A pilot course lets you validate your idea, refine your teaching, and collect testimonials — all before investing in a full production. Here's the step-by-step execution guide for running a pilot that sets up your full course for success.
Before You Start: Setting Up Your Pilot
Decide Your Format
Modern pilots work best as a hybrid of live and async delivery. A typical structure:
- Live sessions: Weekly Zoom calls (60–90 minutes) for teaching, Q&A, and community building
- Async content: Pre-recorded videos or written materials students review between sessions
- Community space: A discussion area where students share progress and ask questions between sessions
For your pilot, live sessions are essential — they let you observe student reactions in real time and adjust your teaching on the fly.
Set Expectations Clearly
Be upfront that this is a pilot. Students should know:
- They're getting early access at a reduced price
- The content is being tested and refined based on their feedback
- You'll ask for honest input throughout
- Their testimonials will help shape the future course
Most students appreciate being part of a pilot — it feels collaborative and exclusive. Price your pilot at 40–60% of your planned full-course price.
The 7-Step Pilot Execution Guide
Step 1: Send the Welcome Sequence
Immediately after enrollment, send a welcome email that includes:
- A warm congratulations and what to expect
- Schedule of all sessions with dates, times, and join links
- One small action to complete before the first session (this builds early engagement)
- How to access the community space
- Your contact information for tech issues
Consider hosting a brief orientation call (15–20 minutes) before the first full session. This lets students test their tech, meet each other, and arrive at Session 1 ready to learn.
Step 2: Run the Pre-Course Survey
Within 48 hours of enrollment, send a 5-question survey:
- What's your #1 goal for this course?
- What have you tried before that didn't work?
- What would "success" look like for you at the end of this course?
- How much time per week can you dedicate?
- What's one thing you're nervous about?
This data is gold. It tells you where to focus, what examples to use, and what fears to address. Save every response — you'll reference them throughout the pilot.
Step 3: Test Your Technology
Test everything. Then test again. Specifically:
- Screen sharing works in your video platform
- Audio quality is clear (use a dedicated microphone, not laptop speakers)
- Your course platform loads correctly on both desktop and mobile
- Discussion areas and file uploads work as expected
- Your recording software captures both your screen and audio
Do a full dry run with a friend playing the role of a student. Technical glitches in the first session undermine your credibility for the rest of the pilot.
Step 4: Run Each Session with This Structure
Use this 7-part structure for every live session:
- Welcome and recap (5 min) — Greet everyone, summarize last session's key points
- Check-in (5 min) — Ask what they worked on since last time and what came up
- Preview (2 min) — Outline what you'll cover today
- Core lesson (30–40 min) — Teach using examples, stories, and live demonstrations
- Practice (10–15 min) — Students apply the concept with an exercise or worksheet
- Q&A (10–15 min) — Open discussion and questions
- Action step (3 min) — Assign one specific task for the week ahead
Record every session. These recordings serve as both student resources and raw material for your full course content.
Step 5: Stay Responsive Between Sessions
The space between sessions is where learning deepens — or falls apart. Check your community space daily. Answer questions promptly. Share additional resources when they're relevant. Notice where students are struggling and adjust upcoming sessions accordingly.
"Your students' success is your most important metric. If they're not getting results, your content needs to change — not your marketing."
Step 6: Handle Dropoffs Gracefully
Some pilot students will disengage. It's normal and valuable data. When you notice someone falling behind:
- Send a personal check-in message (not automated) within 3 days
- Ask if something specific is blocking them — scheduling, content difficulty, or life circumstances
- Offer a specific way to catch up rather than a vague "let me know if you need anything"
- If they can't continue, ask for honest feedback about why
Dropoff reasons reveal content problems. If multiple students disengage at the same point, that lesson needs reworking.
Step 7: Collect Post-Pilot Feedback and Testimonials
Within 48 hours of your final session, send a closing survey:
- Did you achieve the goal you set at the start? Why or why not?
- What was the most valuable part of this course?
- What would you change or add?
- Would you recommend this course to a colleague? Why?
- Can I use your feedback (with your name) as a testimonial?
Follow up with a personal thank-you message and let students know what's coming next. If you're planning a full launch, offer pilot participants a discount or early access as a thank-you.
After the Pilot: What Comes Next
With your pilot complete, you have validated content, real testimonials, and clear data on what to improve. The next step is turning all of this into your full course. Our guide on transitioning from pilot to full course covers the complete 4-step scaling framework.
Ready to start planning? Use our free course outline generator to structure your pilot curriculum, or read more about designing your course backwards from the transformation.