Wednesday 9 July 2014

How should I price my online training course?

Price is hard.

I see many people putting the price too high for the value I think they provide - particularly on Udemy, because of the massive discounting that goes on through that platform.

Next time I create courses I'll be aiming for smaller courses about 3-4 hours, at about $39 - $59

My current course is about 18 hours at $175 - $299, so I'm pricing at about $10 to $15 an hour. 

But I'd advise you not to worry about price yet. 

Focus on content and scope. And benefit to the student.

Experiment with the tools and technologies because it takes time to learn how to edit these videos etc.

I will say however that the general advice "see what other people are doing, then price a little under that" sucks. If you don't offer anything that is better value, or better quality, and can't be sold for the same price (or a little more) then don't enter that market.

Focus on the value you can add, then price accordingly.

Use other courses as guides for what you like, and don't like, and do something different.

But make sure that your course, your content, your approach, your scope, and your pricing, are true to you, and you can justify the price on its own terms based on the value your course adds, not in terms of reference to the competition.

What software should I use for creating online training?

I advise you to record and edit on Windows, using Camtasia

I tried a bunch of other tools, but for Windows Camtasia is great. 

I also have Camtasia on the mac, but I don't use it for editing, I export to mp4 and edit on Windows. I think the editing on Mac doesn't flow as well. And I wish the two versions shared the same file format.

Apparently people also like screenflow on the mac, and I think if the Mac was my main machine I'd use that. But I'm sticking to camtasia on windows.

I have also used bbsoftware in my early days when Camtasia seemed too expensive, and it was good, but Camtasia was better - again evals for 30 days so you can experiment.

I have used sony vegas cheapy edition, and it too was good, but not really aimed at the screen capture and editing that I do for my training.

What microphone should I use for recording online training?

I use the blue yeti for all my recording now


Amazing the difference in quality.

I don't use the livechat for any recording any more - apparently the gaming headsets are the ones to go for, if you go for a headset mic. But this was great quality at a low price, when I started. But if you can, start off with the Blue Yeti and don't experiment with others - so many trainers I know, all use the blue yeti. And they do so for a reason - it is great.

I have my blue yeti on a boom stand.


Because the blue yeti stand picked up vibration and noise when I was using the keyboard, and this avoids this problem for me. I do a lot of screen capture, hands on computer stuff in my training.

Many trainers avoid this by doing the audio track separate from the video track. I rarely do that, but on some lectures that seems appropriate.

I had to buy a thread adapter: a generic Microphone Mic Clip Stand Thread Adaptor 3/8" to 5/8" Connector, to connect the mic to the stand

I also bought a generic pop shield which works fine for me