The Must Have Online Course Creation Tools
If you haven’t got the tools of the trade then you can’t get the work done! Calling all online coaches these are the must have online course creation tools.
Hi Trish Davies, here and the focus for today is online course creation tools. The thought of creating an online course is exciting. Sharing your knowledge and expertise which will make a profound impact on people’s lives. Also, the thought of getting paid for it at the same time is a very attractive proposition.
Now with that excitement you may also be experiencing some anxiety on how to put everything together. What online course creation tools do you need? Maybe technology is an obstacle that’s hard for you to overcome?
My objective is to dispel any negative thoughts that you may have when it comes to putting your course together. In reality there are only a few online course creation tools that you need to produce high quality online courses.
The essential element to any online course is that the content, information, must be high quality. It must deliver the outcome that your students and members are seeking. Your course must make a positive impact on people’s lives, it must deliver value and a great user experience.
This must be your focus, but your course doesn’t need to be a Hollywood production. You may find that many of the online course creations tools you need you already have. If not then what I am going to share with you today will not break the bank but will deliver impact.
So, let’s look at what you need to put your course together.
Online Course Creation Tools
Now what I am going to share with you are simple tools that are user friendly. The is a saying “keep it simple, stupid”. The KISS principle states that systems work better if they are kept simple and not complicated.
There is a process and system to create online courses for which the KISS principle applies. You will learn which tools you need along with strategies on how to use them and keep things simple.
Camera
I think this is as good a place to start than any. In all probability your online course will involve live video of yourself, either as a welcoming message or actual course content.
Let’s start with the camera that your device already has installed. The webcam application is there for you to use to record yourself in conjunction with some kind of video capture software, more on that in a moment.
Now the nature of device webcams is that although they do the job they are low end solutions. Picture quality is ok at best, but it is something at your disposal.
For under $100 though you can get an external high definition webcam that delivers great results. Your smartphone also has a camera application. Again, tope end smartphones will have fantastic picture quality.
If your budget allows then you may want to consider a DSLR camera. These cameras are ultra-high definition if you are looking for a more professional look.
Microphone
Great audio quality is a must for your online course, you want your members to clearly understand what you say. As with the camera option your device will have an in built microphone application but the quality of that will be at the lower level. However, it is something that you could start with.
External high definition webcams also have great quality microphones so you could leverage that. My recommendation though is that if your budget allows get a professional microphone such as a Blue Yeti or similar.
DSLR cameras will give you great quality microphone extensions as well. Finally, you may want to consider a lapel microphone which you can link to through a cable connection.
So, we have covered picture and audio which are the two main elements to creating great interactive online courses. Let’s look at stability.
Tripod
Tripods come in all sizes, right from mini one’s that you can place on your desk to more conventional size. The smaller ones are great if you want to use your smartphone for example. Larger ones are perfect if your are going down the DSLR route.
Although not a tripod a selfie stick can be a great option if you are out and about and want to press that record button.
Screen Capture Software
The popularity of applications such as Zoom has exploded during the current pandemic. Now Zoom and similar applications can be leveraged to create live video training.
Either in a mastermind environment as I do with mu Build Your AU members or recording your screen. It all depends on the nature of your course on how you use it. For tutorials it is great as you can record all your keystrokes by sharing your screen.
For live masterminds you simply record the session and download the file. Zoom is a very cost effective application that delivers great results. My Build Your AU programs have been created using Zoom which is why I recommend it.
Video Editing Software
Once you have your video files you will want to edit and customize them. Therefore, you will use some form of video editing software. Your computer may have this already installed so that would be the first place to look. I myself use iMovie.
If not then there are many third party video editing software applications that can be installed on your device. Whichever application you use you will want to separate the
Creating Text Based Course Content
Up to now I have focused on video and audio but don’t dismiss text based course content. Simple word documents can be converted into PDF format which then can be downloaded by your members.
Power Point slides can be created and then recorded as a tutorial video through using Zoom. Whether you are Microsoft or Apple you can easily leverage their respective software’s to create high quality text based course content.
Course Content Delivery Platform
Your online course will need to be delivered to your members. To do this my recommendation is to use a content delivery platform, my recommendation is Kajabi as I use it for all my online courses.
Here you upload all your files into a system that is designed to deliver your online course step by step. This system handles all payment processing, account creation and content delivery seamlessly. To learn more, click here to read a detailed review of Kajabi.
In Summary
As you can see there are only 6 – 7 elements when it comes to online course creation tools. Keep it simple, stupid as I mentioned earlier. This is what I say to my Build Your AU members as they go through the process of creating their own online training programs.
With the tools I have mentioned you can create high quality, high impact online courses. If you would like more information on how Build Your AU can help you put everything together then check out my free 9-week program. More details can be found here.
Helping you build your authenticity, authority and audience.
Trish Davies
Build Your AU
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