As business owners, we’re constantly learning from and creating different courses to enhance our knowledge and make education accessible to more people. They can be a hidden gem when it comes to learning and it’s a great source of passive income- but if you haven’t done it yet or even if you have you know how hard it is to create and launch a course.
Most launches take months to organize and prepare, and some like to “live launch” their newest course. Whichever way you go, you need these key systems in place to make your launch a success.
However, before we begin, we should determine if a course launch is the right path for you
Before you plan a release party, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have an idea?
- Have I proved its effectiveness?
- Do I have all my content ready?
- Is there enough demand?
- Is it unique?
- Am I willing to put this into the universe?
If you answered “YES,” then you’re ready to launch! Here’s how to make it a success.
Marketing
Before you do anything else, make a plan to get your course in front of as many eyes as possible. Create your social media content in advance, add it to a dedicated content calendar, and get someone (usually your social media team member) to stay on top of it.
Then, figure out how you want to engage your audience. Will you hold a challenge? Create a webinar? Host a masterclass?
You don’t want to do too much at once, so pick one big event and let the rest fall into place.
You are going to need to be very visible when you’re in the middle of a launch so don’t be afraid to tease and talk about the course as it’s coming together. Build hype before its even launched.
Course Platform
Now, you need somewhere to host the course. You need somewhere that’s easy to integrate and provides a smooth client experience- otherwise, it won’t matter how good your idea is. If your customers can’t get to the course, they can’t use it.
I have two recommendations: Thinkific and Kajabi.
Thinkific is more budget-friendly and is a dedicated site for creating online courses and communities.
Kajabi is more expensive, but you can use it for courses, emails, websites, and more.
Both are viable options and can offer your course the support it needs to thrive.
Payment Gateway
Obviously, you need a way to get paid! A payment gateway lets you receive payments and keep track of sales with little effort.
I recommend using Stripe. It’s a versatile (and free minus their standard processing fees) online payment system that can integrate with just about any platform available.
Onboarding
What happens after they purchase your course? Will they get a welcome video or email? Is it a group program? Will they get access right away? Are you dripping the content?
An onboarding system is essential to help the customer get into the course with as much ease as possible, you need one in place before you launch.
Another thing to think about is the expectations. Are your clients clear about what to expect from the course, how to ask questions, and who will support them along the way? If you are charging a higher price, your customers will expect more from you than a cheaper product.
Customer Support
Once they’re in the program, how will you support them? Do you have templated responses for common questions?
A simple FAQ section can help answer questions quickly without having to be bothered. Or, you can have a team member specifically to run customer service to those within the course who need help beyond a FAQ page.
What about check-ins? You could send emails or surveys to your clients and check that they have everything they need to complete the course.
Debrief
Finally, have a system to review everything that happened during this launch.
What did you learn? Can it be implemented elsewhere? What can you do better next time?
Reviewing these events will help you launch more courses with ease. You should be doing a debrief yourself and with your team (if you have one).
Key Team Members
Another thing you should utilize is your team. Not only can they take some of the load off you, but they can also give you a fresh perspective.
Here are a few that would make your launch more successful:
A Tech Person
Your tech person can set up your course, integrate it with your other platforms, set up your payment gateway, and confirm that everything is connected.
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer can create the images for your course page, generate eye-catching promotions, and ensure everything looks consistent.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager will handle the marketing on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. They’ll create a content calendar, approve social media posts, and generate excitement for the course.
Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant can keep you organized, follow up on customer service, and help fill in the gaps.
Copywriter
A Copywriter will create the text of the course, write the promotional copy and social media posts, generate any emails and surveys, and take care of all the written content you need.
Video Editor
If you plan to use video as part of your course, you want a video editor to help you edit, create captions and make them top tier.
Final Thoughts
Launching a new course is no small feat. However, these key systems will make your next course launch a rousing success.
