Have you ever thought about sharing your knowledge or passion online? 

Creating an online course is a great way to do that, and guess what? It doesn't have to be about nursing! It could be ANYTHING you love – cooking, travel, photography... you name it. 

Over the last 15 years I have created many online courses, but I can still remember my first 🙂

The course was called “Greening the NICU” and it was a collection of 3 live webinars that I recorded, copies of my slides handouts and a resource guide that summarized all the content in to actionable steps.

This course was a merger between my passion for neonatal nursing and my outrage over some newly discovered information about toxic ingredients in baby shampoo.  I remember being obsessed with the research as I learned more and more about how these ingredients could make me, my coworkers and even the babies I took care of sick.  And I talked about what I was learning to everyone who listened.  Finally, I decided that I needed a bigger audience, and I took to the internet to share what I was learning and to hopefully create awareness and change.  

So, now let’s figure out how to find the perfect topic for your first course.

Step 1: Dive Deep into Your Passions (and Skills!)

Grab a pen and paper (or your phone) and start writing down everything you're good at and everything you love doing. Don't hold back!

• What skills do you have from your nursing career? (Organization? Teaching? Problem-solving?)

• What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time? (Baking? DIY projects? Playing guitar?)

• What topics do you find yourself researching or talking about a lot?

• What topic are you the go-to person for?

• What are people always asking you about?

Now, look at your list. See anything interesting? Some things that might naturally fit together? Maybe your nursing organization skills could be applied to a course on decluttering, or your love of cooking could become a course on healthy meal prep. 

The possibilities are endless!

Step 2: Do Your Research!

Look for other courses that are similar to your ideas. Don't get discouraged if you find some. This is actually a good thing! It means there's interest in the topic.

• Check out online course platforms: Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera – see what's popular.

• Search social media: Look for groups or hashtags related to your interests. Are people asking questions about those topics? Looking for advice?

• Use tools like Google Trends: See if people are searching for information on your ideas.

This research will help you see where there's demand for your course and how you can make yours stand out.

Step 3: Consider Your Audience – Who Are You Talking To?

Think about who would be interested in your course.

• What are their challenges or problems?

• What are they passionate about?

• How can your course help them?

The more specific you can be about your audience, the easier it will be to create a course that speaks directly to them.

Another way to get at this is to ask yourself, “Who do I want to take care of”?

In nursing, we would call it the “population” that you serve.  This could be babies, new moms, new dads, women in menopause, men with insomnia, or individuals with dementia.  If you are passionate about this group of people, you will never get tired of learning about it and then teaching about it.

Step 4: Check Out the Competition (and Be Different!)

Remember when you found other courses on similar topics? Now's the time to really look at them.

• What do they do well?

• What could be improved?

• What would make your course unique?

• How can you use your nursing knowledge to teach this topic in a new way?

Think about how you can offer something different or better. 

Use your unique nursing perspective, a special skill, or a fun teaching style.  These things will make your course unique - just like you!

Step 5: It's All About the Profit!

Okay, let's talk money. It's important to think about how you can make your course profitable.

• How much are people willing to pay for similar courses?

• Can you offer additional services or products? (Coaching, ebooks, etc.)

Don't forget that creating a great course takes time and effort, so you deserve to be compensated for your hard work!

You've Got This!

Remember, you have so much to offer! Your knowledge, experience, and passion are valuable. 

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to finding your perfect course niche and sharing your expertise with the world.

Need More Help? I've Got You Covered!

Creating an online course can feel overwhelming at first. That's why I created the Nurse Course Creation "Care Plan." It's a step-by-step guide designed specifically for nurses like you who want to turn their passions into profitable courses.

What's in the Care Plan?

• A roadmap to help you plan, create, and launch your course

• Tips on pricing, marketing, and technology

• Support from a community of fellow nurse course creators

Head over to https://rnbiz.nursekathi.com/course-bundle to learn more and get started on your course creation journey today!

Now go out there and create something amazing!