Teaching That Sells

All of these are common online course topics, and the answer is usually: anything. By prioritizing possibility over results and the parasocial over pedagogy, creators are able to tap into their customers’ deepest desires and make promises accordingly.

And if online courses are being marketed as a (often effective) solution to creator burnout, then the incentives for making them start with the creator’s needs, not with any strong desire to be a teacher—or the needs of students.

But are online course customers actually getting results?

Online courses have become a crucial part of the creator, influencer, and thought leader economic ecosystem, especially as we know that creators are experiencing extremely high levels of burnout in their work. It’s hard to make a living from creator funds and tip jars. Online courses make it easy to monetize experience at scale. Again, a total win.