How to validate a course idea: a guide
Guide for course creators
For course creators and coaches who want first time creators on their list.
Decision guide
Self paced, cohort or membership
How to use this decision guide
Share this in creator communities or with your waitlist. Creators who have not decided how to deliver a course get clear tests and look for someone who can help.
What is inside
The formats side by sideHow students learn
Questions to answer firstHow much live time do you have: Count the hours, not the hopes.
Tests that point to self pacedYour topic is stable: The lessons will stay true for years.
Tests that point to a cohortStudents need help to finish: The group and the dates do the work.
Tests that point to a membershipThe topic keeps changing: There is always something new to add.
Starting with one and adding anotherMany creators begin with a cohort, to learn what students need, then record the lessons as a self paced version.
Three title ideas for your own version
Self paced, cohort or membership
How to choose the format of your course
Which course format should you build
Where to promote it
Creator communitiesyour newsletterLinkedIn postsa link in your waitlist email
Why give creators a guide to course formats?
The format shapes income, workload and how many students finish. A fair guide with clear tests saves a creator from building the wrong thing first.
Make this decision guide your own
The sample above is a real page. Press Use this template, sign up, and it appears in your account with this text and look, ready to edit. Change the words, add your own details and publish it.
Built with Gatedleads, the quickest way to turn a page like this into a lead magnet that collects emails.
More for course creators
The same audience, 9 other formats.
Course launch checklist
Checklist for course creators
For tools and coaches that serve course creators before a launch.
How to structure a lesson: a cheat sheet
Cheat sheet for course creators
For course creators who want new creators learning from them.
Course launch email templates
Email scripts for course creators
For anyone who serves course creators and wants them on their list before launch.
Course outline template
Template pack for course creators
For tools and coaches that want course creators planning with their template.
Student messages swipe file
Swipe file for course creators
For course creators who know they should keep in touch with students and never find the words.
Buyer's guide to choosing a course platform
Buyer's guide for course creators
For course creators who are about to pick a platform and do not want to move their students later.
Why students do not finish your course: a mistakes list
Mistakes list for course creators
For course creators whose students buy and then disappear.
Cohort course roadmap
Roadmap for course creators
For course creators who are about to run a first live cohort and want a plan for every week.
More decision guides
The same format, written for 51 other niches.
Sell first or buy first decision guide
Decision guide for real estate agents
For agents who want to talk to movers early, before they have decided on the order of their move.
Sole trader or limited company decision guide
Decision guide for accountants
For accountants who want to talk to new and growing businesses before they have picked a structure.
Mortgage or pension decision guide for financial advisers
Decision guide for financial advisors
For financial advisers who want to reach people who have spare money and have not yet decided where it should go.
Consultant, interim or permanent hire decision guide
Decision guide for consultants
For consultants who want to speak to buyers who have a gap in their team and have not yet decided how to fill it.
Permanent, contractor or temp decision guide
Decision guide for recruiters
For recruiters who want to speak to employers who need someone and have not decided what kind of worker to hire.
Take or turn down a project decision guide
Decision guide for freelancers
For freelancers who say yes to the wrong work because they were afraid to say no.
Gym, home or classes decision guide for fitness coaches
Decision guide for fitness and nutrition coaches
For fitness coaches who talk to beginners about where to train and want them to pick a place they will use.
Retainer, project or performance fee decision guide
Decision guide for marketing agencies
For agencies that want to talk to owners who are choosing a way to pay and have not yet picked one.
Group or one to one coaching decision guide
Decision guide for business coaches
For business coaches who offer both formats and want owners to choose the right one without a sales push.
Retainer, day rate or project fee decision guide
Decision guide for fractional executives
For fractional executives who want founders to agree a fair way of paying before the work starts.
Kindle exclusive or wide decision guide
Decision guide for authors
For authors who sell ebooks and are unsure whether to keep them with one shop or sell them in many.
Photos, video or both decision guide for photographers
Decision guide for photographers and videographers
For photographers and filmmakers who want to be asked early, before the client has decided what to buy.
Personal profile or company page decision guide for creators
Decision guide for linkedIn creators and ghostwriters
For ghostwriters and creators who want to speak to founders who have not yet decided where their business should post.
Pay off debt or save first decision guide for money educators
Decision guide for finance and money educators
For money educators who want to meet people at the moment they are deciding what to do with spare money.
AI search or classic SEO decision guide for SEO consultants
Decision guide for SEO and content consultants
For SEO consultants who want to speak to marketing managers who are unsure where to spend their limited hours.
Change employer, role or field decision guide for career coaches
Decision guide for career and executive coaches
For career and executive coaches who want to reach people who feel stuck at work but have not yet worked out what to change.
Coach or GP decision guide for wellness coaches
Decision guide for health and wellness coaches
For health and wellness coaches who want to be the honest first stop for people who are not sure where to turn.
Coaching, mentoring or a course decision guide
Decision guide for leadership coaches
For leadership coaches who want to speak to leaders and HR teams who know something is missing but have not decided what to buy.
Hire a seller or keep selling decision guide
Decision guide for sales coaches
For sales coaches who want to speak to founders who are tired of doing all the selling and have not decided what to do.
Employee or self-employed decision guide
Decision guide for HR consultants
For HR consultants who want to talk to employers before they set up a working relationship that may be wrong.
Monthly plan or pay as you go decision guide
Decision guide for IT consultants
For IT consultants who want to speak to owners who need support and have not decided how to buy it.
Fixed rate or tracker decision guide
Decision guide for mortgage and insurance brokers
For mortgage and insurance brokers who want to talk to borrowers before they have picked a type of rate.
Solar panels or insulation first decision guide
Decision guide for home improvement and solar installers
For installers who want homeowners to plan the whole home, and to come back when the time is right for panels.
Architect or interior designer decision guide for designers
Decision guide for architects and interior designers
For architects and interior designers who want homeowners to call the right professional at the right time.
Lasting power of attorney decision guide
Decision guide for small law firms
For small law firms with a wills and estates practice who want people planning ahead to get in touch before they need one.
Keynote or workshop decision guide
Decision guide for speakers and trainers
For speakers and trainers who want to speak to organisers who need a session and have not yet decided what kind.
Coach or counsellor decision guide
Decision guide for life coaches
For life coaches who want people to find the right help, even when that is not a coach.
Keep, sell or remortgage decision guide for property investors
Decision guide for property investors and landlord educators
For property investor and landlord educators who want to reach owners whose rental no longer works as it did.
Online or in person therapy decision guide
Decision guide for therapists and counsellors
For therapists and counsellors who offer both formats and want to help people choose without pressure.
One to one or small group decision guide for tutors
Decision guide for tutors and education consultants
For tutors who offer more than one format and want families to choose the one that suits the learner.
Full planner, partial or day only decision guide
Decision guide for wedding planners
For wedding planners who want couples to choose the right level of help and not drift away because the price looks too high.
Annuity, drawdown or a mix decision guide
Decision guide for pension advisers
For pension advisers who want to speak to people who are about to choose how to take a retirement income.
Do I need a UK tax return decision guide for expat tax advisers
Decision guide for expat and international tax advisers
For expat tax advisers who want to meet people unsure whether they still have to file in the UK.
Limited company or sole trader decision guide for advisers
Decision guide for company formation and international business setup advisers
For company formation advisers who want to reach founders who have not yet decided how to trade.
Sell now, wait or hand it on decision guide for brokers and M&A advisers
Decision guide for business brokers and M&A advisers
For business brokers who want to speak to owners who have not decided whether, or how, to exit.
Franchise or your own business decision guide for franchise consultants
Decision guide for franchise consultants and franchisors
For franchise consultants who want to talk to people deciding whether to buy a franchise or start alone.
Visa refusal decision guide for immigration advisers
Decision guide for immigration and visa consultants
For immigration advisers who want to help people who have just received a refusal and do not know what to do.
Free trial, freemium or demo decision guide
Decision guide for software companies
For anyone who sells to software companies and wants founders who have not yet decided how to let people try their product.
Let only or fully managed decision guide for letting agents
Decision guide for letting agents and property managers
For letting agents who want to speak to landlords who have not decided how much help they need.
Agent, sourcer or going solo decision guide for agents
Decision guide for buyer's agents and property sourcers
For buyer's agents and property sourcers who want to speak to buyers who have not decided what kind of help they need.
Sell or rent decision guide
Decision guide for real estate flippers
For property flippers who want partners to think clearly when a finished project does not sell as planned.
Extend, convert or move decision guide for home builders
Decision guide for home builders and renovators
For builders and renovators who want to speak to homeowners who need more space and have not decided how to get it.
Natural lawn or artificial grass decision guide for garden designers
Decision guide for landscapers and garden designers
For garden designers and landscapers who want homeowners deciding what to put down before they have chosen a design.
Automate, buy a tool or leave it decision guide
Decision guide for AI automation agencies
For automation agencies that want to talk to owners who have a slow job and have not decided what to do about it.
Book or wait decision guide for aesthetic clinics
Decision guide for cosmetic and aesthetic clinics
For clinics who want to speak to people who are deciding, without pushing them over the line.
NHS or private physiotherapy decision guide
Decision guide for physical therapists
For physiotherapists who want to speak to people deciding where to get treatment.
Dietitian, nutritionist or GP decision guide
Decision guide for nutritionists and dietitians
For nutritionists and dietitians who want to speak to people who know they need help with food but not who to ask.
Try it yourself or book help decision guide for family coaches
Decision guide for parenting, sleep and family coaches
For coaches who want to speak to parents who do not know where to turn.
Monthly or pay as you go decision guide
Decision guide for gym owners
For gym and studio owners who want prospects to choose an option they will actually use.
In house, freelancer or agency decision guide
Decision guide for cold email agencies
For agency owners who want to speak to companies that have not yet decided how to run outbound email.
Wet room or walk in shower decision guide
Decision guide for kitchen and bathroom remodellers
For bathroom fitters whose clients ask for a wet room without knowing what it involves.
Pick one, change the words, publish.
Free to start. No credit card.