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The Unspoken Truth About Creating an Online Course (And Why More People Should Do It)

When I first stepped into the world of online courses, I thought the hardest part would be figuring out the tech or filming the lessons.


But the real challenge, and the most rewarding part, was something entirely different!

After creating multiple courses and helping over 40,000 students globally, I’ve noticed a pattern. Most people don’t realise how valuable their knowledge truly is. And more importantly, they underestimate the life-changing impact of sharing that knowledge with others.


This post isn’t about the mechanics of building a course. It’s about the mindset shifts and the empowering reality that anyone can create an online course and share their skills, stories or expertise far beyond the walls of their workplace, city, or country.


1. Your Knowledge Has Global Value

One of the most common things I hear is, “But who would want to learn from me?”

The answer? More people than you think.


  • Imagine a school teacher who’s spent years developing strategies to help kids with learning difficulties. Instead of that knowledge being limited to one classroom, they could create an online course that helps parents, homeschoolers, or other teachers anywhere in the world.

  • Or think about a fitness instructor who’s great at helping busy parents stay healthy at home. Instead of running local 1:1 sessions, they can create a course that supports hundreds (or thousands) of people on their own schedule.


Here are two more professions (and students of mine) that were perfectly suited for online courses :

  • A graphic designer teaching small business owners how to create professional-looking social media posts and marketing materials without needing to hire an agency.

  • A financial advisor who created a course teaching young adults how to budget, save, and invest. Skills most of us were never taught at school.


What do all these examples have in common? They’re no longer restricted by time, geography, or one-to-one service. Online courses give them leverage to scale their knowledge and impact.

Here is an example I provided on YouTube about how I transitioned from a school teacher to an online course instructor. View HERE

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2. Simplicity Is the Secret

Most first-time course creators overcomplicate the process. I know I did.

I thought I needed the perfect camera setup, hours of content, fancy graphics and a huge launch strategy. But the truth is… what people actually want is clarity, not complexity.

Some of my best-performing courses are between 90 minutes to 3 hours long. They’re broken into simple, actionable lessons designed to solve a clear problem.


When you keep it focused and practical, you actually increase the value for the student. Simplicity always wins. I'm finding that my students have less time to invest in courses and prefer shorter and sharper courses with key actionable steps.


3. The Platform Doesn’t Define Your Success

People often get stuck asking, “But which platform should I use?”

Here’s the honest truth: the platform won’t make or break your course.


I personally chose Thinkific because it was clean, user-friendly, and allowed me to fully own my content and customer relationships. But whether you choose Thinkific, Teachable, Kajabi, Udemy or something else, the real key is this:


Your success comes from your message, your clarity, and your ability to solve a problem for someone, not the platform you choose.


Pick a platform that feels simple and easy to use for you, and then focus on building. If you wanted to use Thinkific, I've got all the resources you need to get started. Scroll down for all those resources.

4. The Biggest Roadblock Is… You

This might sting a little, but it’s true for most of us.

The real reason people don’t launch their course isn’t the tech or the content. It’s fear.

  • “I’m not expert enough.”

  • “What if no one buys it?”

  • “I hate being on camera.”


I’ve had every single one of these thoughts myself. But here’s what I’ve learned:

Every expert was once a beginner.


You don’t need to be the world’s leading authority. You just need to help someone who’s a few steps behind you. The moment you start thinking about how your knowledge can help someone else (rather than worrying about how you’ll be judged), the process becomes a lot less scary.


5. The Freedom Is Real

Here’s what no one tells you until you experience it firsthand:

When someone buys your course while you’re asleep… or a student from another country messages you to say your course helped them… that’s when it truly sinks in.

You’ve built something that works without trading time for money. You’ve created something that makes an impact whether you’re working, with your family, or on holiday.

Yes, there’s upfront work—planning, recording, and building. But the payoff isn’t just financial. It’s freedom.

  • Freedom of time.

  • Freedom of location.

  • Freedom to help more people than you ever could with a traditional job or 1:1 service.


You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Start

The online course world isn’t reserved for influencers, celebrities, or tech experts. It’s for real people with real knowledge. People like you.

If this idea has been sitting in the back of your mind for a while, I encourage you to lean into it. You don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to take the first step.


To help, I’ve created these free resources:

A Free 2-Hour Course: A simple step-by-step guide on how to get started with creating your online course: https://publishing-accelerator.thinkific.com/courses/create-an-online-thinkific-course​


The Free Online Course Creation Guide: A downloadable PDF that walks you through my 7-step framework. Download Here: https://rebrand.ly/online-course-7-step-guide​


My YouTube Playlist on Online Course Creation: Full of videos on platform comparisons, how to build courses, and passive income tips.


Classroom2Online - Resource for School Teachers: A guide to show school teachers how to create an online course


Check them out if you’re ready to turn your knowledge into something that creates income, impact, and freedom.



All the best,

Romney

Romney Nelson - Founder of Global Self-Publishing

Best Selling Course Instructor

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