If you’re preparing to launch your first online course, chances are a big question in your mind is: which is the best platform for my online course?
I’ve been asked this question 3 times in the past couple of weeks, and I see it all the time in groups where online business owners hang out. So if you’ve been trying to make this decision too, or know you will in the future, read on my friend.
There’s about a bajillion options when it comes to choosing the right platform to host your online course. Including Kartra, FreeCEO, Teachable, Kajabi, FEA Create, Thinkific, ThriveCart, Searchie, NewZenler, Tekmatix, Learndash, MemberVault, Podia, Squarespace Courses… and that’s just some! Once you start looking around, it might feel like there’s one best option because that’s what everyone’s using (at the time of writing that’s probably Kajabi).
It’s not that simple though. Like a lot of these types of questions, the answer is – it depends…
how to choose your online course platform
I know it can feel overwhelming when there are so many options available to you, so I understand why people are basically asking ‘just tell me what to pick and I’ll do it.’ But I’ve seen too many people tied to a platform that doesn’t do what they need, or that they don’t know how to use, or that puts them under financial pressure because their friend/coach/Facebook group told them to pick it.
And yes, it’s hard to find time to really get to know a bunch of platforms well enough to make a confident decision. There are a few questions to ask that will help you narrow it down though.
what features do you need?
When you envision your online course, what does it look like? And what is the student experience you’ll create? And do you want an all-in-one that houses your website and mailing list, booking tool, and social scheduling tool too?
Thinking these things through will help you identify the features you need your course platform to have, and what is less important.
what is your appetite for learning new tech?
Some of us love digging in and figuring out how to build things, while some of us find this a very valid barrier to entry. Understanding where you sit on this scale will help immensely. For example, Learndash is a WordPress plugin so if you’re not familiar with WordPress you might find the learning curve too steep. Kajabi, on the other hand, has a super comprehensive video library that walks you through everything you need to use the platform effectively.
Even if you plan to outsource a lot of the set up and maintenance of your online course platform, I highly recommend you have at least a working knowledge of your platform and how to change things – so working at the right tech level for you is important.
what is your budget?
There is as much variety in price as there is in course platform options, so understanding your budget will help you narrow things down. You might decide carrying the cost of a higher-priced option for a few months is a worthwhile investment. But that’s something you want to be able to predict with a certain degree of confidence – tying yourself to that expensive platform your coach recommended with a ‘build it and they will hopefully come’ mentality will put you under pressure you do not need.
On the other hand, if you know one of the meatier platforms will suit your business and you have budget to carry that cost for a few months without making sales (and/or you have a proven product, and/or you have a really warm list) then now might be the right time to dive in.
next steps
Once you’ve taken the time to get clear on what you and our students need and have reviewed the options that suit you, your business, and your budget, hopefully you’ve narrowed things down to a few options.
Now, set aside a few blocks of time and start the free trial periods on your top 2 or 3 options. Dedicate yourself to understanding how to set them up and use them, what the student experience will be, and any gaps or challenges you might face with them. Playing with a platform is the best way to get a feel for if it’ll be right for you, so this will be a worthwhile investment in helping you to get clear on which will be the best online course platform. Good luck!
3 simple steps to get started outsourcing
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