where should i host an online course

by Elenor Kozey 9 min read

  1. Thinkific. Thinkific is one of the most popular hosted online course platforms that lets you create and sell online courses under your brand.
  2. Kajabi. Kajabi is an all-in-one online course creator that allows you to build a beautiful course website, host all types of content, including videos, market online courses, deliver your ...
  3. Teachable. Teachable is is another robust online course creation platform, and it is somewhat similar to Thinkific in terms of features and capabilities.
  4. LearnWorlds. LearnWorlds is another popular online course creator in the market. It has a strong focus on delivering an interactive learning experience.
  5. Podia. Podia (previously Coach) is the easiest-to-use online course platform in the market that lets you create and sell online courses and other digital products from your own website.
  6. New Zenler. New Zenler is the newest entrant in the course platform space. ...
  7. Teachery. Teachery is a super simple solution for creating and selling online courses. ...

The 11 best platforms to create and sell online courses
  • Udemy for launching your first course.
  • Skillshare for teaching creative skills.
  • Teachable for creating an online school with advanced marketing.
  • Podia for selling digital products and memberships.
  • Thinkific for building a course from scratch.
Dec 8, 2021

What is the best platform to host an online course?

Kaltura Kaltura is another one of the best video hosting platforms for online courses. Kaltura is an open-source tool for hosting video learning platforms or training libraries. The company is geared towards large educational institutions, but enterprises can use Kaltura to host online training platforms.

Should you host or self-host your online course?

When you’re ready to build an online course, you’ll need to decide if you want to go the hosted or self-hosted route. The easiest way to understand this distinction is using the analogy of renting vs. owning a home.

Should you use a hosted solution to sell online courses?

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. The platform is designed to only host your online course content.

What is video hosting for online courses?

Content delivery is another important component of video hosting for online courses. A content delivery network (CDN) refers to a geographically distributed group of servers that work together to provide fast delivery of internet content. Ideally, a platform should have servers around the world.

Where can I host a 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 do I find my audience for an online course?

Guest post on other sites and blogs, directing readers back to your website or sales page.Make your course available to influencers and experts in your niche, and ask them to mention it to their audience in exchange for free access. ... Talk about your work (and your course) as a guest on webinars and podcasts.

How do I set up an online course?

How to create an online courseChoose the right subject matter.Test your idea.Research the topic extensively.Write a course outline.Create the course content.Bring your course online.Sell your online course.Market your content.More items...•

How do I host an online training video?

1:274:24How to Host Your Online Training Videos - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipVidcaster is a video experience platform that enables you to use video for lead generation. OnlineMoreVidcaster is a video experience platform that enables you to use video for lead generation. Online video training and video subscription sites rizumu helps you easily create post.

Who will be the target audience?

Your target audience refers to the specific group of consumers most likely to want your product or service, and therefore, the group of people who should see your ad campaigns. Target audience may be dictated by age, gender, income, location, interests or a myriad of other factors.

Who is your target client market?

Target Customers A target customer is an individual that's most likely to buy your product. And it's a subset of the broader target market. For example, if your target market is female athletes between the ages of 13 to 25, a target customer could be female athletes in the specific age range of 13 to 16.

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.

How do I create and sell a course online?

In this article, you'll find an overview of the 10 major stages of online course creation:Pick 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.More items...•

Which software is best for online teaching?

The Best Virtual Classroom Software For Online TeachingBigBlueButton. It's hard to beat free. ... LearnCube. LearnCube was also purpose-built for teaching and tutoring online. ... Electa Live. Electa Live provides virtual classroom software and a learning management system for online courses. ... Adobe Connect. ... WizIQ.

What is the best platform for educational videos?

The six best video platforms for education are: Echo360. Kaltura. Opencast.

Where can I host training videos?

Best Video Hosting Solutions for Online CoursesYouTube. YouTube isn't just a video streaming site—it's also the second largest search engine in the world after Google. ... Vimeo Pro. If you're ready to put some money behind your course videos, then Vimeo Pro is a great option. ... Wistia. ... Brightcove.

Why does Vimeo cost money?

There is a free subscription plan, but it is very limited and not designed for the business-related use that most Vimeo users are on the website for. Being the adless platform that it is, Vimeo earns all of its money through membership fees.

What are online course platforms?

Online course platforms allow creators to sell online courses from their own websites. These platforms allow you to create engaging courses with di...

Why use an online course platform instead of Youtube?

While Youtube is great for delivering video content, it doesn’t work well for structured online courses. It doesn’t have a learning management syst...

What makes a great online course platform?

A great course platform should offer you all the features you need to create an awesome online course, engage your students, and deliver your conte...

What online course platforms allow a custom domain?

All the hosted course platforms, including popular ones like Kajabi and Thinkific, allow you to use a custom domain. Your sites use a free subdomai...

What online course platforms allow blogging?

Blogging isn’t considered a core feature for online course creators. However, the all-in-one platforms like Kajabi and New Zenler and some standalo...

What online course platforms are free?

While no course platform is totally free, a few offer a free plan. The most notable ones with a free plan are Thinkific and Teachable.

What does a WordPress LMS plugin do exactly?

A WordPress LMS plugin allows you to sell online courses through your existing WordPress site. It adds features for content management, course crea...

What are online learning platforms?

Online learning platforms are course marketplaces where creators can upload their courses and sell to the existing audience. While these platforms...

Why is it so hard to find the best online course software?

The biggest reason why people struggle to find the best online course software is that they aren’t sure about what they should look for in a course platform. If you don’t have an understanding of what an online course platform should offer, you’re very likely to make a wrong choice.

What is Academy of Mine?

Academy of Mine is another (not so popular) option for creating and selling online courses. It lets you build a fully-fledged website to host your online courses and start selling them.

Is online learning a growing industry?

Online courses are a rapidly expanding industry and will continue to grow as more and more students turn to online learning. In addition, technology has made it really easy for you to create and sell online courses and so the barrier to teaching online has come down significantly. Dozens of online course platforms exist, ...

Why are online courses important?

Online courses offer the opportunity to build a community and even earn some additional income.

What is online course creation?

Course creation software. In a marketplace, your course is a part of a catalog, and you have the option to customize your course landing page but not much else aside from the course content.

What is included in a store landing page?

Each store's landing page includes an overview, a "What's included" section, a content section, FAQs, and creator bios. And all courses, memberships, and digital downloads have a separate landing page. Once you create an online course, you can publish it immediately or pre-launch it to collect emails.

How to make a paid course on Udemy?

To create a paid course on Udemy, you first have to apply to become a premium instructor. Once approved, you'll see a series of easy-to-follow steps to help you create your first course. As you plan course content, keep in mind that all courses need at least 30 minutes of video and five lectures.

Can you offer courses on their own?

There's flexibility when pricing your course too. You can offer courses on their own or in bundles, and choose between a one-time fee, a payment plan, or a subscription. When you're ready to launch, create coupon codes to see a quick boost in course sales.

How to make a training video?

1. Plan Your Content. Outline every aspect of the training program or courses that you’re going to launch. Organize it in a sequence that makes sense. Your content should be “stackable” in the sense that information in video #1 prepares viewers for what they’re going to learn in video #2.

How much will the online learning market grow in 2025?

The online learning market is poised to grow to $325.10 billion by 2025. Within this market, video hosting for online courses makes up a key sector. Businesses can also use this technology to onboard new employees and train their teams online.

What is Kaltura training?

Kaltura is an open-source tool for hosting a video learning platform or training library. The company is geared towards large educational institutions, but enterprises can use Kaltura to host online training platforms.

Why is the internet important?

One of the most valuable things to come from the internet is the ability to share information from one place to another almost instantaneously. With the shift towards online learning and training, people can learn online without the issue of location restrictions.

What is echo 360?

Echo360 is a streaming solution that was designed specifically for educational video hosting. Although it is primarily used by schools, it can be used by enterprises to host video training platforms.

Make choosing an online course platform easier

One of the most important things to know about choosing the best online course platform is that most course software out there is not designed to sell online courses. They are made to deliver internal corporate training or to support academic programs.

Standalone Online Course Platforms

These are hosted course platforms geared toward solo edupreneurs or small businesses that want a turnkey way to create their own branded site to sell online courses. (Also, unlike Udemy, which is discussed below in a different category, they allow you full control over your user data.)

All-In-One Course Platforms

This category of online course software provides everything you need not just to create and sell online courses, but also to manage your full web presence and sell other digital products. They combine elements of a web content management system (CMS) with marketing and customer relationship management tools (CRM).

WordPress for Selling Courses Online

If you are wondering how to create an online course with WordPress – and, of course, sell it – there are plenty of WordPress plug-ins and themes available to help you out.

Marketplace Online Course Platforms

These are online course platforms that, in addition to providing ways to author/assemble courses, also provide an existing marketplace in which to sell courses online. I’ve only included what I consider to be the top contenders here. For more extensive list of options in this category, see Looking for an Alternative to Udemy?

Video Course Platforms

Uscreen provides a complete solution for hosting and monetizing your videos – including OTT distribution options.

Small Business – Extended Enterprise Platforms

Most of the online course platforms listed on this page are geared towards solopreneurs or small, start-up businesses. While they can work for larger businesses, I’ve found over time that more established training and education companies may want to jump up to a different level if they:

Why are online courses important?

Online courses are much easier than standard training, they normally don’t require learners to attend at specific times and allows them to access the information in their own time.

What is an all in one course?

All-in-one online course platforms are ideal for anyone who doesn’t have the ability to create a stand-alone platform for themselves. Most all-in-one platforms have pay per month plans for hosting your online courses.

What is LearnDash WordPress?

LearnDash is a dynamic and creative platform designed to be used with WordPress. This platform is made for creating and marketing your online courses with a variety of professional and beautiful themes to get your online course business flourishing.

How much is online education worth in 2025?

By 2025 the Online Education Industry will be worth a massive $325 billion and $50 billion of that will come from the corporate market alone.

What is an all in one platform?

These are designed to have everything you need to get started, in one place. You’ll have access to website building, marketing tools, your online course platform and a shopping cart.

How much is the eLearning market worth in 2025?

In 2015 the global eLearning market was worth a whopping $107 billion and it is estimated that by 2025 it will be worth $325 billion. With growth like that it is no wonder that so many people are itching to get a slice of the pie.

What is the most popular blogging platform?

WordPress and Wix are the most popular blogging platforms in the world, meaning that your content is available to millions of people as soon as it’s posted. If you’re looking to own the domain of your blog, the cost can be low if you begin on the lower plan. There is also the option to upgrade later if you wanted to.

How much does it cost to create an online course?

Studies estimate that a professional online course can cost between $5,850 and $15,600 to produce.

How can I make money selling online courses?

To make money selling online courses, you need to spend money. But by looking into pricing information first, you get a better understanding of your potential return on investment. You should also be on the lookout to see if any platforms charge a hidden transaction fee on your course sales.

What is Skillshare course?

Skillshare is an up and coming online course marketplace with over 4 million students. With a large user base of creators and entrepreneurs, it is a great option for instructors in creative fields.

What is LinkedIn learning?

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) is another online course marketplace tailored to business professionals. With over 1,000 business courses on topics like project management, web development, and digital marketing, they’re an excellent platform for working professionals looking to keep their skills up-to-date.

What are the courses at Adobe?

Their courses are all globally-recognized and offer certifications to help you in your career. If you're a working professional, their classes on digital marketing, project management, web development, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel are very in-depth.

What is Ruzuku course?

Ruzuku allows you to create a step-by-step online course with their learning platform, PDFs, and text in minutes. You can quickly create course outlines, edit and reorder your steps with ease, launch your course, and generate sales in no time.

How much is the online course market worth in 2025?

In fact, the e-learning and online course market will be worth $325 billion by 2025. Are you ready to tap into this market and sell online courses? You need the best online course platform.

What is the goal of an online course?

The goal of your online course is to help guide them through that transformation process. However, finding the problem your audience needs to solve is easier said than done. It’ll take time and a bit of research, but you must find the right opportunity before you rush off to build something that you hope someone needs.

How to stress test a course?

To stress-test your course, you can simply give the course out for free to your first-time students and allow them one-on-one interaction with the instructor. For example, you could release lessons and then host a Q&A session to drill deep and figure out pain points. If you addressed them in the course, great.

How much will the online education industry grow in 2026?

According to market research firm Global Industry Analysts, the online education industry will grow from $107 billion in 2015 to $370 billion in 2026. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online courses had overtaken traditional education in all aspects.

Is online learning self sufficient?

When creating an online course, most instructors forget that online learning is almost entirely self-sufficient. It isn’t like school, where you have a teacher or parent constantly telling you to do the work.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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