Before we proceed let me tell you something about myself, the name is Agastya Srivastava, I’m a Professional Blogger, a Tech Consultant and the Founder of LabelsDigital.com. My mission is to enlighten digital entrepreneurs with the support, knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
The online course market is booming right now, with some experts predicting it'll hit $325 billion by 2025. Yet despite this growth, so many first-time course creators crash and burn before they even get off the ground.
Top Course Creation Platforms
Before diving into the mistakes, let's quickly look at two popular platforms that can make your course creation journey smoother:
Thinkific
Pros:
- Super intuitive drag-and-drop course builder
- No transaction fees on any plan
- Unlimited students even on the free plan
Cons:
- Limited marketing tools
- Email automation requires higher-tier plans
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $39/month with more features on higher tiers.
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Kajabi
Pros:
- All-in-one solution (courses, website, email, sales funnels)
- Powerful marketing automations built-in
- Professional-looking templates
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- No free plan and higher price point
Pricing: Plans start at $119/month when billed annually.
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Now, let's jump into those five critical mistakes that can tank your course before it even launches. Trust me, avoiding these will save you countless hours of frustration and thousands in potential lost revenue.
1. Picking a Topic Without Validating It
I still cringe thinking about my first course idea – "Advanced Instagram Marketing for Small Businesses." I was passionate about it, knew the platform inside out, and figured everyone would want to learn my strategies. Six months later, I had a beautifully designed course that nobody wanted.
Here's the truth: your passion doesn't necessarily equal market demand. What feels like a brilliant idea might not be what people are actually willing to pay for.
The fix is surprisingly simple – validate before you create. Here's how:
- Run a simple Google survey asking your target audience about their biggest challenges related to your topic
- Check keyword tools like Ahrefs or even free ones like Ubersuggest to see search volume around your topic
- Hang out in forums and Facebook groups where your potential students gather – what questions do they ask repeatedly?
When I finally took the time to do this research, I discovered people weren't looking for "advanced" strategies – they wanted beginner-friendly, step-by-step guidance that wouldn't overwhelm them. That insight completely changed my approach.
2. Overcomplicating the Tech Setup
Omg, the tech nightmare phase. I still remember trying to cobble together WordPress with a membership plugin, connecting it to my email software, finding a video hosting solution, and then integrating a payment processor. I spent more time troubleshooting tech issues than actually creating course content!
Too many new course creators think they need to build a custom tech ecosystem from scratch. You don't – especially not for your first course.
The solution is to start simple with an all-in-one platform. Both Thinkific and Kajabi mentioned above will handle everything you need:
- Course hosting and delivery
- Student management
- Payment processing
- Basic marketing tools
My stress levels dropped dramatically when I finally switched to a single platform solution. Yes, you might pay a bit more monthly, but the time saved and headaches avoided are worth every penny.
3. Creating Content Before Planning Outcomes
This one's embarrassing – I actually recorded 15 videos for my course before realizing they didn't build toward any specific, tangible skill. I was essentially brain-dumping everything I knew about the topic without considering what students would actually DO with that information.
Before you record a single video or write one word of content, ask yourself: "What specific skills or results will students have by the end of this course?"
Here's a better approach:
- Define 3-5 concrete learning outcomes
- Break each outcome into required skills/knowledge
- Create content modules that build these skills logically
- Only then start recording or writing
When I restructured my course this way, student completion rates jumped from around 23% to over 68%. People stuck with it because they could see how each lesson was getting them closer to their goal.
4. Ignoring Audience Building
Launch day finally arrived for my first course. I sent an excited email to my list of... 37 people. Then I wondered why sales weren't pouring in! The classic "build it and they will come" fallacy hit me hard.
Here's a harsh truth: you should start building your audience BEFORE you even begin creating your course. An engaged audience is not just nice to have – it's essential.
What I should have done (and what I do now):
- Start a simple email newsletter sharing free valuable content on your topic
- Create social content consistently for at least 3 months before launch
- Guest on relevant podcasts to expand your reach
- Run a free mini-course or workshop to build your list with qualified prospects
My second course launch was to a list of about 600 people who already knew, liked, and trusted me. The difference in results was night and day – we sold 43 spots in the first week compared to just 5 for my first course.
5. Underpricing or Overpricing Without Strategy
Pricing is where so many of us freeze up. I've swung between both extremes – offering way too much value for $37, then later trying to sell a basic course for $997 because "that's what the gurus charge."
The mistake is guessing your pricing rather than developing a strategic approach.
Here's a smarter way to price your first course:
- Research what competitors with similar outcomes charge
- Consider your target audience's ability to pay
- Factor in the transformation value (not just the information)
- Test your pricing with a small segment before wide release
After much trial and error, I've found that starting in the middle range of market prices works well for first courses. You can always create premium versions or coaching add-ons later to increase average order value.
Final Thoughts: Your Pre-Launch Checklist
Before you hit that launch button on your first course, run through this quick self-audit:
- Have I validated my course topic with real market research?
- Is my tech stack as simple as possible while meeting my needs?
- Does every piece of content support clear learning outcomes?
- Do I have an audience ready and waiting for this solution?
- Have I developed a strategic pricing approach?
Getting these five elements right won't guarantee overnight success, but it will dramatically increase your odds of creating a course that actually sells and helps people.
I'd love to hear your experiences with course creation! What mistakes have you made or what are you most worried about? Drop me a comment below or grab my free Course Launch Checklist for a more detailed guide to your first successful launch.