How To Create An Online Course For Free in 2024.

Last updated: 16/02/2024 Written by: Ruby Layram

In today's digital age, creating and selling online courses has become an excellent way to share your knowledge and generate passive income. Anyone can create and sell profitable online courses from their homes with a laptop and WIFI connection. Furthermore, with the right approach and utilizing free resources available, you can create an online course without breaking the bank. In this blog post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of how to create an online course for free in 2024.

how to create an online course

How To Create an Online Course for Free - Quick Guide

Here is an overview of how to create an online course for free and earn money online. Scroll down for a more detailed guide.

  1. Choose a high-ticket topic. To maximize profits, choose a topic that has a high selling price. Examples include financial courses, business related courses and technology courses.

  2. Determine what type of course you would like to create. Popular options include animated courses and webinars.

  3. Create a course outline. This is like the first draft of your course and will be used as the foundation for the rest of the creation process.

  4. Create the course content. You could do this yourself with free online tools or hire a freelancer to create course content on your behalf.

  5. Build your online course. Combine all of the content together and use editing tools to create a complete online course for free.

  6. Test your online course. Ask friends and family for their honest feedback before publishing your course online.

  7. Choose a price for your course. Look at other courses to determine the best price for your digital course.

  8. Upload your course to Teachable. Anyone can publish courses to Teachable for free. Upload your course to the platform to start attracting buyers.

External video. By Sunny Lenarduzzi on YouTube

How to create and sell an online course step-by-step

Digital courses are one of the most lucrative passive side hustle ideas to start in 2024. It is possible to create a good course in just several hours and reap the rewards of your knowledge every time that someone purchases the course online. Sound’s good? Here are the basic steps involved with creating and selling your own online course.

Step 1: Choose a Topic

The first step of how to create an online course for free is to choose a topic that will sell. While some guides suggest choosing a topic that you are passionate about, it is also worth considering topics that have high price potential and healthy demand. For example, small business courses sell very well and can be sold for a high price. Whereas, courses about niche interests such as fashion or cars have a much smaller audience and price potential.

The best way to find a good topic for your course is to think about industries that require training or a specific skill set. People are more likely to spend money on courses that they actually need. Courses that could help people to make money, improve their health or accelerate their careers are always popular.

Step 2: Decide What Type of Course You Would Like to Create

Once you have chosen your topic, it's essential to determine the type of course you want to create. Will it be a video-based course, a text-based course, or a combination of different media? Assess your strengths and the needs of your audience to make an informed decision.

The most popular types of courses that are sold online are webinars and eBooks. Both types of course can be created for free using online tools such as Canva or even Microsoft PowerPoint. The best way to decide the format of your course is to research existing courses in your niche.

Read: How to make money selling eBooks on Amazon without writing

Step 3: Create a Basic Online Course Outline

The next step is to create a basic outline for your course. This will help you to organize the content creation process so that you do not miss any important sections. The course outline will act as a foundation as you build the course.

It is a good idea to keep this in an accessible file so that you can see it easily throughout the process.

Step 4: Create Your Online Course Content

Now it's time to start creating the content for your online course. Leverage free tools like Google Docs, Slides, or OpenOffice to develop written materials, presentations, and worksheets. If you're creating videos, you can use free screen recording software like OBS Studio or OpenShot to capture your screen and record your presentations.

You should spend the most time on this part of creating an online course. The quality of the course content will determine how successful your course is when you finally publish it. Most digital course platforms allow customers to leave reviews or ratings. Receiving a high rating is the best way to be successful at selling online courses for free.

Step 5: Build Your Online Course

Once you have created all the necessary content, it's time to merge everything into a cohesive online course. eBook and PDF courses are the easiest to construct and can be completed using free online tools. Video content may be harder to construct but it is still possible to do this for free.

If you choose to sell your course through a third-party course creation platform, they will often provide you with a course builder that can be used to construct the course. This is the best option for beginners and makes it easy to build a professional-looking course from scratch.

Step 6: Test Your Online Course

Before launching your course to the public, it's essential to test it thoroughly. Enlist a few third-party testers (friends or family) to go through your course and provide feedback. This process will help you identify any issues or areas for improvement, ensuring a smooth learning experience for your future students.

Step 7: Choose Your Pricing

The key to selling your course is to get the pricing right. Consider different pricing models, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or offering additional resources at a premium price. Assess the value you are providing and research market prices for similar courses to determine a fair and competitive price point.

The exact pricing model that you use will depend on the platform that you choose to sell your course through. It is a good idea to search through similar courses to see what your competition is selling their course for. To stay competitive, try pricing your course lower than other in your niche.

Step 8: Upload Your Online Course to Teachable

Teachable is one of the best platforms to sell online courses for free. It offers a free plan that allows you to create and sell courses without any upfront costs. Simply sign up for a Teachable account, upload your course content, set your pricing, and customize the appearance of your course page. Teachable provides you with essential marketing and analytics tools to help you promote and track the performance of your course.

how to sell online courses

What Is The Best Platform To Sell Online Courses in 2024?

Choosing the best online course platform is key to making money with online course in 2024. There are a number of good option out there to consider. Below if a mini review of the top 3 online course platforms including why they could be worth opting for.

Teachable Mini Review

Teachable is one of the best platforms that provides everything you need to understand how to create an online course for free. Teachable is a user-friendly platform that allows you to create, market, and sell online courses with ease. Its drag-and-drop course builder makes it simple to upload and organize your course content. With a free plan available, Teachable is an excellent choice for those looking to create an online course for free. Teachable offers various customization options, allowing you to create a branded course page that reflects your unique style.

The platform also provides integrated payment processing, making it convenient for students to enroll and for you to receive payments. Additionally, Teachable offers marketing features like coupon codes, affiliate programs, and email marketing integration to help you reach a wider audience and promote your course effectively.

Udemy Mini Review

Udemy is another popular platform to create an online course for free. While Udemy does not offer a free plan, it provides a massive marketplace with a large user base, which can help you reach a broader audience. Udemy takes care of hosting, payment processing, and customer support, which can save you time and effort. However, keep in mind that Udemy has specific pricing and revenue-sharing policies, so it's essential to review and understand their terms before creating and pricing your course on the platform.

Shopify Mini Review

Shopify, primarily known as an e-commerce platform, also offers the capability to sell online courses. While it requires a paid subscription, Shopify provides you with full control over your course sales and customer data. You can design and customize your course website using Shopify's intuitive website builder and take advantage of their extensive range of e-commerce features. If you already have a Shopify store or plan to sell other products alongside your courses, Shopify may be a suitable option for you.

How Much Money Can You Make Selling Courses Online?

The potential earnings from selling online courses vary greatly and depend on factors such as the quality of your content, the demand for your topic, your marketing efforts, and the pricing of your course. Some course creators have earned significant six-figure or even seven-figure incomes through their online courses. However, it's important to recognize that success in this field requires dedication, continuous improvement, and effective marketing strategies.

What Makes a Good Online Course?

A good online course is one that provides value to its students and helps them achieve their desired learning outcomes. Here are a few key elements of a good online course:

Clear and well-organized content: The course material should be presented in a structured and logical manner, making it easy for students to follow and understand.

Engaging and interactive: Incorporate different multimedia elements such as videos, quizzes, assignments, and discussions to keep students engaged throughout the course.

Support and feedback: Offer support to your students through discussion forums, email, or live Q&A sessions. Providing feedback on assignments and answering questions promptly contributes to a positive learning experience.

Practical application: Include real-life examples, case studies, and practical exercises to help students apply what they've learned in real-world situations.

Regular updates: Keep your course content up to date and relevant. Technology and industries evolve rapidly, so it's essential to ensure that your course remains current and valuable.

What Are the Most Profitable Online Courses?

We mentioned above that some course sellers can make six figures a year through selling courses online!However, this is only possible with a high quality course and a niche that is in demand. So, what courses make the most money in 2024?

Influencer Marketing Courses

With the rise of social media and influencer culture, courses that teach individuals how to become successful influencers or leverage influencer marketing have gained popularity. These courses cover topics such as building a personal brand, creating engaging content, and monetizing social media platforms.

Small Business Courses

As entrepreneurship continues to grow, there is a demand for courses that help aspiring business owners start and scale their ventures. Small business courses cover areas like business planning, marketing strategies, financial management, and sales techniques.

Personal Finance Courses

Many people are seeking guidance and education in managing their personal finances effectively. Courses on personal finance cover topics like budgeting, investing, debt management, and retirement planning. With the increasing need for financial literacy, these courses can be highly profitable.

Conclusion

Creating and selling online courses is a great way to earn passive income in 2024. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this blog post, you can create an online course for free in 2024. Remember to choose a topic you're passionate about, create a well-structured course outline, and develop high-quality content using free tools and resources.

When it comes to choosing a platform to sell your online course, Teachable stands out with its user-friendly interface, customization options, and essential marketing and analytics tools. What’s more, the platform is free to use which means that you can maximize your profits.

Like all side hustles, making money through online courses takes time and persistence. It may take a few weeks for your course to start gaining attention but overtime, it is possible to generate regular income through online courses.

Want to make money from home in 2024? Also read:

Best online side hustles for students

How To Make Money on YouTube Without Showing Your Face

How To Make Money Renting Out Your Car

FAQs

  • Creating an online PDF course involves outlining modules, organizing content with visuals and interactive elements, and proofreading for quality. Select a hosting platform, market the course to the target audience, and engage learners worldwide with valuable content and effective promotion.

  • Yes, creating and selling online courses can be very profitable in the UK. To increase your success, hire a freelancer to create a professional course on your behalf and choose a topic that has high price potential.

  • The best way to know if an online course will sell is to check out existing competition. The aim is to find a niche with some competition, which suggests that there is a market, but still room for other courses to be successful.

All of our articles are written to help our readers to learn about different side hustles, how they work and how to start earning money from them. Although we mention potential earnings, it is important to understand that there is no guarantee that you will make money from any of the side hustles that are mentioned on our site. Making money from a side hustle requires consistency and significant effort. While we aim to provide useful insight into each side hustle opportunity, it is down to you to follow the right steps towards making any profits.

About The Author

Ruby is the founder of The Rich Girl Guide and has been writing content around personal finance, side hustles and wellbeing for over 3 years. You can find some of Ruby’s published articles on The Motley Fool UK, Tradingplatforms.com and Buyshares.co.uk.