3 BIG Mistakes to Avoid When Building an Online Course!

Hey there! Did you know that a whopping 70-80% of online course creators struggle to sell their programs? I know, it's a pretty sobering number, but don't let that discourage you. The good news is that with a few key adjustments, you can avoid becoming part of that statistic and instead enjoy a nice monthly income from your course sales.

If you're reading this, chances are you're either thinking about creating a course or you're already in the process of building one. And let me guess—your main motivation is to create a side business that brings in a sweet passive income. That's probably the #1 reason why most people dive into the online course business.

But the big question is, how can you create a course that SELLS? The short answer: avoid making these three rookie mistakes.

Mistake #1: Failing to Find the GAP in the Existing Market

Imagine you're in a crowded room and everyone is shouting the same thing. That’s what the online course market feels like if you don't find your unique positioning. To stand out, you need to figure out what sets you apart. What’s your unique angle? What can you offer that others don't? This is crucial for differentiating yourself in a competitive market.

Start by asking the right questions to your ideal audience to understand their pain points and struggles. What are they trying to accomplish? Do they have unmet needs? Next, analyze the current landscape of courses related to your topic. Look at what your competitors are offering, how they deliver their content, and what they might be missing.

Can you see gaps in the market? Hopefully, yes, and your next move is to fill that gap with your course. Maybe existing courses lack depth in certain areas, or perhaps they’re too advanced for beginners. Your unique angle could be addressing these specific needs—offering a beginner-friendly course or providing more in-depth content than what's currently available.

Also, consider your unique expertise and perspective. What personal experiences, skills, or insights can you bring to the table that others cannot? Your background could provide a fresh perspective or a new methodology that other courses don’t have. For instance, if you have practical experience in a certain niche, you could focus on real-world applications, implementation, and case studies instead of just teaching theory.

If you're unsure where to start, I’ve created a free micro-course to help you dive into the minds of your potential buyers and uncover their pain points. It's a series of six short video lessons delivered over five days, designed to help you find a profitable course idea. 

Mistake #2: Failing to Validate Your Course Topic

Being passionate about a subject is a great starting point, but it's not enough. You need to ensure there's an audience willing to pay for what you offer. Friends and family feedback often isn't reliable because it's biased. You need real data from potential future customers.

Before you invest your time and energy into building your course, make sure people are actually willing to pay for your unique solution. Here are four strategies to help you validate your course topic:

1. Sell Your Idea in a One-on-One Format: Offer coaching or consulting services to work closely with your ideal clients. This will help you understand their needs, challenges, and goals, and confirm they’re willing to pay for your solution.

2. Pre-launch Marketing: Create a landing page for your planned course, describe its key features and benefits, and add a sign-up form for a waitlist. Promote this page on social media and monitor sign-ups to gauge interest.

3. Create a Mini-Course: Build a basic version of your course covering a portion of your content and test it with a small group. Get feedback and see if there's enough interest to justify creating a full course.

4. Offer a Free or Low-Cost Webinar: Provide valuable information related to your course topic in a webinar to generate interest and monitor engagement.

Mistake #3: Failing to Sufficiently Promote Your Course

Even if you create the best course on your topic, it won't sell if people don’t know it exists. You need to promote your course to get it in front of potential buyers. A well-rounded marketing strategy should include:

• Social Media Marketing: Regularly post content on platforms where your audience hangs out. Engage with your followers, build a community, and generate interest in your course.

• Email Marketing: Building an email list is crucial. Communicate directly with your subscribers and promote your course during launches.

• Content Marketing: Offer free, high-quality content like blog posts, videos, webinars, and podcasts related to your course topic. This establishes you as an authority and creates a natural funnel to your paid course.

• Paid Advertising: While it requires an upfront investment, paid ads can significantly boost your course enrollments. A well-executed ad campaign can accelerate your reach and attract targeted traffic.

Remember, promoting a course is a full-time job. Plan your launch in advance to ensure you can hit the ground running when the time comes. A well-crafted marketing campaign has many moving parts, and you don’t want to do it last minute.

Conclusion

By avoiding these three big rookie mistakes—failing to find a market gap, not validating your course topic, and not promoting your course enough—you CAN launch a course that sells. This will bring in additional income every month on top of your existing business.

So, have you tried launching an online course before? How did it go? What’s your experience been like? Let me know in the comments below!