Build and Sell a Small Online Course in 7 Days

Originally published on Money Lab.

In March 2015, I hired my first team member (Brian). He helps me write articles for SwimUniversity.com. I didn’t want to do it through email and Skype, so I learned how to use Asana.

I started small. I didn’t want to transfer everything to Asana right away. I didn’t know if it was going to be the right choice. I created one project called “SwimU Blog” and created 4 tasks. Those tasks were articles I needed written. I assigned those articles to Brian. I told him to upload the finished Google doc to the task and assign it to me when he finished.

I started using Asana more and more. Now, I run my entire life from Asana. If it’s not in “My Tasks” list, it doesn’t get done. Even if it’s a dentist appointment.

I get asked by friends how I use Asana to manage my business. When I show them, they’re stunned. Even I must admit, it’s impressive. I’m a master at this free online tool and now I’m making a video tutorial.

What I’m Selling and Why

I know some people who will buy this video course because they told me they would. I’m calling it “Asana for Bloggers.”

I’m going with my gut. I want to sell this product my way; the way I’d want to buy something similar. Here’s how I want to sell it:

• It will be low priced. Between $20 and $50.
• It will be one long video tutorial so you can watch it on a big TV and not have to click any links to go through “lessons.” [UPDATED: It will be a series of 12 separate videos]
• It will be entertaining. Or, not boring. Something you love watching.
• It will be easy to buy. You click a button, you enter your credit card, and you get the videos.
• It will always be available for sale.

The Plan

I’ve never made a video course before. I’m building the course that I wish existed when I started using Asana a year ago. I don’t know if anything like it exists in the marketplace, but I don’t care. I’ll be happy if it helps a few of my friends.

Here is a list of steps outlining how I think the challenge should go:

1. Create a Course Outline and Organize My Current Asana Company

I’m going to create an Evernote notebook and each note will be a new section of the course. This is how I’ve outlined my digital guides that I sell on Swim University.

Even though the course will be one long video file, I will still have sections that you can skip through.

Before I start filming the outline, I’ll need to clean up Asana. I’ll be using my actual Asana workflow in the video and I don’t want any loose ends that need explaining. This should be easy since it’s pretty clean already.

2. Film The Course

I’m using Screenflow for Mac for all my screen recordings. For audio, I’ll use my Mackie ProFX8 mixing board and SM7B Mic. I will film each section and combine them all in post. I doubt I’ll be able to do the entire video in one take. I want the course to feel loose and personal, not rigid and boring.

I’m also filming some talking head features of myself. These will go at the beginning and end of the video. I may also sprinkle some in the break up the sections.

3. Edit The Course

I’ll use Screenflow to create any zoom animations needed. Screenflow has a pretty easy editing platform and motion blur. I think it looks slick. I’ve done it before, you can see the animation in action here.

Once I have the screen recordings edited, I’ll move the files to Adobe Premiere. This is where I’ll put all the sections together with the talking head videos. Then, I’ll create the complete course as one MP4 file.

I’ll also use Adobe After Affects to make animations for the beginning, end and sections. I will also create “lower third” animations to help explain details as the video moves along.

4. Upload The Course to Gumroad

I will need to create a new Gumroad account for Money Lab. I’ll create a new product and upload the completed video along with a PDF guidebook. This will be just a better designed version of the original outline.

Gumroad will allow people to stream or download the video. They can watch it from anywhere and use it as a reference. I thought about using course software, but I didn’t want anyone to login anywhere to see this course.

5. Create A Sales Page on Money Lab

Once the product is ready for sale, I’ll make a custom sales page on Money Lab.

My idea for the landing page will be simple. Just a title, a sales video, some text, and a buy button. It will be a landing page like Fizzle.

I will hand code the sales page myself using Coda for Mac. Money Lab is on WP Engine, so I use WordPress. I will create a custom page template to make the page.

6. Promote The Course

I’m going to send an email to all my friends who have ever asked me about Asana. I know about five people who will buy, so I’m happy about that. That was my only plan until what happened last week.

I created a little satire piece called “I want your email address” that went viral. I earned over 1,600 email addresses from that joke. Everyone on that email list will get updates about this challenge. They’ll know when it goes up for sale a week from now. I hope a few people from that list might buy, too.

I’ll also send a few tweets and Facebook posts about it. Nothing crazy. Nothing pushy.

Read the rest of the challenge and find out how much money was made: https://www.moneylab.co/small-course/