In today’s digital age, content creators have found a new way to monetise their expertise and knowledge by creating and selling online courses.
With the rise of easy to build and maintain ‘micro e-learning platforms’ like LearnDash LMS, the creative process of building and launching online courses as either a new revenue stream or as part of a ‘side-hustle‘ has become far more accessible and convenient for creators, professionals, and hobbyists alike!
Online courses are no longer just for formal education, but many individuals are seeking to acquire new skills and knowledge in a specific area of interest and want to learn from bright, energetic, knowledgeable, and personable people. You might just the person your audience is looking for right now!
What Are The Biggest Benefits To Content Creators Who Sell Online Courses:
- Flexibility: One of the major reasons content creators choose to sell online courses is the flexibility it offers. With online courses, content creators can reach a global audience without having to travel or conduct in-person workshops. They can also create and sell their courses at any time, allowing them to work at their own pace and schedule. Low cost and easy-to-manage e-commerce solutions like a combination of WooCommerce and Stripe Payment Gateway can provide a fast start to making money immediately selling online courses.
- Increased Earnings Potential: Undoubtedly the biggest reason for content creators who choose to sell online courses is the increased earning potential it offers! Unlike traditional forms of monetisation, such as ads or sponsorships, selling online courses provides content creators with a consistent and scalable source of income. By selling their expertise in the form of an online course, content creators can earn passive income from their content, even when they are not actively creating new content.
- Ability to Build a Personal Brand: Selling online courses also provides content creators with an opportunity to build their personal brand. By offering courses on a specific topic, content creators can establish themselves as experts in that field and position themselves as thought leaders. This not only increases their visibility and reach, but also enhances their credibility, which can lead to new business opportunities and collaborations.
- Control Over the Learning Experience: Another advantage of selling online courses is the control content creators have over the learning experience. With traditional forms of education, content creators often have limited control over the curriculum, pace, and artistic/creative format of learning materials. However, by creating and selling their own online courses, they can determine the content and structure of the course, as well as how they want to deliver the information. By using WordPress as your online learning platform, you could be taking advantage of tools to integrate Articulate Storyline into WordPress by Discover eLearning, or created cohort-based learning experiences online with tools by Training Spark. The options available are truly massive!
- Ability to Reuse Content: Finally, selling online courses provides content creators with an opportunity to reuse and repurpose their existing content. By turning their content into a comprehensive online course, they can provide their audience with a more structured and comprehensive learning experience. This not only saves time for the content creator, but also provides their audience with a more valuable learning experience.
Online Course Creator Success Stories:
Pat Flynn: is founder of the Smart Passive Income blog, is one of the most well-known success stories of selling online courses. He created and sold an online course on how to start a successful podcast, which has helped thousands of people launch their own podcasts. Pat’s course not only teaches the technical aspects of podcasting, but also provides insights on how to grow and monetize a podcast.
Lisa Irby: is a blogger and online business coach, and another successful content creator who has created a successful business selling online courses. She offers courses on a variety of topics, including affiliate marketing, website design, and social media marketing. Lisa’s courses provide step-by-step guidance and practical tips to help students achieve their goals.
Deciding Your Next Steps:
The popularity of online courses amongst content creators as a side or primary-focus revenue model is a testament to the many benefits that it can offer.
From the flexibility and increased earnings potential to the ability to build a personal brand and control the learning experience, selling online courses provides content creators with a multitude of opportunities to monetise their expertise and knowledge.
Whether you are a blogger, influencer, educator, or online business owner, selling online courses can be a lucrative and rewarding way to share your expertise with the world.
The WPETG is comprised of specialist digital development and online learning business strategists who have helped dozens of people turn their passions into lucrative businesses. If this all sounds like something you want to be a part of then do consider joining our community and get involved in the discussion!
