TL;DR — What You’ll Learn in This Guide: How to Plan an Online Course
Most course creators jump straight into filming — and that’s where things go wrong.
Before you hit record, you need a plan that connects your expertise, your audience, and your business goals.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with after reading this guide:
✅ A profitable course idea that sits at the sweet spot of passion, expertise, and demand.
You’ll learn how to filter your ideas through real-world market data so you don’t build something people like — you build something they buy.
✅ A validation process that saves you from costly guesswork.
You’ll test your idea before creating a single lesson using smart pre-sell, waitlist, and survey strategies.
✅ A deep understanding of your ideal learner.
We’ll map out their journey from “frustrated” to “transformed” — so your course delivers results, not just lessons.
✅ A pricing and profitability plan that supports long-term growth.
You’ll learn to price confidently based on transformation, not fear, and forecast your break-even point before launch.
✅ A toolkit to bring your plan to life.
From validation pages to your first student portal — we’ll show you how to build the entire ecosystem using Thrive Suite.
I’ve worked with enough course creators to know how the story usually goes.
They get the spark of an idea, rush to record the first few videos, and — three weeks later — they’re sitting on a hard drive full of content that no one’s buying.
It’s not lack of talent. It’s not lack of heart.
It’s the missing blueprint.
Before you ever open your camera, there’s a moment where clarity has to happen.
Who exactly are you helping? What are they stuck on? And how will your course actually move them forward.
If you skip that stage, everything that follows — the lessons, the marketing, the price — becomes a guessing game.
The truth is, planning an online course goes far beyond arranging your knowledge into tidy modules. It’s about shaping a transformation people can see themselves in. That’s what sells. That’s what lasts.
I’ve watched brilliant creators spend months figuring this out the hard way, so think of this guide as your shortcut. I’ll walk you through how to turn your expertise into a course that feels strategic, profitable, and deeply rewarding to teach — one that lives online and creates real change for the people who take it.
Real success happens when your students win, and your business grows because of it.
When you’re ready to bring that vision to life, Thrive Suite gives you the full ecosystem — from landing pages to student portals — to make it happen.
If you’re still shaping your big-picture vision, our complete guide to creating an online course will show you how planning fits into the full creation process — from your first idea to your first sale.
FAQs: How to Plan an Online Course That Actually Sells
Before we dive into the full blueprint, let’s pause for a minute.
If you’re thinking about creating a course, you’ve probably already asked yourself a dozen questions — the kind that keep you from taking the next step. I’ve heard them all. Should I start with videos? How long should it be? What if no one buys it?
This section answers those exact questions, so you can move forward with confidence.
No fluff, no “guru” advice — just straight, experience-backed answers from someone who’s helped plenty of creators turn an idea into a profitable course that genuinely helps people.
Start with clarity, not content.
Before you outline a single lesson, define three things:
- Who you’re helping,
- What transformation they want, and
- Why your approach matters.
This is the foundation everything else stands on. If you skip it, you’ll end up teaching in circles. Think of it as your GPS: once you know where your student starts and where they want to end up, the roadmap writes itself.
Validation is your safety net — and your shortcut to confidence.
Don’t build on assumptions. Run small tests to see if people are already searching for your topic, talking about it in communities, or spending money to solve the same problem.
A simple validation plan might look like this:
- Use keyword tools and forums to check interest.
- Read competitor reviews to spot frustrations and unmet needs.
- Create a waitlist page or mini-pilot offer to test if people are ready to buy.
If people join, comment, or pay — even in small numbers — that’s proof your idea has traction.
The right course length depends on the transformation you’re promising, not an arbitrary hour count.
If your promise is clear — “Launch your first client project in 30 days” — that outcome sets your pace. Keep your modules laser-focused on results, and cut anything that doesn’t move your learner closer to the finish line.
A shorter course that drives real change will outperform a 40-hour epic every time.
Your format shapes the entire experience. Choose based on your strengths and your students’ needs:
- Self-paced: Ideal for evergreen revenue. Great if your learners value flexibility.
- Cohort-based: Higher engagement, higher price point — perfect if you want live interaction.
- Hybrid: The sweet spot — pre-recorded content plus optional live Q&A or community sessions.
Each model has trade-offs, but the right one feels effortless to deliver and energizing to teach.
Pricing isn’t a guessing game — it’s a reflection of value and positioning.
Ask yourself:
- What transformation am I helping my students achieve?
- How high-touch is my delivery?
- How confident am I in the results I can create?
The deeper the transformation, the higher the price point you can justify.
Your goal isn’t to be the cheapest option — it’s to be the obvious one for the results you deliver.
The best platform is the one that gives you control — over your brand, your students, and your revenue.
Marketplaces (like Udemy) make it easy to start but limit your ownership. Hosted platforms (like Kajabi or Thinkific) offer convenience but can be restrictive long term.
With WordPress and Thrive Suite, you own the entire ecosystem — your site, your design, your data, and your profits.
Build it once, build it right, and you’ll never need to migrate again.
Treat your course like a living product, not a one-time project.
Set a review cycle — quarterly or biannually — to gather student feedback, review completion data, and refresh examples or templates that might feel dated.
Ask your learners what they wish they had earlier, and use that insight to shape version 2.0.
Continuous improvement doesn’t just make your course better — it keeps your reputation (and results) strong.
The biggest mistakes usually happen before the first lesson ever exists:
- Jumping straight into filming without validating the idea.
- Building for everyone instead of one clear learner.
- Overloading on theory and under-delivering on action.
- Pricing low out of fear instead of strategy.
Avoid all of them by slowing down in the beginning. Planning isn’t the boring part — it’s the part that decides whether your course becomes a side project or a six-figure asset.
Expert Quote
“It’s time to step up to the plate and get passionate about your work commit to making eLearning courses that don't bore people to tears, but instead inspire and motivate them to learn a new skill, change a certain behavior, or improve their performance.” - Cammy Bean
Step 1 — Find the Sweet Spot Between Passion, Expertise, and Profit
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with creators, it’s that passion alone doesn’t pay the bills.
It’s a great starting point — but passion without direction leads straight into burnout and “why isn’t anyone buying this?” territory.
Before you build a single slide, you need to find the intersection where your skills, experience, and market demand meet. That’s where the magic — and the money — lives.
Expert Quote
“When it comes to eLearning, content means everything. If eLearning content is not masterfully designed, all the rest will just go down the drain.” - Christopher Pappas
Map Your Strengths and Interests Using the Ikigai+ Framework
Think of this as your personal clarity audit.
I use a variation of the Japanese concept Ikigai — but with an extra layer I call **Ikigai+**. It’s not just about what you love or what you’re good at. It’s about what the world actually needs, what people are willing to pay for, and what makes your offer different.
The Ikigai+ Framework for Course Ideas
Here’s how I like to break it down:
- What you love: The topics you could talk about endlessly, even on a bad day.
- What you’re good at: The skills or insights that come naturally to you — the things people already ask you for help with.
- What the world needs: Real gaps, real struggles, real questions people are actively searching for answers to.
- What you can be paid for: Evidence that people are investing time or money to solve this problem.
- What’s unique about your approach: The part everyone forgets. What perspective or process makes your take on this topic impossible to copy?
When those five overlap, you’ve found your course’s heartbeat.
It’s not just an idea — it’s a viable product with purpose.
Spot the Gaps in Popular Niches
Once you’ve got a few potential topics, don’t go searching for proof that they’ll work. Go looking for holes.
Study the existing courses in your space. Read their reviews — not the five-stars, but the ones in the middle. Those comments are gold. They’ll tell you exactly what was missing, confusing, or underwhelming.
Let’s say your first instinct is “Productivity for Creators.” It sounds fine… but it’s vague. Everyone teaches productivity.
Now narrow it: Time Management Systems for Freelance Designers.
Suddenly, you’re speaking to a specific audience with a specific pain. You’re solving one problem clearly — and clarity sells.
Avoid the Generic Trap
Broad topics feel safe, but they’re conversion killers.
A course called “Marketing 101” might attract interest — but it won’t hold it.
People don’t want an encyclopedia; they want a shortcut to a result.
The deeper you go into a niche problem, the easier it is to stand out and the faster your students get results.
Think: “Email Strategy for Etsy Sellers” instead of “Email Marketing for Small Businesses.”
You don’t need the biggest audience — you need the right one. The one who feels like you built this course for them (because you did).
Thrive Tip
Before you lock in your topic, test it.
Build a quick interest quiz or sign-up form in Thrive Quiz Builder or Thrive Leads to see what resonates most with your audience.
Let data confirm what your instincts already suspect — that you’re onto something worth building.
Step 2 — Build a ‘Transformation Avatar’ (Not Just a Target Audience)
Expert Quote
“Where we always start is: What’s the user’s itch? What’s their pain point that occurs frequently enough to build a habit around?” – Nir Eyal
Every course creator I’ve ever worked with starts by describing their “target audience.”
They’ll say things like:
“My course is for entrepreneurs between 25 and 40.”
That’s fine on paper. But demographics don’t buy courses — humans do. And humans buy because they want to become someone new.
So instead of a “target audience,” I build what I call a **Transformation Avatar** — a vivid, emotional snapshot of the person before they take your course, and who they’ll be after they finish it.
Understand the “Before and After” States
Start with empathy, not analytics.
Imagine your learner standing at point A — frustrated, uncertain, maybe even embarrassed about what they don’t know. Now picture them at point B — confident, capable, proud of what they can finally do.
That gap between A and B is your course. Everything you create — the lessons, examples, exercises — needs to bridge that space.
When you define those two states clearly, marketing becomes effortless. You’re not selling a set of videos; you’re selling the shift.
Identify the Emotional Driver Behind Their Goal
Facts tell you what your students want. Emotion tells you why.
Someone doesn’t buy a course on video editing because they love timelines and color grading — they buy it because they want creative independence.
The Emotional Driver
Think of It Like This: A copywriting student isn’t looking for grammar lessons; they’re craving the confidence to pitch a $5,000 client without shaking.
When you uncover that emotional driver, you stop sounding like a marketer and start sounding like a guide.
And guides inspire action.
Translate Pain Points into Learning Outcomes
Every frustration your learner feels is a breadcrumb leading you toward your course structure.
If they say, “I keep freezing on camera,” that’s not just feedback — it’s a lesson title.
If they say, “I’ve tried everything and still can’t grow,” that’s a module waiting to be built.
Your course is, at its core, a series of bridges across pain points. Each lesson should close one gap — moving them closer to the version of themselves they signed up to become.
Need inspiration before locking in your topic? Check out these 6 original online course ideas to spark profitable, in-demand concepts you can make your own.
Thrive Tip
This process doesn’t just shape your curriculum — it becomes the heartbeat of your marketing.
Every headline you’ll write, every quiz you’ll build, every page you’ll design in Thrive Apprentice and Thrive Architect will trace back to this avatar’s story.
When your audience reads your sales page and thinks, “That’s me — that’s exactly what I’m struggling with,” you’ve already done 80% of the selling.
Step 3 — Validate Your Course Idea Before You Build It
I’ve seen creators spend months crafting a beautiful, well-produced course — only to discover no one was looking for it in the first place.
Validation is how you stop guessing and start building with confidence.
Before you pour your heart (and time) into content, you need proof that real people want the transformation you’re promising — and are ready to pay for it.
Run a Quick Demand Check
Start with curiosity, not assumptions.
Search your topic on Google Trends to see if interest is stable or seasonal. Jump into Reddit threads and Facebook Groups where your ideal learners hang out.
Look for patterns — questions that pop up again and again, frustrations that never seem to go away.
Then back it up with keyword data. Tools like Ahrefs, Low Fruits, or AnswerThePublic can tell you how many people are actively searching for solutions around your topic.
If your idea doesn’t show up at all, refine it. If it’s crowded, find your angle.
Analyze Competitors the Right Way
Competitor research isn’t about copying — it’s about finding space to lead.
Look at the top courses in your niche and study them like an investigator.
Ask yourself:
- What promise are they making?
- What formats do they use (self-paced, live, cohort)?
- Where do students seem confused, frustrated, or underwhelmed?
The gold isn’t in what they teach. It’s in what they don’t.
Maybe every “SEO course” focuses on big brands, but no one’s speaking to local service businesses. That gap? That’s your opportunity.
Create a Waitlist or Pilot Offer
Once you’ve spotted a strong idea, test it fast.
Build a simple landing page in **Thrive Architect** describing your course concept, what it will help people achieve, and what makes it different.
Invite people to:
Even a small number of sign-ups is valuable. It’s real-world proof that people care about your topic enough to take action.
And if you’re feeling bold, run a mini pilot — a 2-week live version with a handful of students to test your teaching flow and gather feedback.
Once you’ve validated your idea, you can even turn it into a powerful list-builder. Learn how in our guide to using a course as a lead magnet
Read Between the Comments
Scroll through course reviews — not the glowing testimonials, but the 3-star ones. Those are gold.
They tell you exactly what buyers wanted but didn’t get. Maybe the pacing felt rushed. Maybe they didn’t get enough real-world examples.
Every complaint is a clue for how you can do it better.
Thrive Tip
When you test your waitlist or pilot page, pair Thrive Architect with Thrive Optimize to A/B test your headline, CTA, or topic framing.
Sometimes the difference between a “good idea” and a “profitable idea” is a single word that hits the right nerve.
Step 4 — Design Your Learning Pathway (Before You Hit Record)
Once your idea is validated, it’s tempting to grab your camera and start talking.
Resist that urge for just a little longer.
Because this is where your course shifts from “information” to transformation.
Great courses don’t wander — they walk your learner through a clear, structured journey that ends in real results.
Start With the End in Mind (Backward Design)
When I help creators plan their course, I always ask one question first:
“What should your students be able to do at the end?”
Not what they’ll “know.” Not what you’ll “teach.” What they’ll do.
That question flips everything. It forces you to think like a guide, not a lecturer.
Once you’re clear on the end result, every lesson becomes a step toward that outcome — no filler, no wasted effort.
Think of it as reverse-engineering success: start at the destination and build the path backward.
Create Modules Around Transformation Milestones
Your learner’s journey isn’t one giant leap — it’s a series of wins that build momentum.
Each module should represent one major shift or skill gained.
If you’re teaching something like “Build Your First Freelance Business,” your milestones might look like this:
- Define your niche and positioning
- Build your first client offer
- Set up your pricing and proposal system
- Land your first client
- Deliver with confidence and systems
Each stage gives your student a reason to keep going — because they can feel their progress.
Keep It Practical and Action-Focused
The best compliment a course can get is, “I actually used this.”
Theory is important, but results come from application.
Turn every concept into an action step — a worksheet, a short exercise, a checklist, a quick reflection.
If you’re teaching content strategy, don’t just explain “pillar pages.”
Give your students a **Thrive Architect** template and ask them to build one.
Make them move — that’s how knowledge sticks.
Plan Engagement, Not Entertainment
You don’t need flashing animations or over-the-top production to keep people engaged.
You need *connection*.
Use tools that encourage accountability and interaction:
Your goal isn’t to impress them with presentation skills; it’s to make them feel like you’re right there, guiding them through the hard parts.
Next Step: Learn How to Teach Online
Once you’ve mapped out your learning pathway, the next step is learning how to deliver it.
Your teaching style will shape how your students absorb what you’ve built.
👉 Head over to our in-depth guide: How to Teach Online — it breaks down the art of digital teaching and how to keep your students motivated long after they enroll.
Step 5 — Plan for Profitability from the Start
This is the step most creators try to skip — usually because money feels like the *uncomfortable* part.
But planning for profit isn’t greedy. It’s smart. It’s what lets you keep teaching, keep improving, and keep serving your students long after the launch buzz fades.
You’re not just creating a course; you’re building a business asset.
So let’s treat it like one.
Understand Your Business Model
Every profitable course fits into a bigger ecosystem.
Before you decide on pricing or marketing, get clear on *what role* your course will play in your business.
Ask yourself:
- Is this a standalone course you’ll sell for direct revenue?
- A membership course designed for recurring income?
- Or a lead magnet course — a shorter, lower-cost product that builds trust and leads to your main offer?
Each model has its own rhythm:
Your choice determines everything from your marketing approach to your student journey.
Set a Smart Pricing Strategy
Expert Quote
“Don’t fall into the irresponsible trap of setting low prices. It will kill your business cold. Low prices attract cheap customers with luxurious demands.” — Mac Duke
Pricing isn’t about guessing what feels “fair.” It’s about matching your transformation to its value.
A mini-course that helps someone master one skill might live in the $50–$200 range.
A deep, guided transformation — like helping freelancers replace their full-time income — might sit closer to $500 or more.
But here’s the nuance: your **delivery model** also shapes your price.
Cohort-based or live programs command higher prices because they offer access and accountability. Self-paced courses are more scalable but rely on volume.
My rule of thumb?
If your course changes someone’s confidence, income, or opportunities, it deserves premium positioning.
Estimate Your Creation and Marketing Costs
A profitable launch starts with knowing your numbers.
List every resource you’ll invest in — time included.
Here’s a quick breakdown to guide you:
- Software: course hosting (like Thrive Apprentice), email marketing, design tools, and integrations.
- Production: microphone, lighting, editing software, or contractor help.
- Marketing: ad spend, brand photography, or any assets you’ll outsource.
- Your time: yes, it counts — because your time has opportunity cost.
Once you add it all up, calculate your *break-even point.*
If your total investment is $1,500 and your course costs $250, you’ll need just six sales to break even — everything after that is profit.
Knowing this number gives you confidence to price properly and plan intentionally.
Wondering what it actually costs to bring your idea to life? Our breakdown of online course creation costs shows you where to invest (and where to save).
Build Your Pre-Launch Funnel
A course doesn’t sell itself. The weeks before launch are where your strategy earns its keep.
Here’s how I structure it:
- Start with a lead magnet. Give your audience something genuinely useful — a checklist, mini-lesson, or quiz that connects directly to your course topic.
- Nurture with value. Share stories, insights, and small wins through email. You’re not selling yet — you’re building trust.
- Announce your offer. When your audience is primed, invite them into your course with a clear transformation promise and deadline-driven offer.
Every piece of this can be designed inside **Thrive Architect** — from your lead magnet page to your email sign-up forms and launch sales page.
It’s your ecosystem in one place: connected, consistent, and built to convert.
💡 Once your course plan is in place, the next step is building the system that sells it for you. Our step-by-step guide to creating a digital product funnel shows you how to turn your course into a conversion-ready offer inside WordPress.
Thrive Tip
When you design your pre-launch funnel, build it around the *experience* you want your students to have.
Your funnel isn’t just about sales — it’s about showing them what it feels like to learn from you.
If they feel seen, supported, and inspired before they buy, they’ll trust you to lead them after.
Step 6 — Choose the Right Tools to Bring It to Life
Technology should never lead your course — it should *support* it.
When creators get lost comparing platforms or chasing shiny new features, they forget that tools don’t create transformation — strategy does.
Once your plan is clear, it’s time to choose a setup that helps you deliver it smoothly, beautifully, and profitably.
Understand Your Options: Marketplace, LMS, or WordPress
Every course platform lives somewhere on a spectrum between *freedom* and *convenience.*
Comparing Online Course Platforms
Platform Type | Primary Benefit | Trade-Off | Long-Term Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare) | Instant Exposure / Zero Setup | High Revenue Share / Limited Branding | Low (Building on their land) |
Hosted LMS (Thinkific, Kajabi) | More Control / Convenience | Subscription Cost / Long-term Restriction | Medium (Operating in a sandbox) |
WordPress + Thrive Suite | Complete Control / Scalability | Upfront Setup Work | High (Owning the entire ecosystem) |
Why WordPress + Thrive Suite Gives You Full Control
When I help creators build their course ecosystem, I always steer them toward ownership — not dependency.
That’s why I recommend **WordPress + Thrive Suite**.
Here’s what that combo unlocks:
- Freedom: No third-party restrictions or surprise platform changes. You decide how your course looks, feels, and sells.
- Conversion Focus: Every page — from your lead magnet to your checkout — is built to guide your visitor toward action.
- Scalability: Start with one course and grow into a full academy, membership, or digital product line without switching tools.
It’s not just about hosting content — it’s about designing an ecosystem that supports your business goals from the ground up.
Set Up the Essential Tech Stack
You don’t need a 47-tool setup. You need a lean, reliable system that covers the essentials:
Everything stays inside one ecosystem, so you’re not juggling logins, integrations, or monthly surprises.
Optional: Learn What It Really Costs to Build Your Course
If you’re budgeting for your setup and want a deeper breakdown of software, production, and marketing costs, check out our full guide:
Step 7 — Test, Launch, and Learn
This is the part where theory meets the real world.
You’ve done the strategy, built the structure, and designed the transformation — now it’s time to *see it in motion.*
But don’t sprint toward perfection.
Your first version should be light, flexible, and built for learning. You’re testing not just the content, but the *experience* — how people move through it, what excites them, and where they get stuck.
Run a Soft Launch (Beta or Mini-Course)
Instead of a full rollout, start with a small, intentional launch — what I like to call a **beta round.**
Invite a limited group of students (even 5–10) to go through your course early, either at a discounted rate or as a private pilot.
Watch what happens closely:
This soft launch gives you honest, actionable feedback that no amount of guesswork can replace.
And it saves you from scaling mistakes that would be much harder — and costlier — to fix later.
Collect Feedback and Testimonials
The best feedback doesn’t come from surveys with generic rating scales.
It comes from conversations.
Ask open-ended questions that draw out stories:
Those stories become *proof* — powerful testimonials that sell better than any ad copy ever could.
They also show you how your students describe their wins, which becomes gold for your future marketing messages.
Refine Before Scaling
Take everything you learn from your beta and feed it back into your course design.
Maybe a lesson needs trimming. Maybe a concept needs a visual. Maybe your onboarding emails could do more to build excitement.
Treat your course like a living product — one that evolves with every student who takes it.
That’s how you move from “good first launch” to *signature offer.*
When you’re ready to promote your pilot or waitlist, use our content marketing blueprint to plan the exact content that attracts and nurtures your ideal students.
And when your course is ready to launch, take the next step with our guide to increasing course sales — and turn your strategy into steady revenue.
Thrive Tip
If you’re running your course through **Thrive Apprentice**, keep an eye on your built-in reports.
They’ll show you completion rates and engagement patterns — your quiet indicators of how students are experiencing your content.
Pair that data with direct feedback from your beta group, and you’ll have everything you need to refine your next launch with confidence.
Conclusion: A Strategic Plan Is Your Most Profitable Lesson
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already done something most course creators never do — you’ve slowed down to *think strategically.*
You started with uncertainty: *What should I teach? Who’s it really for? Will anyone even buy it?*
Now you’ve built clarity — a validated idea, a clear learner journey, and a roadmap that ties your expertise to real transformation and revenue.
And that’s the real lesson here:
The creators who skip the first build end up teaching in the dark.
The ones who master it? They build movements.
Your next step is where the creative part begins — shaping lessons, designing modules, and bringing your transformation to life.
And when you’re ready to build, Thrive Suite gives you the full toolkit — from idea validation pages to course delivery — all under one roof.
Strategy first. Execution next.
That’s how you build a course that sells — and a business that lasts.
