How To Sell Online Courses And Earn $3500+
With the creator economy booming and online courses gaining popularity in the market, you can leverage and grow your online learning business in 9 simple steps.
In this blog, we'll discuss simple yet effective ideas to sell online courses and earn a substantial income in the process. We'll cover subjects such as choosing a topic, creating content, marketing your courses, and where to sell online courses, with the end goal of creating a successful online course business that brings in a revenue of $3500 or more each month!
So, let’s get started on how to sell online courses and earn an income:
Step 1: Pick your niche
Step 2: Set goals
Step 3: Select Your Course Hosting Platform
Step 4: Create an Online Course
Step 5: Seed Launch Your Online Course
Step 6: Pick Your Pricing Strategy
Step 7: Promote Your Course
Step 8: Increase the Worth (And Value) of Your Online Course
Step 9: Focus On Customer Experience
Step 1: Pick Your Niche
The first step is to pick a niche for your course. This could be anything from creative writing to web development.
But it’s best not to keep it too broad or specific. The key is to find a topic that you are passionate about and that people are interested to learn.
Then, research online and see what kinds of courses are already being offered in your domain.
One great way to find your niche is by experimenting on different social websites with various topics and seeing which ones generate the most interest and engagement.
Once you have a good idea of what people are interested in, you can start creating a course around that topic.
For example, if you have 2-3 ideas of niches, create Instagram, Facebook, or Youtube videos on them and see which niche is gathering the most engagement.
Step 2: Set Goals
The second step is to set some goals for your course. For example, do you want it to help people learn a new skill, or are you looking to create a course that will teach them about a specific topic?
Maybe you want it to be the go-to resource on a particular subject.
Whatever your goals may be, it is essential to write them down and keep them in mind as you create your course. This will help you stay on track with your courses and meet your student's needs.
Step 3: Select Your Course Hosting Platform
Selecting your hosting platform is one of the most critical steps, as the right marketplace to sell online courses will determine the overall experience for the end user.
There are different online course platforms to choose from that offer a wide range of features and are user-friendly.
Some big names in the industry are Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi. But we highly recommend you consider FreshLearn!
FreshLearn
FreshLearn is an online course creator platform that helps creators set up, manage, and sell online courses.
It comes with popular monetization features and 24x7 live chat support. FreshLearn course builder is user-friendly and easy to learn.
Additionally, the platform posts helpful and detailed videos on its YouTube channel to help creators set up their businesses in no time.
Unlike other platforms, FreshLearn supports embedding different video players like YouTube, Vimeo, etc., and is also the only platform in the space that has taken gamification as a feature seriously.
FreshLearn has consistently proved that it meets the many standards of the rising creator economy and even surpasses them to keep itself future-proof.
We can only wait to see more features and innovations that Freshlearn plans to bring to the table soon.
Teachable
Teachable is one of the oldest platforms for selling online courses. Though it is a popular platform among the course creators as highly functional with numerous options for customization, Teachable differentiates its support service to creators based on the pricing plans they have subscribed to while also having limited monetization features in the platform.
But Teachable can also confuse first-time users because of its complicated course builder.
Thinkific
Thinkific is feature-rich with tools for assessment, certificates, on-lesson discussion, easy customization, and more.
It is a popular learning management system for selling online courses because it does not charge its creators a commission rate while also providing unlimited courses, students, and enrollments in all its paid plans.
But like Teachable, Thinkfic also prioritizes its support services based on the pricing plans the creators have availed of and charges a hefty $399/month for advanced features with no concierge migration support services available in any of its pricing plans.
Kajabi
Kajabi is also an old online course creation platform and is an all-in-one platform that lets instructors build and launch learning businesses.
In addition, Kajabi provides other monetization features to its creators like podcasts, website building, coaching, etc., and also offers its creators a 0% commission rate in all its pricing plans.
But with that in mind, Kajabi's pricing plans are one of the most expensive in the business. With no free plan and the most basic plan starting at $149/month, going all the way up to $399/month, Kajabi's prices are high compared to other platforms considering the features that creators avail are the same.
Once you have chosen your hosting platform, you will need to sign up for an account and create your courses.
This process is usually very straightforward, and most platforms will have detailed instructions on creating your courses.
Be sure to take advantage of any help or support offered, as this can be invaluable in getting your courses created and online.
Step 4: Create an Online Course
Now that you have chosen your platform and niche, it's time to create your courses. It is imperative to plan your course content carefully, as this will be what your students will learn. As you build your courses, be sure to keep the following in mind:
Course Content
When creating your course content, it is essential to remember that you are teaching a course, not just delivering information.
Your students should learn from your course, not just receive information. Therefore, be sure to create a syllabus or outline for your course and plan your lessons carefully.
Your courses should be designed with a logical flow and include activities and exercises for your students to complete.
Course Structure
Your courses should also be structured in a way that makes them easy for your students to follow.
Be sure to use headings and subheadings to organize your content and make it easy to read. You may also want to create slides or videos to accompany your lessons.
Using a modular approach may also be helpful, with each module covering a specific topic. Preparing a proper structure for your course to assume will help your students stay focused and ensure that they learn the material properly.
Course Format
Your courses should be delivered in an engaging and exciting format. You may want to consider using videos, audio recordings, or interactive exercises.
Using a variety of multimedia elements will ensure that your students remain engaged with the subject.
Be sure to test your courses on different devices and browsers to ensure that they are displaying correctly. Whatever format you choose, be sure that it is exciting and engaging for your students.
Step 5: Seed Launch Your Online Course
Seed Launching your online course is a great way to get started. A seed launch is a pre-sale campaign where you offer your course at a discounted price to generate interest and enrollment. Using this strategy is a great way to get your course off the ground and generate revenue.
When launching your online course at an early stage, be sure to include the following:
- A Compelling Offer – When seeding your course, be sure to offer it at a discounted price. This will generate interest and help you enrol students.
- A Strong Sales Pitch – Your sales pitch is critical when seeding your course. Making a solid case for why someone should purchase your course helps put your image out there, even if it may sometimes fail to bring in students.
- A Good Marketing Strategy – You need to have a good marketing strategy to generate interest in your course. Utilizing various methods, such as social media, email marketing, and paid advertising, will benefit.
- A Well-Designed Landing Page – Your landing page is critical when seeding your course. It needs to be well-designed and easy to use. The page should also include a video that explains your course in detail.
Step 6: Pick Your Pricing Strategy
Once your course is created, you will need to decide on a pricing strategy. You can choose to price your courses for a transactional model or opt for a subscription model.
When it comes to the Transactional Model, students pay for each course they take. This is typically a one-time fee that covers the entire course.
In a Subscription Model, students spend a monthly fee to have access to all of their courses. This is an excellent option for those who want to take multiple courses.
Both pricing models have their advantages and disadvantages. The Transactional Model is great for those who want to take a single course, while the Subscription Model is great for those who want to take multiple courses.
The disadvantage of the Transactional Model is that students may not be interested in your course in the long run, while the Subscription Model can be expensive for students.
When choosing a pricing strategy, be sure to consider the needs of your students. You may also want to offer a free trial to help you increase enrollments.
Step 7: Promote Your Course
Once your course is created, you will need to promote it to generate interest and enrolments. Promoting your course can be a challenge, but it is crucial to have a strong marketing strategy in place.
You can employ various methods to promote your courses, such as social media, email marketing, and paid advertising.
Social Media
Social media is a great way to promote your course. Utilizing various platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn is necessary.
When using social media, be sure to post interesting and engaging content that will capture your audience's attention.
You can also run ads on social media to promote your course. Social media is a great way to reach many people quickly and easily.
Creating a profile for your course and sharing it with your followers can allow a space for interaction and engagement to take place.
The platform can also promote your courses by posting updates about your course and promoting special offers while providing sneak peeks of the content.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is another excellent way to promote your course. You can send out email campaigns to previous students and subscribers and offer discounts to those who enrol in your course.
When creating your email campaign, be sure to make a strong case for why someone should purchase your course.
Including testimonials from previous students will help build trust in your brand and convince others to enrol.
Including videos and images can help capture your audience's attention and increase the chances of enrolment.
Paid Advertising
You can use various platforms, such as Google AdWords, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads, to gather leads with paid advertising. Your ads can also target audiences by location and interests.
This is a great way to reach a specific group of people who are likely to be interested in your course.
You can also track the performance of your ads and see how well they are performing. When creating your ad, be sure to focus on students' benefits.
Let's take an example of how you can use Facebook ads to sell online courses.
Facebook ads are a powerful tool for creating a profitable online course and driving more students to enrol.
Whether you're targeting potential customers with highly targeted ads or encouraging current students to refer their friends, there are many different ways to leverage the power of Facebook advertising for your course.
Settings To Launch Facebook Ads For Course Creators
In order to start a Facebook campaign, you first need to set up your Facebook pixel account.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Log in to your Facebook account and Navigate to ‘Events Manager’ -> Pixel
Step 2: Select ‘Create a pixel’, read how it works, and hit ‘Continue’.
Step 3: Enter your pixel name, and provide your website URL.
Step 4: Incorporate the pixel into your website in the HTML code. You can also do so via an integration.
Step 5: Complete the process by clicking on ‘Continue’.
How To Set Up Your First Facebook Ad Campaign For Selling Online Courses?
Once you have your Facebook pixel set up, make sure to do the following setting in your Facebook Ads Manager account.
Step 1: Navigate to ‘Ads Manager’ -> ‘Ad Set’ -> ‘Audience’ - ‘Create new audience’.
Step 2: Enter the necessary details.
You'll need to develop your ad strategy and choose the right targeting options to reach your ideal audience.
This may include -
- creating custom audiences based on website visitors or existing customers
- setting up lookalike audiences that target similar individuals
- experimenting with interest targeting to find new potential students
You can also set up conversion tracking so that you can see which ads are driving the most signups for your course, and optimize accordingly.
Step 4: Next, go to ‘ads Manager’ -> ‘Ad Set’ -> ‘Placements’. Select ‘Automatic Placements’ to let the Facebook algorithm make the most out of your ads.
Step 5: Next, go to ‘Ads manager’ -> ‘Ad set’ -> ‘Budget and schedule’.
Here you can decide the amount you are willing to spend on your Facebook ad campaign and the timing of your ad delivery.
You can click on the relevant option from the dropdown corresponding to ‘Optimisation for ad delivery’ to optimize the particular item.
You can choose from ‘Landing page views’, ‘Impressions’, ‘Link clicks’, and ‘daily unique search’.
Plus, set the budget you have fixed for your ad campaign on Facebook under the ‘Budget and schedule’ section.
Step 6: Navigate to ‘Ads manager’ -> ‘ad’ -> ‘Format’
Under the ‘Create Ad’ tab, select the format of the ad you’d like to display on Facebook - Carousel, Single image or video, or Collection.
You can further customize the look of your ad, including the image size, text, etc.
With the right Facebook ads in place, you can start seeing real results for your online course business.
Whether you're looking to generate more leads and sales from advertising alone, or simply using ads as a way to build awareness and encourage word-of-mouth referrals, there are many different ways to use Facebook ads to achieve your goals.
Step 8: Increase the Worth (And Value) of Your Online Course
One of the best ways to increase enrollment in your online course is to increase the value of your courses, thereby increasing the value of your course (and how expensive you can make your course). You can do this by adding new content, improving the quality of your content, offering special bonuses, and using upsells.
New Content
Adding new content to your course is a great way to increase its value. You can add new modules, lessons, and exercises.
Updating your content will keep it fresh and relevant. When adding new content, be sure to focus on the needs of your students.
Adding new bonus content that is not required for course completion but is offered as an incentive for those who want to learn more is a great way to increase the value of your course.
Quality Content
The quality of your content is also essential. If your content is high quality, students will be more likely to enroll in your course.
The quality of your content can increase by ensuring that it is well-written and adequately researched.
You can also use videos, images, and infographics to help make your content more engaging.
Special Bonuses
Offering special bonuses is another excellent way to increase the value of your course. For example, you can provide bonus lessons, exercises, or even products.
When creating rewards, be sure to focus on the needs of your students. If you can provide them with valuable and relevant bonuses, they are more likely to enrol in your course.
Upselling and Cross-selling
Upselling is a great way to increase the value of your course. You can offer additional products or services that are related to your course.
But remember that it is essential only to select the ones that increase the end value of your course.
Step 9: Focus On Customer Experience
The customer experience is essential for any business, but it is vital for online courses. Students need to feel supported and confident in their purchases.
They need to think that they are getting good value for their money.
One way to improve the customer experience is to provide a user-friendly interface. Students should easily navigate your course website and find the information they need.
In addition, the platform can significantly help creators and make things easier with automated grading and reporting tools.
Another way to improve the customer experience is by providing excellent support. Students should quickly contact you with any questions or concerns they may have.
By offering help materials such as FAQs and tutorials, students can find the information they need without contacting you.
Start Your Online Business Using FreshLearn
You should have a solid foundation to start your online business with this. All you need now is the dedication and drive to see it through.
Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, so don't expect your business to take off overnight. It will take time and effort, but you can make it happen with the right tools and strategies.
If you are ready to start your online school, building your online courses with FreshLearn is the perfect way to begin your online business journey.
With our user-friendly platform and excellent 24x7 support for creators and students, you can create high-quality courses that will help you engage and educate your students.
So what are you waiting for? Get started today with a free forever plan!
You might also like
- Why quizzes should be part of your online course marketing strategy
- How to market your online course
- How to sell online courses using Facebook Ads
- How to create landing pages for online courses that sell
- How to create a pre-launch marketing strategy for your online course
- Is Online Quizzes there in Your Marketing Strategy for Selling Your Course
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