How to create a course: How I built my Udemy Course and how my course became successful?
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If you read my articles but haven’t subscribed yet, I strongly suggest you do so now, because I’ll soon be sharing some amazing news that you won’t want to miss. 😉 Oh, also, if you want to learn iOS Development, I strongly suggest you to checkout my Udemy course by clicking here. You won’t regret. 🤠
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Did you read my last 5 articles? 🤔 If not, then here they are: 👀
- I am afraid of AI — Here is why
- Is this life a simulation? — Sit closer, I’ll explain…
- White Hat vs Black Hat Hackers: What’s the Real Difference & Which One Are You?
- Avoid Updating to the Latest Version of CocoaPods — How to solve CocoaPods related issues?
- What is coming with iOS 18 — for Users & for Devs
Ok, now let’s start with our main topic. 🧐
I’ve always had this idea on my mind: I should teach people what I know. I’m someone who believes that sharing is caring, so I enjoy teaching whatever I learn. I also strongly believe that I learn quickly and in a straightforward way, which gives my teaching style a unique edge. Publishing an online course brings several benefits: it helps build your brand, boosts self-confidence, provides valuable experience, and, of course, generates income. For my first course, I chose my strongest area — iOS development.
While it might seem straightforward, building a course that’s both useful and profitable requires thoughtful planning. In this article, I’m sharing what I learned while creating my first course, how I managed it, and a guide to help you create a digital course that works.
Choose a Topic You Know and Love
This is essential because you need to teach what you know and, most importantly, what you love. As I mentioned, I chose iOS development because I have more than eight years of experience in this field. Now, ask yourself: What do I know so well I could explain it to a complete beginner? That’s your sweet spot. Also, be specific. Instead of “programming,” I narrowed it down to “iOS development — using Swift & UIKit.” Being specific helps attract the people who truly need that knowledge.
Plan Your Content: Sections, Lessons & Clear Goals
Now that you have a topic, it’s time to outline your course. Structure is crucial here. I divided mine into “First Phase,” “Second Phase,” and “Third Phase,” with three quizzes for students to test their knowledge.
For each lesson, I asked myself, “What should the student know by the end of this?” This kept me focused on the essentials, avoiding any fluff that might clutter things up. Trust me, less is often more, and learners appreciate a course that gets straight to the point.
Setting Up a Workspace — No, You Don’t Need Expensive Equipment!
When I started, I didn’t have any high-end equipment. Just a MacBook, a microphone, a tripod, and some good lighting.
- Microphone: I used this one with my iPhone: https://temu.to/k/e3k9u9q9p31
- Screen Recording: I used QuickTime Player on Mac. For Windows, OBS Studio is a free alternative.
- Lighting and Background: I used a simple white background for video recordings, but since it’s a programming course, most of the videos are screen recordings, so specialized lighting wasn’t necessary. I did use this tripod with a light attachment: https://temu.to/k/eslm43ns1d6
Recording & Editing: The Hardest Part
Recording takes patience. I had scripts and notes, but I still found myself re-recording parts and editing a lot. Most of the 5- to 10-minute videos you see on Udemy start as 15- to 30-minute raw recordings. I edited out pauses, “umms,” and even most of my breaths to keep it clean and engaging. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect — it just needs to hold interest and teach effectively.
Make It Engaging with Quizzes and Projects
Keeping students engaged goes beyond video quality. I added quizzes after each main section to help students check their understanding, and each module built toward small projects. By the end, students could create a basic iOS app.
Examples make a big difference, too. I imagined explaining concepts to a friend who knew nothing about iOS development, which kept my explanations clear and relatable.
Marketing Your Course (It’s Just Beginning When You Hit Publish)
Publishing the course was just the start. Udemy has its own algorithms, so I had to put in some extra work to help people discover my course:
- Social Media: I shared helpful iOS development content with links to my Udemy course.
- YouTube Tutorials: I created a free tutorial on a beginner Swift project, which naturally led viewers to my Udemy course for deeper lessons.
- Udemy Discounts: Leveraging Udemy’s regular promotions increased my course’s visibility, leading to more enrollments and reviews.
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