Launching a course can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming and confusing if you don’t know where to start.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to launch a course online today.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating and launching an online course that not only showcases your knowledge but also generates income.
Now, it won’t be a full-blown course with plenty of modules, bonuses, coaching, and a hefty price tag.
But you can launch an introductory course with content, videos, worksheets, and more super fast!
So if you’re ready to get started, keep reading.
Platforms and Tools: The 3-Step Easy Tech Stack
To launch a course, you need three things:
- A Sales Page
- The Course Content
- The Checkout Cart & PDF File
Despite all the expensive courses about creating courses, these three components form the foundation of every online course you buy.
Let’s walk through each one together so you can create a powerful sales page and cart system that will have people clamoring to sign up for your course.
Sales Page
Your sales page is where your customers will learn about your course, its benefits, and what they can expect. Crafting a page to communicate why your course is the best option for them is essential.
For new business owners just starting to dip their toe into digital products, I recommend using our Shop Page Templates. They are incredibly user-friendly, allowing you to build a sales page that looks professional.
If you look at Product Page Option #2 in the Shop Page Templates demo, you’ll see what I mean. You can use the page as is, and if you don’t have any other offerings now, delete the last row with “You may also like…”
I’ve said it repeatedly – our block collections install on your website in less time than it takes to load the dishwasher. If you use Product Page Option #2 as-is, your page should be ready to share with the world in about one hour. Maybe two depending on how long it takes to write your copy.
Please don’t strive for perfection; get it out there, and you can always tweak it later! Done is better than perfect!
Course Content
The content of your course is the heart and soul of it all. This is where you will share your expertise with others, so give them as much value as possible.
I recommend three or four 10-minute videos and a workbook for an affordable mini-course. That’s it! That should be plenty of time to teach your students what they need to know.
Remember, you have something to teach. You have a pain point you can solve.
Now is the time to turn it into a course.
Don’t worry about having all the modules, outlines, etc. Now, more than ever, people are seeking “quick wins” – something that is simple, straightforward, and achievable quickly.
That’s why the three or four video mini-course structure works so well.
When putting your content together, include some kind of call-to-action in each video. This could be an assignment or simply an invitation for them to reach out with any questions that may arise.
You can create short videos for free using Loom.
If it’s more of a presentation-type course, you can even create this and record it all inside of Canva! Create a workbook for your students for free using Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Canva.
For something “fancier,” you can use our Canva Ebook Templates.
Once the videos are recorded on your website, simply:
- Upload your videos to Vimeo or Youtube (make them private)
- Create your New Page
- Add your Row layout block
- Add your video block and put in your link to Vimeo or youtube
- Publish this page as a password-protected page and start selling!
Checkout Cart & PDF File
Finally, you need a way to collect payment for your course. Don’t let analysis paralysis hold you back here, either.
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress and is incredibly user-friendly.
Plus, it works with PayPal and Stripe, so you can start collecting payments quickly. It shouldn’t take you long to install the plugin, connect it to your sales page, and set up your payment processor.
You’ll also want to create a really quick and simple PDF file that has information about how to access your course and the password to get in! Should take you just a few minutes to pull together!
The faster you can get your course online, the faster people can sign up, and consume it. There’s no need to start with a perfect product; you can improve based on customer feedback later.
That’s my encouragement for you:
- Take advantage of the free and affordable tools available.
- Get your course online as quickly as possible.
- Expand how you share your gifts and talents with the world!
Final thoughts on starting an online course
Following the outline above, you can launch a course next week.
Once you get the hang of creating and launching courses, they become a passive income stream for your business. With every course launch, you’ll gain feedback and make improvements.
And that’s only the beginning.
You can use your knowledge to launch higher-priced programs, membership sites, and other services. In time, your courses become a powerful asset that fuels your business growth for years to come.
