Selling content online can be a lucrative venture, but choosing the right platform to do so can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it’s important to do your due diligence before making a decision. In this guide, we’ll explore the four different ways to sell content online and the factors to consider when choosing the right platform.
Methods of Selling Content
Branded Learning Management Systems (LMS) Website Business
Think of the Branded LMS Website Business platform as a full-fledged online business. This option is the easiest way to set up an online training business, as all you need to do is change the templates and add your content. With platforms like Kajabi, you can even customize your own website, use landing page templates to direct traffic for higher conversions, and email right from the system, which makes drip feeding a piece of cake. Pricing for a starter package with Kajabi is $103 per month, which provides all the tools you need for marketing purposes.
WordPress Websites Membership Plugins
If you’re already on WordPress, using a membership plugin may be the right option for you. While some plugins are free, it’s important to choose one that can do what you need it to do and integrate with any other services you may need to add, like an email software platform and payment gateways. Membership websites are perfect for getting a community together to share media, tutorials, or ideas for the select few who join your secret club. However, managing such a platform may seem overwhelming, so it’s important to choose the right membership website builder that’s easy to use and has great design.
WordPress Websites Learning Management System Plugins
LMS plugins are specifically developed for online courses and are best in terms of structure and creating a course that flows in a specific order, providing a complete learning path. They also tend to provide course-rich features, like quizzes, assignments, progress tracking, and certificates. An example of an LMS plugin is LearnDash, which costs around $160 for a single website.
Marketplace Websites
Choosing to go the marketplace route for your online courses is good from the point of view that those sites already boast a good amount of traffic and usually have good search engine rankings. However, it does not mean your course stands a better chance of getting sales either, depending on your niche. Because on the flip side of the coin, you will probably have a lot of competition on marketplace sites. So if you choose to go this route, you will need to make your course stand out from the rest of the crowd, and how you do that will depend on the marketplace website. The main disadvantage of using sites like Udemy is that you don’t own the list of subscribers and you can’t control your price.
Factors to Consider
Before deciding on a platform for your online courses, it’s important to consider the following factors:
– Hosting for reliability and speed
– Payment options
– Ease of uploading content
– Help with marketing the courses
– Course content delivery
– Integration with other third-party services
– Mobile responsiveness
– Search engine friendliness
As you go through the options above, you’ll need to find out the answers to these questions. And only then should you make your decision. It’s important to avoid making your decision based solely on price, as this could cause issues down the line.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best option for selling content online is to go with the branded LMS option. The second-best options are between the LMS WordPress plugin and marketplace sites. The last option you should consider, specifically for online course management, is the membership plugin. It may not be as easy to set up and make everything work as the other options, and it may not be the best option from an SEO point of view, which could be detrimental to your success. By considering the factors listed above, you’ll be able to choose the right platform for your online courses and start selling your content online successfully.
