Creating and selling online courses has become one of the most profitable and fulfilling ways to share your expertise with the world. Whether you’re a coach, a business owner, or simply someone with valuable knowledge to share, Teachable offers one of the most user-friendly and powerful platforms to turn your skills into income.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly how to create, market, and sell courses on Teachable, even if you have zero technical experience. We’ll cover everything—from planning your course and setting up your account to pricing, marketing, and scaling your sales.
What Is Teachable?
Teachable is an all-in-one online course creation platform that allows you to create, host, and sell online courses and digital products. It’s designed for creators, coaches, and educators who want to monetize their knowledge without worrying about coding, hosting, or complicated integrations.
With Teachable, you can:
- Create and upload video lessons, quizzes, and downloadable files.
- Customize your course website.
- Accept payments globally.
- Offer coupons, bundles, and upsells.
- Track student progress and manage your business—all in one dashboard.
In short, Teachable helps you focus on teaching and selling rather than tech.
Step 1: Plan Your Course Idea
Before creating your course, you need a clear idea of what you’ll teach and who your audience is.
1. Identify a Profitable Niche
Your course should solve a problem that people are already paying to solve. Start by asking:
- What topics am I skilled or passionate about?
- What problems can I solve better than others?
- Are people already buying similar courses?
Use platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or YouTube to research trending topics and see where your unique angle can fit.
2. Validate Your Idea
Validation ensures you don’t waste time creating a course no one wants. Try:
- Posting a survey or poll on social media.
- Offering a free webinar to test interest.
- Pre-selling the course to early adopters.
If people show genuine interest or pay in advance, your idea is solid.
Step 2: Create a Teachable Account
Visit teachable.com and sign up for a free account. You can start with the Free Plan to test the waters, then upgrade to paid plans (starting at $39/month) for advanced features like custom domains, no transaction fees, and affiliate programs.
After signing up:
- Choose a school name (this will be your main website name).
- Customize your school URL (e.g., yourbrand.teachable.com).
- Add your logo, colors, and branding to make your school look professional.
Step 3: Structure Your Course Content
The most successful courses are structured around clear learning outcomes. Students should know exactly what they’ll gain from enrolling.
1. Outline Your Course
Break your course into modules (main topics) and lessons (individual concepts).
Example structure:
- Module 1: Introduction
- Module 2: Core Concepts
- Module 3: Application and Practice
- Module 4: Bonus Materials
- Module 5: Conclusion and Next Steps
2. Choose Your Content Format
Teachable supports:
- Video lessons (the most engaging)
- Text lessons
- PDFs and downloads
- Quizzes and assignments
- Coaching sessions (via live or recorded video)
3. Record and Edit Your Videos
You don’t need fancy equipment. A good smartphone camera and a lapel mic can do the job. For editing, try Camtasia, iMovie, or CapCut. Keep videos short (5–10 minutes) and actionable.
Step 4: Upload Your Course to Teachable
Once your materials are ready:
- Go to your Teachable dashboard.
- Click “Courses” → “New Course.”
- Add your title, subtitle, and description.
- Upload your videos, PDFs, and quizzes.
- Organize them into sections (drip content if you want to release lessons over time).
Teachable automatically saves your progress, so you can edit anytime.
Step 5: Customize Your Course Sales Page
Your sales page is where students decide whether to buy your course. Teachable includes a drag-and-drop page builder that lets you design visually appealing pages.
Key Elements of a High-Converting Sales Page
- Headline: Clearly state the benefit (e.g., “Learn Copywriting in 7 Days and Land Your First Client”).
- Course Preview Video: Showcase your teaching style.
- Testimonials: Social proof builds trust.
- Curriculum Overview: Show what’s included.
- Instructor Bio: Highlight your expertise.
- Pricing and Call-to-Action (CTA): Make it easy to buy.
Add urgency using limited-time discounts or enrollment deadlines.
Step 6: Set Up Pricing and Payments
Teachable gives you flexibility in how you price your courses:
- One-time payment (e.g., $99)
- Subscription (monthly recurring payments)
- Payment plans (e.g., 3 payments of $50)
- Free or discounted access for promotions
You can also integrate Teachable Payments (Stripe and PayPal supported) to collect payments securely in multiple currencies.
Pro Tip: Test different pricing models. Some creators earn more by offering a $199 one-time payment instead of $39/month subscriptions.
Step 7: Publish and Test Your Course
Before launching publicly:
- Review every module for typos or errors.
- Test your checkout process.
- Enroll a friend or beta student to provide feedback.
- Preview the mobile experience—Teachable is mobile-responsive, so your course should look great on all devices.
When everything looks good, hit “Publish.”
Step 8: Market Your Teachable Course
Creating a course is only half the battle. Marketing determines your success.
1. Build an Email List
Start by creating a free lead magnet (like a mini course or PDF). Use tools like ConvertKit or Mailchimp to capture leads and nurture them with valuable emails leading to your course offer.
2. Leverage Social Media
Use short-form videos on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts to promote your expertise. End each video with a call to action:
👉 “Enroll now in my full course on Teachable.”
3. Run Webinars
Free live or recorded webinars are one of the most effective ways to sell online courses. Teachable integrates with tools like Zoom or WebinarJam, allowing you to convert live attendees directly.
4. Partner with Affiliates
Teachable has a built-in affiliate system. Recruit other influencers or students to promote your course in exchange for a commission (typically 30–50%).
5. Paid Ads
Once you have steady organic sales, amplify your results with Facebook or YouTube ads. Start small ($10/day) and scale based on ROI.
Step 9: Engage Your Students
Engagement increases retention and referrals.
Use Teachable’s features to:
- Add discussion forums or comment sections under each lesson.
- Offer certificates of completion (available on paid plans).
- Create bonus content or Q&A sessions for top students.
- Send personalized emails to inactive learners to encourage progress.
Happy students become your best marketers.
Step 10: Analyze and Scale
Teachable’s built-in analytics dashboard lets you track:
- Enrollment rates
- Lesson completion percentages
- Revenue and sales sources
- Student feedback
Use these insights to:
- Improve weak lessons.
- Add new bonuses or upsells.
- Create course bundles (e.g., “Beginner + Advanced Packages”).
- Launch new courses targeting similar audiences.
Scaling tip: Turn your most successful course into a coaching program or membership for recurring income.
How Much Can You Earn on Teachable?
Your earnings depend on your niche, pricing, and marketing strategy.
Here’s a rough estimate:
- 50 students at $99 = $4,950
- 200 students at $199 = $39,800
- 1,000 students at $99 = $99,000
Once your system is automated (email funnels, ads, and affiliates), Teachable can become a true passive income machine.
Final Thoughts: Why Teachable Is Worth It
Teachable simplifies every step of online course creation—from uploading lessons to collecting payments and engaging students. Unlike marketplaces like Udemy, you retain 100% control over your content, pricing, and branding.
If you’re ready to:
- Build authority in your niche,
- Generate consistent income,
- And make a real impact—
then creating a course on Teachable is one of the smartest moves you can make this year.
Start your free Teachable account today at www.teachable.com, and turn your knowledge into income.
