Should You Create an Online Course? A Guide for Coaches and Entrepreneurs

As a coach and entrepreneur, you may have wondered if creating an online course is right for you and your business.

You’ve likely encountered online learning ads while surfing the internet, such as “how to” guides or coaching programs, and you might have even enrolled in one or two!

So, you thought… maybe you should create one too. ? Well, the research shows that the e-learning market will continue to grow.

“According to Facts and Factors, the global e-learning market size was worth around USD 210.1 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 848.12 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 17.54% between 2022 and 2030.”

Yes! Creating an online course can be rewarding for coaches and entrepreneurs, allowing you to expand your reach, generate income, and share your expertise.

So, exactly how do create online courses?

In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of course creation online, how to determine if it’s the right choice for you, what to expect in the process, and guide you through getting started. Based on our client experiences, we’ll also share some practical tips for content creation, marketing, and improving the overall student experience.

Let’s dive in and explore the world of online course creation together!

Why Create an Online Course: The Benefits

Many coaches and entrepreneurs enjoy the benefits of building a course online for their audience and their business. It’s like their secret weapon! These benefits may be just what you’ve been looking for to boost your business.

Expanding your reach: The reality for most solopreneurs is that you can only work with so many clients at a time. And time is your most valuable asset! By adding an online course creation guide for coaches to your product mix, you can teach multiple clients the same concepts, strategies, or techniques that you typically use one-on-one. It’s all about growth – expand your reach, increase brand exposure, and grow your client base!

Generate passive income: Once you’ve completed the work and created your online course, it can be a source of a steady stream of passive income along with minimal ongoing effort. One possible way to achieve this benefit is to let students enroll anytime and have instant access to the content. Regular promotion of your course will attract a constant flow of students and keep that revenue flowing.

Establish your expertise: Creating your online digital course means that you’ll be sharing your unique insights and experiences with your audience. Not only will this build your authority, but I can tell you when your students are pleased with your course, they will likely share and recommend it to others. And the benefit from your impact is very satisfying and rewarding. So don’t be shy, and don’t underestimate the power of sharing your expertise.

Develop your skills: An overlooked yet very valuable benefit to creating a course is boosting your skills. Your creative abilities will be able to shine when you’re in curriculum development and creating content. Plus, you’ll be perfecting your online communication and leadership skills. This is an excellent opportunity to invest in your personal growth.

These benefits probably caught your attention, so our next question is: how do you determine if you should embark on this digital course path?

How to Determine If You Should Create an Online Course

From my experience, jumping right into creating a course is not a good idea without first considering some factors. You want to avoid situations where disorganization arises, deadlines are not being met, and expenses are higher than expected.

By answering these questions, you’ll make informed decisions while setting yourself up for success.

What problem are you solving?

Start by identifying what problem your course will solve. Think about the problems your audience and clients have. Draw on what problems you’ve experienced and how you overcame them.

Is there a demand for your course topic?

Put your investigator hat on and do some market research. Check to see if there are similar courses out there. Are there any gaps you can fill? Send a survey to your clients, followers, or your email list to gauge interest.

Can you commit the time and resources necessary for a high-quality course?

Seriously! Tasks will always take longer than you expect, so be realistic and add some buffer time. Consider equipment, software, and potential outsourcing costs for tasks like video editing or graphic design.

Will creating a course help to achieve your business goals?

Your course needs to align with your business goals and overall strategy. Consider whether it will help you reach a larger audience, establish your authority in your niche, and increase your revenue.

Set aside the time and evaluate these elements to determine if a digital course is right for you and your business.

What to Expect: The Course Creation Process

You’re eager to bring your vision to life, and it’s important to know that creating an online course involves several steps.

Based on my perspective, let’s break down the main phases of the creation process so you’ll know what to expect as you pave the way to building a robust course foundation.

Planning Stage:

It shouldn’t be surprising that you’ll begin with the planning stage. This means taking a step back and looking at the big picture for your online course creation for coaches. Your goal here is to determine the best approach for you and your students based on the course content you’ll deliver and desired outcomes.

Content creation:

This area will need a strong focus, depending on the depth of your course. Keeping your students interested and informed is vital for your course’s success. Let your creativity flow as you develop engaging and educational content using video lectures, presentations, quizzes, and assignments.

Platform:

Selection of platform software is a critical step because the platform will not only deliver your course but also impact your student’s experience. Software features, pricing, integrations, and ease of use are things to consider when making this decision.

Do your research and choose the right platform for your course, such as Thinkific, Teachable, or Kajabi. 

Marketing and promotion:

Successfully attracting and enrolling new students through a well-planned marketing and promotion strategy is essential. Social media advertising, email campaigns, and leveraging your existing network and client base will help you reach your target market.

There you have it! You’ve now got a solid understanding of the benefits, factors to consider, and the course creation process.

In the next section, we’ll guide you to bring your vision to life and start building the foundation for your e-learning course.

Where to Start: Your First Steps in Course Creation

It’s time to kick off your course creation journey. These initial steps, along with your creativity, will lay a solid foundation for your online course. Remember, every journey is unique, so remain flexible in letting your course evolve along the way.

Here’s where to begin:

1. Identify your niche: Determine your area of expertise and ensure it aligns with the needs and wants of your target audience.
2. Conduct market research: Analyze your competition and identify gaps in the market by researching existing courses in your niche and gathering feedback from your target audience.
3. Set your goals: Define your objectives for the course, such as enrollment targets, revenue goals, or making a meaningful impact in your field. This will provide a clear direction and a way to measure your progress.
4. Create a course outline: Organize your content into a logical structure, breaking it down into modules and lessons to make it more digestible and easier for your students to follow along.

 

By following these steps and carefully considering the factors involved, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful online course that benefits both you and your students. Embrace the journey as you go, and watch your online course dreams become a reality!

No Content? No Problem: Strategies for Content Creation

A common roadblock for coaches and entrepreneurs is you’re unsure how to create content or don’t have any existing material to work with.

Here are some suggestions based on my previous experiences that may help you out with creating your course content 

Leverage client interactions: Your clients are the biggest resource for creating amazing courses! Consider this: You’re on a Zoom call with a client, coaching them through a challenge they’re facing. Suddenly, a lightbulb goes off in your head – this could make for excellent course content!

Real-life examples are powerful tools for engaging learners and demonstrating your expertise in action. So, don’t shy away from using your experiences with clients, their questions, challenges, and successes as your course content.

Offer a live group program: Why not consider offering a live group program? You can use the sessions to gather material and record them (with everyone’s consent, of course!) and use them as the foundation for your online course.

An added bonus? You get real-time feedback and interaction from your initial group of students, allowing you to refine your content and tailor it to their needs. Plus, your students learn and grow together, creating valuable learning experiences for everyone involved.

Collaborate with others: Partnering up with other experts in your niche can take your content to the next level.

Collaborating on creating course material or inviting them to guest lessons and interviews can not only provide a fresh perspective but can also broaden your course’s reach.

Why limit yourself to just your expertise when you can offer your audience a variety of knowledge from other seasoned coaches? It’s a win for both you and your audience! 

Repurpose existing content: If you’ve already been busy creating content – blogs, podcasts, webinars… what if I told you that you could repurpose all of that for your online course? 

Trust me; it will save you a ton of time and give your course a consistent feel that aligns with your brand and message.

For example, why not turn a popular blog post series into a module for your course? Or maybe repurpose a webinar recording as a lesson in your course and supplementary materials.

Don’t let all this awesome content go to waste – give it new life with your course.

Practical Tips for Creating an Engaging and Effective Online Course

Engagement and delivering value to your students is a top priority as it impacts the success of your course more than you may know. Speaking from my own experience, you may want to consider these practical tips as you work through creating your online course.

• Vary your content format: Learning is different for everyone, so use a variety of content formats. It’s only natural that different people have different ways of absorbing information. Try creating video lessons with accompanying slides, recap and summarize key ideas in text format, and use interactive quizzes to reinforce knowledge. That way, you’ll be able to engage your audience in multiple ways and create a rich, engaging learning experience that everyone can benefit from.
• Encourage interaction: Creating an environment where students feel encouraged to interact is essential for a successful learning experience. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and easy ways to make this happen. From discussion boards to hosting live Q&A sessions over Zoom to setting up a private Facebook group, there are many options to choose from. So why not spice up you’re teaching by adding some interactive elements and enjoy watching your student’s successes?
• Provide clear instructions and guidance: When it comes to designing an online course, you want to make sure your students aren’t left feeling lost and confused and know what’s expected of them at each stage. So, start by mapping out your course in a logical sequence, with each module and lesson clearly outlined. And don’t forget those learning objectives and progress success markers! Make sure everything is crystal clear so your students can focus on actually learning.
• Offer support and feedback: It’s important for students to have support and feedback throughout their educational journey. So, make yourself available to answer questions or address concerns and provide timely and constructive feedback on students’ work. Offering regular “office hours” where students can drop in virtually to ask questions or use a platform like Slack for real-time communication helps students feel supported. It encourages them to stay engaged with the course.

 

Marketing Your Online Course: Strategies for Success

After years of working with clients, implementing marketing strategies will be important to attract and enroll students in your online course. Here are some suggestions worth considering:

Build an email list

An email list can be an incredibly valuable tool to promote your course and boost your student numbers. But how do you go about it? 

Well, the key is to offer something that potential students can’t resist. Maybe it’s a free e-book, a helpful checklist, or a webinar on a topic related to what you’re teaching. 

People love getting free stuff (who doesn’t?), so use that to your advantage. Once you’ve got those email addresses, don’t let them go to waste. Keep your leads engaged with valuable content and promotions.

Utilize Content Marketing

By creating blog posts, offering free webinars, or sharing social media content related to your course topic, you can showcase your expertise and attract potential students.

One effective strategy is to write in-depth blog posts or YouTube videos that address common questions or challenges in your niche and then use these posts to direct readers to your course offerings.

Not only will this help establish you as a thought leader in your industry, but it can also pique the interest of those who may be looking to learn more about your topics.

Leverage Social Proof

Building trust with your target audience can be tricky, but one tactic that works wonders is leveraging social proof.

How do you do that? With testimonials and success stories from your students, of course! Imagine a dedicated “Success Stories” landing page somewhere on your website where you can showcase quotes, images, and even video interviews from satisfied students.

This isn’t just a great way to build trust; it’s a fantastic opportunity to highlight your students’ successes and help potential students envision themselves succeeding too. So start gathering those stories and testimonials.

Offer Limited-time Promotions

Offering discounts or bonuses for a limited time creates urgency and encourages potential students to enroll sooner rather than later. For example, you could offer a 20% discount for the first 50 students who enroll in your online school or you could throw in a bonus module or coaching session if they sign up within a specific time frame. 

Enhancing the Student Experience: Tips for Course Improvement

Once your course is up and running and students work through the material, you’ll need to maintain it. Why? Because you’ll improve the quality of the course and ensure student satisfaction. Having dealt with this, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Gather feedback: It’s so important to ask and gather regular feedback from your students on your course content, delivery, and overall experience. This helps make improvements and enhance the learning experience.

• Update content: Have you ever taken a course only to discover that it’s outdated and irrelevant? Yeah, not a fun experience. That’s why it’s necessary to keep your course materials up-to-date. Stay in the know with the latest developments and trends, and continue researching your niche, to ensure your course remains valuable to your students.

• Monitor engagement and completion rates: By keeping an eye on your student’s progress, engagement, and completion rates, you can quickly identify areas where they may be struggling or losing interest. These analytic tools are usually provided within your course platform to help you keep track of which lessons have high drop-off rates or patterns in students’ performance on quizzes and assignments. With this data, you can make any necessary adjustments and improve the course experience for your students.

 

• Offer ongoing support and resources: Here’s some valuable advice to keep your students engaged and connected even after they complete your course. Don’t just let them fade away into the abyss of forgotten knowledge. No, no, no. Continue your relationship with your past students. Offer advanced courses or workshops, or keep sharing relevant content with them through email or social media. Be the teacher that keeps on giving!

 Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you create an online course?

Creating an online course can help you share your expertise, expand your reach, and earn passive income. It’s also a way to provide value to learners who prefer online learning.

What does it mean to create an online course?

Creating an online course involves designing and delivering educational content through an online platform. This can include videos, quizzes, assessments, and other interactive materials.

How should an online course be?

An online course should be engaging, informative, and easy to navigate. It should have clear learning objectives, well-structured modules, and relevant activities and assessments. Additionally, it should be designed to accommodate different learning styles and accessibility needs.

What are online training methods?

Online training methods are instructional strategies for delivering educational content through digital platforms. Examples include webinars, self-paced courses, interactive videos, and online forums. These methods provide learners with flexibility and convenience while still allowing for interactive and engaging learning experiences.

Conclusion:

A successful online course takes work and dedication. Still, if you focus on providing truly valuable content, crafting an engaging experience for your students, and leveraging effective marketing techniques, then you can maximize your impact to great lengths.

Ready to get started on your online course journey? Take the leap, whether it’s a simple webinar course or a comprehensive, holistic program – the only limit is your imagination.