How to Create an Online Course (Complete 2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

Learn how to create an online course. This 2026 guide covers planning, recording, pricing, structuring, and publishing your course with Zenler.

Creating an online course is one of the best ways to build authority, earn recurring income, and help people achieve real transformation.

This guide walks you through the exact steps successful course creators follow — from planning and recording to uploading, pricing, and launching.

If you follow this process, you'll have a professional-quality course ready to sell faster than you think.

🎥 ▶️ How to Create an Online Course — Full Workflow (Zenler Edition)

Step 1 — Choose a Profitable Course Topic

The best topics sit at the intersection of:

Something you're skilled at
Something you enjoy
Something people are actively searching for
Something people pay to learn

If you're unsure, look for:

Repeated questions your audience asks
A problem you've solved personally
Skills you use daily
Transformations you can teach

🔗 Before you dive deeper, check out How to Plan an Online Course to clarify your idea and shape your learning outcomes.

Step 2 — Plan Your Course Structure

This is where you outline:

Modules
Lessons
Learning outcomes
Action steps
Supporting resources

Keep modules simple and outcome-driven.

🔗 If you need help structuring lessons clearly, see How to Script Your Course.

Step 3 — Script or Outline Your Lessons

You don't need word-for-word scripts — just a clear flow:

Hook
Teaching points
Demonstration
Summary
Call to action

A structure makes recording faster and your teaching clearer.

🔗 Use our proven framework here: How to Script & Outline Your Course

Step 4 — Record Your Course

Recording is easier than most creators think. Your goal: clear visuals + great audio.

Equipment you can use:

Phone or DSLR camera
USB microphone or lapel mic
Ring light or window light
Zenler screen recorder

🔗 For a full A–Z breakdown of recording setups, see How to Record an Online Course.
🔗 Not sure what gear to buy? Here's our Course Equipment Guide.

Step 5 — Upload & Organise Your Course in Zenler

Zenler makes course building fast:

Create modules
Add lessons
Upload videos
Add downloads
Activate drip
Add quizzes or assignments

🔗 See the full walkthrough here: How to Upload & Structure a Course in Zenler.

Step 6 — Price Your Course

There is no single "correct" price.

Use these frameworks:

Outcome-Based Pricing
Market Comparison
Tiered Pricing
Founders Launch Price

🔗 Learn the proven models in How to Price Your Course.

Step 7 — Launch Your Course

A simple launch can outperform a complicated funnel. Use:

Preview content
Email sequences
Live sessions
Bonus packs
Countdown timers
Clear scarcity

🔗 For a full step-by-step approach, see Course Launch Strategy.

🎯 Summary: Your Course Creation Workflow

Pick your topic
Plan your course
Script your lessons
Record your content
Upload to Zenler
Set your pricing
Launch with confidence

❓ FAQ's

Q: How long should my online course be? Focus on transformation, not length. A 60-minute course can be more effective than a 10-hour one.

Q: Do I need professional equipment? No. A smartphone and a good microphone are more than enough. See the Course Equipment Guide.

Q: How do I build a course if I'm not techy? Platforms like Zenler make the process simple with drag-and-drop tools and built-in hosting.

Q: How do I know people will buy my course? Validate by surveying your audience, posting teasers, or offering a mini-workshop.

🚀 Call to Action

Ready to start building your online course?

Zenler gives you everything in one platform — courses, memberships, communities, funnels, email automation, live sessions & more.

👉 Start building today with Zenler

📌 Your Complete Course Creation Roadmap

🎥 Watch the Full Video Series

Prefer to learn by watching? We've turned this entire guide into a step-by-step video series on YouTube.

👉 Watch the Course Creation Playlist

Categories: : Course Creators