In this post, I talk about:
- What to have in place before you create a course
- Assessing your expertise
- Platform selection
- Success stories
What to have in place before you create a course
To obtain the type of influence and income you’re searching for. You might want to address these key considerations before you create a course:
- Market Research: Do you know if what you want to create is desired by your clients? If there’s no market demand, you’re going to have a very tough time selling a course that people don’t need.
- Audience Avatar: Can you describe this person in detail who would enroll into your course? Not just demographics like age, sex, gender but also personality, behavior, thoughts, emotions, feelings.
- Outline: Do you have a topic and an outline of what you want to create?
- Hosting Platform: Which platform are you going to create a course with? I may be bias but Thrivecart is amazing for hosting an unlimited number of courses.
- Marketing Plan: What is your internal and external marketing strategy to get your course in front of the right people at the right time?
- Legal: Have you created your terms and conditions, refund policy, do the work policy to help protect your course and intellectual property?
- Community: Are you planning on supporting your clients in a Q&A forum, having office hours, or strictly email support?
Assess your expertise
Before you create a course, determine if your knowledge, skills, and experiences translate well into a course.
- Specialized Knowledge: Do you have any knowledge of a topic that you are passionate about or sets you apart where you received training or a certification in?
- Gaps in Knowledge: Assess the depth of knowledge in the subject matter and acknowledge any gaps or areas where you need to develop it further.
- Evaluate Experience and Achievements: Review your past experiences, accomplishments, and achievements related to the topic. This could include projects you’ve worked on, success stories, client testimonials, and any recognition or awards you’ve received.
- Audience Needs: Assess the needs and pain points of your target audience within the chosen topic. Identify the specific problems or challenges they face and consider whether your expertise can address those needs effectively.
- Seek Feedback: Validate the course you want to create by booking a 30-minute chat with me to see if this is the right path for your business.
Choosing a Course Platform
I made the switch from Teachable to Kajabi to my home base which is Thrivecart. Thrivecart is a lifetime license of $495 a one-time payment, so you don’t need to rack up additional expenses while you’re creating your course.
You can access the lifetime deal HERE
There are a few factors you have to consider when choosing a platform:
- Features & Functionality: Does it support the specific requirements of your course, such as multimedia content, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and assessments. Look for features like drip content scheduling, customizable branding, integrated payment gateways, and student engagement tools.
- Design Features: Look for options to customize the look and feel of your course site, including branding elements, color schemes, layout, and design.
- Integrations: Assess the platform’s integration capabilities with other tools and software that you use in your business. Look for seamless integrations with email marketing platforms, payment processors, analytics tools, CRM systems, and third-party plugins or apps. Integration capabilities streamline your workflow and allow for a more cohesive and efficient operation.
- Pricing: Evaluate the pricing structure of the platform and consider the value it offers in relation to the cost. Compare pricing plans, features, and included services to determine which option provides the best value for your budget.
- Customer Support: Look for platforms that offer responsive customer support channels, such as live chat, email support, help documentation, and community forums.
- Security: Choose a platform that employs robust security measures, such as data encryption, secure payment processing, regular backups, and compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Community Features: Consider whether community-building tools like discussion forums, social media integration, or live events align with your course objectives and teaching style.
