How to Create an Online Course with Memberships, Courses & Funnels — Complete Walk-Through

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Build a sellable online course that runs itself. This guide walks through every step you need to set up a course and membership site inside your business software, connect it to checkout and funnels, add upsells, and automate enrollments. We focus on simplicity, predictable pricing options, and features you can use today to save time and scale revenue.

What you’ll accomplish

• Create a structured course product with modules, lessons, quizzes, and certificates.
• Package and price the course as an offer with one-time or recurring billing.
• Sell smart by attaching the course to a funnel that includes upsells and two-step checkout forms.
• Automate access so buyers are enrolled immediately and receive onboarding messages.
• Track results with simple analytics and abandoned-cart recovery workflows.

Why create an online course now

• Courses are scalable: create once, sell repeatedly without trading more hours for income.
• They reach people who can’t afford high-touch coaching but still want value.
• Courses work around time zones and schedules—learners progress at their own pace.
• Bundling with funnels and upsells boosts average order value and overall revenue.

Quick checklist before you start

• Decide course format: sprint, marathon, membership, or fully custom.
• Prepare content: video files, PDFs, worksheets, and a thumbnail image.
• Choose a price model: one-time fee, subscription, or free lead magnet.
• Draft one onboarding email and one completion certificate message.
• Plan an initial funnel: landing page, checkout, upsell, and thank-you page.

Step 1 — Create the course product

Use the platform’s course builder to create a product. Think of a product as the full course package that learners will access after purchase.

1. Name the course with a clear value promise (for example, "Black Friday Launch Sprint").
2. Add a short description that explains outcomes, time commitment, and who it’s for.
3. Upload a thumbnail image. If you don’t have one, use the default image to keep the product presentable.
4. Save and move to content creation.

Step 2 — Build modules, lessons, quizzes, and certificates

Structure keeps learners engaged. The platform lets you add modules, submodules, lessons, quizzes, and assignments.

• Modules: Group lessons into logical chunks (Week 1, Fundamentals, Launch Prep).
• Lessons: Add videos, text, and attachments. Each lesson can include a lesson thumbnail and description.
• Quizzes: Use quizzes to check understanding and increase retention. You can add single-choice or multiple-choice questions and set passing scores.
• Assignments: Allow learners to upload work so you can review and give feedback.
• Certificates: Set certificates to send automatically at course or module completion to encourage progress.

Practical tip: add a short quiz after each major module. It improves knowledge retention and gives learners a sense of achievement.

Step 3 — Customize instructor info and branding

Add instructor details, a welcoming bio, and a professional photo. Upload a site logo and small favicon to appear in browser tabs. Under advanced options, you can paste tracking snippets or custom styling if you want deeper customization later. Keep essentials saved as you go.

Step 4 — Create an offer (the buyable package)

Creating an offer turns the course into something buyers can purchase. An offer connects pricing, checkout, and automation.

• Title: Use a clear, benefit-led headline like "Launch Sprint — One-Time Access".
• Price model: Choose between one-time, recurring, or free lead-generation. One-time is easiest and avoids churn; recurring works if you deliver ongoing value.
• Test mode: Start in test mode so you can complete trial purchases before going live.
• Limited seats: Add urgency by showing limited availability text.
• Start date and access length: Schedule when course access begins and set access duration (for example, 42 days for a six-week program).

Pricing guidance: one-time prices are predictable and reduce long-term churn. If you choose subscription billing, offer a short trial period to lower hesitation.

Step 5 — Build the checkout page

Design the checkout for clarity and conversion. The checkout should collect the minimal information you need to enroll them immediately.

• Collect name, email, and phone only if you use phone-based follow-up.
• Offer both card and PayPal-style payment options for buyer preference.
• Include terms of service and refund policy checkboxes on checkout to protect your business.
• Enable coupon fields only when you plan to accept promo codes.

Step 6 — Use funnels to sell smarter

Funnels let you present the offer inside marketing pages, add upsells, and use two-step order forms that increase conversions.

• Landing page: A single page to describe the course and collect interest.
• Two-step order form: First collect name and email, then present payment details. This simple split often improves conversion rates.
• Upsells: Attach one-click upsells that buyers can add without re-entering payment details. Upsells boost average order value dramatically when relevant.
• Thank-you page: Confirm purchase and set expectations for next steps.

Building a basic funnel: create a landing page, add the two-step order element, connect your course offer as the product, then insert one or two relevant upsells like a coaching session or an advanced checklist. Make the upsells available only on the post-checkout page for higher conversions.

Step 7 — Configure upsells and order bump

Order bumps and upsells are your highest leverage tools for increasing revenue without more traffic.

• Order bump: A small add-on checked by default on the checkout page. Examples: an extra workbook, a checklist, or a short bonus video series.
• One-click upsell: Presented after the primary purchase. Buyers approve with a single click and the system adds the charge to the same transaction.

Best practice: make upsells highly relevant and limited-time. For example, sell a copywriting checklist as an upsell to a course about launching offers.

Step 8 — Automate enrollment and communication

Automation saves time and ensures buyers get immediate access plus helpful onboarding messages.

• Enrollment trigger: When a purchase form is submitted, add a tag to the contact indicating the product they bought and grant course access automatically.
• Welcome email: Send a short welcome with login steps and first action items.
• Onboarding sequence: A few scheduled messages reminding them to start, complete module 1, or join community channels.
• Completion triggers: Send congratulations and certificates when learners finish modules or the entire course.
• Internal notifications: Notify your team when someone buys so you can offer manual help or personal follow-up if needed.

Step 9 — Recover abandoned payments

People often drop off during checkout. An automated abandoned payment workflow will recapture a significant portion of lost revenue.

• Trigger an email or SMS when a buyer reaches payment but doesn’t complete it.
• Include a clear call to action and an easy link to reopen the checkout.
• Offer a small incentive or reminder of limited seats to increase urgency.

Step 10 — Test, launch, and iterate

Before going live, run through the purchase flow yourself in test mode. Confirm that:

• Checkout completes successfully and access is granted.
• Upsells and order bumps work as expected.
• Automations trigger emails and tags correctly.
• Quizzes and certificates release at the right milestones.

Launch with a short promotional window and monitor conversions. Use funnel analytics and sales data to refine pricing, upsells, and page copy.

Engagement strategies that increase completion rates

• Micro-commitments: Break content into short lessons to reduce resistance.
• Frequent reminders: Automations that nudge learners after inactivity increase completion.
• Feedback loops: Require short assignments so learners practice and you can offer corrective feedback.
• Recognition: Send certificates and milestone messages to boost motivation.

Transparent pricing & simple offers

Be upfront about how learners pay. That builds trust and reduces refund requests.

• One-time price example: $87 for lifetime access — simple, predictable, no hidden fees.
• Subscription example: $29 per month — best for ongoing updates or coaching communities. Offer a 7-day trial if you want to lower friction.
• Bundle options: Offer a primary course plus a paid upsell like a live coaching hour or a premium checklist for a single additional fee.

Pricing tip: if you want predictable income without managing churn, start with one-time payments and add optional upsells for recurring revenue later.

Simple offering structure we recommend

1. Core course as a one-time purchase.
2. Order bump: workbook or checklist for a small additional fee.
3. One-click upsell: advanced strategy session or accelerated program.
4. Optional membership subscription for ongoing coaching and updates.

Testimonials

"We launched our first course in three days. The automated enrollment and upsells paid for our initial ad spend in the first week." — Small business owner

"Switching to one-time pricing and strong onboarding raised our completion rate and cut refund requests in half." — Agency founder

How should I price my first course?

Start simple. A one-time fee is the easiest to manage and keeps refunds predictable. Pick a price that reflects the outcome you deliver. Typical ranges: $49 to $497 depending on depth. Use an order bump or upsell to increase average order value without complicating checkout.

Can I charge monthly instead of a one-time fee?

Yes. Monthly billing works well for membership-style products or ongoing coaching. Offer a short trial period to reduce hesitation. Remember subscriptions require ongoing value to reduce churn.

How do I add quizzes and passing grades?

Add quizzes at the lesson or module level. Choose single or multiple-choice formats, set the passing score, and provide feedback messages for incorrect answers. Optionally require 100 percent to unlock the next lesson when mastery is important.

What is the fastest way to start selling?

Create a simple funnel: landing page, two-step order form, the course offer, and one relevant upsell. Start in test mode, run a few purchases, then switch to live. Use email and social posts to announce the launch.

How do I make sure buyers get access immediately?

Use an automation that triggers on successful purchase. The workflow should grant course access, add a purchase tag to the user profile, and send a welcome email with login instructions and first steps.

Final checklist before you go live

• Course modules, lessons, quizzes, and certificate set up.
• Offer created and test purchases completed.
• Checkout page contains terms, payment options, and minimal fields.
• Funnel includes at least one relevant upsell and a thank-you page.
• Automations for enrollment, abandoned payments, and onboarding are live.
• Tracking snippets and analytics are added for campaign measurement.

Ready to launch

Start with a clear promise, a focused curriculum, and a simple funnel. Keep pricing straightforward and frontload the value so learners see results quickly. Use automation to reduce manual work, and measure how upsells and funnel tweaks affect revenue. Small, consistent improvements to your funnel and content will scale faster than a perfect first launch.

Take action: create your first course product today, add one quiz, build a simple two-step checkout, and enable an abandoned-cart email. That single workflow will save you time and start converting interest into sales.