Ever wonder if your skills could actually make money while you sleep?
I used to think selling an online course was only for influencers or big-time marketers. But after launching my first course with nothing more than Google Slides, Loom, and a Notion landing page, I realized this: you don’t need to be famous — just focused.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I (and many others) built simple online courses that sell — and how you can start, even with zero audience.
Table of Contents
Why Online Courses Are Perfect for Passive Income
Creating and selling a digital course is one of the lowest-barrier ways to build passive income in 2025. There’s no shipping, no warehouse, no customer returns — and you can make sales while you sleep.
Personally, I started exploring this path because I wanted to scale my time. Instead of teaching the same thing over and over in DMs or Zoom calls, I packaged it once — and suddenly I had a product that worked without me.
If you know how to solve a problem others are struggling with, you already have a course inside you.
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Course Topic
Here’s the hard truth: “interesting” doesn’t always equal “profitable.”
The sweet spot is finding something that people actively search for, struggle with, and are willing to pay for.
For my first course, I didn’t ask “What do I want to teach?”
I asked: “What’s a painful problem I’ve solved for myself — and could help others solve faster?”
- How to Get Freelance Clients Without Cold Emails
- Beginner’s Guide to Notion for Time Management
- Meal Prep for Busy Parents: 3 Days a Week, Max
Start from Reddit threads, Quora questions, or DMs you keep getting. That’s where your course idea is hiding.
Step 2: Validate Your Idea Before You Build
Before recording anything, I wanted proof someone would actually pay for the course. Here’s how I tested interest:
- Made a one-page landing page on Notion
- Shared the idea in 2 Facebook groups and my IG story
- Collected emails with ConvertKit for a waitlist
- Got 7 pre-orders at $37 within the first 5 days
Even if it’s messy, get validation before you build. Don’t make the mistake of spending weeks recording videos for an audience that doesn’t exist.
Step 3: Choose a Course Creation Platform
You don’t need an all-in-one system with bells and whistles from day one.
Here’s what I considered (and tried):
- Teachable: Best if you want simple, no-fuss setup. They handle checkout and hosting.
- Thinkific: Solid for coaches. Drip lessons, quizzes, more branding control.
- Gumroad: What I actually used. Great for creators selling templates, PDFs, or mini-courses.
- Podia: All-in-one with email, pages, and products. Bit heavy for a first timer.
My advice? Go with whatever lets you publish in under 48 hours.
Step 4: Create Your Course Content
You don’t need 50 video lessons. You need transformation.
- 6 short video lessons (7–10 min each)
- 1 Google Doc checklist
- Slides made in Canva
- Bonus swipe file as PDF
I used Loom to record my screen and voice. No face cam. No fancy editing. I literally filmed half of it on a Saturday morning while still in my hoodie.
The point is: clear beats polished.
Step 5: Price & Launch Your Course
Pricing is where most new creators freeze. You’ll either undercharge (“$19 feels safe...”) or overthink it.
Here’s how I approached it:
- Set early bird price at $37
- Went up to $79 after the first 10 customers
- Used a Stripe link + Notion page (no full website)
Launch ideas that worked for me:
- Shared build-in-public process on IG
- Posted before/after wins in a Facebook group
- Used a countdown timer and free bonus to build urgency
FAQ
Q: Do I need to be an expert to sell a course?
Nope. If you’ve solved a problem once, you’re qualified to guide someone else through it.
Q: What tools did you use?
Loom, Canva, Notion, Stripe.
Q: How do I know if it’s “good enough”?
If someone gets a clear outcome — it’s good enough.
Q: Can I update the course later?
Yes. I added a bonus module 3 weeks after launch and saw renewed traffic.
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