In the ever-evolving digital economy, co-producing online courses is quickly becoming a smart and scalable way to launch a business in the education sector. But while the opportunities are vast, the process of getting started—especially from scratch—can be confusing if you don’t know where to begin.
This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of becoming a successful course co-producer, even if you have zero experience today. Whether you’re a marketer, strategist, project manager, or simply a curious learner, you’ll discover how to break into the world of course co-production with clarity and confidence.
What Is Co-Production in Digital Courses?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s quickly recap what course co-production is.
Course co-production involves collaborating with a subject-matter expert to create, launch, and monetize an online course. You don’t need to be the one teaching the course. Instead, you bring other forms of value—like marketing expertise, platform knowledge, copywriting, tech skills, or even capital.
This makes it an excellent opportunity for people who are passionate about digital business but don’t necessarily want to be on camera or in the spotlight.
Step 1: Define What You Bring to the Table
You can’t contribute to a partnership if you don’t know what your skills are. Start by auditing your abilities and asking:
- Can I write persuasive sales pages?
- Do I know how to run Facebook or Google Ads?
- Am I good at creating marketing funnels or automations?
- Can I edit videos or manage course platforms?
- Do I understand email marketing?
- Do I have a personal brand or audience?
Even soft skills like project management, communication, or attention to detail can be invaluable in co-production.
Pro Tip:
If you’re not sure where your strengths lie, consider offering to help someone with a small piece of a course launch—like writing email copy or helping organize content—for free. This helps you build confidence and results you can showcase.
Step 2: Identify a Niche or Industry
Rather than jumping into any opportunity, try narrowing your focus to a specific niche or industry. This will make it easier to connect with potential course creators and build authority.
Some high-performing niches include:
- Health and fitness
- Personal finance
- Career development
- Real estate
- Business skills
- Parenting
- Tech and coding
- Mindset and personal growth
Focus on a topic where there’s proven demand and where you can see yourself working long-term.
Step 3: Study Existing Course Creators
Next, start researching individuals who are already teaching online in your niche. Look for:
- YouTubers
- Instagram educators
- TikTok creators
- Podcasters
- Bloggers
- Coaches or consultants
Pay attention to people who are already creating free content and getting engagement—but don’t yet have a course or have underperforming offers. These are the ideal candidates for a co-production partnership.
You can use tools like:
- YouTube search
- Instagram hashtags
- Twitter/X advanced search
- Podcast directories
- Facebook Groups
Create a list of 20–30 potential partners to reach out to later.
Step 4: Build Your Co-Producer Pitch
Once you’ve defined your skills and identified creators in your niche, it’s time to prepare your offer.
Your pitch should clearly explain:
- Who you are
- What problem you solve
- How you’ll help them make more money
- Why this is a win-win partnership
For example:
“Hi, I’m Jordan, a course marketing specialist. I help content creators like you turn their expertise into profitable online courses. I’ve worked on funnels and launches that brought in over $25,000 in 30 days. I’d love to collaborate on something similar with you. Would you be open to a quick chat?”
Even if you’re new, you can still position yourself by saying:
- “I’ve studied what’s working in the market…”
- “I’m building my portfolio and want to overdeliver…”
- “Let’s test a small launch together and split the revenue fairly…”
Keep it simple, valuable, and focused on them.
Step 5: Validate Your Idea
Once you’ve connected with a partner and agreed to collaborate, don’t rush into building the full course right away. First, validate the idea by answering:
- Do people want to learn this?
- Are they already paying for similar content?
- What’s the transformation the course promises?
- What objections might the audience have?
You can validate by:
- Running a simple survey to your partner’s audience
- Asking followers in Stories or DMs
- Looking at competitors’ course reviews and comments
- Hosting a free live webinar and seeing who signs up
If people are interested and engage, you’re on the right track.
Step 6: Outline the Course Together
You don’t need a perfect course on day one. Focus on outlining the transformation first:
- Where is the student now?
- Where do they want to go?
- What steps do they need to take?
Build the course like a journey. Keep it focused and digestible.
Then work with your partner to:
- Choose the format (video, audio, worksheets, etc.)
- Decide on length and module breakdown
- Assign who is responsible for creating what
Use tools like:
- Google Docs or Notion for planning
- Trello or Asana for task management
- Zoom for collaboration meetings
Step 7: Choose the Right Course Platform
There are many platforms to host your course, but for beginners, look for ones that are:
- User-friendly
- Affordable
- Allow revenue sharing (or multiple instructors)
Popular platforms:
- Teachable
- Thinkific
- Kajabi
- Podia
- Gumroad (for smaller launches)
You’ll also need a landing page and checkout system, either native to the platform or through a funnel builder like:
- ClickFunnels
- Systeme.io
- Leadpages
Step 8: Plan the Launch
This is where your skills as a co-producer shine. You’ll need to:
- Write or oversee the sales page
- Set up the email marketing sequence
- Create a lead magnet (freebie) if needed
- Schedule launch content for social media
- Organize live webinars or challenges (optional)
- Plan an open/close cart window or evergreen funnel
Even a small launch can bring in thousands with good planning. Track everything and optimize along the way.
Step 9: Set Clear Terms
Before launching, make sure both you and your partner agree to:
- Revenue share percentage
- Duration of the agreement
- Responsibilities during and after launch
- Handling of refunds, updates, and support
- Ownership of content and assets
Put it in writing. You can use simple contracts via tools like:
- HelloSign
- DocuSign
- Notion with written agreement
Clarity now avoids problems later.
Step 10: Launch, Learn, and Iterate
No launch is perfect—but every launch is a learning opportunity. Once your course goes live:
- Track performance (sales, leads, drop-off points)
- Get feedback from students
- Test different offers or email subject lines
- Tweak the course structure or sales page if needed
Treat your first co-production as a learning lab. You’re building skills, experience, and testimonials that open doors to bigger projects.
Your First Course Co-Production Can Change Everything
Co-producing digital courses is a powerful entry point into the world of online business. You don’t need fame, money, or a massive audience to start. All you need is a clear value proposition, a willingness to learn, and the discipline to follow through.
Whether you launch a small $97 mini-course or help scale a six-figure product, co-production lets you earn income while helping others succeed. Best of all, you can build a portfolio of evergreen assets that pay you again and again.
So if you’re ready to start from scratch—start today. The sooner you do, the faster you’ll build your experience, your confidence, and your impact in the digital education space.