The e-learning industry is booming, and in 2025, it’s projected to be worth over $400 billion. Whether you’re an expert in photography, a personal finance whiz, or a productivity guru, there’s an audience out there eager to learn from you. Creating an online course is one of the most effective ways to share your expertise, build authority, and generate passive income
But here’s the thing: building a profitable online course isn’t just about recording a few videos and slapping a price tag on them. It’s about creating something valuable, marketing it effectively, and building a community around your expertise.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of building a profitable online course using Teachable, one of the best platforms out there. We’ll also share tools like Kajabi, Canva, ConvertKit, and Semrush to help you along the way. By the end of this post, you’ll have everything you need to create, launch, and sell your first online course. Let’s get started!
Why Build an Online Course?
Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why. Why should you consider creating an online course? Here are a few compelling reasons:
- Passive Income Potential: Once your course is created, it can generate income for years with minimal upkeep.
- Share Your Expertise: Monetize your skills and knowledge by helping others achieve their goals.
- Flexibility and Freedom: Work from anywhere, on your own schedule.
- Scalability: Reach thousands of students without being limited by time or location.
- Build Authority: Position yourself as an expert in your field, opening doors to new opportunities.
If any of these resonate with you, keep reading. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear roadmap to turn your knowledge into a thriving online course business.
Step 1: Choose Your Course Topic
The first step in creating an online course is choosing the right topic. This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, so take your time. Your topic should be something you’re passionate about and something people are willing to pay for. Here’s how to find that sweet spot:
1. Identify Your Expertise
Start by asking yourself:
- What skills or knowledge do I have that others might find valuable?
- What do people often ask me for help with?
- What am I genuinely excited to teach?
For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you might teach a course on “How to Design Stunning Logos.” If you’re a budgeting pro, your course could be “Mastering Personal Finance on a Tight Budget.”
2. Research Demand
Once you have a few ideas, validate them by researching demand. Use tools like Semrush or Google Trends to see what people are searching for. For example, if you’re considering a course on social media marketing, search for terms like “how to grow Instagram followers” or “best social media tools.”
You can also look at platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or YouTube to see what’s already out there. If there’s a lot of competition, that’s a good sign—it means there’s demand. Your job is to find a unique angle or niche within that topic.
3. Talk to Your Audience
If you already have an audience (even a small one), ask them what they’d like to learn. Use surveys, social media polls, or one-on-one conversations to gather insights. For example, if you’re a fitness coach, you might ask, “What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to staying consistent with workouts?”
Pro Tip: Don’t overthink this step. Your course doesn’t have to be groundbreaking—it just needs to solve a specific problem for a specific group of people.
Try Semrush for free to research trending topics and validate your course idea.
Step 2: Plan Your Course Content
Now that you’ve chosen your topic, it’s time to plan your content. Think of your course as a journey—you’re guiding your students from Point A (where they are now) to Point B (where they want to be). Here’s how to structure your course for maximum impact:
1. Outline Your Modules
Break your course into sections (modules) and lessons. Each module should focus on a specific subtopic, and each lesson should cover one key concept. For example, if you’re teaching a course on social media marketing, your modules might include:
- Module 1: Setting Up Your Profiles
- Module 2: Creating Engaging Content
- Module 3: Growing Your Audience
- Module 4: Monetizing Your Platform
2. Create Engaging Content
Your course should include a mix of formats to keep your students engaged. Here are a few ideas:
- Video Lessons: These are the backbone of most online courses. Keep them short and focused (5-15 minutes is ideal).
- Worksheets and Templates: Provide actionable resources that students can use to apply what they’ve learned.
- Quizzes and Assignments: These help reinforce learning and keep students accountable.
- Downloadable Resources: Checklists, cheat sheets, and guides add extra value.
3. Keep It Actionable
Every lesson should have a clear takeaway or action step. For example, if you’re teaching a lesson on “How to Write a Blog Post,” the action step might be “Draft the introduction to your first blog post.”
Pro Tip: Use Canva to create visually appealing slides, worksheets, and graphics for your course. Canva’s templates make it easy to design professional-looking materials, even if you’re not a designer.
Design with Canva now and make your course content stand out.
Step 3: Build Your Course on Teachable
With your content planned, it’s time to bring your course to life. Teachable is one of the best platforms for creating and selling online courses. Here’s why:
- User-Friendly: No tech skills required.
- Customizable: You can brand your course to match your style.
- All-in-One: Handle payments, student management, and content delivery in one place.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Sign Up for Teachable
Choose a plan that fits your needs. Teachable offers a free plan, but upgrading to a paid plan gives you access to advanced features like affiliate marketing and certificates.
2. Upload Your Content
Add your videos, PDFs, and other resources. Teachable makes it easy to organize your content into modules and lessons.
3. Set Up Pricing
Decide whether to offer a one-time payment, payment plan, or subscription. You can also create coupon codes for early-bird discounts or promotions.
4. Customize Your Sales Page
Use Teachable’s templates to create a professional-looking sales page. Include a compelling headline, a detailed course description, and testimonials (if you have them).
Start your course on Teachable and take the first step toward building your online business.
Step 4: Market Your Course
Creating a great course is only half the battle—you also need to get people to buy it. Here’s how to market your course effectively:
1. Build an Email List
Your email list is one of your most valuable assets. Use ConvertKit to create an email list and nurture your audience with valuable content. Offer a freebie (like a mini-course or checklist) to encourage sign-ups.
2. Leverage Social Media
Share snippets of your course content on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube to build interest. For example, if you’re teaching a course on photography, post before-and-after photos of your editing process.
3. Run Ads
Once you’ve validated your course, consider running ads on Facebook or Google to reach a larger audience. Start with a small budget and scale up as you see results.
4. Collaborate with Influencers
Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your course to their audience. This can be a great way to reach new people quickly.
Try ConvertKit for free and start building your email list today.
Step 5: Launch and Iterate
Your course is live—congratulations! But your work isn’t done. Here’s how to ensure long-term success:
1. Gather Feedback
Ask your students for feedback and use it to improve your course. What did they love? What could be better?
2. Update Regularly
Keep your content fresh and relevant. For example, if you’re teaching a course on social media marketing, update it to reflect the latest platform changes.
3. Upsell and Cross-Sell
Offer additional resources, coaching, or advanced courses to your existing students. This is a great way to increase your revenue per customer.
Bonus Tools to Level Up Your Course
Here are a few more tools to help you create and market your course like a pro:
- Kajabi: An all-in-one platform for course creation, email marketing, and website building.
- Zoom: For hosting live Q&A sessions or webinars.
- Trello: To stay organized during the course creation process.
Final Thoughts
Building a profitable online course in 2025 is entirely within your reach. With the right tools, a clear plan, and consistent effort, you can turn your expertise into a thriving online business.
Remember, the key to success is taking action. Start small, learn as you go, and don’t be afraid to pivot if something isn’t working.
Ready to get started? Sign up for Teachable and take the first step toward creating your online course today.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue creating free content for you. Thank you for your support!