Creating online courses that your avatar will buy

Don’t just make an online course, make a course that is wanted! It’s a waste of your time, effort and skills if you don’t.

When Coronavirus first hit we asked our network what their biggest need was and the top vote was to learn how to create online courses.

We spent two weeks planning, filming, editing and uploading and we documented our every step to illustrate how you can also create an online course in this short period of time. It was a does what it says on the tin attempt to help people create theirs and keep them in business.

What we want to highlight here is part of one of the modules is where most people go wrong with creating online courses, so you know what NOT to do, whether you continue with our support or not.

Here’s what most people do wrong when creating their courses

  1. They put in too much information!

Now in our course we illustrate the difference between short and long programmes, but most people will start creating short online programs that sell for normally £500. However, they overwhelm the customer by jamming it full of too much content. Short courses should be really clear on the specific problem they solve or the education/skill that you develop. Essentially you want to only focus on providing ONE MAIN OUTCOME. We find most people over-teach, which confuses and overwhelms their learners, so they don’t end up doing anything!

2. They make it too long!

Have modules that are really long & people become disengaged. People have short attention spans, so expecting them to do hour-long modules is not acceptable unless what you are sharing is hugely valuable AND entertaining. It’s just too much for people to focus on and learn from. Instead, break your modules down to 10 minutes of teaching one or two elements, with activities to go and do to implement the learning.

3. They do no testing or market research before they start making the course!

This is a problem with most product launches in general not just online courses. We all have great ideas on how we can help our clients but researching whether our avatar wants this AND is willing to pay money for it is another thing. Most people skip this stage as they are in too much of a hurry to get it done — but this is one of the reasons (along with not having a marketing plan) is why most courses don’t sell. We go into depth in our training on how to conduct market research and one of the techniques is using an adapted version of Seed Launching which is outlined in Jeff Walker’s book ‘Launch’

4. They don’t cater for different learning styles.

Many people create courses in the way that THEY want to learn and forget about accommodating for other styles. Their course then doesn’t contain a mix of content to keep everyone engaged and present throughout the teaching. It’s also important to mix up the delivery of the content so buyers don’t become screen blind.

5. People are confused about where to host them and the difference between marketplaces and learning management systems (LMS)

They either think that marketplaces will sell all their courses for them — but they don’t realise that they don’t get the customers details (and that in many cases they don’t have much control over the price or distribution) or they choose an LMS but don’t know how to promote their course, so they end up not making many sales!

In our course we fully demystify this for you but to get you going, we have a resource to help you choose where to host your courses, which is a platform comparison matrix and the questions that you need to consider. You can get that here.

6. It doesn’t fit in your funnel

If your course doesn’t fit into a designed user journey which is your sales funnel, then it won’t make sense why and when they need to learn the information that is in your course. Every client will likely spend a certain period of time with you, when you are useful to them for what they need to learn. Most usually come to you at the first stages where they can only see the problem right in front of them — these are normally the problems that your short courses solve. As they get to know like and trust you more and get to understand the fuller issues and needs they have, they can move through the products and services that you can support them further with and lead to your signature flagship more in depth courses. Everything has to fit and be relevant.

7. Providing no or little access and accountability

This is even more relevant for longer more in-depth & expensive courses but the reason why people don’t complete courses is because they either get stuck and they don’t have anyone to ask, or they procrastinate, and they don’t have any accountability. Many flagship / signature courses include webinars, Q&A sessions and onboarding calls etc to give them direct access and support from you. Building these in help your course to be more attractive and saleable.

Do make your course, just don’t make the mistakes others before you have made!

We have touched on some of the key things to consider so that you don’t make the mistakes that so many do when creating online courses. If this is something that you are wanting to work on get support with — our Deliver Digitally programme is jam packed of practical support to help you from the beginning to the end of creating your course. We help you to:

  • Identify your course topic and overcome imposter syndrome to deliver it
  • Create a user journey and overall marketing plan
  • Structure the modules and create engaging content
  • Film, edit and host it
  • Name, price and market it

We put this course together in deep response to the market need that was present at the start of lockdowns across the world. Speakers, Authors and Coaches needed a way to make their content available in a different way. Online courses were the perfect way to do that and still are. It’s one of the fastest growing industries currently, but more importantly, it can help you reach more people than you ever imagined, and globally. And really, that’s what you want: a way to help people make the changes they can in their lives so everyone benefits. When are you going to make your course?

Let us know inside The Connection Hub, our thriving community of thousands of like-minded, like-valued individuals like you. We’d love to have you come and join us.

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