By Jill McDonough
Why start a side hustle completely from scratch when you can sell what you already teach?
I get a lot of questions about how to create an online course now that ours is completed and successful. Hopefully the information below will inspire you to create your own online course, to sell something you already teach, perhaps even with your own children!
This side hustle sounds daunting with too much work, but I can assure you that it is doable. How doable? I actually created an online course, The Homegrown Newspaper, with my 10 year old son! We filmed this course with him as the teacher.
How did you decide to create an online course?
My son Dylan has published his own print and online newspaper, The Bugle Blast, since October 2017 when he was 9 years old. It started as a fun way to write about what he was learning in our homeschool. We sent the newspaper to grandparents and a few other friends. Dylan received phone calls and lots of encouragement about how much they enjoyed reading his newspaper. He instantly wanted to keep writing his newspaper every month.
As his list of readers grew each month, several homeschool moms (who read their child’s copy each month) asked me what curriculum we use for the newspaper. I told them we just figured it out on our own through trial and error.
I would think of different articles Dylan could write to help stretch him. For example, he writes pro/con articles, biographies, “how to” articles, bulleted articles, advice columns, etc.
The newspaper was a fun and successful way for him to learn a variety of writing styles.
Due to so much interest in how he accomplishes writing a newspaper every month, while still being a kid and completing his other work,
I knew we had something special that could be turned into an online course. I could “sell what I teach.”
How long have you been doing this side hustle?
The course, The Homegrown Newspaper, went live January 2020. Now all I have to do is continue to market it.
Talk about getting started, start up costs, time commitment, etc.
I started thinking about the idea about one year before we were ready to start filming. So, it took about one year of off and on work to develop the course content, the script for my son and to figure out the technical side of the course.
The greatest piece of advice for creating an online course is this: Your course has to have an achievable goal. Anyone can watch videos on YouTube for free and learn, but a course promises a RESULT at the end.
To create the layout of the course, I first started by creating a mind map of all the topics I think should be covered. I looked through my son’s previous newspapers and listed all of the different types of articles. Another list included the technical aspects of putting the paper online, how to print and distribute the paper version, etc. After I had done this “brain dump”, I started putting circles around the similar elements.
I started to see an outline of the course develop into 10 courses with 3 modules each.
Then, I had to do a lot of research on the best hosting platform for the course. While you can self-host for free, you have to be very knowledgeable of how to avoid many technical hiccups and how to process payments. I decided to host my course through Teachable. They are very professional and the course runs smoothly.
Next, my son and I created a “studio” in a little bonus space we had in our basement. We moved a bookcase and a desk into the area. We put all of his favorite books and knick knacks onto the bookcase to make it look like he was in his room. I knew we would need a dedicated space for our filming since it would be over several months. If it was in his real bedroom, items on the bookcase would inevitably move around making it virtually impossible to have good continuation in the filming. We also purchased an inexpensive light kit for the video quality to look great.
Lastly, I had to figure out how to film and edit. Again, after a lot of research, I purchased the video editing program Camtasia. Many course creators on Teachable use it as well. Camtasia is very easy to use. After a 10 minute YouTube tutorial, I pretty much knew all of its functions. For the camera, I purchased a webcam that went on tripod we already owned. It hooked up to my laptop.
What are the pros of this side hustle?
- I had a great time filming with my son. We would laugh so hard at some of his bloopers.
- You can sell what you already teach or are knowledgeable in. You do not have to start from scratch.
- My son and I both learned a lot of technical knowledge in filming and editing. We once tried using a teleprompter but decided it looked more natural for him to glance at the script once in a while and speak naturally. We thought a lot about how newscasters are teleprompter experts.
- We learned how to market a finished product.
- My son learned that even at 10 years old, he can have valuable knowledge to teach to others. In fact, when kids have completed his course, they are encouraged to share their newspaper with Dylan. This is an awesome way for him to learn the power of teaching.
- I’ve frozen my son in time at 10 years of age. I enjoy re-watching the course and seeing a kid passionately teaching other kids to write their own newspaper.
- We’re making money!
What are the cons of this side hustle?
- It took a lot of additional time to film, especially with a 10 year old. We would never do more than an hour, but some days it felt like we were spinning our wheels trying to get a good clip.
- The online course platform Teachable doesn’t market for you like Udemy or Outschool. However, I make more from Teachable. It’s a slow quarter instead of a fast nickel.
How do you juggle homeschooling and this side hustle?
When we were actively filming the course, my son and I would film while my husband was reading to my other son. I was very aware to not make my other son feel like he was getting less time from me so I always made sure he was getting loved up on with his dad during that time.
Now any work done on the marketing side can quickly be done at night while the kids sleep.
How long have you been homeschooling? What homeschool curriculum do you use? Kids’ ages/grades?
I started homeschooling my oldest son when he was 3 years old in 2012. My boys are currently 11 years old (in 6th grade) and 8 (in 3rd grade). We have always used Sonlight Curriculum and absolutely love it.
My boys used Singapore Math up until this year. We switched to Teaching Textbooks online for math and it has been a game changer. Now my boys beg to do their math.
Finally, we also do piano lessons (taught by me) and drum lessons for my 11 year old. My 11 year old also studies French with the French course I teach to other homeschool middle schoolers. We also do AWANA as part of their Bible studies.
Would you recommend this particular side hustle?
Definitely! You don’t have to do it with your child. You can film yourself teaching anything you’re knowledgeable and passionate about. My dream is to have many courses available to share with others.
As for picking a hosting platform, think about your audience and how much marketing you want to do. If you have a blog, you can use that for marketing a Teachable course. If you don’t have a blog, you might want to consider Udemy or Outschool.
Note: Udemy frequently has sales that you have no control over. They often offer courses around $12-19, even if you have your course priced at $350! I personally have taken many courses from Udemy and have NEVER paid close to full price.
Also, with Outschool you have to teach in-real-time before your courses can go purely online.
You have to check out my son’s course, The Homegrown Newspaper!
You can view a preview of Class 4 – Module 1 from his main page.
You can also watch our promo video on YouTube.
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheHomegrownNewspaper
Follow us on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/TheHomegrownNewspaper
Lastly, have your kids read his newspaper online at TheBugleBlast.com.
Want more ideas? Go to our full list of side hustles involving teaching.
