How To Tell if an Online Course is Worth It

It’s a new year, and it’s time to get your rear in gear! And what better way to do that than by selecting one of the hundreds of thousands of online courses available to you? Ah, but herein lies the problem. There are too many options. Where do you even start? I felt this way for a while too, buying online courses and guides, hoping they would bring me the results they promised. That was until I started helping clients create their own online classes. Then, it became really clear which classes are worth it, which are not, and how to decide. Let me show you what I’ve learned, so you can choose a class that takes you where you want to go. 

How to Choose Your Goal

Before you start looking for an online class, you need to get clear on what your goal is. There are endless reasons why you would want to take an online class, but they all fall into two general categories. You either want to learn something, or you want to achieve something. 

If you’ve ever taken a course from Masterclass, or seen the ads for them, you have a good idea of classes that help you learn something. Courses like these go deep into concepts, theory, and philosophy, but leave you to apply them on your own. There’s nothing wrong with this, unless you’re taking a class to try and achieve something. If you have the opportunity to hear from a true master of a craft, like Masterclass provides, you’d be better asking them about theory and philosophy anyway. 

Other online classes help you achieve something, with practical advice, trial runs, and real-world opportunities. One class I helped design was Jeremiah Davis’ Full-Time Creator Class. It was important to Jeremiah that the students in his class could achieve better videos, and land new clients after the class. So we included footage downloads that the students could edit with, and we lined up paid projects from real brands that were exclusively available to the students. 

It’s important to understand how unlikely it is for any given class to transform your business overnight. Even achievement-based courses will help you do something, but true business growth takes consistency over a few years. There are no legitimate shortcuts. (If you are looking to get new clients this month, you’d be better off reading my post 5 Steps To Get More Clients This Month.)

The difference between learning and achieving is pretty clear. But are you clear on which one you want? Start by understanding your own goal, and the choice between classes will get much easier. 

How to Pick the Right Instructor

The best part about the age of online classes is that education no longer belongs to old guys in universities. Education is accessible for anyone who has the guts to teach and the heart to learn. So with this in mind, make sure you choose an instructor who speaks your language. There is a class out there taught by someone who looks like you, talks like you, and shares your worldview. You will learn so much more from someone who speaks your language, even if they only know half as much as some “expert” who doesn’t speak your language. 

This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t consider education from those who don’t look and sound like us. But I would only suggest these opportunities to people who have taken a number of courses, and want to expand their worldview. For first-time online students, maximizing learning with a teacher like you is the way to go. 

There are a few other things to consider when choosing an instructor. First, find out if you can watch them work, and not just talk. Another class I worked on was Jordan Orme’s The Editing Formula, and he showed students his full editing process with screen recordings. Jeremiah Davis had two “in the field” lessons, where a behind-the-scenes angle showed students how he shoots videos live. Instructors who are humble enough to show you their process are a gold mine, and lessons like these can be worth the entire cost of the course. 

Another thing to consider when picking an instructor are their real-world achievements. Do some research and find out what your instructor has accomplished in real life, and make your decision based on this. Online classes have become sort of a cash grab, so there are many instructors out there who haven’t really achieved much. A little bit of research can go a long way in helping you choose the right instructor for you. 

How to Pick the Right Class

After you’ve decided what your goal is, and which instructor is right for you, it’s time to do some final vetting. The most impactful class component available is a community. If an online course gives you a real opportunity to connect with other students, this is gold. An instructor to teach concepts is important. But a friend and a collaborator to work with? Priceless. In the workshops and classes I’ve managed, I’ve seen dozens of students develop true friendships, and then go on to work together, hire each other, and collaborate on creative projects. In one of Seth Godin’s Akimbo workshops, I met Alex Belser, and he’s consulted me on a few projects as well. I’ve enjoyed staying in touch with him, and know we’ll work on an ad campaign together someday soon. 

Finally, if your class gives you practice opportunities, you’ve found a winner. Like I mentioned before, both Jordan and Jeremiah’s classes give students tools and opportunity to put what they’re learning into practice. Seth Godin’s workshops do this too, by requiring students to write about what they’re learning, and publish in a forum. Concepts and theories can fade in our minds, but hard work and habits stick around for a long time. 

So, if you find your goal, choose the right instructor for you, and pick a class with community practice opportunities, you’ll take a winning online course. Again, no online class will transform your business overnight. But education over the long-term will make you unstoppable for decades to come. 

Thanks for reading, and good luck! 

P.S. If you do want to transform your business this month, check out my article 5 Steps To Get More Clients This Month.