Everyone has a skill they’re great at, whether related to work (like marketing or graphic design) or home (like organizing cluttered spaces or indoor gardening). Whatever your skill is, chances are, someone out there wants to learn it. Online courses make it easier than ever to share your knowledge—whether you’re training new partners, onboarding customers, upskilling employees, or simply turning a passion into a side hustle.
Whether you're an individual expert or part of an organization, creating an online course can help you scale your impact, support your goals, and reach new audiences.
Want to get started and build your online course? Here are the top ten steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Pick your topic and audience
First, reflect on the skills you excel at and experiences you could share. What subjects are you most passionate about?
Next, think about your audience. What do they want to achieve, and what challenges can your course help them solve? Don’t be afraid to keep your focus narrow! A course that covers a specific issue or problem will increase your chances of success.
Finally, consider what you want to achieve with this course. Whether your goal is onboarding employees or building your client base, keeping the content aligned with that goal is essential.
Step 2: Identify the knowledge gap
Great content is only half the equation—your course also needs demand. Learn what people are interested in by analyzing search data using tools like Google Trends, SEMrush, or Ahrefs. Browsing online forums like Reddit or LinkedIn can also give insight into the questions people ask about your topic.
Look for similar courses online, paying attention to pricing, format, and content details. Do existing courses have gaps in their content? Filling those gaps is a great way to make your course stand out.
You’ll also want to check with potential learners about their preferences. Consider running surveys to gather feedback about their goals, expectations, and pain points.
Step 3: Define learning objectives
Clear learning objectives help learners understand what they’ll gain from your course. Defining these objectives at the outset ensures that your course delivers on what it promises. When creating learning objectives, use the SMART framework:
- Specific: Focus on precise skills or knowledge
- Measurable: Define outcomes for learners
- Achievable: Set realistic objectives
- Relevant: Align with the audience’s goals and your organization’s mission
- Time-bound: Set expectations for completion
Outlining precise learning objectives at the start sets a positive tone for your course and gives learners confidence that they’ll have a clear path to success.
Step 4: Outline your course content
A logical structure and flow of information help learners move confidently through your course. The introduction sets the tone for the entire course—it’s your chance to introduce yourself or your organization, explain the course structure, and highlight the benefits learners will gain.
Next, organize the course into core modules, ensuring each one focuses on a single skill, concept, or topic. Keeping the modules consistent in length and complexity helps learners build on their knowledge as they move through the course. Wrap up with a conclusion that summarizes key takeaways. Including a quiz or test at this stage can help learners check their knowledge and solidify their understanding.
To speed up this process, consider using Create AI. It can help you quickly generate a course outline and jumpstart content creation—saving time, reducing costs, and minimizing the need for extensive design resources. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining your structure, Create AI can provide a smart head start.
Step 5: Choose the right tools
The tools you choose can make or break your course—helping boost engagement, track progress, and manage your content more efficiently.
AI-powered LMS tools like Absorb Create make it easy to build and deliver engaging courses for both internal and external learners. These tools offer advanced features like social learning, personalized learning paths, reporting and analytics, and even an eCommerce portal for selling your courses.
You’ll also want to consider how your content is presented. When choosing video recording tools, look for options like Absorb that offer AI voices, which streamline the narration process and ensure consistency across different course creators. For design, tools like Canva and Adobe Suite can help you create polished visuals for slides and infographics.
Step 6: Develop engaging course materials
Because everyone learns differently, make sure your course materials support various learning preferences and formats. Choosing the right approach—whether long-form content or bite-sized microlearning—can make a big difference in retention and engagement. Here are some options to consider:
- Videos are great for visual learners and help break down complex topics into easy-to-understand lessons
- Voice-over narration enhances videos and slides by adding an auditory layer, helping auditory learners follow along more effectively
- Written materials and PDFs work well for detailed instructions or step-by-step processes. Use them for downloadable guides, templates, checklists, or offline content
- Interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, and discussions keep learners engaged, test their knowledge, and build community (plus with AI-generated quizzes in Create, you can save time while ensuring alignment with your course content)
- Visual aids such as infographics and animations simplify complex concepts
- Live sessions and Q&As offer real-time interaction that helps reduce confusion and build rapport with learners
- Gamification (badges, points, leaderboards) adds fun and motivates learners
- AI-powered course translations make your course accessible to a global audience by instantly localizing content into multiple languages
By combining the right formats with tools like Create AI, you’ll save time and design effort while building a course that truly resonates with diverse learners.
Step 7: Record your course
Once you’ve finalized your course structure and materials, the next step is recording.
Preparation is key. Start with a script or detailed outline for each lesson to ensure nothing is missed. Record in a quiet spot with minimal distractions, use natural lighting or a ring light, and invest in a quality microphone and camera.
Choose a recording style that fits your content and comfort level. Speaking directly to the camera (“talking head”) builds connection. Screen recordings are great for demos and how-tos. Prefer to stay off-camera? Voiceovers paired with slides or video work well—and AI-generated voiceovers in tools like Create can save time while delivering a consistent, polished result.
Step 8: Test your course
Before launching, take your course for a test run. Share it with colleagues, stakeholders, or beta learners and ask for feedback on clarity and engagement. Test it across devices and browsers to ensure a smooth experience.
Check videos and links for accuracy, review pacing and flow, and make sure your content delivers on expectations. A polished learner experience sets the tone for success.
Step 9: Launch and market your course
A strong marketing plan ensures your course reaches the right audience. Promote it across multiple channels—email, social media, blog posts, and your website.
Here are a few ideas to get the word out:
- Email campaigns
- Blog posts and guest features
- Social media content
- Webinars (great for offering a sneak peak!)
- Paid ads
- Partner marketing
- Testimonials and reviews
Step 10: Continuously improve your course
The best courses evolve over time. Ask learners for feedback and use it to make thoughtful updates. Add new lessons to stay current with industry changes or trends.
Track performance using LMS reporting and analytics—metrics like enrollment, completion rates, and learner satisfaction will guide your improvements and highlight what’s working.
Creating an online course is a powerful way to teach new skills, connect with your audience, and make a lasting impact. By following these ten steps, you’ll be able to deliver valuable content and create a learning experience that sticks.
Ready to get started? Try our AI-powered LMS to streamline your course creation, simplify content delivery, and connect with learners—wherever they are.
