How to Create an Online Course in 10 Easy Steps

“The future of education lies in online courses, breaking down barriers for lifelong learning.”

Creating an online course can be daunting. You might feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to start, how to organize your content, or which technology to use. It’s frustrating to invest hours in your course only to feel that it’s not engaging and impactful enough.

As someone who’s been in the industry for years, I understand these pain points deeply. I’ve seen countless new course creators struggle with the same issues.

But worry not, I’ve got your back!

In this post, I will share 10 easy steps to guide you through creating an online course. These steps can simplify the process and help you overcome common obstacles. Let’s start with the basics.
Before diving into the detailed steps, let’s explore the key topics and structure of creating an online course.

What Is an Online Course?

An online course is an educational or training program delivered over the Internet. It serves as a flexible alternative to traditional in-person learning. It allows learners to access educational content globally via platforms like learning management systems (LMS). Ideal for self-paced learning, these courses enable study using devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

Online courses range from beginner to professional levels, offered by schools, universities, and businesses. They often include video lectures, interactive quizzes, forums, and live webinars.

By enrolling in these courses, your learners can get access to structured content, expert knowledge, and a community for personal or professional growth, all accessible without needing to attend a classroom physically.

How to Create an Online Course from Scratch

Whether doing it for the first or the nth time, the following best practices for building an online course can help you master the process and produce quality courses easily and quickly.

This practical, step-by-step guide is designed for you to follow along. I’ve used ProProfs Training Maker as an example. Start by creating your forever free account with ProProfs, and return here when you’re ready to get started.

1. Choose a Course Template

Start your course creation process by selecting a professionally designed template that matches your training needs. Whether you’re developing a course for compliance, onboarding, customer service, or soft skills, templates provide a ready-made structure to help you focus on content rather than formatting. These templates come with predefined modules and layouts, so all you need to do is populate them with your materials. This saves time and ensures a polished end product.

For instance, if you’re building a compliance training module, a compliance-specific template may include placeholders for policies, quizzes, and certifications. Similarly, onboarding templates might have sections for company values, job expectations, and an introductory quiz—all designed to set your learners up for success.

2. Upload Your Existing Training Material or Create from Scratch

If you already have your training materials as documents, PDFs, presentations, or even YouTube videos, it’s time to import them into your course. It’s a pretty straightforward process. You can use either of the following options for a jumpstart:

• Import Your Materials: Have existing presentations, documents, videos, or podcasts? Simply upload them. The system automatically converts these into an interactive format, so you can easily blend them seamlessly into your course.
• Tap Into a Ready-to-Use Library: Save time by exploring expert-taught courses designed for various topics. Use them as they are or customize them to meet specific training requirements.

You can create such digital courses for the following training types:

• Harassment
• Compliance
• Leadership & Management
• Employee Skills
• Cybersecurity
• Health & Wellness
• Or any other topic of your choice!

3. Leverage AI for Creating Outlines & Courses 

If you don’t have any ready material, you can do it from scratch using ProProfs AI. You can quickly generate course outlines by just providing it a topic – the AI will build a complete course for you from scratch. 

Also, if you’ve any, feel free to upload your PDFs, videos, or documents for AI to transform them into a dynamic, interactive course. It organizes chapters and pages with a smart, logical flow that keeps everything engaging and easy to follow.

After AI has created a solid course outline with quizzes and everything, you can use the in-line AI editor to fine-tune your content instantly and ensure your course stays polished, impactful, and ready to inspire learners from beginning to end.

4. Customize & Add Branding to Your Course

Customization transforms a basic course into an engaging, branded learning experience. Use the drag-and-drop authoring tools to:

• Add multimedia elements like videos, images, and voiceovers to bring your lessons to life. For example, embed explainer videos or walkthroughs directly into the course modules.
• Create interactive quizzes and surveys to maintain learner interest and gather feedback mid-course.
• Apply branding elements like your logo, company colors, and themes to reinforce brand identity. You can use the white labeling feature to completely customize your course in a way that it looks like an extension of your organization, not a third-party tool.

Each customization option makes your course stand out while staying true to your organizational voice.

5. Add AI-Generated Quizzes to Your Course

Quizzes and assessments are a great way to see how much knowledge your learners are absorbing and where they might need extra help. You can create your own questions to match specific course goals or use our AI Quiz Maker to speed up the process.

Just provide a topic, and the system will suggest questions that fit right in—you can tweak them as needed to make them more precise.

Place quizzes strategically throughout your course, like after major sections or at the end, when it matters most. Include a mix of question types, from multiple-choice for quick checks to scenario-based challenges for real-world problem-solving.

6. Import Your Learners & Assign Roles & Permissions

If you handle large teams or diverse learner groups, manage your course by assigning admins to learner groups. Admins can oversee the learner groups, enroll participants, and monitor progress. They also can send reminders and generate group-specific reports to streamline day-to-day management.

Roles can be adjusted based on your requirements. For instance, if you’re working with multiple instructors or collaborators, you can assign permissions that allow them to edit content without accessing sensitive learner data.

This ensures everyone has access while maintaining control and security across your course.

7. Set Up Due Date Reminders to Ensure Compliance

Reminders are important to ensure every employee completes the training program before the due date. You can set up automated reminders within the system to keep learners on track and ensure compliance with training deadlines. These reminders notify learners about upcoming deadlines, overdue courses, or mandatory certifications and reduce the need for manual follow-ups.

You can also configure compliance settings to set requirements for course completion, track progress against deadlines, and automatically issue compliance certificates once learners finish the course.

8. Share Your Course With Your Learners

Once your course is ready, publish it and share it with your learners. For streamlined distribution, you can email course links directly, embed the course on your website, use a QR code, or assign it to specific learner groups.

Need a broader reach? Share your course on social media or within team collaboration tools. To maintain control, you can set permissions to limit who can view the course or track enrollment activity.

 9. Track Who Took Your Course & When via Reports

Monitor learner progress with the built-in reporting feature. You can track metrics like who took your course and when, their quiz performance, and time spent on each module.

These insights help you identify areas where your learners may be struggling and adjust the content accordingly or offer additional support. This, in turn, increases engagement considerably.

For a broader view, generate detailed reports to evaluate group performance or compliance rates. These reports are easy to customize, letting you focus on the data that matters most for your training goals. With everything in one place, you can stay on top of learner progress without any hassle.

10. Improve Your Course With Feedback from Learners  

Gathering learner feedback is essential for keeping your course relevant and effective. ProProfs lets you add surveys to your course (built-in feature), so that you know what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve.

Built-in survey templates save you time, offering ready-to-use formats that cover everything from course content to delivery. Analyze the responses to identify trends and areas for enhancement. Feedback isn’t just a formality—it’s how you ensure your courses consistently meet learner needs and expectations.

10 Common Mistakes in Online Course Creation (and How to Avoid Them)

Now, you already have ideas about creating a course. But isn’t it frustrating when you’ve followed all the steps, yet the results fall short of what you expected? 

Here’s the reality—just knowing the steps won’t cut it unless implemented correctly. So here, I’ll discuss the top 10 common mistakes that can throw off even the most well-intentioned course creator—and how to avoid them for better results.

1. Poor Planning

Without clear objectives and a structured curriculum, courses can feel disorganized, which can leave learners confused and disengaged. When course content isn’t mapped out effectively, it lacks coherence and makes it difficult for students to follow and absorb information.  

Solution: Dedicate time to planning. Start by outlining each module and defining what learners should accomplish at each stage. Establish learning outcomes and develop a logical course flow to ensure each topic builds on the last.

2. Visual Monotony

Courses that are too text-heavy can fail to capture attention. Without visual elements to break up the text, learners will likely find the material dry and uninviting.

Solution: Incorporate diverse visuals like images, infographics, and short videos. Use animations to illustrate complex ideas and keep learners visually stimulated. By breaking up the text with engaging visuals, you can enhance comprehension and make the course dynamic.

3. Information Overload

Overloading learners with information all at once can lead to cognitive fatigue and significantly reduce their ability to retain knowledge. According to a survey, 80% of workers reported that information overload added to their daily stress.

Solution: Apply microlearning principles. Divide content into smaller, digestible segments. Present information in bite-sized modules, which are easier for learners to absorb and retain

4. Lack of Interactivity

Courses that lack interactive elements often feel like passive lectures, leading to boredom and disengagement. Learners need active involvement to stay engaged and retain information.

Solution: Add interactivity by including quizzes, polls, and discussion prompts. Use gamification elements such as badges or points to encourage participation. Involving learners actively enhances their understanding and makes the course more engaging.

5. Ignoring Mobile Compatibility

Around 40% of learners depend on mobile phones to complete most course-related activities.

So, with an increasing number of users relying on mobile devices for online learning, a course that isn’t mobile-compatible restricts accessibility and excludes potential learners.

Solution: Ensure your course design is responsive to adapt to various screen sizes on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Test your course on different devices to confirm that it’s accessible and functional, regardless of where learners access it. This is where a mobile LMS can help you. It has all the essential features to make learning flexible, leading to higher adoption rates and lower costs. 

6. Lack of Feedback and Assessment

Without regular feedback and opportunities for assessment, learners may feel lost and unsure of their progress. This lack of direction can demotivate and hinder their understanding of the material.

Solution: Integrate various feedback mechanisms throughout the course. Provide quizzes and assignments with clear grading rubrics and offer personalized feedback on their performance. Encourage self-assessment through reflective exercises and provide opportunities for peer feedback to foster a supportive learning environment.

7. Using Low-Quality Audio and Video

Poor audio or video quality can create a frustrating and distracting learning experience. Garbled audio or blurry video can make it difficult for learners to focus on the content.

Solution: Invest in good-quality recording equipment to ensure your audio and video are clear and professional. Pay attention to lighting, minimize background noise, and use a decent camera to capture video. If using existing online resources, choose only high-quality materials.

8. Promoting a “Set It and Forget It” Mentality

Even well-designed courses can become outdated or stale over time. Neglecting your course after its launch can decrease effectiveness and learner dissatisfaction.

Solution: Treat your online course as a living entity that requires regular attention and updates. Gather learner feedback, analyze course performance data, and stay abreast of the latest developments in your field to ensure your content remains relevant and engaging.

9. Underestimating the Importance of Marketing

Creating a great course is only half the battle. Even the most meticulously designed course will fail to reach its potential if you don’t invest in effective marketing.

Solution: Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote your course and attract learners. Utilize social media platforms, email marketing campaigns, and content marketing strategies to raise awareness and reach your target audience.

10. Ignoring Data Analytics

Many course creators overlook the wealth of insights available through data analytics, missing out on critical information about learner engagement, content effectiveness, and overall course impact. Without analyzing this data, it’s hard to identify what works, what doesn’t, and where learners may struggle.

Solution: Use built-in analytics tools to monitor metrics like completion rates, quiz scores, and engagement times. Use these insights to refine your content, adjust pacing, and make data-driven improvements to boost the course’s success and learner satisfaction.

Advanced Tips for Experienced Course Creators

If you have already conquered the basics, here are some advanced tips to enhance your courses further:

1. Personalize the learning journey: Implement adaptive learning pathways that adjust to individual learner needs and progress. Use pre-assessments to tailor content and offer personalized feedback.
2. Go deeper with gamification: Move beyond badges and points. Explore branching scenarios, simulations, and interactive storytelling to create a more immersive experience.
3. Prioritize accessibility: Design the course with accessibility in mind to cater to learners with disabilities. Use closed captions and transcripts for audio and video elements, and ensure keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.
4. Use data to improve: Track learner progress and analyze data to identify areas for improvement. A/B tests different versions of course elements to see what works best.
5. Stay on top of trends: The eLearning world is constantly evolving. Keep up with new technologies like VR/AR and AI-powered tools to find innovative ways to enhance your courses.

It Was Easy…… Wasn’t It? 

There you have it – a comprehensive guide to creating online courses. You explored the ins and outs of creating a successful online course. From choosing the right template and outlining your content to avoiding common mistakes and leveraging advanced techniques, you’re now equipped with the knowledge to create a truly impactful learning experience.

Remember to gather feedback and iterate on your courses to ensure they remain effective and meet the evolving needs of your learners.

But hold on a second… If you just scrolled here to peek at the ending, you might’ve missed all the juicy bits! This is a follow-along guide, remember? To get the most out of it, scoot back up to Step 1 and take it from the top. Trust me, it’s worth it –Create your first online course.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to create an online course for free

To create an online course for free, start by selecting a free LMS platform, such as ProProfs Training Maker, which offers basic features at no cost. Develop your course content using existing training materials, such as docs, PDFs, PPTs, podcasts, and videos. Supplement your materials with high-quality visuals by sourcing free images. Promote your course by leveraging social media, joining free online communities, and sharing it with your network.

What software/tools should I use to create online courses?

To build online courses, you can use an authoring tool, either as a standalone system or integrated into an LMS. Generally, you’d need a course builder, screen recording software, video editing tool, graphic design tool, audio recording system, assessment tool, and file storage and sharing system. These platforms are designed for rapid authoring. Make sure the solution you choose is easy to use and doesn’t require any coding knowledge. 

What should be the length of my online course?

The length of your online course will vary depending on the topic, depth of content, learning objectives, and target audience. There is no fixed rule for determining the ideal length, as it can range from a few hours to several weeks or even months.

That said, it will help you to consider your target audience’s attention span and engagement level. Also, consider the practicality of delivering and managing your course content. Longer courses may require more time and effort to create, update, and support. Research similar courses in your niche and analyze their durations.

Is creating an online course profitable?

Yes, creating an online course can be profitable, but it depends on a few key factors: how well your course meets a market need, how effectively you market it, and whether your pricing feels fair to your audience. Don’t forget to factor in platform fees. With the right mix of quality content and smart promotion, online courses can bring in solid revenue.