How I Launched My First Course Without Knowing Anything (And Got Paid!)

Launching an online course can feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever thought, “I have no clue how to do this,” then this post is for you. 🙋‍♀️

When I launched my first course, I had no sales page, no fancy funnels, and barely a clue about what I was doing. And yet, I managed to enroll seven paying students. Seven people trusted me enough to exchange their hard-earned money for my expertise. That experience taught me some of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned about course creation and entrepreneurship.

In this post, I’m taking you behind the scenes of that first launch: what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons you can take into your own journey. Whether you’re launching your first course or refreshing an existing one, you’ll find actionable insights to help you move forward with confidence. 🚀

Lesson 1: The Power of Going Niche

💡 When I started, I didn’t try to create a course for everyone. Instead, I focused on a highly specific audience: people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I created an Instagram page called IBS Warrior, and because I spoke directly to their unique struggles, people paid attention.

Why This Works:
A niche audience feels seen and understood. They know you’re not just another generic voice but someone who deeply understands their challenges.

✅ Your Action Step:
Ask yourself: Who am I uniquely qualified to help? Don’t try to speak to everyone. The more specific your niche, the more impactful your message will be.

Lesson 2: Messy Action Beats Perfection

🎯 Let’s be real: I had no fancy tools or polished setup. I didn’t even have a proper sales page. I took payments through Venmo and got on calls with people to explain the course. It was scrappy, but it worked.

Why This Works:
Waiting for perfection is just an excuse to delay. Starting messy allows you to learn, adapt, and refine along the way.

✅ Your Action Step:
Take the first step today. Whether it’s creating a simple outline for your course or talking to potential students, messy action will always beat waiting.

Lesson 3: The Power of Live Teaching

🖥️ Instead of creating pre-recorded videos, I taught everything live. Every week, I showed up on calls, guided my students, and delivered exercises in real time. This approach gave me immediate feedback on what worked and what didn’t.

Why This Works:
Live teaching builds connection and engagement. It also gives you invaluable insights into your students’ needs, helping you refine your content.

✅ Your Action Step:
If you’re launching your first course, consider starting with a live format. It’s less work upfront and allows you to co-create the experience with your students.

Lesson 4: Strong Instructional Design Is Key

📚 Even though my course wasn’t flashy, it delivered results because I focused on clear, actionable content. Each week, I built resources based on my students’ progress, ensuring everything was relevant and effective.

Why This Works:
Good instructional design doesn’t require expensive tools or platforms. What matters is creating content that solves real problems for your students.

✅ Your Action Step:
Break your course into clear, actionable steps. Focus on what your students need to achieve tangible results, and let that guide your content creation.

Lesson 5: Build Momentum and Keep Going

🔥 My first launch wasn’t massive, but it was enough to prove that people were willing to pay for my expertise. Those seven students gave me the confidence to keep going, and that momentum has fueled everything I’ve built since.

Why This Works:
Your first launch is just the beginning. It’s not about hitting a huge milestone—it’s about taking the first step and learning along the way.

✅ Your Action Step:
Celebrate every win, no matter how small. Use the momentum from your first launch to refine, iterate, and grow.

If You’re Still Building Your Course…

❓ You might be thinking, “But I haven’t even finished my course yet!” That’s okay. These lessons aren’t just for people who’ve already launched. They’re for anyone who wants to avoid common mistakes and build a course with growth in mind.

✅ Your Action Step:
Focus on creating a course that’s flexible and scalable. Think about how you can re-purpose your content, refine your teaching style, and connect deeply with your audience from the start.

Ready to Take Action?

Launching a course doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t require expensive tools or a massive following. All it takes is messy action, a clear focus on your audience, and a willingness to learn as you go.

And if you’re ready to create or refresh your own course, download my free course, The Course Creator's Toolkit to get started today: www.cre8tion.co/freecourse