There are many different tools out there that you can use to create, market, and sell your online course!
Now a days, it’s super easy to get your course up and running. Before you know it, you’ll be welcoming new students and seeing payment notifications in your email inbox.
When I launched my very first online course, I didn’t know about all of the software tools that I could have used simplify the process. I would have saved myself considerable time and money.
I hope that by the end of this blog post, you’ll have a clear understanding of the resources that are available to you. Then, you’ll be ready to create your first online course.
1. Screenflow: This application will allow you to take a screen recording of your screen, so that your students can see exactly what you’re doing as you’re walking them through a tutorial.
2. QuickTime Screen Recorder: If you have a Mac and you don’t want to invest in a copy of Screenflow, you can also use the QuickTime Screen Recorder to take a video of your screen.
3. Blue Yeti Microphone: This is the microphone that I use to record my voice for my online courses. It comes with a gain, volume, and pattern knob.
4. EOS 70D Camera: The trusted high quality camera that I use for my YouTube videos and my premium course videos. The package that I purchased also comes with a microphone.
5. Canva: An amazing application that will take care of a lot of the graphics work for your course launch. You can easily create Facebook cover photos, blog post images, slide shows, and more.
6. MailChimp: The email list management provider that I use. MailChimp is free up until 2,000 subscribers. You can segment your email list, send auto responder messages, and get information on open and click-through rates.
7. Leadpages: Hands down, this is the best software out there for creating landing pages. A landing page will help convert your website visitors into email subscribers. Seeing as your email list is responsible for the majority of your sales, this is an important tool.
8. YouTube Hangout: If you don’t want to invest in a pro webinar software tool, you can use YouTube Hangouts to host the webinars that will sell your online course. They’re easy to manage and have live chat functionality.
9. Webinar Jam: This is a premium webinar application that comes with a lot more functionality than a simple YouTube hangout. You can also create evergreen webinars with EverWebinar, another product put out by this company.
10. Teachable: If you don’t want to deal with the hosting of your course, but you also don’t want to put it on Udemy, then Teachable is for you. Teachable hosts your course and gives you the tools to make it look professionally designed.
11. Thinkific: A great alternative to Teachable, Thinkific also hosts your course and comes with a bundle of functionality that any teacher needs to hit the ground running.
12. Optimize Press: If you DO want to host your own course, then this is the WordPress plugin for you. Along with creating landing pages and sales pages, OptimizePress gives you the functionality you need to create a membership website.
13. Facebook Ads and Groups: Unless you have an existing audience, you’re going to need to advertise your course to potential new students. Facebook is the best way to do this. Along with Facebook advertising, you can also use the group feature to manage all of your enrolled students and give them a forum to interact with you and each other.
14. Buffer: Buffer is the ultimate social media automation tool. You can use it to pre-schedule the messages that go out on your various social media accounts. You don’t have to worry about sharing messages every single day. Buffer will do it for you.
15. WordPress: Lastly, if you want to set up a professional looking website for your business, I’d use WordPress. The link will take you to my recommended hosting provider, which has a one-click WordPress install feature. After you set up WordPress, you can install one of these premium themes to make your website look beautiful.