Building an Online Course Platform for a Specific Niche

🧑‍🏫 Nowadays you might feel like you can learn everything you need to online. But while those big sites like Coursera and Udemy cover pretty much everything, what if you went the opposite direction and niched down?

In this edition of the Easy Startup Ideas newsletter, let’s take a look at how you can turn one of your favorite interests into an entire education business. Become the go-to site for coffee roasting knowledge or surfboard making how-to’s. The sky’s the limit!

Today’s Idea

A platform where experts in niche small business industries (e.g., pet grooming, yoga studios, or local coffee shops) can create and sell micro-courses. The platform earns a percentage of every sale, while providing tools for course creators to market their content.

Ideal Customer

1. Course Creators

   • Who They Are: Experts in niche small business industries (e.g., pet groomers, yoga instructors, café owners) who want to monetize their knowledge.

   • Why They’ll Love It: They get an easy-to-use platform to create and sell courses with access to a ready audience of motivated buyers.

2. Course Buyers

   • Who They Are: Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking actionable, niche-specific advice to grow their businesses.

   • Why They’ll Love It: Affordable, targeted micro-courses created by industry insiders provide them with quick, practical insights they can trust.

Why It Will Succeed

• Untapped Market: Niche industries often lack tailored educational resources, unlike broader markets like software development or marketing.

• Lower Competition: Unlike giants like Udemy, you’ll focus on an underserved niche where demand for specific expertise outweighs the competition.

• Scalability: Once the platform is running, income is primarily passive through course sales and commissions.

• AI and No-Code Advantage: Use AI tools to streamline operations and enhance the course creation process, lowering costs and complexity.

Getting Started and Building an MVP

1. Validate the Idea

• Create a Landing Page: Use a no-code tool like Carrd or Webflow to make a simple one-page site explaining your concept. Include:

  • A call-to-action for course creators to join the platform.

  • A form for course buyers to sign up for early access.

• Test Audience Interest:

  • Share the page in small business Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, or Reddit threads like r/SmallBusiness.

  • Run a small ad campaign targeting specific niches to gauge interest.

2. Define the Platform’s Core Features

• For Creators:

  • Easy course creation tools (integrate with platforms like Teachable or Thinkific).

  • A dashboard to upload videos, organize lessons, and track sales.

• For Buyers:

  • Simple course browsing and purchasing.

  • Access to purchased courses in a user-friendly interface.

3. Build the Marketplace

• Platform Development:

  • Use Bubble to build a marketplace with creator and buyer accounts, basic analytics, and payment integration.

  • Alternatively, use ShareTribe for an out-of-the-box marketplace solution.

• Course Hosting:

  • Host courses on platforms like Teachable or Thinkific if you don’t want to build hosting yourself.

  • Embed hosted courses directly into your platform for a seamless experience.

• Payment System:

  • Integrate Stripe or PayPal for smooth transactions.

4. Recruit Early Creators

• Find Niche Experts:

  • Reach out to industry-specific influencers, consultants, and successful small business owners.

  • Offer incentives like higher commission rates (e.g., 80/20 split) or free access to premium features for early adopters.

• Guide Them:

  • Provide AI-powered tools (like ChatGPT) to help them craft course outlines, lesson scripts, or marketing materials.

  • Create templates for video or slide presentations to streamline their process.

5. Launch and Iterate

• Soft Launch:

  • Roll out the MVP to a small group of buyers and creators.

  • Gather feedback on usability, pricing, and demand for features.

• Iterate:

  • Use insights from early users to refine the platform and prioritize features like better analytics, mobile access, or more payment options.

Monetization Strategies

1. Course Sales Commission: Earn 20-30% per sale, ensuring alignment with industry norms and incentivizing creators.

2. Subscription Model: Offer learners unlimited course access for a monthly fee, generating recurring revenue.

3. Premium Creator Features: Charge for advanced analytics, marketing tools, or priority course placement.

4. Upselling Bundles: Sell discounted course bundles tailored to specific niches (e.g., “Yoga Studio Essentials”).

5. Affiliate Program: Recruit affiliates to promote the platform in exchange for a small commission.

6. Advertising: Allow targeted advertising on your platform (e.g., tools and software for small businesses or proucts/services that appeal to customers buying the courses).

Marketing Strategies

1. Content Marketing:

   • Start a blog or YouTube channel focused on niche-specific advice for small businesses.

   • Use SEO to rank for keywords like “courses for coffee shop owners” or “how to grow a pet grooming business.”

2. Social Media Advertising:

   • Run targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram to reach small business owners.

   • Highlight sample courses, testimonials, and niche-specific benefits in carousel ads.

3. Partnerships and Affiliates:

   • Collaborate with industry influencers, consultants, and associations to promote the platform.

   • Create an affiliate program with commission-based incentives for referrals.

4. Email Marketing:

   • Build an email list from landing pages and use segmented campaigns to nurture creators and buyers.

   • Send personalized content like tips, updates, and course recommendations.

5. Incentives for Early Users:

   • Offer discounts or bonuses to attract the first wave of buyers and creators.

   • Provide premium visibility for early creators to encourage participation.

6. Testimonials and Case Studies:

   • Showcase success stories from businesses that benefited from your courses.

   • Use creator and buyer testimonials to build trust and credibility.

7. Referral Program:

   • Reward buyers and creators for referring others to the platform with discounts or cash incentives, driving organic growth.

Expanding and Improving

1. Interactive Features: Add live webinars, Q&A sessions, or community forums for learners.

2. AI Tools: Use AI to help course creators write lesson plans, scripts, or design course materials.

3. Mobile App: Develop a mobile app for on-the-go learning and easy access to course content.

4. Advanced Analytics: Offer creators insights into how learners engage with their courses.

Brainstormed Business Names

Names will obviously depend on the niche you decide to focus your platform around, but here are a few examples focusing on yoga & wellness, food & beverage, and art.

1. YogaPreneur Hub

2. ThriveFit Courses

3. Holistic Hustle Academy

4. Cafépreneur

5. Chef's Blueprint

6. The Culinary Coursehouse

7. Sip & Serve School

8. Artisan Academy

9. Maker’s Mastery

10. Craft to Cash

Thanks for checking out another edition of Easy Startup Ideas!

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of various partnership programs, the owner of this publication may receive commissions to linked products or services in this newsletter at no additional expense to the reader.