So you’ve created all this content, but what do you do with it now? For a lot of people, the hard part of creating an online course, is the “online” bit.
In this post I’ll talk about the 3 main ways you can get your course online, cover the pros and cons, and give you a couple of examples. These examples are not your only options, but are some of the platforms that I have used for myself or clients in the past, and feel comfortable recommending to you.
Before you get too far into this, please remember… there isn’t a right answer or a wrong answer here.
For each method there will be plenty of examples of people who love it, recommend it, and have made a ton of money doing it… and there will be plenty of examples of people who would never do it that way again.
Consider what will work for you, and what is easiest to start with. You can always change things later.
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I may receive compensation if you chose to sign up through this link. This doesn’t impact the price you pay in any way.
I share these things here because I think they might be useful for you.
Host your course on your own website
This is my personal favourite option because it provides you with the most flexibility, and control.
In my mind, it’s your course, and it will look best sitting under your brand, on your site, where you control their experience.
… however, it can also take the longest to set up and requires more skill than the other options in the list.
Pros:
- You are in complete control
- There are plenty of plugins available which make the process much easier than it used to be
- Plugins will integrate with most major email marketing systems and payment gateways.
- You can match the look and feel of the course to your brand
- You set the purchase price and receive all of the payment (excluding payment gateway fees)
Cons:
- It takes more technical skill (although you can outsource the development, it is still useful if you know how it all works so you can update or assist students as needed)
- It often has a higher cost to get started. You’ll need your own website, then you’ll need additional course plug-ins, additional hosting for videos and large files, and a way to process funds.
- It can take longer to get started, as you will need to build the course or hire someone to do it for you.
Examples:
- WishlistMember
- Memberpress
- LearnDash
Or if you want something bigger, check out Access Ally. It’s designed with selling in mind.
This might be a good option for you if:
If you already have a website that you love and are comfortable using, and you feel pretty handy with installing and setting up new plugins, then this could be the way for you. Most course or membership plugins come with a handy set up guide, or help function if you get stuck.
Use a ready made course platform
There are a range of software platforms available, which allow you to upload your course content, using all of their tech.
This is an external platform to your website, in fact, you don’t need to have a website at all to be able to use them.
Pros:
- You don’t have to have a website
- You don’t need to know how to build a site or code
- They store all of your videos for you as well
- It is quicker to get started than building your own site
- Support teams are available if you get stuck
- They are well known and reliable
Cons:
- You need to be aware of the terms and conditions for the site you are using
- There will be a fee involved, this might be a monthly expense, or a cut of each sale… or both.
- You may be restricted to having their branding as part of your course or page
- You will have to wait for a period of time to receive your payments from them
Examples:
This might be a good option for you if:
A course platform could be a good option for you if you don’t have a website up and running yet, or your don’t feel comfortable adding course plugins to your website. They take a lot of the stress out of the tech side of things.
Use a course market place
A course market place like is a large learning platform, which already comes with thousands (if not millions) of students who are signed to courses on the platform. Think platforms like Udemy, or Skillshare.
Pros:
- There are already lots of students using the platform which can give your course extra exposure
- You don’t need to have a site
- You don’t need to know how to build a site or code
- They store all of your videos for you as well
- It is quicker to get started than building your own site
- Support teams are available if you get stuck
- They are well known and reliable
Cons:
- You no longer have full control of your course.
- You need to be aware of the terms and conditions for the site you are using
- They will take a cut of your course (with Udemy, this is approx 50%)
- Your course will sit on their platform, with their branding.
- The students enrol with the platform, not with you. That means the students details don’t come to you, and you don’t grow your list or data base.
- You will have to wait a period of time to receive your payouts.
- Your course will sit among hundreds of your competitors courses, often on the same or a similar subject matter.
A note specifically about Udemy:
Make sure you are aware of all of the terms and conditions of a platform, before you put your content there.
For example, you can remove your course from Udemy, but ” Udemy’s right to use such Submitted Content for marketing purposes shall survive termination. “. They can still use your image, your course title and the fact that you were on the platform to promote their services, even after you have removed everything.
Other terms to be aware of
” We reserve the right to remove courses, suspend payouts, and/or ban instructors for any reason at any time, without prior notice ”
” You give us permission to share your courses for free with our employees, with selected partners “
” You grant Udemy the rights detailed in the Terms of Use to offer, market, and otherwise exploit your Submitted Content, and to sublicense it to students for these purposes directly or through third parties”
Examples:
My Personal Opinion:
I would use your own website for your flagship course, as it allows you to be in control of your content and branding.
If you are just starting out and want to get something up and running fast, use a course platform like Teachable instead.
Use a course marketplace for a smaller course to gain exposure and brand awareness, but don’t use it for your bigger, important content. You lose far too much control over your content and your course.
Are you looking to create your own course? Grab the free Course Creation Bundle.
Inside you get:
- Brain Dump Template
I show you the method I use, to easily get all of the ideas out of my head and into a workable format, and you can do it to - Course Creation Template
A step by step guide, showing you how to break down and outline your content. Simply fill in the gaps and follow the outline provided. - Course Creation Checklist
A handy checklist to make sure you have everything in place before you let your customers in.
If you are serious about creating your own course this year, make sure you grab your FREE Course Creation Bundle now.