The Reality of Online Course Creation- It’s not for Everyone
Welcome to the Business Unfiltered Podcast, where we delve into the truths of digital entrepreneurship. My name is Iwona and I am the host of this podcast. Today, we're tackling a popular but often misunderstood topic: online course creation. While it's often portrayed as a golden opportunity for everyone, the reality is more complex. Let's explore why not everyone should create an online course, and for whom it's genuinely suitable.
Many believe that creating an online course is a quick route to success and passive income. This is mainly because of social media and all the people showing you how to make money fast, how they’ve made money, and portraying it in a way that it seems easy. Often it sounds like a Ponzi scheme “I created my signature program and made $100K the first 6 months. Now I’m showing you the exact steps to do it for yourself”. And when you hear this … you cringe.
I mean, it is possible but there are a couple of things that you have to take into consideration when you start creating online courses or building your online business. I want you to be optimistically realistic. I always tell everyone to try and I also want to be here to provide reliable information to set you up for success. Because you can make $100k in 6 months… provided that you have a significant, well-selected audience.
What do you need to be realistic about then?
The saturation of the market. There are already lots of content creators who offer courses on the topic you want to teach. You need to be aware of the competition. This should not prevent you from creating an online course. It’s just something to keep in mind.
The next thing to keep in mind is the challenge of producing quality content. Not every subject translates well into an online format, and not every expert is suited to teach. I am sorry. This is the truth. And honestly, why would you create a course if you hate teaching? But again, courses are one of the most profitable digital products. You can do something that is in a different format and be successful as well but it's crucial to understand the differences, commitment, and skills required to make a successful course and the potential financial returns. I am taking the risk talking to you about this because honestly, I could just tell you “Hey, buy my course and I’ll show you how to make money from it", but then I don’t want you to buy my course or any other course for that matter if I know that for you this is not going to work and that for you creating courses will not mean being a successful entrepreneur.
So, who should consider creating an online course? First, having deep expertise and passion in a specific area is essential. You should be able to offer unique insights or skills not readily available elsewhere. This is a good thing because your uniqueness is about you and the way you teach, the way you present. Often it takes people a few times to read about something or to learn something to understand it. Your teaching style will be different from other experts’ teaching style and maybe it is you who can successfully explain the same concept other educators weren’t able to for a certain student. Your uniqueness will also play a significant role in building your personal brand.
Secondly, if you want to create an online course you need to learn some effective teaching and audience engagement skills. It's not just about what you teach, but how you teach it. The good information is that if you decide to take a course that teaches how to create online courses, it can help you structure the course in a way that facilitates your teaching process. Also, there is a lot of resources that can help you learn about the methodologies and teaching strategies. One of my bachelor’s degrees is in education and I can assure you it’s not that difficult to find the style that fits you. But as with everything you will need some time and practice to figure out your way. So don’t shy away from research and start creating a course, a mini-course preferably, for practicing purposes. Reportedly, Albert Einstein said, “If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself.” I can assure you that once you start creating the content and reading it out loud, you will notice what you want to improve on in the content and your teaching style.
Additionally, you need to take into consideration the fact that creating a quality course requires time and resources, including understanding digital marketing and learning the technology. Without these, even the most knowledgeable individuals might struggle to succeed. However, and this is something I cannot stress enough, technology should not be the first thing you should worry about when thinking about creating an online course as it may feel daunting, especially if you are not tech-savvy. And again, there are a few good courses and resources that teach all the tech essentials you will need in an easy and friendly way. And I assure you, with a good technology teacher, even the most complex systems are finally easy to understand and use. I even heard some of my students say that they thought they were a lost case, but now they thrive on setting up their systems on their own. So great news! It can be learned!
Let’s talk about the challenges. I mentioned the competition. It never happens that you create an online course and put it out there, people start throwing themselves at you. This doesn’t mean you need a huge audience to start but you need to stand out from the crowd and gain the trust of your audience. That means showing up and showing your expertise and personality. I am not telling you to share your private life (which I don’t do myself much) but having an online course and selling it demands a strategic approach to marketing, audience building, and establishing your personal brand. You need to stop comparing yourself to others and find your uniqueness and how to monetize your course the way that feels right for you, and your conscience.
One more thing, courses need regular updates and engagement to stay relevant, which means ongoing commitment beyond the initial launch.
In conclusion, online courses offer incredible opportunities for the right individuals, however, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you're considering this path, take time to assess your expertise, teaching ability, and willingness to commit resources and time. For those who fit the bill, creating an online course can be a rewarding and impactful venture.
Thank you for joining me on the Business Unfiltered podcast. I hope this episode helps you make an informed decision about your journey in online education.
Good luck!