TL;DR: How to Teach Online (And Keep the Profits)
If you're here to learn how to teach online but don't want to become an underpaid vendor for a massive platform, this guide is your strategic blueprint. I’m cutting through the noise about gear and focusing on the business model that ensures you maintain control, keep 100% of your revenue, and build a valuable asset.
3 Key Takeaways for the Skimmer:
1. Own the Platform: Never build your primary business on a third-party marketplace (like Udemy). Use a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS) on your own website to control pricing, student data, and branding.
2. Sell Transformation, Not Information: Structure your courses (often using a Cohort-Based or Blended model) to guarantee a specific outcome. This justifies premium pricing and boosts completion rates.
3. Audio is Non-Negotiable: While you don't need a cinema camera, invest in a quality microphone. Bad audio is the fastest way to lose a student's attention.
If these points resonate, I encourage you to read the full guide. The difference between a profitable online course and a frustrating side hustle is in the details below.
The moment you decide to teach online, you face a strategic choice: Do you want to be an employee of a platform, or do you want to own the classroom?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking for a way to share your expertise that actually scales your income and gives you full control over the student experience. You want to know how to teach online successfully, meaning you want a sustainable business model, not just a side hustle that requires you to trade hours for dollars.
The good news is that the online education market is massive and still growing. The bad news? It’s crowded. To cut through the noise, you need more than just great content; you need a smart strategy, the right technology, and a clear understanding of where your profit margins actually come from.
I’ve spent years helping course creators navigate the messy middle—the tech struggles, the strategy gaps, and the small shifts that make a huge difference in completion rates and revenue. This guide pulls all of that together so you can skip the guesswork and focus on building something solid.
Let’s get your classroom set up.
If you're ready to dive deeper into the whole process, you'll definitely want to check out our comprehensive guide on How to Create an Online Course: The Pro Way.
How To Teach Online: Why You MUST Own Your Online Classroom
Before we talk about microphones and modules, we have to talk about ownership.
When entrepreneurs decide to teach online, they usually encounter three main paths: online course marketplaces (like Udemy or Skillshare), dedicated teaching platforms (like tutoring services), or building their own platform using an LMS (Learning Management System).
For anyone serious about building a brand, generating recurring revenue, and maintaining control over their student relationships, the choice is simple: You must own your platform.
Here is a quick breakdown of why I recommend this approach for long-term success:
Online Teaching Platform Comparison
Feature | Course Marketplaces (Udemy) | Teaching Platforms (TutorMe) | Your Own Platform (WordPress + LMS) |
|---|---|---|---|
Pricing Control | Minimal (Marketplace dictates sales/discounts) | Minimal (Platform sets hourly rate) | 100% Control |
Revenue Share | High commission (often 50%+) | High commission/fixed rate | Keep 100% of revenue |
Student Data | None (No access to email list) | None (Platform owns the relationship) | Full access to student data |
Branding/Design | Generic template | Generic template | Full customization and brand alignment |
Marketing Control | Forced to compete on price | Platform handles marketing | You control the funnel and and messaging |
If you want to build an asset—something that appreciates in value and gives you leverage—you need to control the pricing, the student relationship, and the marketing funnel. If you don't collect the student email, you don't have a business; you have a vendor.
Want to Get Ahead? Start with the Right Foundation.
And when you're ready to pick the perfect system, we've got a detailed review of What Is the Best LMS Plugin for WordPress? My Hands-On Review to help you out.
Designing Your Online Course Curriculum: Strategy First
The biggest mistake I see new online teachers make is focusing on recording before they’ve solidified the curriculum structure. A great course isn't just content; it's a planned transformation. (Seriously, planning is key, and we've got a whole guide on How to Plan an Online Course: Strategy First, Film Later that walks you through it.)
You need to define the exact outcome your student will achieve and then structure the learning path to guarantee that result.
You’ll want to choose a delivery model that best suits your subject matter and your business goals.
Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Learning
This is the foundational decision.
- Asynchronous (Self-Paced): The student consumes content (videos, text, quizzes) on their own schedule. This is excellent for evergreen content, scaling, and maximizing profit margins. It requires strong content design to maintain engagement without a live teacher.
- Synchronous (Live/Scheduled): The student attends live sessions, webinars, or scheduled group calls. This is crucial for subjects requiring real-time feedback, complex Q&A, or cohort bonding. It limits scalability but often justifies a much higher price point.
Speaking of live sessions, if you're thinking about running bigger events, you'll want to check out our guide on How to Run an Online Event the Right Way (Complete Guide).
The Power of Cohort-Based Course (CBC) Structure
A Cohort-Based Course combines the best of both worlds. It’s typically a self-paced curriculum delivered to a specific group (the cohort) over a set period (e.g., six weeks), punctuated by mandatory live sessions, group projects, and structured feedback loops.
Why Cohort-Based Courses (CBCs) are Popular
- Higher Completion Rates: The shared deadline and peer pressure keep students accountable.
- Premium Pricing: The live interaction and limited spots create scarcity and perceived value.
- Built-in Networking: Students learn from each other, which is often as valuable as the content itself.
If your expertise involves soft skills, community building, or rapid iteration (like marketing or coding), a CBC model is often the smartest choice. If you teach technical skills that are stable and require deep focus (like advanced software tutorials), a pure self-paced model might be more efficient.
💡 If you're building a community around your courses, you might also be interested in our ultimate guide on How to Create a Membership Site on WordPress (Ultimate Guide).
Blended Learning Approaches
You don't have to choose just one. Many successful course creators use a blended approach:
This structure lets you charge a premium for the live access while retaining the efficiency of pre-recorded content.
Essential Tech Stack: Gear, Software, and Setup
When I tell people not to overinvest in gear, I mean don't buy a $5,000 cinema camera if you haven't sold a single course yet. I don't mean use your laptop's built-in microphone. Audio is non-negotiable. Bad video is forgivable; bad audio is a mute button trigger.
Here is the minimum viable setup you need to look and sound professional.
For a broader look at all the tools you might need, our post on The Online Course Creation Tools You Need Today is a great resource.
Microphone Recommendations
Your microphone is the single most important piece of equipment.
Microphone Recommendations
Category | Recommendation | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
Budget USB | Blue Yeti or Rode NT-USB Mini | Excellent quality, plug-and-play simplicity. Great for voiceovers and screen recordings. |
Mid-Range XLR | Shure MV7 (USB/XLR hybrid) | Broadcast quality sound. Requires an audio interface (like Focusrite Scarlett), but offers professional depth and clarity. |
On-Camera/Lav | Rode Wireless Go II | Perfect for talking-head videos where you need to move around. Extremely reliable wireless connection. |
Camera and Lighting Basics
You don't need 4K resolution, but you do need good lighting. Lighting is what separates an amateur recording from a professional one.
Essential Software for Online Course Production
Tool Category | Recommended Solutions | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
LMS/Course Platform | Thrive Apprentice (WordPress) | The core system for hosting content, managing access, and drip-scheduling. |
Video Editing | Descript or DaVinci Resolve (Free) | Descript is fantastic for editing video by editing text; DaVinci Resolve is professional-grade and free. |
Live Conferencing | Zoom, StreamYard, or Google Meet | For synchronous sessions, webinars, and live Q&A. StreamYard is excellent for professional streaming. |
Screen Recording | Loom or OBS Studio (Free) | For capturing software tutorials and presentations clearly. |
And if you're aiming for that polished look, our guide on How to Build a Website That Doesn’t Look DIY has some great tips that apply to video production too.
The Hidden Cost of "Easy" Platforms
If you’re shopping for an LMS, you’ll see plenty of platforms that promise simplicity—but they charge steep transaction fees, limit your design options, and force you into restrictive templates. This is the trade-off for "easy."
If you’re serious about building a business asset, you need a solution that integrates your course delivery (the LMS), your marketing funnels (landing pages and sales copy), and your lead generation (quizzes and opt-ins) all under one roof.
This is why I advocate for the Thrive Suitee. It’s not just a course platform; it’s a complete marketing system built specifically for WordPress. You get Thrive Apprentice for the course structure, Thrive Architect for the sales pages, and Thrive Quiz Builder for engagement—all working together seamlessly on your own domain. This approach ensures you keep 100% of your revenue and maintain full control over the student journey, from first click to final module.
This whole idea of owning your platform versus relying on others is a big deal, and we've got a full breakdown on SaaS vs. WordPress: How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Business that's super insightful.
Teaching Online in the Age of AI: Tools and Challenges
It’s impossible to talk about online education today without addressing the elephant in the room: AI. You can’t ignore it, and you certainly can’t ban it. Instead, you need to integrate it into your teaching strategy.
Using AI to Enhance Your Teaching
AI tools aren't just for students; they are powerful assistants for the course creator.
- Content Generation and Outlining: Use tools like ChatGPT or Claude to quickly generate lesson outlines, quiz questions, or alternative explanations for complex topics. This cuts down on the tedious work of drafting foundational materials.
- Personalization and Feedback: AI can analyze student performance data and flag students who are struggling, allowing you to focus your limited time on targeted, human intervention. Some tools even offer AI-powered tutors that provide immediate, basic feedback on assignments, freeing you up for higher-level grading.
- Accessibility: AI can instantly generate accurate closed captions and transcripts, making your content accessible and improving SEO.
💡 These tools can also be super helpful when you're learning to Create How-To Guides in 30 Minutes (or Less) for your students.
Managing Academic Integrity
The challenge is that AI can also write essays, solve complex problems, and generate code. If your course relies on traditional assessment methods, you need to adapt.
- Shift Assessments: Move away from assignments that rely purely on information recall or generic essay writing. Instead, focus on application, synthesis, and unique context. Ask students to apply concepts to their specific business, industry, or personal situation.
- Embrace the Process: Require students to submit drafts, process journals, or video explanations of how they arrived at the answer, rather than just the final product. This makes it impossible for AI to generate a convincing submission.
- Design for Human Interaction: If you are running a Cohort-Based Course, the final assessment should often be a live presentation, a peer review, or a group project—something that requires genuine human collaboration and real-time defense of their work.
Monetization Strategies and Income Potential
One of the greatest advantages of owning your platform is that you get to set the price. You are not bound by the race-to-the-bottom pricing models of marketplaces.
If you are teaching independently, your income potential is limited only by your ability to attract students and the value you deliver.
How Much Can You Make Teaching Online?
While hourly rates on teaching platforms might hover between $20–$50, selling your own course product is where the real leverage lies.
A high-value, niche course that genuinely solves a painful problem can easily sell for $197 to $497. If you sell just one $200 course per day, that’s over $73,000 annually—and that’s before you factor in higher-ticket coaching or recurring revenue.
The key is moving from selling information to selling transformation.
If you're struggling to get those sales numbers up, you might find some fresh ideas in our article on How to Increase Course Sales When You’ve Tried Everything Else.
Pricing Models: Subscription vs. One-Time Fee vs. Tiered Access
How you structure payment directly impacts your revenue stability and growth.
Online Course Pricing Models
Pricing Model | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
One-Time Fee | Pay once, get lifetime access. | Highest perceived value; easy marketing message. | Income is transactional; requires constant marketing effort. |
Subscription/Membership | Monthly or annual recurring fee for access. | Predictable, recurring revenue (MRR); builds community. | Requires constant content updates; higher churn risk. |
Tiered Access | Offering Basic (Self-Paced), Pro (Self-Paced + Q&A), and VIP (Live Coaching). | Captures different budget levels; maximizes average customer value. | Requires more complex delivery and management. |
I often recommend starting with a Tiered Access model. It allows you to sell the same core content (the scalable part) at a low price point while capturing high-value customers with the premium tier that includes your time (the synchronous part).
Figuring out the sweet spot for your course pricing can be tricky, but our guide on Pricing Strategies for Online Courses can help you nail it.
Practical Steps to Launch Your Online Course
If you’ve decided on your structure and gathered your gear, here are the final steps to getting your course live.
1. Plan Your Course Modules
A course is taught over a logical sequence. Think of your modules as chapters in a book, each building on the last.
- Define Course Outcomes: What specific skill will the student have mastered by the end of the module?
- Structure for Progress: Use a mix of video lessons, downloadable resources (checklists, templates), and quizzes to reinforce learning.
- Use Drip Scheduling: Releasing content over time—a feature easily managed by tools like Thrive Apprentice—is a simple hack that dramatically boosts completion rates and reduces refund requests. It prevents students from feeling overwhelmed.
2. Build Credibility and Authority
Students buy from teachers they trust. If you are new to teaching online, you need to actively build social proof.
- Start with Testimonials: Offer your first cohort a steep discount in exchange for detailed, honest video or written testimonials.
- Show, Don't Tell: Use case studies and examples of your own work or the work of previous students. If you teach marketing, show your successful campaigns. If you teach coding, show your portfolio.
- Use a Testimonial Tool: Tools like Thrive Ovation can automatically collect and display testimonials across your sales pages, ensuring your social proof is always working for you.
3. Integrate Your Tech Stack Seamlessly
This is where many people get stuck, but it doesn't have to be complicated.
If you are building your own platform on WordPress, you’ll want a powerful LMS that integrates easily with your marketing tools. Thrive Apprentice, for example, allows you to manage all the course content, access rules, and drip schedules directly within your existing website framework.
This integration lets you do smart things, like offering a time-limited discount for a second course immediately after a student completes their first—a simple automation that significantly increases your customer lifetime value.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Online
Teaching online comes with a lot of noise—and a lot of half-answers. These are the questions I hear most often from creators who want to teach online profitably, without giving up control to platforms or underselling their expertise. I’ve answered them directly and practically, so you can make smarter decisions about your course model, your tech stack, and how you actually turn online teaching into a sustainable business.
How to Teach Online: Your Next Smart Step
Teaching online successfully is about strategic control. It’s about choosing the path that lets you own the relationship with your students and keep 100% of the revenue you earn.
You don't need a massive team or a huge budget to start. You need a clear plan, a commitment to quality audio, and a platform that puts you in the driver’s seat.
If you’re ready to start building that independent online course business, the next logical step is to map out your curriculum and choose the right foundation. You might want to explore the features of a dedicated LMS to see how easily you can set up access rules and drip content.
The technology is easier than ever. The strategy is the hard part, and now you have it. Go build your classroom.
Ready to Build Your Asset?
If the idea of keeping 100% of your revenue and controlling the entire student experience sounds appealing, you need the right tools. Thrive Apprentice is the dedicated Learning Management System I use and recommend because it turns your WordPress site into a powerful, fee-free course platform. It’s the smart way to sell your expertise and build a business that truly belongs to you.
Thank you for that. Could you please list a few good example sites using the system you describe? Successful language education sites in particular would be of interest. Thanks.
Hi Jeff, a great language education site using the online course business tools available in Thrive Suite (including Thrive Apprentice) is https://www.fluentinmandarin.com/
Another such example for the novel writing niche is https://danieldavidwallace.com/
There’s many more examples where those came from, but I hope that helps get you started!
Thank you.
Ready for ThriveApprentice 4.0! When’s the release?! 😉
Can’t leak any details yet Adam, but soon!
Hello,
I have Thrive Suite and Thrive Apprentice is really good.
But I have to sell my courses on another platform because Thrive does not take care of taxes and VAT.
Do you know if you are going to take care of that?
Thanks
Hi Haarin,
Your checkout tools should take care of taxes and VAT this is not something Thrive Apprentice is responsible for.
By this article I know more and new a lot of thank your helpull cooperation