I recently took the plunge and launched my first course on Udemy. I had been Udemy curious for a while… but had always been a bit intimidated by Udemy… but decided to give it a go… tAnd guess what? In just a few days, I had 783 students enrolled! 🎉 I owe a huge part of this success to Kenz Soliman’s “Marketplace Superstar” course, which provided me with the roadmap I needed to navigate the Udemy landscape. A big part of Marketplace Superstar is a week of personal coaching on Telegram each month. And, for those who managed to publish a course in a week – there was the prize of being part of one of Kenz’s collborative courses…

Here’s a rundown of my experience, sprinkled with some tips and insights that can help you create your first course on Udemy.

1. Content Requirements: Short, Sweet, and Structured

Udemy requires a minimum of 30 minutes of content, but it must be broken up into at least five modules. This structure not only makes the course digestible for students but also helps in organizing your content effectively. Keep it concise and focused—each module should deliver a specific piece of value. I had a longer course mapped out in Canva. So I turned each subsection into it’s own lesson – it worked pretty well.

2. The Power of Multiple Short Courses

Initially, I planned to put my entire course on Udemy as one long module. Thankfully, I was advised otherwise. The modules are short – and I was on a deadline.Multiple shorter courses are more engaging and manageable for students. Plus, they allow you to cover more ground without overwhelming your audience. Think of it as creating a series rather than a single blockbuster.

3. Quality Over Quantity: The Importance of Audio and Video Standards

Udemy has stringent quality checks for audio and video. My first attempt at recording had to be redone because the audio quality was off. Thanks to Kenz’s guidance, I reworked my setup and nailed it. Good quality isn’t just about looking professional—it’s about ensuring your students have a seamless learning experience. I started recording on zoom – but them moved to a new video editing program called Tella Video – https://solobizhacker.com/tella. Jasper (who is really picky about these things) was really impressed with the quality in the end.

4. The Submission Saga: Patience Pays Off

Submitting a course to Udemy is a process. First, you need to verify your ID, then submit your course for review. I had to resubmit my course to fix a small issue, which added a few extra days to the timeline. Patience is key here. Each step, though seemingly tedious, ensures your course meets Udemy’s standards, ultimately benefiting you and your students. Although the submission saga cost me making the one week deadline – I feel very proud when my course was finally accepted.

5. Momentum Week: Personal Support Made All the Difference

One of the standout aspects of Kenz’s course was the “Momentum Week” where she provided personal support via Telegram. This hands-on assistance was invaluable, helping me fine-tune my course and boosting my confidence. Sometimes, having that direct line of communication makes all the difference.

6. Leveraging Udemy’s Coupon System: Reaching My First 783 Students

Udemy offers a promotional coupon system, and I used a 3-day coupon for 1000 redemptions. I looked up Udemy coupon groups on Facebook and posted my course there. Seeing 783 people sign up was exhilarating! This influx of students not only validated my course content but also gave me a ready audience to engage with further content.

7. Building Your Community with Udemy

The nice thing about the Udemy influx is that I can email them through Udemy weekly. I can’t send promotional messages – but I can point people to content related to my course – this content can have an opt in link. You can also send promotional emails about your other courses in Udemy.

So, my class is now for sale on Udemy. I might make money on it – but like writing a book, the point is to show my expertise and grow my community. I’m already hard at work on my next course on Social Listening which I plan to release on Udemy in August.