Create an Online Course

Outline course content & structure in Notion

~30 min

Plan your entire course structure, from modules down to individual lessons, before recording a single video.

1. Create a Notion page called "Course: [Your Topic]" with sub-pages for: Outline, Lesson Scripts, Resources, and Launch Plan
2. Break your course into 3-5 modules, each covering a major topic area - think of modules as chapters
3. Within each module, plan 3-5 individual lessons of 5-15 minutes each - shorter lessons get higher completion rates
4. For each lesson, write a one-sentence learning objective ("By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to...")
5. Identify which lessons need screen recordings, talking-head video, slides, or hands-on exercises

Record video lessons with Loom

~60 min

Record your course video lessons using Loom for easy screen recording, webcam capture, and instant sharing.

1. Install the Loom desktop app or Chrome extension for the best recording quality
2. Set up your recording environment: good lighting on your face, quiet space, clean desktop if screen sharing
3. Record each lesson individually - keep lessons between 5-15 minutes for maximum engagement and student retention
4. Use Loom's screen + camera mode for tutorials (screen share with your face in the corner) or camera-only for concept explanations
5. After recording, use Loom's built-in trimming to cut dead air at the start and end of each video

Design course materials & worksheets in Canva

~30 min

Create professional course materials that students can download - worksheets, slide decks, cheat sheets, and a completion certificate.

1. Set up a Brand Kit in Canva with your course brand colors, fonts, and any logos
2. Create a slide deck template if any lessons use presentation slides - use a clean, minimal design with one key idea per slide
3. Design downloadable worksheets or exercises for hands-on lessons - use Canva's document templates as a starting point
4. Create a course cheat sheet or quick-reference guide that summarizes the key takeaways from all modules
5. Design a completion certificate template with a placeholder for the student's name

Set up Gumroad for course sales

~20 min

List your course on Gumroad with a compelling sales page, set your pricing, and upload all course content for automatic delivery.

1. Sign up at gumroad.com and create a new product - choose "Digital Product" as the type
2. Write a compelling product description: open with the transformation students will achieve, list what's included (X video lessons, X worksheets, etc.), and add social proof if you have any
3. Set your pricing - consider offering a launch discount and use Gumroad's "suggest a price" feature to let students pay more if they want
4. Upload your course content: create a ZIP file with organized folders for each module containing Loom video links (or downloaded videos) and Canva PDF worksheets
5. Customize your Gumroad product page with a cover image, preview content, and a clear "What You'll Learn" section

Build email launch sequence in ConvertKit

~30 min

Create an email marketing sequence to launch your course to your audience and drive sales with a time-limited offer.

1. Create a ConvertKit landing page or signup form to collect emails from people interested in your course topic
2. Build a pre-launch email sequence (3 emails over 1 week): Email 1 - share a free valuable tip related to your course topic. Email 2 - tell your story and why you created this course. Email 3 - announce the course with a launch discount
3. Build a launch sequence (3 emails over 3 days): Email 1 - course is live + special launch price. Email 2 - share a student testimonial or preview lesson. Email 3 - last chance, discount ending
4. Create a post-purchase automation: when someone is tagged as a buyer, send a welcome email with course access instructions and tips for getting the most out of it
5. Set up a ConvertKit broadcast template for ongoing promotions - you'll reuse this whenever you run a sale