Steps to Create Online Courses: A Shopify Merchant Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Step 1: Identifying the Transformation Your Audience Craves
3. Step 2: Defining Clear Learning Objectives Using Backward Design
4. Step 3: Structuring Your Curriculum for Maximum Engagement
5. Step 4: Choosing Your Hosting Environment (Native vs. Third-Party)
6. Step 5: Producing High-Quality Content on a Budget
7. Step 6: Building a Community Around Your Course
8. Step 7: Pricing Strategies and Revenue Models
9. Step 8: Launching Your Course and Iterating Based on Data
10. Step 9: Marketing and Scaling Your Learning Powerhouse
11. The Tevello Advantage: Simple, Powerful, Native
12. Conclusion: Start Your Journey Today
13. Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

The global e-learning market is projected to soar past $460 billion by 2026. While many physical product brands struggle with rising shipping costs, logistical delays, and razor-thin margins, a new generation of Shopify merchants is discovering a more sustainable way to scale. Instead of just selling the "what," they are selling the "how." A coffee roaster isn't just selling beans; they are selling a masterclass on the perfect pour-over. A fitness equipment brand isn't just shipping dumbbells; they are providing a 12-week transformation program.

At Tevello, our mission is to turn any Shopify store into a digital learning powerhouse. We believe that merchants should fully own their customer data and brand experience. This is why we built a solution that ensures your customers stay on your own URL, interacting with your brand, rather than being redirected to a third-party platform that dilutes your identity. We are committed to providing an all-in-one ecosystem where physical products, digital courses, and community engagement live side-by-side.

In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to create online courses that not only deliver high value to your audience but also create a stable, recurring revenue stream for your business. By the end of this article, you will understand how to transition from a traditional retailer to a comprehensive educational brand without the technical headaches of fragmented systems.

Step 1: Identifying the Transformation Your Audience Craves

The biggest mistake a new course creator can make is trying to sell "information." In an age where Google and YouTube are free, information is a commodity. What people are actually willing to pay for is transformation. They aren't buying 20 hours of video content; they are buying the result those 20 hours will produce.

Consider a merchant selling high-end gardening tools. If they simply list the "Features" of a course—such as "10 modules on soil health"—they might see lukewarm interest. However, if they sell the "Benefit"—"Transform your backyard into a self-sustaining organic farm that feeds your family"—they are selling a transformation.

To find your course topic, look at your existing Shopify data. Which products have the highest repeat purchase rate? What questions do customers constantly ask your support team? For a merchant selling specialty coffee beans, creating a 'Barista Basics' video course is a high-margin upsell that requires no shipping boxes and offers immediate gratification.

Your goal is to identify a gap between where your customer is now and where they want to be. Your course is the bridge that gets them there. This shift in mindset is the foundation for strategies for selling over 4,000 digital courses natively, where the focus remains on the value provided to the learner.

Step 2: Defining Clear Learning Objectives Using Backward Design

Once you have your transformation in mind, you need to map out how to get there. We recommend a "backward design" approach. Start with the final result and work backward to determine what the student needs to learn to achieve it.

1. Define the Final Goal: What is the one thing the student should be able to do at the end?
2. Determine Assessment Methods: How will the student (and you) know they’ve succeeded? This might be a completed project, a passed quiz, or a certification.
3. Identify the Milestones: What are the 3-5 major pillars of knowledge required?
4. Create the Content: Only now do you start writing scripts or filming videos.

Clear objectives prevent "content bloat." If a piece of information doesn't directly contribute to the final transformation, cut it. Your students will value a two-hour course that delivers a result more than a ten-hour course that leaves them confused. When you focus on efficiency, you can see how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses with their existing physical catalog.

Step 3: Structuring Your Curriculum for Maximum Engagement

An online course is more than just a sequence of videos. To keep students engaged and moving toward their goals, you need a structured curriculum that balances theory with action.

The Module and Lesson Hierarchy

Divide your course into logical modules, with each module containing 3-7 lessons. This makes the material digestible and allows students to feel a sense of progress. For example, a course on "Professional Photography for Beginners" might be structured as follows:

• Module 1: Mastering Your Camera Settings (Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO)
• Module 2: The Art of Lighting (Natural light, Studio setups, Reflector use)
• Module 3: Composition and Storytelling (Rule of thirds, Leading lines)
• Module 4: Post-Processing (Editing workflows, Color grading)

Incorporating Interaction and Accountability

Information alone rarely changes lives. Education, however, involves interaction and accountability. This is where Tevello’s all the key features for courses and communities come into play. By integrating quizzes, you force students to recall what they’ve learned, which significantly improves retention.

Furthermore, you can use "Drip Content" to schedule when lessons become available. This prevents students from feeling overwhelmed and ensures they master the basics before moving on to advanced topics. This structured approach is central to retention strategies that drive repeat digital purchases, as it keeps the learner engaged over a longer period.

Step 4: Choosing Your Hosting Environment (Native vs. Third-Party)

The technical "how" of your course is just as important as the "what." Many creators make the mistake of hosting their courses on third-party marketplaces. While these platforms offer a built-in audience, they come with significant drawbacks:

• Data Loss: You don't own your customer's email or data.
• Brand Fragmentation: Customers are redirected away from your store.
• Transaction Fees: These platforms often take 30% to 50% of your revenue.

Our Native Shopify Integration ensures a seamless checkout experience using the payment gateways you already trust. By keeping your digital products on your own domain, you eliminate the confusion of multiple logins and fragmented branding.

If unifying your stack is a priority, start by a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses. This approach allows you to maintain a unified login that reduces customer support friction, ensuring that a customer who buys a physical yoga mat can immediately access their "Yoga for Beginners" course with the same account.

Step 5: Producing High-Quality Content on a Budget

You don't need a Hollywood studio to create a successful online course. In fact, many of the most successful courses are filmed with a smartphone and a basic microphone. Authenticity often resonates more with students than high-gloss production.

Video Content Best Practices

• Lighting: Use natural light whenever possible or invest in a simple ring light.
• Audio: This is the most critical element. People will tolerate mediocre video, but they will leave if the audio is scratchy or quiet. Use a lapel microphone or a dedicated USB mic.
• Screen Recording: If you are teaching software or a digital skill, tools like Loom or OBS are excellent for capturing your screen.

Diverse Content Formats

Don't rely solely on video. Some people learn better through reading, while others prefer audio. Include downloadable PDFs, worksheets, and audio-only versions of your lessons. This inclusivity ensures that your course is accessible to every kind of learner.

Within the Tevello ecosystem, our Unlimited Plan provides you with unlimited video hosting and bandwidth. This means you never have to worry about your costs spiking just because your course becomes popular. You can focus on generating over €243,000 by upselling existing customers without fearing hidden technical fees.

Step 6: Building a Community Around Your Course

One of the strongest drivers of course completion and customer satisfaction is community. When students feel they are part of a group of like-minded individuals, they are more likely to stay motivated and achieve their goals.

A native community feature allows your members to:

• Create personal profiles.
• Interact via social feeds.
• Ask questions directly to the instructor.
• Network with other students in a member directory.

By housing your community directly on Shopify, you increase the "stickiness" of your site. Instead of visiting your store once to buy a product, customers return daily to participate in the discussion. This direct engagement is one of the most effective retention strategies that drive repeat digital purchases.

Step 7: Pricing Strategies and Revenue Models

How much should you charge for your course? Pricing is often the most stressful part of the process, but it becomes simpler when you look at the value of the transformation.

Pricing Models to Consider:

• One-Time Purchase: Ideal for specific, "how-to" courses with a clear start and end point.
• Subscription/Membership: Best for communities or libraries of content that are updated regularly.
• Bundling: Selling a course alongside a physical product. This is a powerful way to increase your Average Order Value (AOV).

At Tevello, we believe in predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees. Many platforms charge "success fees" where they take a percentage of every sale you make. We find that model unfair to the merchant. Whether you sell one course or ten thousand, Tevello charges 0% transaction fees. You keep 100% of your earnings.

Our model is simple: The Unlimited Plan is $29.99 per month. This includes unlimited courses, students, and video hosting. This flat-rate approach makes it easy to forecast your margins and reinvest your profits back into marketing.

Step 8: Launching Your Course and Iterating Based on Data

Your launch shouldn't be a one-time event; it should be the start of an ongoing conversation with your audience. Start by seeing how the app natively integrates with Shopify to ensure your checkout flow is perfect.

The Beta Launch Strategy

Consider launching your course to a small group of "beta" testers at a discount. In exchange, ask for their honest feedback and a testimonial. This allows you to catch any technical glitches or confusing lessons before you go "all-in" with your marketing.

Tracking Key Metrics

Once your course is live, pay close attention to:

• Completion Rates: Where are people dropping off? If 50% of students stop at Module 3, that module might be too difficult or boring.
• Quiz Scores: Are students actually learning the material?
• Customer Lifetime Value (LTV): How much more is a "course + product" customer worth compared to a "product-only" customer?

As you gather data, you can refine your content. Unlike a physical book, a digital course can be updated in real-time. This flexibility is what allows merchants to go from zero to generating over €243,000 by upselling existing customers.

Step 9: Marketing and Scaling Your Learning Powerhouse

With your course built and your Shopify integration seamless, it's time to drive traffic. Because your course is hosted natively, you can use all the Shopify marketing tools you already know and love.

Upselling at Checkout

Use Shopify's post-purchase upsell apps to offer your course immediately after someone buys a related physical product. For example, if someone buys a set of watercolor paints, offer them your "Mastering Watercolors" course for an additional $49. This requires zero extra shipping work and is pure profit.

Content Marketing and SEO

Create blog posts (like this one!) that address the "pain points" your course solves. Link these posts back to your course landing page. By providing value upfront, you build the trust necessary for a customer to invest in your paid education.

Email Marketing

Use your Shopify customer list to send automated email sequences. Welcome new customers, offer them free tips related to your course topic, and then invite them to join your full program. This nurturing process is how top brands scale their digital offerings.

The Tevello Advantage: Simple, Powerful, Native

We built Tevello because we saw merchants struggling with complex, expensive, and disconnected systems. We wanted to provide a "Supportive Business Partner" experience—a tool that amplifies your existing efforts rather than creating new problems.

Our platform is designed for growth. We don't punish you for being successful. Whether you have 10 students or 10,000, your monthly cost stays at a flat $29.99 on our Unlimited Plan. This includes all the key features for courses and communities without any hidden surprises.

By keeping your digital learning products under your own Shopify roof, you create a professional, unified brand that inspires confidence. You aren't just a shop; you are an authority in your niche. You are a digital learning powerhouse.

Conclusion: Start Your Journey Today

Creating an online course is one of the most effective ways to diversify your revenue, increase your customer lifetime value, and build a loyal community around your brand. While the process requires effort and planning, the rewards of recurring revenue and brand stability are well worth the investment. By following these steps to create online courses, you can turn your expertise into a scalable asset that works for you 24/7.

Remember, you don't have to have everything perfect to get started. You can build your entire curriculum and set up your community during our 14-day free trial without paying a cent. This allows you to validate your idea and see the power of native integration firsthand. We are here to support you in transforming your Shopify store into more than just a place to buy goods—it's a place to learn, grow, and connect.

To build your community without leaving Shopify, start by reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from. With our 0% transaction fee policy and start your 14-day free trial and build your first course now, there has never been a better time to unlock the digital potential of your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell courses and physical products together on Shopify?

Absolutely. One of the primary advantages of using Tevello is the ability to bundle digital courses with physical inventory. You can set up a single Shopify product that, when purchased, triggers both a shipping order for a physical item and an automated "access granted" email for your digital course. This creates a seamless experience for your customers and increases your average order value.

Do I need to pay for separate video hosting?

No. When you use the Tevello Unlimited Plan, video hosting and bandwidth are included at no additional cost. You can upload your course videos directly to our platform, and they will be served to your students through a high-speed, secure global content delivery network (CDN). This saves you from having to pay for third-party hosting services like Vimeo or Wistia.

How do I handle student logins?

Because Tevello is a native Shopify app, it uses Shopify's existing customer account system. Your students will log in to your store using the same email and password they use to track their shipping orders. This unified login that reduces customer support friction ensures that your customers never have to remember multiple passwords or navigate away from your domain to access their content.

What happens if I have thousands of students?

Our pricing is designed to scale with you. Unlike many other platforms that charge per student or take a percentage of your sales, Tevello offers a flat-rate Unlimited Plan. For $29.99 per month, you can have an unlimited number of courses and an unlimited number of students. We believe you should be rewarded for your growth, not penalized with higher fees as your community expands.