Let’s talk about Udemy a platform that many of us have used or considered.

It’s an excellent launchpad for online courses especially for beginners who are still exploring their teaching style and audience.

I started on Udemy myself a few years ago.

I figured as a marketer I could leverage the platform to test out different topics and course formats without the hassle of building my own website.

It worked well for a while.

But as I gained traction I realized I was hitting a ceiling.

Udemy’s share of my earnings was substantial and the platform’s algorithm seemed to favor established instructors.

I was stuck in a cycle of creating smaller courses for less popular topics which let’s be honest wasn’t exactly profitable.

Ready to ditch Udemy’s limitations and take control of your online course empire? 👑 Learnworlds gives you 100% of your earnings, a built-in website builder, mobile app, and even an AI assistant to help you create amazing courses! 🚀 Start building your dream today!

Table of Contents

Understanding Udemy’s Structure: The Good and the Not-So-Good

You see Udemy is a double-edged sword.

On one hand it provides a ready-made audience of over 70 million learners – a huge pool of potential students for anyone starting out.

It also makes the initial setup incredibly simple with no complicated approvals or pre-requisite experience required.

Just create your account pick a niche and start filming.

However there are some inherent limitations.

Udemy is a marketplace and marketplaces are inherently competitive.

You’re not just battling against other instructors; you’re also fighting for visibility against the platform itself which pushes its own promoted courses.

And with over 75000 instructors vying for attention it’s easy to get lost in the sea of content.

Choosing Your Niche: The Key to Standing Out

This is where the importance of choosing a niche comes into play.

You can’t just jump into any topic you feel like teaching.

You need to analyze what Udemy’s learners are looking for and identify a gap in the market.

I suggest you use Udemy’s own Marketplace Insights tool to get a sense of the demand and competition for different topics.

For instance if you’re interested in digital marketing the tool might show you that there’s already an overwhelming number of courses available making it difficult for a new instructor to stand out.

You might need to explore more specific sub-niches within your field.

Perhaps instead of general digital marketing you could focus on a specific channel like email marketing or social media advertising.

This will help you target a smaller more focused audience which can make it easier to build a reputation and attract students.

Udemy Course Quality Matters

You can’t rely on simply having good information to share.

The presentation matters.

Udemy has specific quality standards for courses and they aren’t joking.

You’ll need to invest in some basic equipment like a decent camera microphone and video editing software.

I learned this the hard way.

My first courses were just screen recordings with audio commentary.

While that was enough back then today it’s not enough to compete.

You need to look professional.

I also made the mistake of not checking the video resolution before filming.

You’re better off doing your research and understanding what’s required before you hit the record button.

The Art of Differentiation

Once you’ve chosen your niche and ensured your course meets Udemy’s quality standards it’s time to figure out how to make your course stand out.

Remember you’re competing against a lot of other instructors so you need to be creative and offer something unique.

One of the most common strategies is to focus on a specific problem that your target audience is facing.

For instance if you’re teaching a course on web development you could focus on a specific challenge like building a responsive website or optimizing website speed.

Don’t underestimate the power of reviews.

They can tell you what makes you unique what students appreciate about your style and what areas you might need to improve.

Marketing Your Udemy Course

Udemy provides some tools for promoting your courses within the platform such as a dedicated instructor dashboard with communication features.

You can use this to interact with students answer questions and send announcements.

However these features are somewhat limited.

You’ll need to leverage external marketing strategies to truly reach your target audience.

Social media email marketing content marketing and even paid advertising are all viable options.

The key is to build a community around your course.

Engage with potential students answer questions and provide valuable content.

This will help you build trust and authority which will ultimately translate into more sales.

Udemy Limitations: When It’s Time to Move On

While Udemy is a fantastic platform to get started it has limitations.

It’s designed for mass consumption which means your earnings are capped and you’re heavily reliant on the platform’s algorithm for visibility.

If you’re serious about scaling your online course business and maximizing your profits it’s time to think beyond Udemy.

Alternatives to Udemy: Building Your Own Empire

There are numerous alternatives to Udemy each with its own set of features and benefits.

Some of the more popular options include:

LearnWorlds: This platform offers a suite of features specifically designed for online course creators including a built-in website builder mobile app builder and AI assistant for course creation. Learnworlds also allows you to keep 100% of your earnings making it a more attractive option for those who are looking to scale their business.
Thinkific: Another excellent platform with a focus on providing the tools and resources you need to create market and sell your courses. Thinkific allows you to create your own branded learning experience and offers a range of pricing plans to suit different budgets.
Kajabi: Kajabi is a powerful platform that combines online course creation with other essential business tools like email marketing landing pages and website building. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for your online business Kajabi is worth considering.
Teachable: Teachable is a popular platform known for its ease of use. It offers a wide range of features including course creation tools marketing resources and payment processing. Teachable also offers a free plan for beginners which is a great way to get started.

Moving Beyond Udemy: The Next Step in Your Online Course Journey

Ultimately the decision of whether to stay on Udemy or move to an alternative platform is yours.

If you’re just starting out Udemy can be a great place to test the waters.

But as you grow consider exploring the alternatives that will give you more control flexibility and profitability.

The world of online courses is vast and exciting.

There are countless opportunities for passionate individuals to share their expertise and build successful businesses.

Udemy can be a valuable stepping stone but remember it’s just the beginning.

The true potential for your online course business lies in building your own brand creating your own learning experience and reaching your audience directly.

How to Sell Your Course on Udemy ⚠️