Episode 006 of The Blog to Biz Show, October 24, 2022 by Becca Klein
11 Completely Misleading Common Myths About Online Courses
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In this week's episode, we're diving into the common myths about online courses that may be holding you back from launching your online course. I'm going to bust these myths and show you that it is TOTALLY possible to launch a profitable online course…way more possible than you may think.
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Edited transcript:
Common Online Course Myth #1: I’m not an expert so no one will trust me enough to buy from me.
Are you hesitant to create and teach an online course because you don’t consider yourself an expert? If so, you’re not alone. It's one of the most common myths about online courses.
Many people believe that in order to teach a course, they must be “experts” in the topic they are teaching. And they define “expert” in a traditional way, meaning that they need a doctoral degree or 30 years of experience.
However, this is a common myth that is actually quite misleading.
In fact, dictionary.com actually defines “expert” as: “a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority.”
Note the absence of a specialized college degree in that definition.
In fact, there are many successful online courses taught by instructors who are not traditional “experts” in their field.
So what does it take to be a successful online instructor?
It's a common misconception that online course instructors need formal education in their field in order to be credible and trustworthy sources of information. The truth is, as long as you are ahead of your students and can provide valuable insights, your credibility doesn't hinge on advanced degrees or certifications.
In fact, when you’re taking an online course, it can be frustrating when the instructor doesn’t seem to understand the problems you’re having. Being closer in experience to your students may actually be an advantage.
Common myths about online courses like this can keep far too many great potential teachers away from their students.
Common Online Course Myth #2: No one will buy your course because you can just Google everything nowadays.
In today's age of Google, where anyone can find an answer to any question with just a few clicks, it might seem like online courses are no longer necessary. But that's not actually the case.
While Google does provide a lot of answers, it doesn't always offer the complete solution that people are looking for. And that's where online courses come in. They give you the tools and knowledge you need to achieve your goals.
An online course gives you a complete system to solve your problem.
A real solution to a real problem probably doesn't come from a string of random Google results.
So if you want to share in-depth, comprehensive information with others that is not available for free on Google, then creating an online course makes a lot of sense.
Common Online Course Myth #3: No one will buy my course if I charge a lot of money for it.
Truth: People are willing to pay a premium price for online courses that offer them efficient, complete solutions to their problems.
This is because online courses provide an efficient way to learn new skills and gain knowledge. They are also a great way to improve your career prospects.
And since people are increasingly looking for ways to improve their lives, it's no surprise that online courses are becoming more popular every day.
In fact, it is estimated that by the year 2026, online learning will be a $457.8 billion industry.
People are willing to pay to solve serious problems in their lives (and serious doesn't have to mean life-threatening…not having enough time to make healthy dinners for your little kids can be a big problem too).
So don't undervalue your course by pricing it too low. Your content provides a valuable solution for people, and they'll pay for that.
Common Online Course Myth #4: I need a huge email list to launch an online course.
It's a common online course myth that in order to launch an online course, you need a large email list.
But this is simply not the case. In fact, there are many successful online courses launched every day without a large email list.
Now, I'm not saying that email lists don't matter. Email lists are incredibly valuable, and you should absolute focus on growing yours.
[Your email list is] where you capture and own your audience. Where you develop long-term relationships with your audience. Where you build trust with people.
And it’s where most people are likely to buy from you.
learndash
Having a bigger email list will increase sales.
But, that all being said, what's more important is the quality of your email list, not just the quantity.
A targeted email list–meaning an email list filled with people that have opted in because they are interested in the subject you teach–is much better than an untargeted one.
And, there are plenty of examples of people who have had successful launches with an email list under 1,000 people.
So while you should continually focus on building your list, you don't need to wait until you hit a big number to launch.
Common Online Course Myth #5: You need to be a tech genius–or rich–to deal with all the tech surrounding an online course.
Are you hesitant to launch an online course because you think you need to be a tech genius? Or because you think it will be too expensive?
It's common to feel overwhelmed by all the tech involved in launching an online course.
But you don't need to be a tech genius or have a lot of money to get started.
I'm not going to lie and tell you that there is no tech involved in creating and selling an online. course. But honestly, it's not that bad. Truly.
10 years ago this might not have been the case. But today, there are so many tech solutions for online courses, and most of them are built for tech novices, not tech experts.
Services like Thrivecart, ConvertKit, Leadpages, and Canva can absolutely be mastered by beginners. Plus, they all have robust customer support in place if you do get stuck.
With the right tools and resources, you can easily create a successful online course.
Common Online Course Myth #6: My course needs to be 100% perfect on day one.
It's common to feel like you need everything to be perfect before launching your online course. But the truth is, it's ok for your course to evolve over time. In fact, it's actually encouraged!
And it's also ok to launch with a beta version. You can always update and improve your course later on.
So don't let these common online course myths hold you back. Just get started and make your online course the best it can be!
Common Online Course Myth #7: It costs thousands of dollars to launch an online course.
Launching an online course doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, there are tons of affordable, and even free, resources out there that can help you get started.
There are free email services like Mailerlite. There are course platforms like Thrivecart (my FAVORITE platform) that offer lifetime access for one fee. And there are tons of companies like Canva or Elementor that offer both free and paid versions of their products.
Your budget is up to you. And remember, it can grow over time. Launch with lower-priced tech now, and upgrade later on, once your course is profitable.
Common Online Course Myth #8: You have to appear on camera to create an online course.
As someone who has launched an online course, I can tell you that you don't have to appear on camera even once in your course if you don't want to. In fact, many successful online courses are created without a single face-sharing video.
There are a number of reasons why you might not want to appear on camera. Maybe you're shy and uncomfortable in front of the camera. Or maybe you're worried that your video will look amateurish.
Whatever the reason, rest assured that there are plenty of other ways to create a successful online course. You can use text, audio, and graphics to share your information with your students. And you can create videos where you share your screen or slides, without showing your face.
My two signature courses, Break Into Blogging and Course College have hundreds of videos, and almost none of them involve me sharing my face.
So don't let the fear of appearing on camera hold you back from creating a great online course. There are plenty of other ways to get the job done!
Common Online Course Myth #9: I have to make tons and tons of content to justify a high price for my online course.
It's important to remember that the value of the course is measured by the results it achieves, not by the number of modules or workbooks it contains.
People aren't paying for your course because it has 8 modules and 13 workbooks and 7 templates. They're paying because it promises a result, a solution to a problem they care about.
So if you can get them that result in only 4 modules, then you only need 4 modules! In fact, why would a student want 8 modules, if 4 could get them there?
You want to include only what your students need to get the results you promised . . . You want to include the essential information your students need to get the transformation your course is offering or be able to do the “thing” you’re teaching them to do. If you need 3 modules or 15 modules – both are right.
shareiceandco.com
So don't be fooled by courses that boast a huge number of modules or workbooks. The most important thing is that the course helps achieve the students' goals.
Common Online Course Myth #10: Only people selling online courses in B2B niches can make real money.
It's common to think that in order to make money with online courses, you need to be selling to businesses (B2B). (And yes, I do sell B2B courses).
But the truth is, there are tons of examples of people in B2C niches who have launched highly profitable online courses.
Just take a look at some of the biggest names in online education: Udemy, Coursera, and Lynda.com all have business courses, but they also offer a wide range of courses for consumers (B2C).
There are people that have launched successful courses in niches like:
- Astrology
- Digital painting
- Watercolor painting
- Spirituality and meditation
- Crystal healing
- Home decor
- Home staging
- Leatherworking
- Mindset work
- Aviation
- Fertility
(Source). And SO many more.
So if you're thinking about launching an online course, don't let the myth that B2B is the only way to go hold you back. There are plenty of successful examples of B2C courses out there!
Common Online Course Myth #11: I can't create my course because there are already similar ones on the market.
When it comes to online courses, it's important to remember that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Every course is different because every creator is different.
What works for one person may not work for another.
It's also important to remember that just because there are other courses out there on the same topic, doesn't mean they're the same course. In fact, chances are they're not. Each instructor brings their own unique perspective and approach to the table.
Plus, if there are other courses in your niche, it's a good sign! It means that there's a market for it.
So, can you create an online course with a low budget, low tech know-how, and a small email list?
YES! Don't let any of these common online course myths hold you back.
And if you're interested in creating, launching, and scaling an online course, be sure to check out my signature program, Course College. 🙂
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more online course tips you'll 💖:
- Do THIS Before You Launch Your Online Course
- Deadline Funnel: The Best Evergreen Countdown Timer For Online Courses
- Which Online Course Platform is Better? Teachable or Thrivecart Learn?
- Sell Your Online Course on Autopilot with an Automated Webinar Funnel
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