What's the biggest challenge you face as an online course creator? We brought in seven top industry experts to weigh in—what they see as the biggest challenges, what's really going on, and their solutions.
Danny Iny (Mirasee): You Don't Need a Big Audience
Challenge: People feel they need to establish themselves as thought leaders before building a course.
What's really going on: Sloppy assumptions about marketing. If your course is super focused, you don't need a large audience.
Solution: Instead of rushing to create, rush to find out what people want. That makes all the difference between success and failure.
Jennifer Louden: Just Start Teaching
Challenge: Realizing that doing something and being in a teaching relationship is far better than another training or more planning.
What's really going on: Fear—including fear of choosing and lack of models. People think they can't combine their different interests.
Solution: Look for overlap between your areas of interest. Brainstorm with three ideal students what they would get from your class. Then do it—invite 10 people to your living room (or Zoom!) and see how it flies!
Dr. Kelly Edmonds: Content Parceling
Challenge: Not knowing how to parcel out content, create useful learning activities, and choose the best format.
Solution: For a 3-4 week course: No more than 5 modules with up to 4 lessons each. Each lesson: 10-20 minutes of content in 1-2 minute chunks. Add 1-2 activities per lesson.
Janelle Allen (Zen Courses): Start with Your Learners
Challenge: "Where do I start?" and "How do I price my course?"
What's really going on: Overwhelm. People want results without taking a step back to create strategy.
Solution: Start with your learners. Have you validated their interest? Set course goals based on their needs? Engaging before you develop saves time, stress and money.
Dr. Carrie Rose: Make an Offer
Challenge: "What should I charge?"
Solution: You have to sell a product to see what the market will actually bear. Don't be afraid to fail brilliantly—it gives you great data to make decisions.
Jeanine Blackwell: Solve One Problem
Challenge: "Is this the right course idea that will sell?"
What's really going on: Asking "what should I teach?" instead of "how can I help clients solve a problem?"
Solution: Get into your ideal client's mindset. What are they struggling with? What's their biggest question? Focus on solving one problem at a time.
Jon Morrow (Smart Blogger): It's a Real Business
Challenge: Overwhelm by the sheer size of the task—plus fear of getting zero results after months of work.
What's really going on: Misrepresentation of the opportunity. Making millions is freaking hard. It's as complicated as starting a company.
Solution: Start small. Get a handful of customers. Measure the results. Treat it like a real business.
The 2026 Addition: AI-Era Challenges
Beyond these timeless challenges, today's creators also face:
- AI competition: Students can get information from AI instantly—your course must offer transformation, not just information
- Content saturation: There are more courses than ever, making differentiation crucial
- Trust deficit: Audiences are skeptical after being burned by overpromising gurus
The solution? Double down on authenticity, results, and community—the things AI can't replicate.