How to Earn Money Through Online Courses

Did you know that your online training software can help you make plenty of cash without much effort? By creating and selling courses centered on your area of expertise, you can earn big money online.

In this blog, you’ll discover some practical ways to earn money via selling online courses. You’ll also learn how to leverage your online training software for a great side hustle.

Benefits of Creating Online Courses

According to the Global Industry Analysts, Inc., the online learning industry is expected to surpass $241 billion by 2022.

Now the question arises: Where will all these billions go, and how can you get your share?

The good news is that a large share will go to the instructors –those who produce learning content based on their proficiency in subjects that interest them. Thus, by creating and selling content based on your expertise in a topic, you can also join the league of these instructors and earn money online.

Still not convinced? Here are two examples to motivate you further.

● In 2014, John Azzi and Eliot Arntz grossed more than $1 million for their online course on iOS 8 app development and its new Swift programming language. Their success formula was simple: valuable content, exceptional customer support, and well-timed marketing exertions. And, it took them only three months and $1,000 to ultimately develop the course!

●     Rob Percival, an ex-high school mathematics tutor from England, made more than $1 million in just nine months by selling four courses on various programming topics.

Amazing!

Ways to Make Money through Online Courses

Now that you know the benefits of creating online courses, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting you started.

1. Select a Course Topic

The first step is to create a list of topics you’re familiar with them. It could be a skill related to your job (for example, learn online business management or how to use your online training software). Or, it could be about something that you pursue as a hobby (for instance, photography for beginners or how to ace at chess).

2. Conduct Market Research

The next step is to conduct thorough market research. After all, you wouldn’t want to waste time on creating a course that nobody purchases. While many individuals might want to learn about your topic, a few might be willing to pay for it.

So, before investing time in the course, explore your best customers, and whether or not they’re ready, eager, and capable of buying it.

3. Plan Your Content

With the topic in hand and info about the target customers, the next step is to sketch an outline for your course. List down all essential issues, exercises, and assessments. Think in terms of modules and lessons.

For example, if you’re planning a course on using online training software, you might want to include a module on how to analyze results and generate reports.

4. Choose the Mode of Delivery

You can deliver the lessons via several modes such as text, video, infographics, audio, and more. Select a format that best suits your topic requirements. You can even combine two or more modes in one lesson.

For instance, in a course on how to use Evernote, you can add a step-by-step text-based training as well as a video lecture explaining the installation and setup process of the software.

5. Build Your Lessons

Creating your lessons is the most challenging phase of developing an online course. You might want to add a logo or a specific color theme to ensure uniformity in all your lessons. Also, check over your text lessons and watch all video content to ensure there are no faults or hitches.

6. Decide the Mode of Selling

Often, people use their websites for hosting and delivering their online lessons. This mode offers the most control but needs more technical effort. A quicker, less complicated alternative is to use any online course service like Udemy or SkillShare. However, your online course income will vary from one platform to another.

An excellent method to sell your courses is to use online training software. Several commercially available learning management systems allow you to create and market your courses with simple drag-and-drop functionality. And, you can accept payments via PayPal, Stripe, etc.

7. Load Your Lessons Online

After choosing a platform, the next step is to upload your lessons. Depending on the platform, you can even customize your course via white labeling. This way, you can create your exclusive brand.

8. Promote Your Online Course

Whatever platform you use, you’ll have to market your course to ensure that all relevant customers become aware of it. Create a detailed marketing plan, including your target audience, and where you can find it. Also, outline ways to tempt them to look into your course. You can use social networks, Pay-Per-Click marketing like Facebook ads, and even your blog.

9. Keep Your Course Content Updated

Periodically, check your course content to ensure that it’s up-to-date and relevant. Obsolete information doesn’t help your learners and can result in a poor feedback. Also, make sure that you check and repair any broken links to resources.

Wrap Up

Producing and selling courses online can be quite profitable if you can offer a great course and effectively reach your target audience. Moreover, with plenty of easy-to-use and affordable resources to host your content, such as your online training software, there’s no reason not to become an online instructor.

Building all your course lessons might take time, but once uploaded, it can become a lucrative source of passive income to your current business or even an independent company.