The 5 must-dos before launching your first digital course

Many people have ideas and want to start their own business. Maybe you also have an idea you want to make an online course from? Perhaps you have a passion you would like to monetize? Or skills and experience you would love to teach that others would benefit from. What do you need to do to take this idea and realize it? 

Start with getting clearer on your niche and your ideal customer. What do other people need that you could help them with?

Related reading: 10 Steps to Take Your Idea to an Online Business

Be crystal clear on your niche
One common mistake is the need to help everyone with everything. Try to limit your ideas and be more specific about who you want to help and what they need that you can help them with?

Make a list of the following: 

• What you LOVE
• What the world NEEDS
• What are you GOOD AT
• What you can be PAID FOR
  
  

Define your ideal customer
Who do you want to work with? Once you’ve identified who you want to work with, now is the time to get to know them more by using demographics such as gender, age, occupation, etc. Then du need to dig deeper. What are they struggling with? What do they want?

Take the time to do your research. Find out where they hang out. Join the Facebook groups or forums you think they might be in. What questions are they asking inside these groups?

Related reading: 5 Ways to Define Your Ideal Customer

Grow your social media following
Create content based on your ideal customer. Grow an engaged audience that resonates with your content. Get to know them and understand their needs. 

Take them behind the scenes. People love it when you share little titbits about your life and business. Authenticity is the keyword. People want to see the real you and be able to relate to you.

Everything you create should tell a story. When you focus on sharing a complete narrative, it helps you ground your posts in authenticity. It also brings depth to your content. Instead of simply sharing a tip or idea, share your insights or personal story behind that idea.

Build a solid email list
Your social media following is a great way to build the know like trust with your audience. But your email list is going to be your greatest asset because you own it.  To be a successful course creator you need to grow your email list, so you have an audience to sell to.

Related Reading: Needing Tips on how to Build Your Email List as a Small Business?

Create a great Lead magnet
Lead magnets are things you can offer your audience in exchange for their email addresses. These can be checklists, eBooks, free trainings, etcetera.

There are many ways you can promote your lead magnet or freebie as it’s also called, but here are a few:

• In social media posts
• In your social media bios
• In a blog post
• In your sidebar on your website
• In Facebook groups
• In guest posts on other websites
• As a “PS” in the signature field of your emails, below your name & contact info.

If you are considering doing a digital course, I hope you found this useful. 

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