How to Teach Online Classes and Build a Profitable Course Business
Teaching online can be a profitable business venture. The demand for online learning is at an all-time high and continues to grow every year.
In the US alone, the online learning industry is projected to reach $687 billion by 2030—up from $100 billion in 2020. Furthermore, it’s expected that over 57 million people will take online courses by 2027.
With so many people looking to learn new skills or get trained online, there’s an inherent need for online teaching to fill that gap.
Using mobile apps to teach online classes is one the best and most profitable ways to enter this space—and that’s exactly what you’ll learn from this guide. I’ll explain how to build online courses and teach online classes using mobile apps in a way that’s more profitable than you ever thought possible.
Key Takeaways
- Mobile-First Advantage: Smartphone learners complete course material 45% faster than those on computers.
- High Profit Potential: The online learning industry is projected to reach $687 billion by 2030, with average first-time courses priced at $137.
- Automation is Key: Use mobile app platforms to automate lesson unlocking, quiz grading, and student engagement via push notifications.
- Niche Selection: Success lies at the intersection of your expertise, market trends, and existing learning gaps.
- Scalable Monetization: Beyond one-time fees, consider subscriptions, bundles, and affiliate marketing within your course content.
Importance of Mobile Apps For Online Teaching
Traditional lecture-style online classes aren’t suitable for the masses. With modern online learning, people want to go at their own pace. Whether that’s one class a week, three classes per day, or a mixed cadence that fits their schedule.
It’s much easier to complete online training if you have 24/7 access to a lesson. That’s where mobile apps come into the equation.
Someone’s smartphone is usually never more than an arm’s reach away. This makes the perfect vessel to facilitate online learning—and as a result, the best way to teach online.
This doesn’t just sound good in theory—the facts support it. 64% of learners say that accessing training materials from a mobile device is “essential.” Smartphone learners complete online course material 45% faster than people using a computer. The mobile learning market is growing at a CAGR of 30% and expected to reach $156 billion by 2026.
As the teacher, you don’t have to be physically present at a specific date or time. You simply prepare the learning materials ahead of time, break everything up into incremental sections, and publish it through the app.
With the right angle and solid marketing, a single course could reach tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of users. You do the work once and get paid for every new purchase.
How Much Money Can You Make Online Teaching Courses?
You can make plenty of money with an online course business. In reality, there’s no cap on your earnings. It’s just a matter of how you price the course and how many people you can get signed up.
Here’s a basic overview of how many online courses are priced:
- $45 to $150 for a mini course. 5-10 short videos around 10-15 minutes each would fall into this category.
- $195 to $595 for a short to medium-length course. This would typically be a mix of videos, PDF files, and quizzes that take upwards of four to six weeks to complete.
- $1,000 to $3,500 for long online courses. Think of a flagship course that would take three to six months to complete.
Again, these are just baseline examples. You can really price the course any way you want.
According to a recent study by Podia, the average first-time online course costs $137.
| Number of Students | Total Revenue (at $137 avg) |
|---|---|
| 500 | $68,500 |
| 1,500 | $205,500 |
| 4,000 | $548,000 |
You get the idea. There’s money to be made here.
The Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course is a great example. Taught by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, the course costs $197, and over 6,000 people have completed it. That’s $1,182,000.
What I love about this example is that it shows how anyone can teach a profitable online course. You don’t need an education background and really don’t even need traditional teaching skills.
Michelle simply took something she was good at and created an online course to show others how she was successful.
This is the best way to earn money teaching online courses because it involves much less research and effort. You already possess the knowledge or skills. Now it’s just a matter of putting them into an online course template and pushing those materials out into the world.
You can also get a massive ROI from teaching online courses like this. Michelle first launched her affiliate marketing course in 2016. Fast-forward to today, and people are still buying it.
How to Teach Online Courses That Make Money in 10 Steps
Consider this your course on online teaching—specifically using mobile apps to boost profitability. I’ll walk you through ten easy steps that will simplify the way you teach online courses.
Step 1 – Identify Your Niche and Target Audience
Before you prepare any course material, the first thing you need to do is figure out who you’re planning to teach. Step outside the narrow box of college courses and students taking an online class. The online teaching space is much broader, and there are literally thousands of other ways to approach this.
The secret to this step is to look for the golden triangle combination of these three elements:
- Your area of expertise
- Long-term market trends
- Learning gaps that need to be filled
For example, let’s say you’re a software developer (area of expertise) and recognize the power of artificial intelligence in programming (market trend). Then you could see if mid-market business IT teams know how to use this technology to their advantage (learning gaps).
This is much more specific than just a general-purpose programming course. Instead, think about who’s interested in taking online courses, and fill the gap of those courses that don’t really exist yet.
Step 2 – Choose the Right Mobile App Platform For Online Courses
Next, you need to figure out how you’re going to deliver your course. As previously discussed, mobile apps are the best learning management system—so this will be our primary area of focus.
It’s best to choose robust educational technology that’s specifically built for your use case.
Buildfire’s education app builder is suitable for any type of online course. It’s plug-and-play, so you can easily add new types of training modules or educational content based on how you want to teach the course.
Some of you might want to use videos and audio files to share lessons. Others may prefer flashcards, PDF documents, and quizzes. Some may want to create a course that’s a combination of everything.
The best part about using an app from Buildfire to teach your online course is that it’s optimized for profits. As a no-code app builder, you can use it to build and launch an app for iOS and Android in a matter of weeks.
It supports in-app payments for one-off courses and ongoing subscriptions. Plus, it’s super affordable. Plans range from just $100 to $500 per month. You know your fixed costs from the beginning, and you can easily break even by just selling a few courses. Everything else is pure profit.
Step 3 – Design Engaging Course Content
Now it’s time to prepare your course materials.
But do so in a way that drives engagement in the online learning environment. For example, lectures can be boring. But interactive quizzes and online discussions with other people are engaging.
If you’re struggling with the right format, I strongly suggest signing up for a bunch of different online courses to see which ones fit your style. It’s wort
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I create an online course using mobile apps?
Creating an online course using mobile apps involves selecting a suitable platform, designing engaging content, and setting up payment systems. Platforms like Buildfire make this straightforward by offering customizable templates and in-app payment options.
What are the benefits of using mobile apps for online teaching?
Mobile apps provide flexibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace and access materials anytime. Buildfire, for instance, offers tools to automate student engagement and course management, enhancing the learning experience.
How do I price my online course effectively?
Pricing should reflect the course length, content quality, and market demand. Research competitors and consider offering tiered pricing. Tools like Buildfire allow businesses to easily manage pricing strategies within their apps.
What type of content should I include in my online course?
Include a mix of videos, quizzes, and interactive elements to keep students engaged. Consider using platforms that support diverse content types, such as Buildfire, to enhance the learning experience.
How can I market my online course to reach more students?
Utilize social media, email marketing, and partnerships to promote your course. Offering free webinars or sample lessons can also attract potential students.
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eed to build and teach a profitable online course through your own mobile app. From driving recurring revenue to engaging with your students, Buildfire accommodates online learning for any industry or use case. Try it free for 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Buildfire?
Buildfire is a platform that allows you to create and manage your own mobile app, including features for online learning and course management.
How can Buildfire help with online courses?
Buildfire provides tools to create, manage, and sell online courses through a mobile app, helping you engage with students and generate revenue.
Is there a free trial available for Buildfire?
Yes, Buildfire offers a 14-day free trial for you to explore its features and capabilities.
Can I use Buildfire for any industry?
Yes, Buildfire is versatile and can be used for online learning in any industry or use case.
What support does Buildfire offer?
Buildfire provides customer support to help you with any questions or issues you may encounter while using the platform.