What if the secret to a winning course topic has been right under your nose all along?

Shannon Martel | October 16, 2025

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The Answer Lies in These 10 Proven Steps to Online Course Success

You might have dozens of course ideas swirling in your head—or maybe you're stuck on just one, endlessly second-guessing if it's "the right one." Here's the truth: the right course topic isn't just about what you know. It's about what lights you up, solves a real problem, and makes people say, "I need this now!"

In this guide, you’ll get 10 clear, proven steps to help you land your perfect course idea—one that's not only aligned with your passion and expertise but is also backed by real market demand.

And to help you put these ideas into action, grab your FREE Ultimate Course Creation Planner — the step-by-step workbook to brainstorm, validate, and outline your winning course topic.

👉 Download the FREE Ultimate Course Creation Planner

1. Start With What People Already Ask You About

If people already see you as the "go-to" for something, that's your first big clue. Open your inbox, DMs, comments, or even think about what friends and coworkers constantly ask you. Are they asking for advice on social media, budgeting, or dog training? That’s a sign.

Start writing these down. Use your Course Creation Planner to list out the top 10 things people naturally come to you for.

📝 Secret desire: People want to be recognized for their genius—this is it!

2. Choose a Topic That Lights You Up

Creating a course is exciting, but marketing and teaching it over time takes commitment. That’s why your topic should energize you.

What could you talk about for hours without getting bored? That’s your fuel.

📌 Pro tip: Your excitement is contagious—and it helps with consistency in showing up.

3. Reflect on Your Own Transformation Story

You don’t need to be the ultimate expert — you just need to be a few steps ahead. If you’ve overcome a challenge, solved a problem, or created a result in your life or business, that transformation is powerful proof. People want to learn from someone who’s been there and come out the other side.

Use your planner to journal key milestones from your journey. What did you learn, overcome, or shift? How can you guide someone else through that same transformation?

For example: When I first started my business, I served clients one-to-one — but I quickly realized that this model wasn’t scalable. So I added group coaching programs. That worked for a while, but I wanted something that would allow clients to enroll anytime and get immediate access to training without waiting for me. That’s when I discovered online courses. I was instantly hooked.

Now, I help other business owners package their genius into evergreen, scalable online courses that grow their income and impact — without burnout or overwhelm.

✨ Want to fast-track this? My $67 mini-course One Hour to Course Clarity can help you pinpoint and package your story into a course idea that sells.

4. Verify Demand Using Top Research Platforms

From my YouTube training, here are three top platforms to validate that people are actively paying for your idea:

• Online Education Sites (e.g., Udemy, School) — Check trending and bestselling courses
  
  

• Community Platforms (e.g., Skool communities) — Look for growing memberships in niche topics
  
  

• Social Platforms (YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram) — Search your topic to see what creators are posting and what gets engagement

📌 Pro tip: If you see dozens of courses on your topic—that’s a GOOD thing. Competition confirms demand.

5. Validate Using Market Signals

From my blog post on validating your course idea, here are three proven strategies:

• Google Trends — Type in your course topic and look for steady or rising interest over time
  
  

• AnswerThePublic — See what questions people are typing into Google about your topic
  

• Soft tests — Poll your audience, pre-sell a mini version, or run a simple ad to gauge interest
  
  

✨ Reminder: You don’t need a massive audience. Even 10–20 responses can provide clarity.

6. Identify a Real, Emotional Problem Your Course Will Solve

People pay for pain relief. Your course must solve a frustrating, urgent issue your ideal audience wants solved now.

Use Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or Amazon reviews to observe emotional language. Are people saying, "I’m so overwhelmed," or "I just can’t figure this out"?

List these phrases in your planner. They become the heart of your course promise.

7. Break Your Topic Into 5–7 Core Modules

Can your topic be taught in a clear, step-by-step journey? Aim for 5–7 modules, each focused on one key outcome.

This also helps you avoid "course bloat" and keeps your content laser-focused.

Use your Ultimate Course Creation Planner to outline your modules and lessons.

8. Ask Real People for Feedback

Don’t guess in a vacuum. Share your course topic idea with real people—via polls, Instagram stories, or your email list.

Ask:

• Which topic would you be most excited to learn?
  

• What would you expect to learn in a course like this?
  

• What’s your biggest frustration around [topic]? Capture their words. Their feedback = your future course copy.

9. Study Competitor Gaps & Reviews

Go look at existing courses or digital products in your niche. What do they cover? What do people love (or hate) about them?

Especially study 1–2-star reviews. That’s where you’ll find gaps to fill.

Write down:

• What they’re doing well
  

• What’s missing or confusing
  

• How is your take different or better
  

📌 Pro tip: Use this to build your unique value proposition.

10. Decide and Commit

After all this research, choose your topic and take the leap. You can always refine later. What matters most is building momentum.

Remember: you only need to be a few steps ahead of your student.

Choose. Outline. Share. Sell.

"The best time to start was a year ago. The second-best time is now."

Final Thoughts: This Is Your Moment

Choosing your course topic is not just a strategic step — it’s a powerful decision to lead, teach, and serve in a bigger way.

By following these 10 steps, you’ll go from "I don’t know what to teach" to "I can’t wait to build this."

You’re closer than you think.

Want support every step of the way? Join the Ultimate Course Creators Hub — my membership for coaches and course creators ready to build, launch, and grow their online course with clarity and confidence.

Inside, you’ll get access to the full Course Creators Academy, weekly coaching, templates, tech support, and an amazing community to help you bring your course to life.

👉 Join the Ultimate Course Creators Hub

And if you’re still in the idea phase? Start with One Hour to Course Clarity — my mini-course to help you choose and validate your course topic in 60 minutes or less.

Now it’s your turn: What course idea are you leaning toward? Drop your top 2 or 3 in the comments or your planner, and start mapping it out today.

You've got this — and I can't wait to see what you create.

#CourseCreationTips #OnlineCourseStrategy #DigitalProductBusiness #CoachingBusinessGrowth #ShannonMartel #UltimateCourseCreationHub

Shannon x