In the last few weeks, we have seen a major shift in the way the world’s consumer market is working and learning.
Where we used to congregate in office buildings and retreat centers, we are now gathering on Facebook and Zoom and going online to learn new skills.
It doesn’t seem like this trend is going away anytime soon.
Why not use this time to create an online course as a passive revenue stream for your business?
Here’s how to get started:
First, choose your topic.
Multi-passionate business owners can easily get stuck here.
Use these questions to break through your brain block!
- What are some of my clients’ biggest challenges?
- What information will help them overcome those challenges?
- What do I know best as a business owner?
- How can I merge my zone of genius with the information my clients need to know?
If you take the time to answer these questions, you’ll be able to identify a strong topic for your course that will make a positive difference for your clients and generate revenue for your brand!
Then, position yourself as an expert in your field.
Many business owners abandon their course creation objectives due to imposter syndrome, or a feeling of not “knowing enough” to actually present this information in a meaningful way.
Don’t fall into this classic online course trap!
Instead, establish yourself as the expert.
What makes someone an expert?
Experts are two steps ahead.
You don’t have to know everything about the topic to teach someone else.
You just have to be two steps ahead of them on the path in order to help them get where they are going.
Experts have authority.
Use your previous education, training, results, and client testimonials to add credibility to your course.
Experts help people reach better outcomes.
Figure out how your course can help people overcome their problems and change their lives.
Incorporate that desired end result into all aspects of your course and your marketing efforts.
With the right topic in mind and the confidence to teach it, you’ll be ready to start building out an online course.
Start creating content for your course!
Online courses, like all passive revenue streams, require quite a bit of effort at the outset.
It can take a lot of time and skill to write the course content, produce the videos, upload all the content to an online platform, and implement an effective marketing strategy for the launch.
If you have the time and knowledge to do this yourself, you will benefit from reduced start up costs.
However, these start up costs are a great investment if you don’t have the time and expertise, and you decide to hire an expert to help you!
Either way, it is useful to understand the process.
STAGE ONE: PLANNING
Begin by gathering expertise and outside information. Create a course outline, divided by modules, lessons, and learning benchmarks. Decide how to deliver the information and provide value to the client.
Since everyone learns differently, it is recommended that course materials are presented in several different ways.
The most popular medium is video, but transcripts, worksheets, and digital downloads should also be provided.
This is a good time to research the variety of online course hosts available.
STAGE TWO: CONTENT CREATION
Either you or a hired professional will write the video scripts, ebooks, and quizzes, and put everything into production.
Videos are filmed and edited during this stage. Any necessary graphics are created.
STAGE THREE: LAUNCH
It is important to have a clear, consistent, and compelling marketing strategy for the launch.
You should plan to promote your online course for several months before the launch date.
Many business owners tease their online courses with a series of a few short videos that provide some of the information for free and generate interest for the full course.
Once you’ve built the hype, you can launch your course!
Remember these KEY things!
With the entire world shifting to a learn from home model, now is a great time to diversify your revenue streams by creating an online course.
YOU have knowledge that can benefit others.
You can even earn money while providing that benefit.
If you have ever thought about creating an online course, here is your excuse: START TODAY.
