How to Sell Courses Online in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering the Art

Today, online courses are a billion-dollar industry! That means two things.

1. Creating and selling online courses can be highly profitable.
2. The industry is highly competitive.

Now, that can lead to thoughts such as, how can I break into this highly competitive industry? This thought is justified, and it’s okay to have such concerns. However, there’s always a way out. Maybe a shift in the strategy and perspective of selling online courses can put you out in front.

In this guide, we will discuss how to sell online courses in 2023. We’ll be talking about the different strategic steps for selling a successful online course.

Let’s begin with what we need to shift.

Shifting The Perspective & Strategy Behind Selling Online Courses

Over the years, I have observed the online course industry closely. I’ve seen trends changing. Most importantly, how has technology impacted the industry?

Here are two shifts that I believe a course creator has to make to sell courses online in 2023.

1 – Courses Off The Cart! – The Perspective Shift

Long gone are the days when online courses were sold as retail products!

Unfortunately, there are still many learning platforms out here that seem like retail sites. We are far ahead of that, honestly. Still, many course creation experts and entrepreneurs fail to realize that.

I strongly believe online courses are more than mere digital products. An online course is a concentration of knowledge, years of experience, and achievements. It shouldn’t be sold or presented like that. Especially if you wish to stand out in this highly competitive market.

Online courses must be presented as an opportunity to learn, grow, and network.

Then, how can we do that?

That leads us to the second shift below.

2 – Courses & Communities Go Hand-In-Hand! – The Strategic Shift

I believe an online course creation should grow out of its basic scope.

It should create and generate more value for your students besides just being an online course with a playlist of videos. In 2023, an online course should do more than just educate people about a certain topic.

It should give students a place to learn from each other, discuss ideas and connect. Plus, it should provide a community that supports students in their learning journey. Moreover, it should healthily engage them and lead to long-term connections.

That’s how an online course can create more value. Now, how can a course creator make this happen?

Online course creators can harness the power of community-based learning. Because 76% of internet users participate in online communities. That can give you an edge in creating more value and selling courses online.

Creating a community around your course or offering courses directly inside of your community makes a significant difference. In fact, if you have any kind of online business, incorporating a community is always a good idea.

But, There’s A Twist! Hear Me Out

Do you know the TWO biggest mistakes course creators make while creating a community?

First, they host their courses and community on different platforms.

You will have to bridge the gap between your courses and the community. You don’t want your members jumping across platforms.

Secondly, they do not use learning community-focused platforms.

Most of them create a free community using Facebook Groups. I can go on and on about why using Facebook groups for communities is a bad idea. Using community-focused online course platforms has several benefits.

What’s The Solution?

Here, you need an online course platform that enables you to host your course and community in ONE place! Plus, it provides membership features.

Basically, it has to be an ALL-in-ONE learning community platform. If you want an example, check out GroupApp.

Consider GroupApp!

It’s an All-in-One community-based learning platform. GroupApp is just what you need to sell courses in 2023.

Making these two shifts can enable course creators to take an informed path to create and sell a profitable online course in 2023.

What’s Next?

At this point, we have an informed approach to how to sell online courses in 2023. Now, what’s next?

It’s time to implement the informed approach. For that, you need to pick an all-in-one platform learning community to host your community and courses.

Let’s round off some basic steps for selling online courses ahead.

1 – Choosing An All-In-One Learning Community Platform

This is going to be a pivotal decision. Make sure you find an all-in-one learning community platform that suits you. Your choice will affect everything, from student experience to client satisfaction.

But, how can one pick the right platform?

Let’s find out.

The right platform will cut the hassle for you and your clients/students. It will bridge the gap between you and your members. Plus, the gap between your courses and community.

It will provide an advanced course builder, automation, integrations, event builder, automation, integrations, and marketing tools. Moreover, you will be able to have tools for community and course management in a unified spot. These features are mandatory.

All of these things in one place?

Does that sound unreal or way too perfect to even exist? Well, I’m glad to inform you such a platform exists. It’s GroupApp, which is trusted by 967+ course creators and community leaders.

2 – Course Or Community – What Goes First?

You have the autonomy now! You can either create a community around a paid course or create courses for your community. You can go either way.

However, it depends on the nature of your business as well. If you run a coaching business, you can create cohort-based or drip courses for your community.

And, if you are a course creator or an expert, you can launch a paid course and build a community around it.

Either way, your courses are going to be at the core of your community.

3 – Create Your Online Course

Now, we are getting there!

It’s time to create your first online course using the all-in-one learning community platform. If you already have some online course content that is yet to launch, dust it off. You can use that. If not, you will need to create new online course content and course material.

I – Choosing A Topic For Your Online Course

Your online course can be on any area or topic relevant to your niche expertise. Your niche is just like an umbrella topic. All areas of your expertise and topics fall under this niche.

For instance, your niche or area of expertise is digital marketing. Now, this is an umbrella topic. This opens the door for creating online courses for several topics that fall under this umbrella topic. You can create an online course on Facebook Ads, on-page SEO, etc.

Remember, always go for a specific and well-defined topic.

II – Define Course Goals & Target Audience

At this stage, you also need to define your target audience and course goals. Ask yourself, what demographics are shared by my target audience. Plus, what type and medium is suitable for the target audience to convey course content?

Plus, you also need to set clear goals. I suggest setting SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound).

III – Create Your Course Content & Media

It’s time to give your well-defined niche a solid and resourceful form. You need to create well-structured, rational, engaging, and well-informed course content out of your chosen topic.

The way you create your course content depends on your topic, platform, and target audience.

If you feel like you cover the topic in a single video, just create one video. But, that won’t be the case for all topics.

If you are covering a topic that can be broken down into small modules, do it. For example, you are making an online course on On-age SEO. You can divide the topic into modules or sub-topics such as link placement, image optimization, keyword placement, etc.

You can create one for each module. You can also reserve some modules for quizzes, group discussions, or case studies. Plus, you can complement your video content with PDF guides.

For video creation, you can aim for video duration of anywhere between 4 to 25 minutes. Keep your videos to the point and short as online students tend to have small attention spans.

Next, get the right tools and equipment to create content. If you are going to give software tutorials with voice-over, you can use software such as Loom and DemoCreator. You can get a camera or use your mobile phone camera to record your videos if you are going to appear yourself.

You are half way there if you have created your course content and media. Next, it’s time to upload it on your platform.

4 – Upload Your Online Course On Your Platform

How this step goes depends on the choice of your platform.

If your platform offers an in-built course platform, lucky you. You can easily upload your online course with its videos, PDFs, and other media.

We are going with the GroupApp Course Builder.

Creating online courses is effortless with GroupApp. With its in-built course builder, you can easily upload video lectures and course material. GroupApp also enables you to add drip courses and manage enrollment.

For each course section, you can add relevant resources such as videos, PDFs, etc. You can also embed content in your course section.

Here’s a quick video tutorial on how to create an online course at GroupApp.

5- Pricing Your Online Course

Pricing an online course can be tricky and a bit complex. Let me simplify it for you.

Price is a big factor for anyone interested in your offering. That’s why you need to be very mindful. If you price your course too high, people won’t bag it. On the other hand, if you price your course too low, some people might question its quality.

That’s why, you need to find a sweet spot that enables you to maximize your profits while it provides absolute value to your customer.

Some of the factors that impact the price of an online course are:

• Time spent to create the course
• Industry or niche
• Cost of the hosting platform, marketing efforts, and promotion.
• Brand authority and credibility
• Competition
• Your income goals

Top 2 Factors To Consider For Pricing An Online Course

It’s the value of your course content. It’s a combination of your expertise, time, life experience, and the cost of content production. Make sure you keep it in due consideration.

You need to consider the income level of your target audience. Having a sound understanding of your target audience demographics will put you way ahead.

Useful Tips

First, do not undersell your online courses. Many course creators make this mistake to attract more clients. However, it can impact your business in the long term. Have full confidence in yourself and the value you are providing with your online course.

Secondly, find a unique selling point for your online course. You need to stand out among the other courses competing with you for your potential client’s time. This way, you can have an edge while selling online courses.

Consider Pricing Strategies

Next, you need to pick a pricing strategy for your online course. Essentially, there are 2 pricing strategies:

One-Time Payment: Your clients will pay one time for your course. For example, at Udemy, you pay for an online course only once and then access the course material at any time.

Recurring Payment: Your clients will pay you a subscription at monthly intervals. LinkedIn Learning is a great example in this case. At a set monthly fee, you can access all courses on the platform.

Here’s my complete guide to membership pricing strategies and models.

Pricing Your Course With GroupApp

GroupApp offers the simplest system to price your online courses. You have pricing options in different currencies. Plus, you can also segment it according to different membership tiers.

Watch how to price your Courses on GroupApp.

6 – Setting Up Your Course Landing Page

Now, it’s time to set up a landing page for your online course. It will be the first outlook of your course. A landing page is basically a website page that one lands after clicking a link.

A course landing page will include all the essential information about your online course. You can add images, videos, marketing copy, pricing details, and sign-up links to your landing page.

The purpose of a course landing page is to educate your potential clients about the course. It’s essentially a gateway to your online course.

How To Create The Best Course Landing Page?

Let me share some applicable tips on how to create the best course landing page.

• Make sure you incorporate eye-catching media and some persuasive copy for your online course.
• Try to use action words and phrases in your copy and course description.
• Tell them about yourself, your expertise, and your achievements. You can add this info in the presenter details. Adding a nice headshot is a plus!
• Clearly define who is this online course for and what value they will drive out of it. Tell your audience what goals they would be able to achieve with your course.
• Provide all the key info about your online course such as duration, expertise-level, or whether a certification is included or not.
• Add social proof like testimonials to your landing page. This will help you to establish authority n your domain.

Now, if you are using an all-in-one platform such as GroupApp, you will get an in-built feature to create a landing page for your online course.

Creating A Course Landing Page With GroupApp

GroupApp enables you to create a landing page for your site in an effortless manner.

On one setting page, you can make all the edits necessary to create a course landing page.

You can add a course title, description, thumbnail image, and background image. You can also incorporate videos into your landing page.

Don’t forget to add your info in the presenter’s field.

Next, it’s time to set access levels according to different membership plans and course visibility.

Finally, set a custom URL for your course. You should have the control to customize your experience and GroupApp makes that happen. You can copy this course to share and for marketing purposes.

At last, save your course.

Your Online Course Is Ready For Marketing & Promotion!

Your online course is all set! Now, it’s time to sell through marketing. Creating online courses with GroupApp is an effortless experience. It’s free from all sorts of complexities and lets you focus on other important aspects of your online course.

GroupApp enables you to host your courses and community in one place. This saves online coaches time and cost. No more juggling between platforms, It’s simple to use and is just what’s needed.

Create your free GroupApp account now. No credit card is required.