How much should I charge for an online course?

Price based on depth and outcome: beginner courses $47-97, intermediate $97-297, advanced $297-697. High-ticket 1-on-1 courses can be $997+. YouTube creators typically charge 30-50% less than pure e-learning platforms.

Can I sell the same course on multiple platforms?

Yes. Launch on your own Teachable site and also on Udemy with different URLs. This diversifies revenue and reach, though Udemy takes a bigger cut.

How many students do I need to make money from courses?

Selling to just 10-20 students at $97-197 generates $1,000-4,000 per course. Most YouTube creators see 50-200 sales in the first month of launch.

How long should my online course be?

Aim for 3-10 hours of content (30-100 video lessons). Longer isn't better—focus on delivering transformation, not quantity. Completion rates drop significantly above 15 hours.

Do I need a big YouTube following to sell courses?

No. 1,000-5,000 engaged subscribers is enough to launch profitably. Niche audiences buy premium courses more readily than large general audiences.

Guide

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Creating Online Courses for YouTube Audiences: Teachable and Udemy Strategies

Online courses leverage your YouTube authority to generate premium revenue. Students pay $50-500+ per course, creating high-ticket income.

Last updated: March 4, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Choose Your Course Topic

Outline Your Curriculum

Record and Edit Course Videos

Set Up Your Course Platform

Build Launch Strategy

Why Online Courses Fit YouTube Creators

YouTube proves your expertise and builds trust before course launch. Your audience already values your teaching style. Courses turn free viewers into paying customers with 10-50x higher lifetime value.

Choosing Between Platforms

Udemy handles discovery and marketing but takes 50% commission. Teachable gives 98% margins and full control. Podia combines both with built-in email marketing. Self-hosted Kajabi costs more but offers complete customization.

Course Structure and Content

Break your expertise into 5-10 modules, each with 3-5 video lessons. Keep videos 5-15 minutes for completion rates. Include worksheets, quizzes, and community access. Price based on niche and depth ($50-500).

Promoting Courses on YouTube

Create 'free mini-course' videos that tease paid content. Use YouTube cards linking to course sales pages. Offer YouTube-exclusive coupon codes for followers. Build email lists from YouTube viewers to launch courses to warm audiences.

Pro Tips

Launch your first course with your most engaged 10% of subscribers before going wide.
Offer lifetime access (one-time purchase) rather than subscriptions—students value owning content.
Include bonuses like worksheets, templates, or group Q&As to justify premium pricing.
Create 'cart abandonment' sequences via email to convert browsers into buyers.
Update courses quarterly with new modules to maintain premium pricing and student retention.