Audience First or Course Creation? Unveiling the Ultimate Strategy for Online Success

Published on 22 August 2023

Audience First or Course Creation? Unveiling the Ultimate Strategy for Online Success Blog Header ImageIf you’re diving into the world of online courses, you’ve probably pondered this million-dollar question: “Should I build an audience before I create my online course?”

It’s a conundrum that’s left many of us scratching our heads!

Fear not though, my friends, for today, we’re delving deep into this dilemma to uncover the golden strategy for online success.

Prepare to navigate the audience-first vs. course-creation debate and find your route to triumph.

Debunking The Audience First Approach

Let’s kick things off by debunking the notion that you must have a massive audience before even thinking about crafting your online course. The truth is, gauging the exact audience size needed isn’t as straightforward as it might at first sound.

For example, how big an audience will you actually need?

If you are like a lot of people your brain will start playing tricks on you, telling you that you don’t have enough of an audience yet, and that you can’t start promoting your online courses until you reach some magical number, that’s still out of reach. So you are constantly striving for a bigger and bigger audience, and never feeling that you have enough.

Of course this is just your subconscious mind trying to keep you safe, but it can be a seductive message that’s difficult to spot if you are not aware of how the mind works.

And even if you build a large audience, how can you be sure that the audience will actually buy your courses?

By waiting, you risk missing that “sweet spot” where you could have been generating revenue.

Plus, if you wait until you have an audience, you’ll still have to go through the whole learning curve of actually creating your course with all the associated technology and mindset issues; whereas if you get started earlier in the process, you can learn the ropes of online course creation and refine what you are doing at a much earlier stage.

When the Course Comes First

Now, let’s not dismiss the course-first approach. Sometimes, circumstances might demand that you jump straight into creating your masterpiece. You’ve got a killer course idea, and you’re eager to see it take shape and start making money. And that’s totally valid!

However, keep in mind that while launching a course right off the bat might lead to immediate sales, it requires a robust marketing plan to get those sales rolling in. You need to have a well-defined course concept, crystal-clear learning outcomes, and a unique selling point that sets you apart from the competition.

If you are planning to create an online course without building an audience first, unless you are planning to utilise a course marketplace such as Udemy, you will need to temper your expectations and have patience, because bringing in sales will likely take time.

Building your course first can also be a great strategy when it supports another area of your business. For example if you are a coach or a consultant, having an online course that you give your clients free access to can differentiate you from competitors and even allow you to increase your rates.

So the primary focus with this strategy is not to necessarily generate revenue from the courses themselves, but to use them as a lever to increase conversions and revenue in other areas of your business.

Finding Harmony: The Ultimate Strategy

Alright, here comes the sweet spot—melding audience building and course creation into a harmonious strategy. This is the ultimate game plan that lets you skip the waiting game and dive straight into online course success.

Nurturing Your Niche: The First Steps

Step one in this strategy involves picking a niche, your tribe, the people you’re meant to serve with your course. Once you’ve got that locked in, it’s time to figure out where they hang out online. This process might involve a bit of research on your part, but I promise you it will be worth it.

But here’s the kicker, not all platforms are created equal. Aim for platforms where you can achieve heightened visibility. Think Facebook groups—they’re like cozy hangout spots where connections flourish. And let’s not forget the magic of YouTube—a platform that’s like a megaphone for building your audience.

Whatever platform you choose, you are going to need to build a professional presence there and to start publishing valuable content on a regular basis and engaging with your audience.

And oh, let’s talk about capturing leads. You’ll need a tantalising lead magnet (something of value that people will give you their email in exchange for) and some email marketing wizardry to transition your audience from the bustling social media scene to a more personal, less algorithm-driven space, such as their email inbox.

How you make the transition of moving people off the social media platform to somewhere else, will very much depend on the nuances of the platform you are using.

Learning as You Grow: Building Your Online Community

Now comes the exciting part. You don’t have to twiddle your thumbs while waiting for your audience to reach cosmic proportions. Nope, you can start nurturing your online community right away. Think small, think organic growth!

As you do, a beautiful thing happens—you gather a small but fiercely engaged audience. And that’s when the real fun begins—testing out your course ideas. With your intimate audience, you can ask questions, gather feedback, and get up-close-and-personal with their struggles and pain points.

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Course Creation Gold Dust: Developing with a Small Audience

And here’s where the magic of this strategy truly shines. Those insights you gather from your smaller, super-engaged community? They’re like precious gold dust for your course creation process. By involving your audience in crafting your course, you ensure your content is a perfect fit for their needs and interests.

Sure, your audience might be petite, but their input is worth its weight in gold. You’ll use these insights to shape your course content, making it resonant and impactful.

I had a client once that launched her online programme in a Facebook group that had less than 100 members at the time, so you really don’t need a huge audience to be successful with your online course business.

Conclusion: Should I Build An Audience Before I Create My Online Course?

As you stand at this crossroads, debating whether to build an audience first or plunge into crafting your course, remember that it’s not a cut-and-dried decision. Waiting around until your audience reaches towering heights could mean missing out on prime opportunities.

However, launching your course creation journey sooner allows you to learn, adapt, and shape your offerings on the fly. And let’s not forget the magic of involving a smaller, passionate audience in your course development—it ensures a bespoke learning experience that hits the mark.

So, dear trailblazers, as you step into this thrilling realm of online business, keep in mind that both audience building and course creation are vital components. Your path will be uniquely yours, guided by your goals, resources, and timeline.

Don’t stall—start weaving your course creation dreams while nurturing your audience today. The journey you’re embarking upon promises success that’s not only gratifying but also sustainable.

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