend Udemy. Now there are two different ways to use Udemy.

What is Siteground hosting?

SiteGround is a hosting company that offers WordPress specialized service plans for just a few bucks a month — but only for your first invoice period (ei ther 12, 24 or 36 months).#N#This is an important point to take note of because after this initial invoice period is over, SiteGround’s pricing jumps dramatically and you’ll start paying premium prices for budget hosting.#N#That being said, what SiteGround provides you in terms of website performance, shared server storage (i.e. multiple customers sharing the same server hardware) and customer service is good enough to get started — especially if you’re strapped for cash.#N#Just know that you’ll need to upgrade your hosting when your business takes off (i.e. when your online traffic begins to spike) by migrating your site to a premium provider like we’re discussing next.

Is a domain name good enough for a website?

Keep the domain name you choose simple and relevant to your niche. As long your domain name makes sense for the range of courses you'll build, it's “good enough” to get started. In fact, the only rule you need to follow when selecting a domain name for your website is whether or not it can pass the Grandparent Test.

Does hover.com matter where you buy your domain name?

Hover.com. But it doesn’t really matter where you buy your domain name from because they all provide the same basic service. After creating a free account, use their domain name search function to make sure it’s available at an affordable price (usually around $10 USD) so you can pull the trigger on it.

Can you host a course on your website?

However, it’s not practical to host your course videos directly from your website. If you do, you’ll quickly burn through your hosting service’s monthly bandwidth limits and crash your site. To get around this problem, you’ll need to subscribe to a video hosting service.

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