8 tips to become a successful online trainer using an online course platform

In the wake of the current pandemic, the business world went entirely remote—digitizing almost every sector. "Work from home" became the new normal for many around the world, and so did online classes.

Social distancing and safety precautions meant most of the education sector and individual trainers needed to shift their training online, leading to a steady adoption of online course platforms.

The ease of creating courses through these platforms fascinated many individuals, inspiring them to start their own e-courses. No matter if you're a science tutor or a guitarist, creating your online course and reaching learners from any part of the world has become easier than ever.

Based on a research, the online learning industry was projected to reach $375 billion by 2026, and now is the time to start sharing your expertise with the world.         

Here are 8 tips to help you become a successful trainer:

1. Choose the right platform

Choosing the right online course platform can be tricky, especially when there are tons of options to choose from. So, to help you choose an online trainer solution, we've made a list of a few important factors to keep in mind before subscribing to a platform.

a. Type of e-course

You may wish to add videos and PDFs alone for your course content, or you may want to add some live sessions as well. Deciding on the type of content you wish to offer beforehand helps you recognize the features that you require before you settle on  an online course platform.

b. Learner-centric

An online course platform should follow a learner-centric approach. It is better to choose a platform that offers a dedicated learner's portal, where they can track their progress and manage their courses.  

c. Payment options

Some online course platforms only support a limited selection of payment methods and currencies. It's important to choose a platform that allows payment in your required currency, and if you want to reach an international audience, look for a solution that supports multiple currencies and payment methods.

2. Create a website that converts

No matter how valuable your course content could be, if your website is not attracting learners, you won't get the reach you hoped for.

Online course platforms like TrainerCentral allow you to design and customize your website without needing to know how to code. Use a tool like this to create an impressive website that attracts learners.

3. Outline your e-course curriculum in a logical order

Outlining your curriculum—deciding the number of sections in your course, number of lessons in each section, type of course materials each lesson offers, and so on—is the next important aspect to focus on.

As you break down each topic into a separate lesson, making it easier for your learners to grasp it quickly, don't forget to add quizzes at the end of each lesson or section. This helps you evaluate your learner's performance individually.

4. Offer downloadable course materials

Distributing course handouts like PDFs and PPTs for your learners is a great way to increase engagement in online teaching. Try to prepare relevant materials that can be attached to the course. Many online course platforms allow you to use files in any format for course materials.

5. Optimize your e-course for search engines

Getting organic traffic to your website is the best way to get more learners to sign up for your course. SEO marketing plays a major part in getting a higher search results ranking for your website and bringing in more organic traffic.

Good news: you don't need to be a SEO expert to rank in search engine results. For instance, TrainerCentral has an in-built SEO tool that helps optimize your website for your desired keyword. 

6. Accept payments in any currencies

One of the perks of teaching online is that you can train learners from any part of the world. The more learners you bring in, the easier it is to monetize your e-courses.

Some online course platforms will help you set up a payment gateway easily, so you can receive payments from any part of the world. Use a course platform that allows payments in any method and currency.

7. Collect feedback and improve your e-course

Many online trainers skip two important steps: collecting feedback and implementing useful suggestions. Always remember to provide valuable course content to your learners, and make an effort to implement any valuable suggestions they make.

Choose an online course platform that helps you collect and organize your learners' feedback effectively, so you can better track your course performance and make relevant changes to your curriculum.  

8. Reward your learners

There's nothing better than rewarding your learners with tangible proof of the hard work they put into your course. Also, providing a completion certificate improves credibility to your teaching business.

If you choose an online course platform that offers pre-designed templates to choose from, you don't need a designer to make a professional course completion certificate

Online learning has grown and will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. With so many online course platforms available, it's easier than ever for you to create a course and start teaching online.

It's never too late to follow your passion. Turn your unique expertise into a course and start sharing your knowledge with the world.