Since the onset of COVID 19, online learning has become the new norm, and the online course industry is rapidly expanding, with no intentions of slowing down anytime soon!  All types of content creators have been quick to adapt to the new landscape, and offer their courses online, even those who never thought to go virtual with their teachings in the past. As a result, there is so much to learn from all sorts of educators online!

Let’s talk about how 

The Global Pandemic Has Changed the Online Course Industry 

History of the Online Course Industry

Prior to the Global Pandemic of 2020, the online course industry had its roots in the early days of the internet. The first online courses were created in the mid-1990s, and the industry has been growing ever since.

The online course industry took off in the early 2000s with the advent of e-learning platforms like Blackboard and Moodle. These platforms made it easy for instructors to create and deliver online courses.

The online course industry really began to grow in the 2010s with the rise of MOOCs (massive open online courses). These courses were typically offered by universities and were available to anyone with an internet connection.

How the Online Course Industry has Grown Since 2020

The online course industry has seen explosive growth in the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend, as more and more people are turning to online learning. There are now over 8,000 online courses available on platforms like Udemy and Coursera. “ Due to the pandemic, 98% of institutions

moved a majority of teaching to online classes and 43% have invested in creating new online learning resources” (Udemy). 

The online course industry has also seen a boom in content creators. These creators are typically experts in their field and offer courses on everything from cooking to web development.

The pandemic has also led to a surge in demand for online courses. More people are working from home and have more free time to invest in learning new skills. “Udemy, the most popular online learning platform globally, has nearly 40 million students enrolled in 155,000 courses taught by 70,000 instructors” (Udemy). With more people working on their own time, in their own space, the desire for growth and development is prominent in a society where you need to set yourself apart in order to succeed.

The Future of Online Courses

The online course industry is poised for continued growth in the years ahead. The pandemic has accelerated the trend toward online learning, and it is only going to become more prevalent in the years to come.

Platforms where courses can be housed and marketed,  like Udemy, Kajabi,(my favorite!- see my affiliate link here)  and Coursera are becoming more popular, and content creators are increasingly offering their courses online. The future of online courses is bright, and the industry is poised for continued growth.

Small Businesses are Utilizing Online Courses for Fast Growth

With the explosion of e-learning, the tools to both create and market online courses have become extremely accessible, allowing business owners who weren’t in the business of education before, to capitalize on the trend. Online courses allow experts in their field to reach exponentially more people than they would have otherwise in person and beyond live instruction, courses are often pre-recorded and watched on the students' demand. 

Usually, online courses are sold for less than an “expert” would sell their facetime instruction. This reduction in price allows business owners to work with people at different price points which opens up more access points to their niche market. 

But it's not only Industry Experts or Service Providers that are using online courses to explode their sales and/or create a second stream of revenue. Many people, with an entrepreneurial spirit, are turning their hobbies into cash and legitimate businesses, by using the rising number of easy-to-use online course tools available on the market to teach others what they know.  

Check out some of my fellow classmates, of a "How To Create an Online Course"  course I bought from Digital Course expert Amy Porterfield- yes, stay with me, I took a digital course to learn about creating digital courses.

Danira Cancinos sold her first online course, which taught how to make candy apples to 313 people- for $200 each. That’s right, according to Amy Porterfield's website, Danira made $62,200 on her first online course launch teaching people how to make fabulous treats in their own kitchen.  Learn more about all of Danira's courses here

Jane Monteith is a mixed media artist who teaches artists how to put creativity back into their work According to Amy Porterfield’s website, In the first three launches of her online course, she made $174,000.  Learn more about Jane here

Online Course Growth Hasn’t Stopped 

According to Forbes, the worldwide e-learning market, or digital-course market, is projected to be worth $325 billion by 2025. With this growth in mind, we suggest you stop and consider if online course creation should be part of your future growth strategy.   Check out this list of 86 profitable online course ideas here. and be sure to check back with me- I can't wait to hear what value you decide to share with the world!  

Thanks for reading!