The Art of Online Course Creation | Helping Experts Build Impactful Courses That Get Real Results

Recent episodes

1. #68 Should Your Online Course Be Live or Prerecorded? How to Choose the Right Format

   Jul 28, 2026

   You were told you could just record a live session, chop it into pieces, and sell it as a course. It's faster. It's efficient. You get two things out of one effort. So why does the finished "course" feel flat — and why do your students quietly stop showing up? In this episode, Shannon breaks down one of the most misunderstood decisions in online course creation: live vs. prerecorded . They're not two versions of the same thing. They're two different formats, built for two different purposes — and when you treat them as interchangeable, your students feel the difference before you do. But there's a second layer here that most creators never consider, and it might change how you build your next course entirely: what if teaching live on purpose is the smartest way to create your best prerecorded course? Shannon shares the exact question a client brought to a recent coaching call — and the shift that turned a "good enough" membership into something far stronger. In this episode, you'll get clarity on: Why a recorded live session isn't actually a course (and what your students sense that you don't) The real structural difference between live and prerecorded teaching How to decide which format your content actually needs The counterintuitive way to use live teaching to build a dramatically better prerecorded course If you've ever been talked into "just repurposing" your live workshop, masterclass, or program into a course because it's easier, this is the more honest — and more effective — way to think about it. Press play, and rethink what you thought you knew about building a course your students actually finish. Free Resource to Get Your Course Started With Purpose: Course Clarity Blueprint Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

2. #67 How to Get Course Sales From LinkedIn (Even With a Tiny Following) with Sam Rathling

   Jul 14, 2026

   Think LinkedIn is just for job hunters and corporate types? Think again. In this episode, I sit down with Sam Rathling, the queen of LinkedIn, to break down exactly how course creators can use the platform to build visibility, establish authority, and sell more courses without ever feeling salesy. Sam joined LinkedIn in 2005 and used it to land clients like Amazon before becoming a full-time LinkedIn expert. Today she helps businesses of all sizes turn the platform into a client-generating machine, and in this conversation, she makes the case for why course creators can't afford to ignore it. In this episode, you'll learn: Who LinkedIn is really for (hint: with 1.3 billion users, your audience is probably there) Why your profile (not your content) is the first thing to fix, and how to make it convert like a mini landing page Connections vs. followers explained, and why second-degree connections are where your next client is hiding What social selling actually means, and why pitching in the DMs is the fastest way to fail How LinkedIn's new AI algorithm (360 Brew) changed the game, and why smaller accounts are now getting more reach than big ones What to post: carousels, video, storytelling, polls, and why your comments might get more impressions than your posts The one metric to track (your SSI score), what it measures, and how to raise it in 90 days Sam's exact 20-minutes-a-day LinkedIn routine for busy course creators Memorable moments: Sam's VA had just 20 connections when a single post reached 250,000 impressions - proof you don't need a big following to make an impact Only about 5% of LinkedIn's 1.3 billion users post consistently, which means the field is wide open for course creators "You're not going to go from being connected to someone today to selling them a course tomorrow." The nurture-first approach that actually works Resources mentioned: Sam's free community (100+ videos, weekly masterclasses, her best-selling book) LinkedIn SSI score checker Sam's LinkedIn tracking sheet (available in her free community) Sam on LinkedIn Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

3. #66 How Course Creators Can Use Summits to Build an Audience with Katya McEwan

   Jun 23, 2026

   Online summits can do far more than grow your email list. Done well, they can help you build authority, create meaningful collaborations, and give potential clients a firsthand experience of your expertise. In this episode, Shannon speaks with intuitive business coach and experienced summit host Katya McEwen about what makes a summit valuable for the host, the speakers, and the audience. Katya shares what she has learned from organizing large online events, how speakers can stand out without over promoting themselves, and why the strongest summits focus on connection rather than information overload. They also discuss how to find speaking opportunities, what hosts are really looking for, and the planning decisions that can make or break the experience. Listen to learn how online summits can become a powerful part of your audience-building strategy, even if you are not ready to host one yourself. Katya's Skool Community - click here YouTube Instagram Facebook Freebie: $8K experiment: How I Generated $8580 on Skool in six weeks Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

4. # 65 The Hidden Reason Teachers Join My Course Creation Program

   Jun 9, 2026

   Why do so many teachers, former teachers, and education specialists still seek support when creating an online course? At first, it might seem surprising. After all, if anyone knows how to teach, it should be a teacher. But in this episode, Shannon explores why people with teaching backgrounds often understand something the online course world tends to overlook: good teaching, strong curriculum, and effective online course design are not the same thing. A course is not just a collection of lessons. It is not simply your expertise divided into modules. And it is definitely not just content placed on a platform. In this episode, Shannon unpacks the difference between sharing information and designing a learning experience someone can actually move through. She also shares why thoughtful course creators often feel stuck, not because they lack expertise, but because they can sense their course needs a clearer path, stronger structure, and more intentional decisions behind it. If course creation has felt harder than expected, this episode will help you see that the issue may not be overthinking. It may be that you care about creating something that works. Before you outline, record, or sell your course, download Shannon’s free Course Clarity Blueprint . This resource walks you through the three decisions every course creator needs to make before designing their course, so you can stop building from the middle and start with the clarity your course actually needs. Download the Course Clarity Blueprint HERE. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

5. #64 Podcast Guesting to Promote Your Online Course with Alex SanFilippo of PodMatch

   May 26, 2026

   Podcast guesting can be one of the most strategic ways for online course creators to grow their visibility, build authority, and get in front of the right people without relying only on social media or paid ads. In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , I’m joined by Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch and a leading voice in the independent podcasting space, to talk about how course creators can use podcast guesting as a relationship-driven marketing strategy. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not famous enough to be a guest on someone’s podcast,” this conversation will shift how you think about it. Alex breaks down why podcast guesting is not reserved for celebrities, authors, or people with massive audiences. Instead, it can be one of the most accessible ways to borrow someone else’s audience, build trust faster, and share your expertise in a setting where listeners are already paying attention. We talk about what makes podcasting different from other visibility strategies, why the right podcast appearance can create a powerful sense of borrowed credibility, and how to choose shows that actually align with your course, your audience, and your business goals. Alex also shares practical advice on how to pitch yourself in a way that feels human, respectful, and relevant, without sounding like every other generic pitch sitting in a podcast host’s inbox. He gives a clear framework for reaching out to hosts, preparing for an interview, showing up as a strong guest, and creating a call to action that feels like a natural next step rather than a forced sales pitch. This episode is especially valuable if you want to grow your authority, reach new potential students, and market your online course in a way that feels generous, relational, and grounded in real value. Alex Sanfilippo is a podcaster and the founder of PodMatch.com, a platform that automatically matches podcast hosts and guests for interviews. Through PodMatch and his podcast titled Podcasting Made Simple, Alex helps independent podcasters grow their influence and revenue so they can better serve their listeners! Freebie: www.podmatch.com/free Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

6. #63 Beyond Tutorials: How Strategic Customer Education Builds Brand Loyalty

   May 12, 2026

   Your customers are already learning about your product, service, method, or brand — the question is whether you are intentionally shaping that learning experience or leaving it to chance. In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , Shannon Boyer expands on a presentation she recently gave at H&H Americas and explores why customer education is much more than support content, tutorials, or social media marketing. When designed strategically, education can become a powerful part of the customer experience, helping businesses build authority, improve retention, deepen loyalty, and create more meaningful connections with the people they serve. Shannon shares why tutorials may solve immediate problems, but learning pathways build long-term confidence, capability, and trust. Whether you sell a physical product, digital product, service, membership, software, creative tool, or body of expertise, this episode will help you think differently about how education supports your customers after the sale — and why that matters for the growth of your business. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

7. #62 Why Your Online Course Feels Confusing, Even When the Content Is Valuable

   Apr 28, 2026

   What makes an online course feel clear, easy to follow, and worth completing? It is not just the amount of information inside it. In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , Shannon explores why many well-intentioned course creators accidentally make their courses harder to learn from by adding too much content, too many options, and too much explanation without enough structure. You will hear why cognitive load matters in online course design, how confusion quietly leads students to disengage, and why strong teaching often looks deceptively simple from the outside. This episode is for course creators who want their students to move through their course with more clarity, confidence, and momentum, without dumbing down the material or stripping away its value. Inside this episode, you will hear about: Why “more content” does not always create a better course How cognitive load affects student learning and follow-through The difference between deep learning and unnecessary mental strain Why students need a clear learning path, not just access to your expertise The invisible structure that makes good teaching feel simple If you want to create an online course that does more than deliver information, this episode will help you think more carefully about the clarity, structure, and learner experience behind your content. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

8. #61 Beyond Badges and Leaderboards: Better Gamification for Online Courses with Mary Nunaley

   Apr 14, 2026

   What if gamification in online courses is about far more than points, badges, and leaderboards? In this episode, Shannon sits down with learning engineer and Lavender Dragon co-founder Mary Nunley for a thoughtful conversation about what gamification really means in online course creation and community engagement. Together, they unpack why some popular engagement tactics work, why others fall flat, and how course creators can think more strategically about motivating learners in ways that actually support transformation. You will hear a nuanced discussion about the difference between keeping people entertained and keeping them meaningfully engaged, why dopamine-driven design has limits, and how seemingly small choices inside a course can shape persistence, motivation, and connection. The conversation also explores Easter eggs, urgency, rewards, learner psychology, and the role of thoughtful course design in creating an experience people want to continue. Whether you are building your first online course or looking for ways to make an existing program more engaging, this episode will give you a fresh lens on gamification and help you think more carefully about what actually keeps learners coming back. Mary Nunaley is a learning engineer and co-founder of The Lavender Dragon Team. She turns complex ideas into human-centered learning experiences using storytelling, game-based design, and thoughtful applications of AI. With a background in online education and years of experience designing asynchronous courses, simulations, and microlearning, Mary focuses on building learning that actually changes behavior not just checks a completion box. Her work sits at the intersection of learning science, creativity, and practical AI integration for modern educators and creators You can find Mary: The Lavender Dragon Team LinkedIn Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

9. #60 Online Course Design: Why a Good Course Feels Different From a Bad One

   Mar 31, 2026

   A polished course is not always a good course. In this episode, Shannon Boyer explores why some online courses feel clear, supportive, and energizing, while others leave students confused, discouraged, and blaming themselves. This conversation goes beyond content, bonuses, and branding to uncover what really shapes the student experience inside an online course. If you are serious about creating a high-quality online course that actually helps people learn and get results, this episode will give you a deeper lens on what great course design really means. To book a no-pressure 20-minute coffee chat in order to discuss how I might help you with your online course creation process, please book here. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

10. #59 Online Course Marketing for Beginners: Launches, Evergreen Funnels, and Sales Runways with Jessica Korthuis

    Mar 17, 2026

    Should you launch your online course live, build an evergreen funnel, or rethink the whole model entirely? In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , Shannon Boyer is joined by award-winning marketing educator Jessica Korthuis for a conversation about what it really takes to sell an online course in today’s market. They unpack the pressure many course creators feel to follow big-name launch strategies, the reality of trying to sell without a massive audience, and why more visibility does not always mean better results. You’ll also hear a refreshing discussion about sales runways, early adopters, audience-building, partnerships, and the common marketing mistakes that can quietly hold a course back before it ever has a real chance to succeed. If you’ve been trying to decide between launching and evergreen, feeling overwhelmed by online course marketing advice, or wondering how to sell your course in a way that is sustainable, strategic, and actually aligned with the business you want to build, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Jessica Korthuis is a 2x entrepreneur, award-winning marketing educator, women’s business advisor, Group Vice President at Full Tilt and the Co-founder of Her Brand & Co. , the leading marketing educational platform for women-owned businesses (which was acquired by Full Tilt in 2024). Jessica is a 40 Under 40 Honoree, a “Women Who Mean Business” Honoree, and a two-time award recipient of the Womenpreneur Education Business Innovator of the Year by the Influential Businesswoman Awards. She is known for her engaging energy and frequently speaks on the topics of marketing, sales, and how to grow and launch profitable businesses. She’s been featured by the Amazon Small Business Academy, Entrepreneur Women, The Lean Startup Co., IFundWomen, The Female Founder Collective, The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and many others. She is a proud mompreneur with a passion for writing and is a fierce advocate for women driving wealth creation, and is most happy spending time with her husband and daughters. https://herbrandandco.com/ https://www.instagram.com/herbrandandco/ https://herbrandandco.com/her-brand-and-co-subscriptions Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

11. #58 Are Online Courses Dead? What’s Actually Dying, and What Still Sells

    Mar 3, 2026

    Are Online Courses Dead? Not Exactly. The Old Version Is Dying, and That’s Good News. “If online courses are dead… why are people still up at midnight searching for answers, buying solutions, and trying to get better at the things that matter to them?” In this episode, Shannon breaks down why online courses are not dead, but the passive-income, content-dump version of courses is finally losing its grip. With big names like Amy Porterfield and Jenna Kutcher making major changes, it is easy to assume the whole model is collapsing. Shannon offers a different interpretation, and then gets practical about what the market is actually rejecting and what modern learners are still hungry for. You’ll learn: Why “courses are dead” is usually a misunderstanding of what is really changing How passive-income marketing damaged trust in the word “course” The difference between content and curriculum, and why that is the real rebrand The design shifts that help learners implement, finish, and get measurable outcomes Why selling the finish line matters more than selling access If you have been thinking about renaming your course into a challenge, lab, or program to make it more appealing, Shannon shares why a course by any other name is still a course, and what actually makes it work. 🎧 Plus: Shannon’s Bold Idea reframes what “credibility” looks like in the current course market. ✨ Want more? Join The Build Lab, the community for course creators who want to build high-quality learning experiences that get results, with guidance, feedback, and access to Shannon’s course-building system. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

12. #57 Podcasting for Online Course Creators: What Actually Leads to Course Sales (with Adam Schaeuble)

    Feb 17, 2026

    If you have ever wondered whether a podcast can actually lead to online course sales, this episode gives you a clearer, more strategic way to think about it. In this conversation, I’m joined by Adam Schaeuble, the host of Podcasting Business School, who has been podcasting since 2015 and has recorded well over 1,000 episodes across his shows. Adam shares what changed everything for him when his first attempts at podcast monetization did not work, plus the specific shifts that helped him move from “posting and hoping” to building a podcast that supports real revenue through programs, coaching, and courses. We dig into what makes podcasting uniquely effective for course creators who want to grow trust, build authority, and create a steady path from free content to paid transformation, without feeling like they need to become a full-time content machine or add YouTube before they are ready. In this episode, you’ll hear about Why a podcast can function as both a discovery channel and a relationship-building channel at the same time The “ideal listener journey” concept and why it changes how you decide what to create and what to sell The most common naming mistake course creators make when launching a podcast, and what to do instead How to position yourself as the expert on your own show, even if you love interviews A practical approach to consistency that reduces burnout, including why “breaks” are often a planning problem, not a publishing problem The audio-only strategy, when it makes sense, and how to stop letting extra platforms delay your momentum The fear every course creator has about “giving away too much,” and the real reason people still buy What “good” download numbers actually look like early on, plus the benchmarks that help set realistic expectations This is an especially useful listen if you are a course creator who is podcast-curious, if your show has stalled out, or if you have been creating content but still feel unsure how it connects to course sales. Mentioned in this episode Podcasting Business School episode 545 : “Podcast Monetization Difficulty vs. Access” Podcasting Business School episode 560 : SEO and organic podcast discovery Connect with Adam at: Website Threads Newsletter Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

13. #56 Online Course vs. Membership: How to Choose the Right Model for Your Business

    Feb 3, 2026

    If you’re trying to decide between launching an online course or starting a membership, this episode will save you a lot of time and potentially a lot of frustration because this isn’t really a formatting decision. It’s a promise decision. In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , Shannon Boyer breaks down the real difference between a course and a membership in a way most creators never consider. You’ll learn a practical framework to choose the right model based on three essential factors. Along the way, Shannon shares a revealing client story that highlights the hidden workload behind “predictable” revenue, and why the best business model is the one that fits your real life, not your aspirational one. You’ll also get a simple, powerful decision test you can complete in ten minutes. It cuts through trends and helps you build the right offer with confidence. If you want to create an offer that delivers real results, attracts the right buyers, and supports your long-term capacity as a creator, press play. At the end, Shannon also shares details about her membership, the Build Lab, which is designed for course creators who don’t just need information, but ongoing implementation support to keep moving all the way to the finish line. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

14. #55 Pinterest for Online Course Creators: How to Use Pinterest as a Visual Search Engine for Long-Term Course Traffic (with Tim Adam)

    Jan 20, 2026

    If you’ve ever thought, “I should probably be on Pinterest,” and then immediately felt overwhelmed by the visuals, the time commitment, or the sheer number of pins already out there, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m joined by Tim Adam, founder of Pinterest Skool, who has built a business around helping creators use Pinterest strategically, without treating it like another full-time social channel. Together, we unpack what makes Pinterest different (and why that difference matters for course creators), how to think about pins when you don’t have an “obviously visual” business, and what it actually takes to build consistent traffic that doesn’t disappear 24 hours later. This isn’t a “post more” pep talk. It’s a practical look at how Pinterest works as a search engine, and how online educators can use it to funnel the right people into their ecosystem. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About Why Pinterest behaves more like a search engine than a traditional social media platform—and how that changes your strategy The real role of keywords on Pinterest (and why it’s the piece most people skip) Whether you “missed the boat” if you weren’t an early adopter, and what the data suggests now What course creators can pin when their business doesn’t feel visual The difference between creating fresh pins vs. constantly needing fresh links How Pinterest boards support discoverability and help Pinterest understand what your content is about What a realistic timeline can look like for traffic, and what to watch for so you know you’re on the right track How to think about using Pinterest within a larger funnel (especially when your paid offer is higher-ticket) A quick but important note on affiliate links and disclosures on Pinterest About Tim Adam Tim Adam is the founder of Pinterest Skool and has been using Pinterest since its earliest days. He began as a full-time Etsy seller, then started teaching other creators how to grow visibility and traffic through Pinterest. He’s known for practical, clear teaching and for helping people build momentum without relying on followers or daily content performance. Connect with Tim Tim’s best starting point is his free community, Pinterest Skool. Loved This Episode? Subscribe to The ART of Online Course Creation and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Reviews help more purpose-driven entrepreneurs find the show and build courses they’re proud to deliver. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

15. #54 Stop Using Free Facebook Groups: Skool’s Better Lead Magnet for Online Course Creators

    Jan 6, 2026

    If your current audience-building plan still starts with “I’ll just open a free Facebook group,” this episode offers a thoughtful pause and a practical alternative. Shannon Boyer breaks down why the free Facebook group model has lost much of its effectiveness, what’s shifted in the online landscape, and why more course creators are moving toward an ecosystem-based approach that reduces friction for both you and your students. You’ll also hear why Shannon—who resisted Skool for a long time—changed her mind after experiencing it from the student side, and how that experience reshaped how she thinks about lead magnets, community, and course delivery. Rather than treating “community” as a separate add-on you have to constantly coax people into, this conversation explores a model where the community is the front door—and the course content lives right beside it. In this conversation, you’ll hear Shannon unpack: What changed with Facebook groups, and why “dead group” fatigue is becoming the norm The hidden cost of building on rented land, especially when your business relies on consistent visibility and engagement Why the biggest issue is not reach, but friction (and how friction quietly kills follow-through) How Skool flips the traditional course platform model by making community the main dashboard and coursework the adjacent layer The freemium concept as a cleaner “front door” into paid programs, without pulling people across multiple platforms The specific features that make Skool feel more like a business hub than a content warehouse (including events, reminders, native video, and member-to-member interaction) The tradeoffs worth knowing before you switch platforms, including the limitations that may matter depending on how you sell The Build Lab (Skool community) Shannon’s community for course creators who want to build high-quality, high-impact courses that deliver real results. You can start for $12/year , which includes: Access to the Validate Your Best Course mini-course A full year inside the Build Lab community The option to upgrade later if you want deeper support Skool free trial + affiliate link If you want to explore Skool for your own offers, you can access a 14-day free trial here . If you’ve been questioning where to host your course, how to build community without burning yourself out, or how to replace the old free Facebook group strategy with something more sustainable, this episode will give you a clearer framework for what to do next. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

16. #53 From One-on-One Services to Online Courses (Coaching Session with Kathy Kwon)

    Dec 23, 2025

    You can feel it when someone’s ready for their next chapter. In this coaching-style episode, I’m joined by Kathy Kwon , a brand + website designer who helps creativity-driven entrepreneurs stand out authentically through strategic branding and website design. Kathy’s work is rooted in visual storytelling, and after years of delivering high-touch, one-on-one services, she’s ready to explore what it could look like to bring her expertise into the world of online courses . But she’s at a crossroads that will feel very familiar if you’ve ever thought, “I want to create a course… I just don’t know which direction to commit to.” Kathy is weighing two strong ideas: a practical, foundation-building course that would give website designers stronger visual branding skills a more unconventional, expressive course that helps creative entrepreneurs use design to get seen and noticed And underneath both ideas is the real question most course creators don’t ask clearly enough: Which one solves a problem people will actually pay to solve—and how do you find that out without building the whole course first? In this conversation, we talk about what to do when you’re caught between “what would sell” and “what would be fun to teach,” why you shouldn’t build in isolation, and how to start gathering real feedback without needing your course to be “perfect” yet. In this episode, you’ll hear: The hidden difference between a course idea that’s interesting vs. one that’s painful enough to create demand Why identifying a “gap” in someone’s skill set isn’t the same as confirming they’ll invest time and money to close it How to approach student conversations so you get honest insight (without pitching your idea) Why building your audience and building your course need to happen at the same time A smart progression for new course creators: validate → create something small → build proof → expand Mentioned in the episode Build Lab — my community for course creators who want to actually get their course finished and done right. Inside, you’ll get support, feedback, accountability, live calls, monthly challenges, and exclusive tools (including custom GPTs), plus access to the first module of my signature course. Connect with Kathy Kathy’s free resource: “5 Essential Pages a Course Creator Needs on Their Website” (checklist) Website: Bright Matters Studio Instagram: @brightmattersstudio Want coaching on the podcast? If you want to be featured on a future coaching episode, fill out the form here: www.shannonlboyer.com/podcast Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

17. #52 Someone Else Has Already Created “Your” Online Course. Now What?

    Dec 9, 2025

    If you’ve ever tried to validate a course idea and ended up feeling less confident than when you started—because you found someone already teaching something similar—this episode will feel like a deep exhale. In this solo episode of The Art of Online Course Creation , Shannon Boyer breaks down what’s actually happening when you see competitors in your space… and why “it already exists” is often one of the clearest signs your course idea is worth pursuing. You’ll learn how to do market analysis without spiraling, how to interpret “competition” as proof of concept (not a stop sign), and how to differentiate your course in a way that’s authentic, strategic, and built around the value you uniquely deliver. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What it really means when you discover someone else already teaching your topic Why audiences don’t choose courses based on topics alone (and what they do choose based on) The mindset shift that turns “I’m too late” into a clearer positioning strategy A behind-the-scenes look at how Shannon differentiated herself from a major course-creation name with massive visibility The validation mistake that leads many creators to abandon great ideas too early Why quizzes that “confirm” your idea is profitable should raise immediate red flags The two big reasons outsourcing market research to AI can backfire—and how to use AI in a supportive role instead Ready to validate your course idea the right way? If you want step-by-step guidance to validate your course topic without guesswork , Shannon invites you to check out her mini-course: Validate Your Best Course Idea — a $12 mini-course that includes a full year of access to her Skool community. Inside, you’ll walk through a complete market analysis process (what to look for, where to look, how to interpret what you find) and learn how to use tools like ChatGPT to support your research—without replacing your expertise. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

18. #51 Why Your Students Actually Don't Want a "Quick and Dirty" Online Course

    Nov 25, 2025

    A lot of online business advice says the same thing: keep your course short, give people the steps, cut everything else. But what happens when “quick and dirty” stops your students from actually using what they paid for? In this episode of The ART of Online Course Creation , Shannon pulls apart the myth that faster automatically means better. Drawing on her experience inside a Facebook Ads course that delivered tidy, step-by-step instructions—but left her too uncertain to hit publish—she explores the trust gap that appears when courses skip the “why” and only teach the “how.” Shannon makes a clear distinction between offers that promise a small, focused win and those that are meant to be truly transformational. One can be short and contained; the other needs depth, structure, and support. Cutting fluff is one thing. Cutting foundations is something else entirely. Inside the episode, she shares: How “do this, do that” teaching creates students who can follow scripts, but can’t make confident decisions Why examples, explanation, and transferable skills are non-negotiable if you want your course to stand on its own The key difference between a resource vault and a designed learning experience that changes how someone thinks and acts Shannon also walks you through a set of reflection questions to help you see whether your own course is delivering a true transformation—or just a neatly organized to-do list. (You can grab a copy of those questions as a checklist in the show notes.) If you’ve ever worried that adding depth will overwhelm your students, or you’ve tried to turn a signature promise into a “quick and dirty” offer, this episode will give you a more honest way to decide what actually belongs in your course. Download the self-assessment checklist HERE . Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

19. #50 How Melissa Kara Chose Her Online Course Platform and What She Did To Elevate Her Results

    Nov 11, 2025

    Stuck on “Which platform should I use?” Melissa Kara shares a practical, values-aligned way to choose, ship, and iterate without getting lost in tech or design. You’ll learn: A simple order of operations so platform choice doesn’t delay your launch How to keep momentum when you don’t have an audience (yet) What makes a sales page convert (templates, flow, and micro-decisions) Safe ways to customize without breaking your page About our guest: Melissa Kara is the founder of The Kara Collections , a studio creating plug-and-play templates with built-in copy prompts for course creators. The Kara Collections supplies plug-and-play templates with copy prompts and beautiful, high-converting designs — all at affordable prices and easy enough for anyone to use. Our mission is to make it simple for every business owner to choose the right platform and create stunning pages that convert, without the stress or tech overwhelm. Links & resources: The Kara Collections (templates) Work with Melissa If tech is stalling your launch, pick a usable platform, apply a proven template, publish your first lesson, then iterate. Please Note that Shannon Boyer no longer uses this platform and now hosts everything on Skool. Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊

20. #49 Meta Ads That Actually Build an Audience with Zach Spuckler

    Oct 28, 2025

    You’ve got a course. You’ve got testimonials. But no one’s seeing it. If you’ve ever felt like your incredible offer is just sitting in a corner of the internet gathering dust, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Zach Spuckler , marketing strategist and host of Not Your Average Online Marketing Podcast , who pulls back the curtain on what actually works when it comes to running Meta ads to build your audience and grow your course-based business. Zach brings 10+ years of experience and breaks down the difference between ads that waste money and ads that grow an email list of the right people - without needing a $10K funnel or a million views. We get into the realistic starting budgets, how to know if your leads are quality, when to DIY and when to hire, and why the long game is your best bet. 🔍 In this episode: Why boosting a post is not the same as running an ad, and what to do instead The three types of ads (and why course creators should start with lead gen) How to tell if your ad leads are actually worth the money A behind-the-scenes look at real numbers: ad spend, list size, conversion windows When it’s too early to hire an agency, and what to know before you do Why email lists beat social media algorithms when it comes to selling your course What not to believe about $37 funnels and the myth of passive income 📌 Mentioned in the episode: Zach’s Bootcamp – A 5-day experience for creating your first Meta ad campaign Not Your Average Online Marketing Podcast – Zach’s podcast, including his take on the passive income myth The Build Lab – Shannon’s community for course creators who want to build high-quality, high-impact programs Zach Spuckler on Instagram Zach's website - Heart Soul Hustle 🎧 Listen now if you’re: Wondering whether ads are worth it (especially with a small list or tight budget) Tired of being invisible online and want to build a consistent audience Thinking about hiring help but aren’t sure if you’re ready Curious about how real course creators use ads to grow their email list and community Your course deserves to be seen. This episode will help you get it in front of the people who need it without wasting your time or money. ➡️ Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tag @shannonlboyer with your biggest takeaway! Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community. To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU. To book a call to discuss your options and see if working together makes sense. Click here. 😊