30-day course launch checklist
Thirty days is enough time to build a short course, because each week has one finished piece, and the deadline keeps the project from stalling.
The template
Week 1: Decide what the course is for
- Write one sentence that says who the course is for and what they can do after it.
- List the modules, then the lessons under each one. Keep each lesson short enough to finish in one sitting.
- Pick a price, or decide the course comes with a membership.
- Tell your audience the course is coming and ask who wants to hear when it opens. Keep a list of the names.
Week 2: Record and build
- Record the lessons. For a first version, a phone camera and a quiet room will do.
- Add each lesson to the course with its video, notes and any downloads.
- End each lesson with a short task so people put it to use.
Week 3: Get it ready to sell
- Write the course page so it says who the course is for and what is in each module, with the price.
- Set the course's access and price.
- Preview it the way a buyer will see it, and fix anything that reads wrong.
- Send an early look to the people on your list from week 1.
Week 4: Launch
- Publish the course and announce it in your community.
- Email anyone who asked to hear about it on launch day, and again three days later.
- Host a live Q&A during launch week for anyone who is still deciding.
- Answer every question the same day it comes in.
- After the first week, ask early buyers what was unclear and fix those lessons.
Using it on Lockers
Choose New course in the Classroom to open Course studio. Drop your lesson files onto the outline and each file becomes a lesson, in file-name order, which covers part of week 2. Every block except uploaded video, quizzes and written responses works on Free, including PDF and Download blocks. Uploaded video needs Basic or Pro, and quizzes and written responses need Pro. For week 3, choose the course's access: included for members, a one-time price from $1 to $10,000 in a free-to-join Locker on Basic or Pro with Stripe connected, or included with a paid membership on Pro. Basic is $7 a month with a 5% fee plus Stripe processing, and Pro is $67 a month with a 1% fee plus Stripe processing. On Pro you can also set release timing, so a module opens a set number of days after each person starts or on a date you pick. When you publish the course for the first time, Lockers offers to post it in the feed with a course card. See create a course in Course studio and course access and release timing.