Have you ever said to yourself, “I’d love to create an online course, a coaching program or a membership… but I don’t know where to start?” If so, you are in the right place! I’m Sarah Cordiner, a qualified teacher trainer and course creation specialist with over 20 years in the education sector—and I’m about to take you through the exact steps of creating an education-based product that people actually want to buy.

Grab a cuppa, because this is not just another fluffy list. This is a full, practical and step-by-step breakdown of the three main types of digital education products, why they’re booming right now, and how you can start building yours today.

1. First, Decide What Type of Program You’re Going To Create

There are three main education-based products that are selling incredibly well right now:

• Self-Study Online Courses
• Coaching Programs
• Membership Programs

Let’s break these down so you can choose the best one for your expertise and your audience.

Self-Study Online Courses used to be the kings of online learning pre-COVID. It was a badge of honour to say your course had 10, 20, even 50 hours of content. But guess what? Nowadays, nobody has time for that. Most people don’t even get through them, and completion rates are down because they’re overwhelming.

Coaching Programs are hot right now. They’re where people get access to YOU—your energy, your wisdom, your answers, your experience. These can be delivered live or pre-recorded, or a combination of both. Group coaching is perfect for scaling because you get more people into your programs at a higher price point, while still only spending a set amount of time delivering.

Membership Programs have exploded in popularity because they allow learners to receive short, fast, implementable content in a community environment. And from your side as the course creator, you don’t have to finish everything before launching—just start with a single monthly workshop or group call. Simple, low pressure, and you can build it as you go.

2. Understand The Psychology of Today’s Learners

Post-COVID learners want:

• Bite-sized content that’s quick and easy to consume
• A sense of belonging and community
• Support, guidance and accountability

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that ‘belonging’ is a fundamental human driver. That’s why memberships and group coaching are trending—they satisfy both the educational and emotional needs of modern learners.

3. What’s Working NOW In Online Learning?

• Micro-content: Think 5-minute videos, action-based PDFs, swipe files.
• Live touchpoints: Weekly or monthly Q&As, group calls, or hot seats.
• Ongoing updates: Add new content each month to keep your students engaged and retained.
• Community support: Private groups, discussion boards, or live chats within your course.

4. Let’s Get You Started: Simple First Steps

If you’re sitting on an idea and want to get moving, here’s the simplest path:

• Choose ONE format (self-study, coaching, or membership)
• Pick ONE topic you’re passionate about and that people ask you about often
• Decide on your first delivery method: a live Zoom session, a simple video lesson, or a downloadable guide
• Schedule your first delivery. No tech required—just Zoom and a calendar invite to your audience

Boom. You’ve just started your course, coaching program or membership.

5. Make It Easy With Tekmatix

Everything I’ve mentioned above can be beautifully hosted and automated inside Tekmatix—my all-in-one business, course, marketing, and automation platform. Whether it’s setting up landing pages, automating emails, selling your products or hosting your content, Tekmatix does it all. Get started here: https://www.tekmatix.com

6. You Don’t Have To Do It Alone – Come Join Us Inside The Free Workshop

If you want my direct help with building your course, coaching program or membership, join my FREE workshop where I’ll walk you through it step-by-step. You’ll discover how to choose your topic, plan your delivery, set up the tech and start making sales fast.

Register here: https://workshop.sarahcordiner.com/createonlinecourse

Final Words of Encouragement

Remember, people don’t buy courses—they buy outcomes. They buy your energy. They buy the shortcut. They buy confidence, clarity and community.

You don’t need a fancy studio, a tech team, or a 50-video course to get started. You just need your knowledge, a willing heart, and the courage to press ‘go’.

Let’s make your expertise unstoppable.

To your success,

Sarah x