5 Big Mistakes to Avoid in Your First Course Launch

agastya
Email: admin@labelsdigital.com

posted on 2 weeks ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Avoid these 5 common first course launch mistakes to save time, boost sales, and launch with confidence—especially if you’re a beginner.

Let me tell you something – launching my first <a href="https://labelsdigital.com/web-software-and-services/online-course-tools/">online course</a> was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. I thought my passion for digital marketing would be enough to create a killer course that would sell like hotcakes. Boy, was I wrong! After pouring weeks into creating content that barely anyone purchased, I learned some hard lessons that I wish someone had shared with me before I started.Before we proceed let me tell you something about myself, the name is Agastya Srivastava, I’m a Professional Blogger, a Tech Consultant and the Founder of <a href="https://labelsdigital.com/">LabelsDigital.com</a>. My mission is to enlighten digital entrepreneurs with the support, knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.The online course market is booming right now, with some experts predicting it'll hit $325 billion by 2025. Yet despite this growth, so many first-time course creators crash and burn before they even get off the ground.<h2>Top Course Creation Platforms</h2>Before diving into the mistakes, let's quickly look at two popular platforms that can make your course creation journey smoother:<h3><a href="https://try.thinkific.com/1m5wl4pfcali">Thinkific</a></h3>Pros:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Super intuitive drag-and-drop course builder</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">No transaction fees on any plan</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Unlimited students even on the free plan</li></ul>Cons:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Limited marketing tools</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Email automation requires higher-tier plans</li></ul>Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $39/month with more features on higher tiers.<a href="https://try.thinkific.com/1m5wl4pfcali">Get It Here</a><h3><a href="https://app.kajabi.com/r/DKzbsfRk">Kajabi</a></h3>Pros:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">All-in-one solution (courses, website, email, sales funnels)</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Powerful marketing automations built-in</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Professional-looking templates</li></ul>Cons:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">Steeper learning curve</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">No free plan and higher price point</li></ul>Pricing: Plans start at $119/month when billed annually.<a href="https://app.kajabi.com/r/DKzbsfRk">Get It Here</a>Now, let's jump into those five critical mistakes that can tank your course before it even launches. Trust me, avoiding these will save you countless hours of frustration and thousands in potential lost revenue.<h2>1. Picking a Topic Without Validating It</h2>I still cringe thinking about my first course idea – "Advanced Instagram Marketing for Small Businesses." I was passionate about it, knew the platform inside out, and figured everyone would want to learn my strategies. Six months later, I had a beautifully designed course that nobody wanted.Here's the truth: your passion doesn't necessarily equal market demand. What feels like a brilliant idea might not be what people are actually willing to pay for.The fix is surprisingly simple – validate before you create. Here's how:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Run a simple Google survey asking your target audience about their biggest challenges related to your topic</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Check keyword tools like Ahrefs or even free ones like Ubersuggest to see search volume around your topic</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hang out in forums and Facebook groups where your potential students gather – what questions do they ask repeatedly?</li></ul>When I finally took the time to do this research, I discovered people weren't looking for "advanced" strategies – they wanted beginner-friendly, step-by-step guidance that wouldn't overwhelm them. That insight completely changed my approach.<h2>2. Overcomplicating the Tech Setup</h2>Omg, the tech nightmare phase. I still remember trying to cobble together WordPress with a membership plugin, connecting it to my email software, finding a video hosting solution, and then integrating a payment processor. I spent more time troubleshooting tech issues than actually creating course content!Too many new course creators think they need to build a custom tech ecosystem from scratch. You don't – especially not for your first course.The solution is to start simple with an all-in-one platform. Both Thinkific and Kajabi mentioned above will handle everything you need:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Course hosting and delivery</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Student management</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Payment processing</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Basic marketing tools</li></ul>My stress levels dropped dramatically when I finally switched to a single platform solution. Yes, you might pay a bit more monthly, but the time saved and headaches avoided are worth every penny.<h2>3. Creating Content Before Planning Outcomes</h2>This one's embarrassing – I actually recorded 15 videos for my course before realizing they didn't build toward any specific, tangible skill. I was essentially brain-dumping everything I knew about the topic without considering what students would actually DO with that information.Before you record a single video or write one word of content, ask yourself: "What specific skills or results will students have by the end of this course?"Here's a better approach:<ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Define 3-5 concrete learning outcomes</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Break each outcome into required skills/knowledge</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Create content modules that build these skills logically</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Only then start recording or writing</li></ol>When I restructured my course this way, student completion rates jumped from around 23% to over 68%. People stuck with it because they could see how each lesson was getting them closer to their goal.<h2>4. Ignoring Audience Building</h2>Launch day finally arrived for my first course. I sent an excited email to my list of... 37 people. Then I wondered why sales weren't pouring in! The classic "build it and they will come" fallacy hit me hard.Here's a harsh truth: you should start building your audience BEFORE you even begin creating your course. An engaged audience is not just nice to have – it's essential.What I should have done (and what I do now):<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Start a simple email newsletter sharing free valuable content on your topic</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Create social content consistently for at least 3 months before launch</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Guest on relevant podcasts to expand your reach</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Run a free mini-course or workshop to build your list with qualified prospects</li></ul>My second course launch was to a list of about 600 people who already knew, liked, and trusted me. The difference in results was night and day – we sold 43 spots in the first week compared to just 5 for my first course.<h2>5. Underpricing or Overpricing Without Strategy</h2>Pricing is where so many of us freeze up. I've swung between both extremes – offering way too much value for $37, then later trying to sell a basic course for $997 because "that's what the gurus charge."The mistake is guessing your pricing rather than developing a strategic approach.Here's a smarter way to price your first course:<ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in;">Research what competitors with similar outcomes charge</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in;">Consider your target audience's ability to pay</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in;">Factor in the transformation value (not just the information)</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in;">Test your pricing with a small segment before wide release</li></ol>After much trial and error, I've found that starting in the middle range of market prices works well for first courses. You can always create premium versions or coaching add-ons later to increase average order value.<h2>Final Thoughts: Your Pre-Launch Checklist</h2>Before you hit that launch button on your first course, run through this quick self-audit:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in;">Have I validated my course topic with real market research?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in;">Is my tech stack as simple as possible while meeting my needs?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in;">Does every piece of content support clear learning outcomes?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in;">Do I have an audience ready and waiting for this solution?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in;">Have I developed a strategic pricing approach?</li></ul>Getting these five elements right won't guarantee overnight success, but it will dramatically increase your odds of creating a course that actually sells and helps people.I'd love to hear your experiences with course creation! What mistakes have you made or what are you most worried about? Drop me a comment below or grab my free Course Launch Checklist for a more detailed guide to your first successful launch.