Don’t have that FOMO head smacking moment, learn how to create online course income now with these 5 genius side hustles.

Duh!

(snort/head smack inserted here)

Yep, we’ve all been there.

The idea that seems so stupid simple that anyone could have thought of it and you want to kick yourself that it wasn’t you.

This could be an invention, product, life hack, etc…

It usually involves missing the boat on making money – lots of money. I always think of the Super Soaker when these sorts of scenarios come about…

If you’re like me and have been looking for ways to make money online, you’ve no doubt stumbled upon everyone and their brother making/teaching/selling online courses. You might have even bought one yourself.

There are a lot of different reasons for the boom in online courses. Digital courses are easier to attend/do, you always have access to the information, you can login and do them at your own pace, the information is pinpointed to exactly what you are looking for, and the list goes on.

So, buckle up and let’s explore the world of online courses and side hustles together.

No more head smacking needed.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I could earn a commission if you purchase through my links, however, there is no cost to you. Rest assured, I only promote products that I use or think are great. Thanks for reading!!

5 Ways to Create Online Course Income

1. Transform Your Expertise into a Money-Making Machine

This one is the most obvious and what you see the most of.

You can tap into your hidden talents and create online course income by sharing your knowledge with the world. Whether you’re a whiz at yoga, a Photoshop pro, or a master chef, there’s an audience out there eager to learn from you.

Follow these steps to launch your online course:

• Identify your niche (a category/topic)
• Outline your course
• Create engaging content
• Market your course to the right audience (this is where social media comes into play)
• Launch, and watch the income roll in!

And remember, the more you engage with your students, the better your course will perform. After all, happy students mean glowing reviews and more sales.

I know the above list makes it look easy-peasy pretty pleasy, but it really does not need to be earth shattering. You can have a course on just about anything that you think someone will want to learn.

And, before you say you don’t have any skills worth sharing, I urge you to look outside your main line of work and think about hobbies you enjoy or things that you’re interested in off the clock.

The simplest things that are super niched down are usually the best.

Resources to Check Out:

I always recommend Teachable for an easy-to-use platform to launch your course.

(As a side note, if you have enough video footage for a course, you can also use some of that to start a monetized YouTube channel. Check out my post How to Make Money On YouTube Without Showing Your Face or Losing Your Dignity or Erika’s Mastering YouTube Course for more info.)

2. Enter the Lucrative World of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to create online course income without even creating your own course. You can partner with course creators or online learning platforms and promote their courses to your audience. When someone makes a purchase through your unique affiliate link, you earn a commission. Cha-ching!

To get started, follow these steps:

• Research popular courses in your niche
• Join affiliate programs of your chosen courses or platforms
• Create engaging content (blog posts, social media updates, etc.) to promote the courses
• Track your sales and optimize your marketing strategies for maximum profit

You’re probably going to want to go ahead and pick an online course that you’ve actually done.  This way you won’t feel like a phony.

If you don’t see an option to be an affiliate for a course that you’re interested in promoting, contact the course operator directly and inquire about their affiliate program. If they don’t have one, maybe they’ll start one for you. Ya never know.

Check out my post Not A Pyramid: How To Make Passive Income With Affiliate Marketing for more info on how it all works.

3. Offer One-on-One Coaching and Mentoring

Sometimes, students need a little extra guidance, and that’s where you come in. By offering personalized coaching and mentoring services, you can create online course income and help your students achieve their goals.

Here’s how to get started:

• Define your coaching or mentoring services
• Set up a booking system
• Market your services to your target audience (social media again)
• Deliver top-notch coaching sessions

As your reputation grows, so will your income. Plus, you’ll get the warm fuzzies from helping others succeed.

This one obviously is not as passive as some of the others on this list because you will personally have to be involved with each individual, but it can be very lucrative since people will be willing to pay for direct virtual contact with you.

4. Master the Art of Course Flipping

I know you’ve heard of house flipping.

Well, course flipping is a similar concept, but in the world of online education. You can buy existing online courses, revamp and improve them, and then sell them at a higher price. It’s an unconventional way to create online course income, but hey, who said we’re playing by the rules?

To become a course-flipping guru, follow these steps:

• Find an underperforming course
• Purchase the rights to the course
• Update and improve the course content
• Rebrand and relaunch the course
• Profit from your hard work

Resources to Check Out:

Most of the courses that you will find to buy will be tied to websites or blogs that are up for sale.

I always recommend checking Flippa or Empire Flippers to buy, sell, or flip anything online.

Check out my post Flipping Websites for Beginners: Digital Real Estate into Cashola for more info on flipping a website.

5. Create a Digital Empire with a Membership Site

If you want to create online course income on autopilot, consider building a membership site. By offering a library of courses, resources, and support, you can attract a loyal community of subscribers who pay you month after month for access to your expertise. It’s like building a digital empire where you’re the ruler, and your subjects happily pay you tribute. Sounds like a sweet deal, right?

To set up a successful membership site, follow these steps:

• Determine your niche and target audience
• Create a library of valuable content (courses, articles, videos, etc.)
• Set up a user-friendly platform for your members
• Market your membership site to attract subscribers
• Continuously update your content and engage with your members

As your membership site grows, so will your online course income. Plus, you’ll establish yourself as an authority in your niche, which is always a good thing for business!

Multiple Ways to Create Online Course Income

There you have it folks – five side hustles that’ll help you create online course income so you won’t miss this little internet boom we’re in.

I can’t remember what TED Talk I saw that mentioned this, but they say the key to success in starting a business of any sort is tenacity.

The tenacity to just keep grinding away, even when you don’t think it’s possible.

I don’t think that creating online income needs to be that severe.

I think with a thing like online courses, you can easily make some really good side hustle cash.

And that my friends is the goal – to make enough money with our endeavors to make a significant contribution to our households so we can live better.

So, go on, unleash your inner entrepreneur, and start creating online course income. And when you’re sipping a cocktail on the beach vacation, courtesy of your newfound wealth, don’t forget to send me a postcard!