If you are a coach and already sharing your knowledge through Youtube, it is a natural step to transform your youtube tutorials into a course and diversify your distribution channel.
Not only can an online course provide a significant source of income, but it can also be an excellent way to share your expertise and help others achieve their learning goals.
In this article, we talk about how you can build an online course keeping your youtube tutorials as the base. Let’s dive in.
Contents
Why must you go beyond YouTube tutorials and create an online course?
While Youtube is a popular platform for video content, it comes with certain limitations that can hinder your growth as a knowledge entrepreneur.
- Monetization after specific watch hours: YouTube requires you to cross a specific number of watch hours and subscribers before you can start earning from your channel. Now, this can be demotivating, as even after creating several videos, you may not earn any money until you have amassed over 4000 watch hours.
- High Commission: Youtube charges a high commission on your earnings. Depending on the ad rates, they charge an average of 32% of the advertisement revenue. This can be significant when you consider the amount of effort and resources you put into creating a video.
- YouTube algorithm: YouTube's algorithm is constantly changing, making it hard to predict the distribution of your content. You can have thousands of views for one course, but for another, it might not even reach a hundred. In addition, YouTube has been known to block channels or control the reach of your videos without a convincing reason.
- YouTube guidelines: Hosting videos on YouTube comes with the condition that you will adhere to their guidelines strictly. Not doing so, you are susceptible to a penalty or even account suspension. This can make creating video content on YouTube feel restrictive and limiting.
4 steps to transforming your tutorials into an online course
1. Pick a niche
To turn your YouTube tutorials into a successful online course, you must first select a specific niche to focus on. To do so, start with analyzing your existing videos to identify topics that have the potential to generate revenue through course sales.
A study showed that about 60% of youtube users watched videos that they were most passionate about.
To do this, start by reviewing your YouTube analytics and considering the following questions:
- Which of your videos have the highest view counts, and can you expand on those topics in a longer course format?
- What recurring themes or patterns can you identify in the comments section of your videos? Do viewers seem particularly interested in certain topics?
- Conduct market research by searching for relevant topics on Google and see if there's demand for longer-form courses on those subjects.
This information will help you determine the niche that has the greatest demand and will provide you with a clear direction for creating your online course.
2. Curate and structure your course content
Now that you have narrowed down your niche, it's time to start curating and structuring your course content. This is where the real work begins, and it's important to take your time to create a comprehensive course that will engage your learners.
Simply bundling together a bunch of videos and text won't cut it. You need to think about how you can make your course engaging and effective in achieving your desired learning outcomes.
Here are a few ways to do that:
- Webinars: Incorporating webinars into your course can greatly enhance the learning experience for your students. They provide a way for students to directly engage with you and ask questions, fostering a sense of participation and collaboration.
- Quizzes: Quizzes are a fun and effective way to assess the progress of your learners. They also allow you to gauge the success of your course, and adjust the content to be more or less difficult accordingly.
- Videos: Videos can help retain the attention of your learners for longer period of time than text. As a Youtube content creator, you may already have several videos you can use in your course.
- Additional Materials: Consider adding downloadable guides and worksheets to make your course more comprehensive. Utilizing live chat functionality can also help you guide your students in real-time.
Remember, the goal is to create a course that will keep your learners engaged and interested in the content. Take the time to plan and structure your course, and don't be afraid to get creative with your approach.
Related: 10 Ways to make your course more engaging
3. Choose a course-selling platform
Now that you have your course content organized and ready to go, it's time to choose the right platform to sell your course. Do this wisely. This is a critical decision that can impact the success of your course, so it's important to choose carefully.
When evaluating different platforms, consider the following factors:
- Features and capabilities: Consider the features and capabilities of different online course platforms. Some platforms may offer more advanced features like integrations with marketing tools and customizable branding options, while others may be more basic and straightforward.
If you are serious about making your course successful, you must choose the former even though it might seem unnecessary at the moment. - Pricing structure: Some platforms charge a flat fee, while others take a percentage of your course sales. Consider the costs and weigh them against the features and capabilities of each platform to find the best value.
- User experience: Your students should be able to easily navigate the platform, access course content, and interact with other students. Look for platforms with a clean and intuitive interface and good support, and consider whether the platform offers a community for your learners.
Related: Top 10 Factors for Selecting the Perfect Online Course Platform
4. Market your Course
Unlike YouTube, where the algorithm helps in spreading your videos to people consuming similar content for your course success, you have to market your courses yourself. Without effective marketing, your course is unlikely to reach its full potential.
So, how can you promote your course and attract the right students? Here are some tips:
- Grow an audience: This should come in easy as you may already have an audience on Youtube. Promote your course on your YouTube channel and get your subscribers to become the first users of your course.
You can also grow your audience on social media channels - LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. - Pre-sell your course: Post a teaser video on your YouTube channel highlighting the unique selling point of your courses and how it’ll be beneficial to the learners. You can link this to your course landing page, where they can sign up for the course.
- Email Marketing: Unlike an audience on social media, an email list empowers you to own your subscriber base. Promote your course through email by offering them discounts or exclusive bonus materials.
If you do not have an email list, create one by launching free guides - ebooks, worksheets, etc. and make them downloadable in exchange for email addresses.
Next Steps
You should now have the confidence to transform your YouTube tutorials into a profitable online course. Remember that creating an online course can be a significant source of income and a great way to share your knowledge with the world.
Take the first step and start organizing your content, creating a comprehensive course, choosing the right platform, and marketing it effectively.
And when you are ready, Miho is here to help you every step of the way. Miho can provide all the features and capabilities you need to make your course a success, from customizable branding options to integrations with marketing tools.
We take care of the complex tech allowing you to focus on what really matters: creating high-quality content. So don’t wait up. You can get a 14-day free trial when you signup today.
