It's definitely the age of course creators and digital products for passive income. 

I myself run a small online language business and create and sell courses in there. 

As will be the theme of all the future blog posts, I have spend the time doing soooo much research, testing and implementation. You don't have to waste all that time, because you've found us here. 

LET'S GET INTO IT 

When should you host a course for free?

If you are just starting out as a course creator or digital product creator, or if you would like to test out the market with a course idea, then you should very much consider hosting a course for free. 

You will save yourself both time and money, and best of all, you will have 100% profit margins. 

1. Google Drive. 

Host your course in one Google Drive folder. 

This might look like a 'start here doc' for all your course and getting started info you'd like your learners to start with and then sperate folders for each module/week/day of your course, however you want your program to be laid out. 

Google drive is great for workbooks and documents especially. Images are easily added to documents, and if you want to include videos, you can easily add links to videos hosted on Youtube (you can unlist videos so they are not available to everyone on Youtube, and only those with links), Vimeo, Loom, or even Canva. Canva and Youtube are completely free of course, and many other video hosting platforms have free options, or else very cheap. 

2. Email

I've recently signed up to a 30 day challenge that is delivered completely by email. 

Email challenges and mini courses are definitely gaining in popularity, and I'm planning to host my own for my email list soon. 

This can look like your course divided up over a course of daily/weekly emails.

Workbooks and spreadsheets can be shared with a view only link, or a link to make a copy. 

As above, you can link to unlisted Youtube videos or to any video online where your learners can watch and view. 

3. Facebook Groups 

Facebook group courses are gaining so much in popularity. They are great because everyone has a Facebook account, people are already on Facebook during their day and it's completely free to have a Facebook group of course. In Facebook group courses, course creators plan out their lessons and videos in advance and deliver them over a number of days/ weeks. Videos can be linked in your group and watched within the group, and its so easy to link to Google docs and Canva workbooks too. 

Planning your free course

Really a course comes down to these main categories.

1. Information which can be delivered by email, word/Google docs, Canva docs or webpages. 

2. Videos (if you want/need to) which can hosted on Youtube, within Facebook groups, on Canva, platforms like Loom or Vimeo. 

3. A way to collect payment and/or email address. Payments can be collected by Paypal, Stripe or even by bank transfer. There are so many platforms like Mailchimp that allow you to start an email list and build landing pages for free. 

When should you pay for a course hosting platform? 

I would 100% suggest choosing an all-in-one platform for your business, IF, 

• You already have the income to play for the monthly subscription
• You can pay for the yearly cost upfront.

Why? 

•  Because they are professional
• Platforms like Kajabi, especially, have absolutely everything you need. 
• They make your business so scalable. 
• They make it easy and show you how to do everything. Kajabi has its own little university that teaches you every detail of setting up and running your business. 

They are 1000% worth the investment if you can viably afford them.

Click here if you would like to try Kajabi for free and test out using the site, binging their University learning platform and building out some products. 

LOOK OUT FOR; 

Our post with weighing up all the main course platforms out there because I have tried them all.