The 10 Point Online Course Outline Template
Looking for a blueprint to successfully launch your first or next course? This 10 point online course outline template will show you everything you need to do.
Hi Trish Davies, here and today I want to share with you a 10 point online course outline template. My Build Your AU program is designed to help you create and successfully launch your online course.
It is also designed to help you create a strong personal brand which is aligned with your online course. To learn more about my program click here. Today I want to give you an overview of much of what I teach within my program, a birds eye view so to speak.
I will cover 10 points, steps if you like, that you must go through to come up with a winning course. Without having a plan, a blueprint in other words, then you will be shooting in the dark. Not knowing if you are hitting your targets as you should or missing them altogether.
All the steps of this online course outline template are actionable instantly. Therefore, in just a few days you could be well on your way to creating your high value online course. If you would like further insights then by all means check out my free 9-week program. That program will help you put more meat on the bones and will dramatically reduce your learning curve. Right let’s get to work!
Online Course Outline Template
The following will be like a road map for you to follow. Please go through the steps in order because in my opinion this is the logical way to do things. If you have any comments about any stage then please leave them in the comment box below this post.
Step 1 – Pick The Topic For Your Online Course
Obviously you will need a topic to create your course around and there easy ways to define that topic. Start of with things that you are passionate about such as hobbies, purposes that you have etc.
Then take some time to define what you are good at, what you have achieved success in. This could be practical, academic, maybe technical. Finally look at the experiences you have had up to this point in your life.
Have you overcome particular obstacles, hurdles or roadblocks? When you look at these three criteria you will come up with suitable topics for online courses.
Step 2 – Is There Demand From The Marketplace?
This is a crucial step and one that you must take some time over. You may have a great idea for an online course but if there isn’t demand for it then there is no point pursuing that idea.
Therefore, you must evaluate the marketplace to confirm there is demand. Start off with researching what other courses are out there based around your topic. Then look at social media platforms such as Facebook and evaluate if there are specific groups dedicated to your topic.
Then head over to Google and enter your topic idea into the search box. For example, “online course outline template”. Check to see if there are other business owners and marketers paying for advertising space on Google.
When you enter your topic check to see if any of the results that are generated have “Ad” along side the result. Usually, they are at the top of the page, the first three results. You can also do this exercise on Facebook, the difference here is that they will appear as “Sponsored”.
Finally put your thinking cap on for a moment. Has there been anyone that you have spoken to that have expressed an interest in purchasing a course around your topic. Once you have this data and it is positive move onto the next step.
Step 3 – Define Your Students Outcomes
When students enrol into your course they all have the same outcome in mind. Your task is to define what that outcome is. You must set your learning goals for your students which are outcomes they will achieve.
Loo at what skills they will gain along with what knowledge they will gain. Tap into their minds to define what their feelings are, what motivates them. Basically, all what they will gain from taking your course.
Step 4 – Leveraging Resources To Create Your Content
This is the first step to creating the content for your course. Here I want you to consider existing resources online that you can leverage. For example, some of your content my be in slide format so you may use power point or keynote.
Maybe look at some mind mapping tools that you can use to brainstorm your ideas. I like tools such as Canva & Prezi for creating content. Also look at some task manager applications so you can create a good workflow process.
Look here it is all about using programs that you are comfortable with. Just have everything in place before you move onto the next step.
Step 5 – Start Creating The Structure Of Your Course
You course needs a structure in place, a step by step process that is easy to follow. Therefore, you must start creating modules and lessons within those models. This is still in the planning stage but when you go thought his step your course will start to take shape and look real.
Within my Build Your AU program I have a unique process that I take my members through. That process involves creating pillars and sub-pillars that each have an outcome in mind. This is a perfect process which I have called creating an Authority Business Model. Once you go through this process your modules will become self-evident.
Step 6 – Choose Your Content Delivery Method
Here you define which method you will deliver your course content. That can be video, audio, text, infographics, worksheets, workbooks etc. In all probability you will use a mix of the formats that I have just mentioned.
However, you must consider the person who is taking your course and pick delivery methods that are the most effective. Your objective is obviously to inform and teach but you must keep your course interesting and engaging.
Step 7 – Creating Your Training Material
Once you get to this stage you will have your course structure and outline in place. You will also know which formats you are going to use to deliver your content. Now it is time to get to work and create those lessons.
You must accept that this stage will be time consuming. Obviously the time it takes to create your course depends on how much content you are going to deliver. You must create a workflow schedule which may be determined from any task manager software you use.
My advice is to take one lesson at a time which could be a video, PDF, Mp3 or all three. Get it in the bank and then move onto the next. For example, if you have 30 lessons then do 1 a day and within a month your course will be created. That won’t be overwhelming as trying to cram in 3 or maybe 5 a day.
Step 8 – Build Your Course
At this stage you will have your training material created and saved somewhere, that’s really important. You will have all this content so therefore you need a platform to deliver that content to your students.
What you need is a learning management system (LMS) which creates a seamless experience for your students. Right down from accepting payments, creating accounts and product access.
I personally use Kajabi but there are other similar systems available. I just love the way that Kajabi helps you create your eLearning platform. To learn more about Kajabi click here to read how they can help you put everything together.
Step 9 – Setting The Price for Your Course
Right, it is time to think about money and how much you are going to charge for your course. There are a few things to consider when pricing your course. Things like how much your competition charges as you want to be competitive.
Also define the value of the information and knowledge that you are sharing. Another thing to think about is your target audience and define what their average income is. They must be able to afford your course but at the same time they may be used to paying higher prices.
Step 10 – Launching Your Course
Once you launch your course you are in business and ready to receive payment for your hard work. Now there are some launch strategies to consider and the first is your launch price.
Now that may be different to the regular price you set in the previous step and sometimes referred to a an “early bird price”. This is an incentive for people to get in from the word go but it will only be available for a specific time.
Then you must define where you will advertise which will depend on where your audience hangs out. You will find that within your niche there are influencers so approach them to see if they could be willing to help with your launch. Maybe offer them a percentage of the ticket price as compensation.
That then leads me nicely onto setting up an affiliate program where you attract other people to sell for you. Here you will give them a commission on every sale, but you will have a far broader reach than if you did the marketing.
Let Build Your AU Help
This online course outline template is a proven way to launch online courses. I cover all these aspects through Build Your AU. If you would like more clarity on what I have shared then enrol into my free 9-week program.
By the end of the program, you will have the foundations in place for your online course. You can do this on your own if you follow the template I have shared. Or you can have me help you get there quicker through my program. Check out the program here and I look forward to welcoming you into the members area.
Helping you build your authenticity, authority and audience.
Trish Davies
Build Your AU
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