How to sell online course for huge profits

How to Create Online Courses and Sell Them For Huge Profits

How to build a six-figure home business selling online courses is not as hard as you think, in fact, recently it’s become one of the more profitable home businesses you can start to earn money online. If you’re looking for a side business venture that could easily become your full time career you’ll want to keep reading.

Teachable is one of the leading platforms when it comes to course creation. It’s an all-in-one course creator that allows anyone to build beautiful looking online courses using their user friendly platform that is completely point and click. No programming or advanced technical knowledge required. Create, promote, and sell online courses using Teachable. Plans start at $29.99 a month. Create a Teachable account here.

Aspiring online entrepreneurs need to take a good long look at online courses and the insane amount of profit potential that accompanies them. E-Learning is BIG business and the industry is experiencing massive growth. Leading online learning websites like Teachable have over 23 million students and have earned their course creators more than 555 MILLION dollars.

The best part about this side hustle is you don’t need to be an industry expert or have past teaching experience in order to create wildly successful online courses on just about any subject you can dream of.

Love cooking? Perfect, create an “introduction to cooking” course using Teachable and sit back as students begin enrolling. Or learn a new skill and create a course centered around that.

This is a perfect online business for stay at home moms, stay at home dads, students, or anyone looking for a low cost business idea with high profit potential.

Most online course creating platforms start at $29.99 a month and that’s all you need. So, for less than 30 bucks a month you can start an extremely profitable business that you can run entirely from your laptop.

Online courses are expected to earn close to 300 billion before 2025…that’s million..with a B.

That’s a mountain of cash and the bulk of that money is going to regular everyday people who are creating courses from their laptops at home.

Teachable is considered one of the best online course creating websites, so go ahead and create an account or keep reading below to learn why you need to start building courses today and ride them all the way to the bank.

Make Money as a college student by selling courses online

What I’m trying to say is anyone can create online courses no matter what your educational background or experience level. The potential to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars every month from your courses is a very real possibility and if your online courses do happen to take off, the profits from it will be life changing.

So, let’s do a deep dive into the world of online course creation and how you can pivot this simple idea into a six-figure home business that you can do in your pj’s.

Why I Believe Online Courses are One of the Best Online Businesses to Start

Selling digital goods is a tricky nut to crack. Before the advent of online courses, e-books were the only avenue available for online entrepreneurs looking to sell online learning material.

Online courses seem to be immune to the shortcomings that instructional e-books have historically had. I believe this is attributed to the interactive nature online courses possess and the rising cost of college tuition.

No, I’m not saying a course with Teachable can replace a college degree but for a lot of people, the rising cost of post-secondary education is becoming increasingly difficult to swallow and as a by-product is forcing them to seek knowledge elsewhere.

College campuses are a melting pot of young and old but with the rising cost of college courses, many older students looking to take a few courses for their own personal betterment are beginning to look elsewhere. Online courses provide a valuable learning tool for those looking to expand their own knowledge without the high price tag of a traditional brick and mortar college.

Where Can You Create and Sell Online Courses?

How to sell courses online for big money

First things first, you need a platform to build and sell the courses you create. There are a few options to choose from here but I recommend taking a good look at Teachable. They have a massive user base so you know your courses will be seen by as many people as possible and they have paid out over 550 million dollars to course creators. Those numbers are hard to argue with but under the surface, Teachable is just a superior course building platform when compared to the competition.

Standalone Course Creation Platforms

A standalone platform like Udemy or Teachable is best suited for those who want an all in one turnkey solution to course creation. Everything you need from hosting to promotional tools is included and you’ll have access to the resources required in order for you to achieve success.

Teachable is an all in one platform that allows you to build, promote, and sell online courses. It is extremely user friendly and even those with limited technical knowledge will be able to create high quality, professional looking courses without any drama.

The platform is simple and straightforward to use so you spend more time creating and less time fussing over technical details. They have a free plan that lets you try out their platform and an option to upgrade if you like it. It’s completely risk-free so if you’re looking to create a profitable online business from home, you really have nothing to lose. Go ahead and make a Teachable account to try it out for free.

Alternatives to Teachable

Other course creation platform websites like Ruzuku cost twice as much and don’t offer the same amount of features. Rozuku and Udemy fall short in value and features. Udemy also forces new courses to be offered at a discounted rate which results in lost revenue when selling your courses.

I recommend what I know and love on The Couch Commute and I’m a huge fan of what Teachable offers. The price vs features ratio is great, and their plans are suitable for beginners who aren’t looking to spend a lot of money or seasoned professionals who want limitless potential and tons of tools.

However, I understand you may want to decide for yourself, so I have included a list of reputable e-learning platforms where you can build and sell courses. Take a look and decide for yourself which is best.

List of Course Creation Platforms

  • Udemy – A popular course creation platform with a large user base.
  • LearnWorldsGreat Value and a good alternative to Teachable
  • Thinkific
  • Kajabi – Expensive (Plans start at $120/mnth) but the quality of life features on this platform are fantastic. Selling online courses through Kajabi is a fluid and effortless experience. The autopilot course creation platform.

Requirements and Online Course Methodology

The methodology is simple. Create. Launch. Promote. Profit. It’s easier said than done of course but with hard work and a willingness to learn you can join the ranks of successful online course creators who are making six-figures every month.

Online courses can be viewed in the same light as blog posts but with a more interactive atmosphere. You’re essentially compiling information on a very specific topic and offering it up for consumption in one convenient place.

Related: How Much Money Do Blogs Make?

Let’s say you create an online course about how to improve writing skills. Sure, someone could learn how to get better at writing by browsing the web and visiting multiple blogs but the convenience of an “expert” providing useful teaching tools and lesson plans contained within a structured curriculum is attractive to many.

I put “expert” in quotations because while you don’t need to be an expert per se you will have to appear that you are. You can do this by researching your subject extensively and educating yourself to the point where you can confidently teach others.

So, while you don’t need to be an expert to start creating an online course, you will be one by the end of it.

You don’t have to have teaching or training experience to build an online business selling courses either. No certifications are required but if you do have teaching or training certifications be sure to references those in your bio.

Profitable Online Course Niches

When creating an online course you want to make sure there is a big enough audience for it to be profitable. So, let’s take a look at some popular online course niches you could use.

Technology Courses – Anything and everything to do with the tech world and gadgets. Build courses around web design, computer maintenance, tech tutorials, programming, game development, or basic computer how to’s.

Health and Wellness – Health and fitness is a large market. Online courses created around this niche have a good chance to succeed. Keto diets, workout tutorials, or eating healthy on a budget are some course examples you could use.

Self Help – Personal development courses do very well and there are countless courses you can create around this niche. Productivity, time management, building confidence, reducing anxiety, and conflict resolution are some course examples you could use.

Popular Online Course Niches

  • Education and Training
  • Content Creation
  • Business
  • Career
  • Writing
  • Hobbies
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Entrepreneurship

How Much Do Online Courses Typically Make?

How to create successful online courses for huge profits

Patt Flynn made over $169,000 from 2 courses he created on Teachable centered around earning passive income.

Rob Percival created a programming course that earned him more the 1 million dollars within the first year.

Success stories like these are not uncommon which is why as far as online business ideas go, online courses look pretty good right about now and can make you some serious cash.

According to onlinecoursehow.com the average course creator can expect to earn between $1,000 – $5,000 a month. However, online course teachers earning $10,000 or more every month is not that uncommon.

There are numerous examples of instructors earning six-figures every month.

The cost of your course will be a factor in how much you’re able to make and I will expand on this further down in the article. Ideally, you should price your course between $10 – $200 with $100 being the sweet spot.

A course priced at $100 will need just 10 student enrollments a month for you to earn $1000 monthly. That isn’t an unrealistic expectation and is more than achievable.

Once you begin to break down the numbers you can start to see how earning $10,000+ a month is an attainable and a very realistic goal.

Start Building a Six-Figure Online Business and Create a Teachable Account

The Quality Of Your Online Course Matters

The quality of your online course matters. If you throw together some half thought through course in an afternoon people will take notice.

This isn’t a get rich quick scheme and the courses you create will have to follow through in providing engaging and educational content.

You can incorporate different media formats like videos or slides to enhance the interactive nature of your courses.

Courses that include video portions have proven to be far more effective than those that don’t.

How to Format An Online Course

Each lesson should have a main topic and a few subtopics. Let’s say you create a course called “How to Cook the Perfect Steak”.

Your course should be formatted like this:

  • Main Topic 1: The Benefits of Using the Right Ingredients
  • Subtopic 1: How to Select the Perfect Cut of Meat
  • Subtopic 2: Learning which Ingredients Compliment Eachother the Best
  • MainTopic 2: Cooking Tools and Equipment
  • Subtopic 1: How to Properly care for Cast Iron Skillets
  • Subtopic 2: How to Select the Perfect Skillet for Your Steak

You get the point. Have a main topic and refine that topic through subtopics. You can use video for every lesson or write in depth guides similar to blog posts. How you approach online courses will be entirely up to you but this is a good blueprint to follow if you feel a bit lost. You can have as many main topics and sub topics as you like.

How to Organize Online Course Learning Objectives

Make certain that the learning objectives of your course are clearly stated. What I mean by that is every student should know exactly what the course intends to teach before signing up.

To do this include a few sentences on the main page that go something like “In this course, you will learn…” or “The main goal of this course is to teach…” You can use those sentences as a starting template when you begin to craft the learning objectives of your online course.

Learning objectives are extremely important because they will form the entire framework of your online course. You want your course to have a fluid learning curve that stays on point and doesn’t stray away too often from the main learning objectives.

How to Create an Online Course Using Teachable – Step by Step Guide

If you’re still reading I’ll assume I have your attention and your raring to go out and create some online courses.

The first step is signing up for a Teachable account. Once on the Teachable website enter your email and click “Get started”

How to create online courses and make money

Next, enter your full name, email address again, and create a password then click “Get Started”.

how to create online courses and make money

Now we get to name our online school. If you can’t think of a name simply click “skip for now” and add the name later when you’re ready.

how to create online courses and make money with Teachable

Next, you’ll be brought to a small questionnaire. Answer the questions and click “Enter my School” to visit your main dashboard where you can begin creating and publishing online courses.

This is what your Teachable dashboard looks like. All tasks can be done in this central location, from course creation to promotion.

All the tools you’ll ever need to create and sell online courses can be done from the Teachable platform. It’s why I love it. It’s simple and incredibly easy to use.

Set up payments and specify how people can pay for your courses. and build your email marketing campaigns. Keep in mind you will need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want access to these features and plan on earning money from your courses.

To create your first course click “Create a course” from your dashboard.

A step by step guide for creating online courses to sell

The beauty of Teachable is how easy it is to use. Once you click “create a course” its time to name it and choose a template.

After that, you can build the course curriculum, add pages, add videos, and start crafting your lesson plans. Every step of the way is clearly labeled and the learning curve is extremely shallow.

how to create online courses for money

Here is an example of an online course landing page built with Teachable that’s all about digital scrapbooking. The beautiful landing pages and powerful marketing tools allow your course to reach and engage with a large audience.

Teachable allows you to get to most out of your online courses and creating a full time home business can quickly become a reality.

Teachable online course examples

Visit this link to check out some finished online courses built with Teachable for some inspiration.

Teachable Plans and Pricing

The free plan with Teachable is enough to get you started and familiarize with the platform but you will need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to make money from your courses.

Click on “Plan” in the bottom left corner of your dashboard to upgrade a plan and launch your home business. The basic plan is enough to get you started but the Professional plan offers the most value.

Teachable Pricing and Tutorial

How to Market and Promote Your Online Course

Alright, so now you’ve created an online course filled to the brim with engaging and educational content, now what?

Well, now you need to find people who want to purchase your course and learn from you, which might be the most difficult part. A well-made course isn’t worth anything if no one knows about it, right?

This is where a lot of online entrepreneurs hit a wall. Creating content and coming up with business ideas is your forte but marketing might give you that deer in the headlights look.

The first thing you want to do is make sure your “Instructor” profile on whichever website you used to create your course is detailed and personable. You want potential students to be able to visit your profile and learn about you. Sell yourself and tell them why they should feel confident in purchasing your lessons. Include a picture, tell them a bit about your background and talk about your passions which should also be the focus of your online courses.

Include Positive Reviews

Once you begin to sell courses you’ll receive reviews from people who have purchased them. Make certain to showcase positive reviews. New students will feel confident about purchasing from you if they can see testimonials from other students that your course has helped.

Start Blogging

A blog can be a fantastic promotional tool and also add an additional revenue stream to your home business.

Let’s say you decide to create financial self help courses, why not start a blog based around finance as well? The idea here is that you write blog posts and promote your course within those posts. The more popular your blog gets the more online courses you will sell and vice versa.

Related: Beginners Guide to Starting a Blog

Social Media Presence

Websites like Pinterest can be a gold mine for your online courses. Create beautiful looking pins and infographics to drive traffic to your courses. Create a catchy title and include a short course summary to attract new students and entice them to click on your pins. Canva is a great website you can use to create catchy images and graphics.

Email Marketing

Collecting emails provides you with targeted leads to follow up on. Make sure you have a spot on your landing pages that is dedicated to email collection.

Sure, someone might visit your course page without making a purchase but they might sign up to your email list. This allows you to chase down missed leads with a well-crafted sales pitch that could convince them to purchase your online course after all.

E-mails are among the most valuable sales leads you can obtain. Don’t sleep on collecting them, selling digital goods is a marathon and keeping in touch with those who sign up to your mailing list will translate into long term profits.

Many experts say an email lead is worth about 1 dollar and they can add up fast.

Offer Freebies

Consider offering a portion of your course free of charge in the format of a mini-course. Offering a brief glimpse into the subject matter of your course is a great way to get people who may be on the fence to take the plunge and make a purchase.

Affiliate Marketing

Teachable has affiliate marketing tools built right in so other people can promote your course on your behalf.

Let’s say you have a course about cooking. You can network with food bloggers who in turn can place links to your courses throughout their blog posts. When someone signs up through those links a commission is given to the person who made the referral and you pocket the rest.

How Long Should and Online Course Be?

How long an online course should be has been a contended topic amongst course creators. I believe many people make the mistake of thinking that a longer course equals a better course. This isn’t the case and you should trim unnecessary fat in your online course to keep it on topic and to the point.

You don’t want to bore people to death and if your course drones on you’re hurting potential sales for the next course you release.

The goal is to get students coming back and purchasing future courses you create so ensure that you’re striking a balance between educational and entertaining.

Having a balance of media formats is a good way to keep things fresh. Consider using video lessons as a way to keep it interactive and engaging.

How Much Should an Online Course Cost?

I mentioned previously that $100 is the sweet spot for online courses. Anything more than that and people start to hesitate before clicking the “buy” button.

However, this isn’t a universal truth and the price of your online course should reflect the amount of work put into it and the value of the information contained within it.

Pricing your course too low can have negative consequences. People equate low priced courses with being cheap or untrustworthy and you don’t want that.

If you feel the information you’re offering is worth $1000 then, by all means, price your online course accordingly. $100 is actually considered cheap when it comes to e-learning lessons, but I think it’s a solid price point for those just starting out.

Don’t Make False Promises

Stay away from making bold claims and making false promises, especially when it comes to the promotional materials of your online course. For example, if your online course deals with finance don’t promise that your students will learn how to make a gazillion dollars. Keep Expectations conservative and focus more on the material being offered.

An online course that overpromises and underdelivers will be soon forgotten and you can forget about returning students.

You also want to avoid negative reviews as your course will get buried and people will quickly click off when they see the abysmal user testimonies.

Enjoy the Ride

This is just the beginning of your journey. Home business ideas don’t get more profitable than this and you can create financial freedom for yourself working from home and making money online through e-learning creation.

On top of being extremely profitable, it is also very rewarding. The courses you create should be built with the sole purpose of helping people. It needs to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. By this, I mean that you make money but your students get access to the valuable information contained within well-crafted learning plans. It’s a win-win situation and everyone comes out better off in the end.

This article may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. I only promote products and services I love and ones I feel might provide value to my readers. If you have any questions please drop me an email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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How to sell courses online and make big money

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