The Best Way to Create an Online Course in 2022
Creating an online course isn’t easy. Not only do you have to find and teach your material, but you also have to build up all the processes needed to run your business effectively and ensure that you’re meeting the needs of your students. To help you with this task, here are some best practices on how to create an online course in 2022 based on lessons learned from creating online courses from 2011 to 2017. These tips can help you make sure that your online course hits all the right notes in 2022 and beyond.
What courses will be popular?
What will online course be popular by 2022? Will they be like Udemy courses? If not, what will they look like? This is one of my favorite questions to ask potential clients because it’s not only a fun topic for them to explore and think about, but it also helps me get a good sense of their personality. Here are some examples: Is there some new technology or trend that’s poised to change education that I’m not thinking about? How might we use these trends to create something better than Udemy? How can we make sure our course doesn’t become obsolete in five years when another platform comes along? What would happen if someone tried to copy us? How do we prevent that from happening? Are there other companies out there doing something similar (and how do we differentiate ourselves)? Asking these types of questions can help you identify your strengths as well as any holes in your business model.
How will people consume content?
2021 is right around the corner, and we can expect a lot of changes. As far as online courses go, it’s hard to guess what trends will stick around. A few things are already clear: technology will continue to advance at a breakneck pace, internet speeds and availability will only improve, and distance learning will only become more popular (you can check out our course about teaching online for more on these trends). Considering all of that, here are some best practices for creating an online course in five years
Videos will be everywhere, so your videos should be high quality. This isn’t just good advice for online courses – video is good for any kind of content marketing strategy because people remember visual content better than text or audio alone.
Who are your competitors?
In your industry, what course is your target market looking for that they can’t find? Are there any expensive courses being offered by other organizations? How will you create something better and cheaper than what people are already buying? What is your unique selling proposition (USP)? Why should someone buy from you instead of a competitor? What do you have that others don’t?
How can you stand out?
Marketers often talk about standing out from the crowd—meaning you want your target market to notice your product or service, instead of ignoring it and opting for one of your competitors. One way to do that is with a unique brand identity. In short, a brand identity includes all of those elements that make people recognize you as different and better. It’s what makes Apple products so recognizable—even though they may not be any more technologically advanced than other products on the market. It’s also what makes Harley-Davidson motorcycles stand out among other motorcycle brands. And it’s what makes Coca-Cola stand out among soda brands (yes, even though there are now many flavors). The point is: If you can create a unique brand identity, you can help your customers remember you when they go shopping around for similar products or services.
What type of budget do you have available?
In order to build a successful online course, you will need a certain amount of money available. Are you working with your own company’s funds or is there another source for funding? Think about how much capital it will take and who you can turn to for help getting those funds. Your goal should be creating a product that people want and are willing to pay for. The more appealing your content is, the more likely people are going to buy into your course. What type of platform do you want to use?: There are many different platforms available when it comes to building an online course. Do you have experience using any specific platform? If not, what type of learning curve do you think will be involved? As previously mentioned, having access to a variety of tools and resources at your disposal is key.
What can you teach others and how can they benefit from it?
Answer these questions and your own product ideas will come pouring out. Can you teach people how to clean their gutters? Teach them how to ace standardized tests? Teach them how to be more persuasive at work? Once you’ve determined what you can teach, think about why it’s valuable. Is there a way that your knowledge can improve someone else’s life? If so, and if you possess solid expertise in that area, it could make for a good course. Who is your target audience?: Who are you trying to reach with your online course? Are they busy parents who want help getting dinner on the table faster or career-minded professionals who want help standing out from their peers during job interviews? Do they have specific needs that can be addressed by teaching them something new? Defining who you’re trying to reach will help narrow down topics for potential courses. The more specific, targeted and unique your content is, the better.
List all your ideas here.
_________, ___________, and __________. A brief description of each idea is also appreciated. Include your development plan here as well. What steps will you take to achieve your goals? When do you expect to launch your course? How much do you think it will cost to create? And so on. As you start brainstorming ideas for your online course, write them down in a list or document on Google Drive or Evernote so that you can easily refer back to them later when creating a timeline for yourself. If any additional details come up that are important for future reference, make sure to add those notes as well.
Finalize the outline based on your budget and who will benefit most from your creation.
The outline is arguably one of the most important aspects of creating an online course, but it can be easy to overlook. One good way to ensure you have everything planned out ahead of time is by making a list of all major topics covered in your course and any specific details that are necessary. This will give you a general idea of what’s included and will provide you with a rough draft once you begin writing your e-book.