How to Create & Sell Online Courses

“If you know something that others want to learn, you’re sitting on a digital goldmine.”

You’ve got knowledge. Experience. Skills. Maybe even a few wild stories from the trenches of your industry. And guess what? Someone out there is Googling for exactly what you know.

Welcome to the world of online courses.
A business model that lets you turn your expertise into income — and do it on autopilot once it’s built.

Whether you’re teaching how to bake artisan sourdough, fix a leaky sink, design websites, write emails that sell, or build a bonsai empire — there’s a market for it.

Let’s break down how you can turn your knowledge into a profitable online course and the tools you’ll need to build, launch, and scale it.

An online course business is simple in theory:

• 1. Package your knowledge into an educational format.

• 2. Host it online using a course platform.

• 3. Sell it to people who want the shortcut your experience provides.

Whether it’s video lessons, slides, PDFs, audio files, or even live coaching calls — if it teaches and transforms, it counts.

• ✔ High-profit margins – Once created, it's almost all profit

• ✔ Scalable & passive – Evergreen funnels do the heavy lifting

• ✔ Authority-building – Positions you as the go-to expert

• ✔ Low overhead – No physical product, no inventory, no shipping

• ✔ Impactful – Help people solve real problems and change their lives

This is where your passion and profit meet — and have a beautiful little digital baby called recurring income.

These host your course, deliver your content, and handle student logins, payments, and progression tracking.

You need tools to create engaging course materials — video, slides, audio, and worksheets.

• Loom or ScreenPal – Record screen + face easily

• Zoom – Host and record live lessons

• Canva Pro – Design your slides, workbooks, and branding

• Google Docs/Sheets – Build templates, worksheets, and checklists

• Descript – Edit videos and audio like you're editing text

Pro Tip: Don’t wait until it’s “perfect” — record your first version, launch, and refine as you go.

If you're using WordPress or need advanced features:

• Vimeo Pro – Clean, professional, private hosting

• YouTube (Unlisted) – Free but lacks control

You need to sell your course with persuasive copy, not just good intentions.

• Systeme.io – Comes built-in with funnels and checkout pages
  
  

• ClickFunnels – Great if you're doing webinars or launches
  
  

LeadPages – Clean landing pages for opt-ins

Build relationships, sell your course, and automate everything.

• MailerLite – Free up to 1,000 subs, solid automation
  
  

• ConvertKit – Great for creators with tagging and visual funnels
  
  

Klaviyo – Advanced email marketing (best for ecommerce + courses)

Most platforms handle this, but if you’re DIY:

• Stripe – Trusted payment processor
  
  

PayPal – Widely recognized, easy to set up

Build your email list and turn leads into paying students with low-ticket offers.

• ChatGPT + Your Lead Magnet Bot
  
  

Canva + Systeme.io – To build, deliver, and upsell

Here’s your Smart Start roadmap for launching your own course.

Step 1: Identify Your Zone of Genius

What do you know that others ask you about all the time? That’s your course topic.

Step 2: Validate Your Idea

Survey your audience. Post in groups. Look for keywords on Google. Make sure people want it before you build it.

Step 3: Outline Your Course

Break it into modules and lessons. Think transformation: What problem does it solve? Where does the student start vs. end?

Step 4: Create Your Content

Record videos. Design slides. Build downloadable resources. Keep it bite-sized and practical. No fluff — just gold.

Step 5: Pick Your Platform

Systeme.io is an awesome all-in-one (and super affordable). Load in your lessons, resources, and welcome videos.

Step 6: Build Your Sales Funnel

Create a landing page, checkout, thank you page, and email welcome sequence. Bonus points for a lead magnet and tripwire.

Step 7: Launch It Like a Boss

Use social media, email blasts, or a webinar. Give founding member pricing or early-bird access to create buzz.

Step 8: Evergreen It

Automate your funnel. Drive traffic to it. Make sales while you sleep (or at least nap on the couch).

This is where your knowledge becomes income.
Where your passion becomes a product.
And where your experience becomes someone else’s breakthrough.

Online courses are one of the smartest, most scalable businesses you can build. You get to help others while building income that doesn’t depend on hours worked.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start… this is it.

Visit the Smart Start Tools Section to access the recommended tools, templates, and walkthroughs you need to launch your first course fast.