Create an Online Course: Sell Courses Online from Anywhere in the World

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Remote Jobs > Online Businesses > Create an Online Course: Sell Courses Online from Anywhere

One way to make money while traveling the world is to create an online course. Once you’ve created the course you’ll need to know how to sell courses online to bring in money. In this article we discuss how you can use online courses to teach people what you know, using your own unique spin, and end up making a good amount of money doing it. The more courses that you end up making, the more likely that you are to get one that people really love. Some of you may already have teaching experience, so you might not be surprised to learn that this is one of the best online jobs for teachers as well.

In this article we interviewed a teacher who - after transitioning to teaching online courses - now makes a 6-figure income. We also interviewed a family that uses online courses to teach their child, to get a different perspective. Additionally, we provide an easy 3-step process to help you decide on what course to create, give an easy tip on how to create an online course, and then recommend the best way to sell courses online - which makes the process super easy and allows you to start producing a fairly lucrative income in only a few short weeks!

• Creating and Selling Courses online is easy and quick with SamCart

Online Jobs for Teachers

The first person we talked with was Jade Weatherington, who has a Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota and runs the company “Teacher Jade’s Writing Academy.” Jade started out volunteering at AmeriCorps in student support and being a mentor at Big Brother Big Sister during her undergraduate studies. She then went on to teach at Minneapolis Public Schools as an Associate Educator for 4 years before becoming a Community and Family Engagement Specialist there.

After looking into online jobs for teachers, she decided to create an online course and see how it went. She found out that she no longer needed to work in a physical school setting. This has allowed her to be a private teacher for a number of independent students in various formats - having students in 20 different countries in five different time zones while teaching and tutoring at different online companies such as: BrainFuse, Elevate K-12, VipKid, Cambly, EnglishHunt, CafeTalk, Pearsons, Chegg, Wyzant, Best Teacher, Tutlo, Blazaar, Palfish, NativeTalk, Yoli, and Outschool - where she is still a Virtual Educator.

In 2020, she launched a virtual school, now named Teacher Jade’s Writing Academy, and employs teachers to offer her courses, provide consultations to those wanting to become ‘Teacherpreneurs,’ and offers a Masterclass on launching an online course. She is now known as “The Six-Figure Teacher” due to her wildly popular course “Mastering the Five-Paragraph Essay” that was designed for students aged 11-15.

We reached out to Jade to ask her a few questions on her journey from looking up online jobs for teachers to creating an online course to replace her full-time career. Read on to learn more.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started with your business.

Jade: I am a homeschooling/worldschooling mother of one and started my homeschool journey at the request of my daughter. Determining how to homeschool and work was a struggle until I decided that I needed to turn my side hustle into a business. I was already teaching online with private students to supplement my teaching salary when I decided to found my own online academy.

How frequently do you travel and is this something you can do while traveling?

Jade: Pre-Covid we traveled full time with 1-2 month breaks. So far, we’ve traveled to 22 countries and roadschooled for awhile across the States. This is a job/career that can be done as long as WiFi is available. Alternatively, pre-recorded classes can be created for passive income.

Did you originally plan to create an online course, or did it happen by chance?

Jade: I was only teaching academic courses online that I developed until people started reaching out to me to help them create their own courses. With the business mindset, I noticed a problem and decided to create a solution. I created a course that would help anyone develop and teach classes online and I also offer consultations and coaching for those that want more than a course.

What advice would you have for someone who has never thought to create an online course before?

Jade: They have to decide what they want to teach. It is best to focus on something they love or have a passion about. People can teach whatever they know. That could even be how to travel with children.

“For anyone keen to start their own Outschool hustle, Weatherington suggests starting out by finding “that thing you love.” If you’re excited and knowledgeable about Audre Lorde, for example, consider offering a class about her life and writing. If you’re an ace in coding, think about how you might teach it to kids of various ages.” - Acorns, Grow

Is it difficult to create an online course?

Jade: Yes and no. It can be difficult trying to decide what types of resources to utilize but once it’s complete, it gets easier to make more courses.

Is selling courses online and earning money from courses difficult?

Jade: There are different approaches one can take. They can start from scratch, build a website, integrate all the parts needed for an online course, or register to put their course on a platform (Graphy, Udemy, etc). Using a platform helps with marketing, admin, and the overall platform buildout. I’ve done both and found it easier to offer courses through an established platform vs building out my own.

Note by Eat Wander Explore: It can be quite easy to create and sell courses by using SamCart.

How long did it take you to learn how to do this and would you consider yourself an expert at this point?

Jade: I’ve been teaching online for nearly 15 years. Much of what I learned was on the go. I had to adjust as I went. With all the new resources and technology, I think it would be more difficult because there’s so much to navigate. I was already teaching in the classroom, I just had to adjust to a virtual environment and determine what worked best as an instructor and for my students.

I feel like I have a certain level of expertise in the area of teaching online not just from my experience but I am also a life long learner. I stay up to date about teaching and learning methodologies, I attend workshops and webinars, and I try out new platforms and resources before I recommend them.

How could someone who is new to teaching other people through courses make their process easier?

Jade: One way is to hire a coach or find a mentor. When there is someone available to assist and walk you through the process, it’s easier.

This is one of the services I offer through my website at www.TeacherJade.com

Watch videos and follow people that are teacherpreneurs or edupreneurs, but don’t get too caught up trying to emulate what they do; find the path that’s going to work best for you.

Is there anything else that you'd like to add?

I always tell people to approach this as a business because there is a mindset shift. It can be a side hustle, but in the business side, one can earn a whole new income. I was a solopreneur and when I started thinking about what I did as a business, my income increased.

Don’t be discouraged by the success stories either. I didn’t start garnering a six figure income immediately.

Online Teachers

We also interviewed Brodi Cole, owner of “Our Offbeat Life,” who has been traveling full-time with her husband and son since 2019. They worldschool their son and occasionally use online courses to assist in his learning. So we believed their perspective, as customers of online courses, would also be useful to people looking to create an online course and sell courses online.

Tell us a little about your lifestyle and how you earn income.

Brodi: My husband and I each have our own online businesses. I run our travel blog, www.ouroffbeatlife.com and my husband runs a website for online tutors and teachers www.thetutorresource.com

Editor’s note: Brodi’s husband started out as a professor at an online university, transitioned to teaching English as a second language on VIP Kid when they begin traveling the world, and now creates courses and provides tutoring services on their Tutor Resource website.

Approximately how long have you been using Outschool?

Brodi: We have been using Outschool for a little over two years [since before April of 2020].

Do you find Outschool to be a good supplement to traditional school courses?

Brodi: Yes, absolutely!

As a parent/customer, what are some things you look for in a class/course?

Brodi: I've found our interests in Outschool have changed over time. At first, I wanted supplements to traditional schooling. We looked a lot at art classes and one-off science or history topics that interested my son. Now we still look at those but I've also been considering some more traditional math options because he doesn't like the dry and boring free resources I've found for him to try to so far.

Do you think that online learning, such as through courses offered on Outschool, could replace traditional schooling?

Brodi: Yes, absolutely. We haven't been enrolled in a traditional school in almost three years. Outschool has provided a lot of opportunities for us.

What are some of the most unique or interesting courses that you, or your son, have taken on Outschool?

Brodi: My son loved his art classes that he took in Asia. They started during the initial pandemic lockdowns and lasted until we left Malaysia over a year later. He has also taken classes on dinosaurs as well as axolotls.

What recommendations would you have for someone looking to create courses on Outschool or another platform?

Brodi: Don't be afraid to combine fun with learning. Kids learn best when they're having fun.

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How to Get Started: Create an Online Course & Sell Courses Online

Step 1: Decide on what course you want to create

If you want to produce a steady income and are ready to create an online course, then we would recommend that you pick topics you are both experienced with and passionate about. It is much easier to produce a quality course if you are talking about something that you are very familiar with - so, even if you don’t think you’re an “expert” at it, pick the thing that you focus most of your time on and/or that you’d say is really a part of who you are.

Step 2: Create an Online Course

Once you’ve decided on a course to create, there are a few different options for you to take to create it.

1. Use a proven system - like SamCart - to help you create your courses and sales pages.

2. Jump over to Fiverr and have someone else create the course for you.

Either option is extremely affordable, and you can edit your courses to your own desire once they are complete. Both options remove about 80 percent of the trouble and effort that you’d need to put into it on your own, and leaves you room to add in all the tidbits that you know from your own experience or spruce it up with something fun. It seriously can be that simple!

Step 3: Sell Courses Online

Use two methods to sell your course: 1. Your own SamCart page, and 2. List it on Outschool - a platform for you to organize, promote, and deliver online classes - which is available to residents of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and does not require formal teaching credentials. Outschool offers an online listing for your classes, access to their large community of learners, integrated video chat platform and messaging, and responsive support via chat, email, and phone. They really do a great job at simplifying the logistics and supercharge your ability to sell courses online and make a lucrative online income.

Note: While it is free to list your classes on Outschool, they do take 30 percent of the fee that you decided to charge for your course. However, they do an amazing job at bringing in customers and keeping your income rolling in!

And that is it - you have found an easy way to create an online course - and an easy way to sell courses online from anywhere in the world!

FAQ’s

How do I choose the best platform to host my online course?

Choosing the best platform to host your online course depends on your goals, budget, and preferences. There are many options available, such as Thinkific, Teachable, Podia, and Wix - apart from the other recommendations given in this article. Each platform has its own features, benefits, and drawbacks, so you need to compare them and see which one suits your needs best. Some factors to consider are the ease of use, customization, support, integrations, payment options, and analytics. You can also read some reviews and testimonials from other course creators to get an idea of their experiences with different platforms.

How do I price my online course to maximize revenue and value?

Pricing your online course is a tricky and important decision, as it affects both your income and your perceived value. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for pricing, but there are some general guidelines and strategies you can follow. First, you need to research your market and your competitors, and see what they are charging for similar courses. Then, you need to determine your costs, such as the platform fees, marketing expenses, and taxes. Next, you need to calculate your profit margin, which is the difference between your revenue and your costs. Finally, you need to test different prices and see how they affect your sales and conversions. You can also use some pricing models, such as tiered pricing, value-based pricing, or bundle pricing, to offer different options and incentives to your customers.

How do I create a sales page that converts visitors into customers?

Creating a sales page that converts visitors into customers is a key step in selling your online course. A sales page is a web page that showcases your course and persuades your audience to buy it. To create an effective sales page, you need to follow some best practices, such as:

- Write a catchy and clear headline that summarizes the main benefit of your course. If you're adept in SEO, make sure to pick a great title that people are searching for. If not, we’d recommend using upwork to pay someone to help you with this (it will likely cost about $50).

- Use subheadings, bullet points, and images to break up the text and make it easy to read.

- Include social proof, such as testimonials, reviews, ratings, or logos of reputable organizations that endorse your course. are a few options: Thrive Ovation: The lower tier price option is $19 per month, billed annually, for a single site license. Boast: The lower tier price option is $25 per month, billed annually, for up to 100 testimonials and 10 GB of storage. Trustpilot: The lower tier price option is $299 per month, billed annually, for up to 100 invitations and 2,000 website visitors. Capterra: The lower tier price option is $2 per click, with a minimum budget of $250 per month. ConsumerAffairs: The lower tier price option is $199 per month, billed annually, for up to 50 reviews and 1,000 impressions.

- Highlight the features and benefits of your course, and explain how it solves your audience's problems or helps them achieve their goals. Don't focus on the technical details of your course, focus on the fact that it solves a problem or brings them to the goal.

- Add a clear and compelling call to action that tells your visitors what to do next, such as "Enroll Now", "Buy Now", or "Start Your Free Trial".

- Use scarcity and urgency techniques, such as limited-time offers, discounts, bonuses, or countdown timers, to create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and motivate your visitors to act fast.

(1) 10 Steps To Creating A Wildly Successful Online Course - Thinkific. https://www.thinkific.com/blog/10-steps-creating-successful-online-course/.

(2) How to Create and Sell a Profitable Online Course in 10 Steps - Wix.com. https://www.wix.com/blog/how-to-create-an-online-course.

(3) 10 Steps to Creating an Online Course [+ Templates] - Venngage. https://venngage.com/blog/create-online-course/.

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