How you can create an Online course:A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

First things first,you need to decide what you want to teach. Not just anything

Hey, you.

Yes, you reading this right now. So you have been thinking about creating an online course? That is a great idea. You see, the online course industry is booming, and if you know something that others want to learn, then my friend, you are sitting on a goldmine.

But let us be real it sounds easy but feels confusing at first, right? That is why I am going to walk you through every single step. Think of me like your guide or big brother/sister in this whole process.

Let us get into it.

Step 1: PICK A SPECIFIC SUBJECT YOU KNOW AND PEOPLE WANT 

First things first,you need to decide what you want to teach. Not just anything. Be specific.

 If you say “I want to teach marketing,” that is tooo broad. But if you say “I want to teach beginners how to grow an Instagram page to 1,000 followers,” that is better.

You get what I mean?

And please  pick something you actually enjoy or have experience in. Do not just pick what is trending. Teaching something you hate is a recipe for burnout.

Once you pick a subject, do this:

 Ask people online if they would be interested.

 Search forums or groups to see if people ask questions about it.

Use Google Trends to check if people are even searching for it.

This step is to make sure you are not wasting your time.

Step 2: DECIDE WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN (LEARNING OUTCOMES

Now that you picked your subject, ask yourself:

“What will people be able to do when they finish my course?”

You must be clear. Learning outcomes help both YOU and the student.

Here is an example:

 By the end of this course, you will be able to build your own blog, write articles, and make money from affiliate links.

Cool right?

So take out a paper and write your outcomes. Be clear, not vague. Like:

Learn how to create a Canva design

Understand how to edit TikTok videos

Be able to pitch to brands for collaborations

Clarity = confidence = students happy.

Step 3: OUTLINE YOUR COURSE (STRUCTURE IT LIKE A STORY)

Now this is where we build the skeleton of your course.

Just like a book has chapters, your course needs modules or sections.

Here is how you do it:

1. Take your subject and break it into small topics.

2. Organize them in the order someone needs to learn them.

3. Keep each lesson short (people get bored easily).

Example:

Module 1: Introduction + What to Expect  

Module 2: Tools You Need  

Module 3: Getting Started 

 Module 4: Common Mistakes  

Module 5: Final Project

See? Easy to follow. Do not overthink it.

Step 4: CHOOSE YOUR COURSE FORMAT

Now ask yourself "How do you want to teach this"?

You got options:

Video lessons (most popular)

Audio + slides

Text + PDFs

Or mix everything

If you have a phone with a decent camera, you can already start recording video lessons. No need for a studio setup. Just clean background, good light, and clear audio.

Remember,people care more about what you teach than fancy edits.

If you have a phone with a decent camera, you can already start recording video lessons

Step 5: CHOOSE A PLATFORM TO HOST YOUR COURSE 

Alright, now where will your course live?

Here are a few platforms you can use:

Teachable=easy to use

Thinkific=very beginner friendly

Podia=great if you want to sell digital products too

Your sales page is like your shop front. It needs to convince people.

Here is what to include:

Strong headline (solve their problem)

What they will learn (outcomes)

 Who it is for  

What they get (modules, PDFs, extras)

Testimonials or previews

 Call to action button

You can build this on your platform or use tools like Carrd, Canva Sites, or even Blogger.

Gumroad:simple and fast

YouTube (Private videos):if you are just testing

Some platforms take a small fee per sale, but they handle payments, student logins, and all the tech stuff. Worth it.

Pick one and sign up. You can change later if you outgrow it.

Step 6: RECORD AND CREATE YOUR LESSONS 

This is the part where most people freeze.

Do not stress. Start small.

If you are doing video, just press record and talk like you are explaining to a friend. Make mistakes? No wahala. You can edit later. Or even leave them  that makes you human.

You can also use:

 Canva to make slides  

OBS or ScreenPal for screen recording  

 Audacity for audio  

Google Docs for worksheets  

Do not wait for perfect. Just start.

Step 7: DECIDE YOUR PRICE 

Pricing feels scary. But you got to decide.

Ask yourself:

How much value am I giving?

What do similar courses charge?

What can my audience afford?

You can start with 10,25, $50, or more. Start low if you are new. Once you get good reviews and testimonials, raise it.

You can also offer:

 Early bird discounts  

 Installment plans  

 Bundle deals  

Money will come, just focus on quality first.

You do not need to be a genius or influencer to teach what you know

Step 9: MARKET IT LIKE A BOSS 

You made a course  now let people know!

Ways to market:

Post on social media (TikTok, X, Insta)

Start a blog or YouTube channel

Build an email list

Offer a free mini‑course to attract people

 Partner with others (affiliate marketing)

Remember: Marketing is 50% of success. No marketing = no students = no money.

Step 10: SUPPORT AND IMPROVE 

Your job does not end after selling.....Check on your students. Answer their questions. Improve the course based on feedback....Maybe add more lessons. Maybe update old ones. Show people you care.

This builds trust  and trust brings more students.

 YOU CAN DO IT 

Yes, you can.

You do not need to be a genius or influencer to teach what you know. If you help just one person, you are already successful.

So stop doubting. Pick a topic, write the outline, and start recording. You will learn as you go....You are not too late. The world needs YOUR version of teaching.