Create your first video course
Stop Wasting Time: Validate Your Online Course Idea Before You Create
So, you've come up with a course idea — exciting! But before you invest weeks (or months) recording videos and designing materials, let's make sure your idea is something people actually want to buy.
Too many course creators skip this crucial step and end up with a beautifully produced course that nobody purchases. It's heartbreaking to watch someone pour their heart into content that never finds its audience.
This article will show you how to validate your online course idea using simple, actionable steps. This isn't just theory — it's a blueprint to save you from creating a course nobody wants, while building anticipation and momentum for your eventual launch.
Why Validation is Critical (And What Happens When You Skip It)
Course creation is an investment. Your time, energy, and creativity are valuable. Without validation, you're essentially gambling with months of your life, hoping that your assumptions about what people want are correct.
Here's what validation gives you:
- Confirms demand before building — ensuring you're not creating in a vacuum
- Saves time and money — no more wasted months on projects that won't sell
- Builds anticipation and an email list — turning browsers into interested prospects
- Starts marketing early — creating buzz before you even launch
- Provides content ideas — real feedback shapes better course modules
- Reduces launch anxiety — you'll know people want what you're creating
Skipping this step is like building a bridge to nowhere. You might create something amazing, but if nobody needs to cross that particular river, you've wasted your effort.
The harsh reality: According to industry data, over 70% of online courses sell fewer than 100 copies. Most creators blame marketing, but the real issue often starts much earlier — they never validated that people actually wanted their course topic in the first place.
The Psychology of Validation: Why People Say vs. What They Do
Before we dive into validation methods, you need to understand something crucial: what people say they want and what they actually buy are often different things.
People might tell you "That's a great idea!" or "I'd definitely buy that!" in a survey, but when it comes time to pull out their credit card, behavior changes. This is why you need validation methods that go beyond just asking questions.
The validation hierarchy (from weakest to strongest evidence):
- Verbal interest ("That sounds interesting!")
- Survey responses ("I would buy this")
- Email signups (giving you their contact info)
- Free workshop attendance (investing time)
- Pre-orders or waitlist payments (putting money down)
The closer you get to real money changing hands, the more confident you can be in your idea.
10 Ways to Validate Your Course Idea
1. Pre-Sell the Course (The Gold Standard)
Offer your course for sale before it's fully created. Create a landing page with a clear description, pricing, and a call to action. If people buy, you've validated your idea in the strongest possible way.
How to do it right:
- Be completely transparent about timelines ("Course delivery starts in 6 weeks")
- Offer early-bird pricing (20-30% discount for pre-orders)
- Provide a clear refund policy to reduce risk
- Show exactly what they'll get and when
- Include testimonials from beta testers if you have them
Pro Tip: Be upfront about the pre-sale nature. Let buyers know they're getting early access or beta pricing, and deliver the course as you build it. This transparency builds trust and turns customers into collaborators.
Success metrics: If 10% or more of your email list pre-orders, or if you get 50+ pre-sales from cold traffic, you've got a winner.
2. Launch a Waitlist with a Twist
Set up a simple landing page that invites people to join a waitlist for your course. But don't just collect emails — add elements that show real commitment.
Advanced waitlist strategies:
- Paid waitlist: Charge $20-50 to join, which gets deducted from the full course price
- Referral bonuses: Offer course discounts for each person they refer
- Early access content: Provide immediate value (mini-lesson, worksheet) for joining
- Tiered pricing reveal: Show how prices will increase after waitlist members
Platform options:
- ConvertKit or Mailchimp for email collection
- Typeform for more engaging signup experiences
- Simple Google Forms if you're just starting
- Gumroad or PayPal for paid waitlists
What to track: Conversion rate from visitors to signups, referral rates, and engagement with early content.
3. Run a Free Workshop or Webinar (Test Interest and Teaching Style)
Host a live event (on Zoom, YouTube Live, etc.) teaching a slice of your course topic. Promote it to your audience and see how many sign-ups you get. After the event, ask attendees if they'd be interested in a full course.
Workshop planning checklist:
- Choose 1 specific topic from your planned course
- Promise a clear outcome ("By the end, you'll have X")
- Limit it to 45-60 minutes plus Q&A
- Create a simple landing page for registration
- Plan 3-5 key teaching points
- End with a soft pitch for your full course
What makes workshops effective for validation:
- You see real-time engagement and questions
- You test your teaching style and content clarity
- You build an email list of interested prospects
- You get direct feedback on content value
- You can practice course delivery before creating everything
Success indicators: High attendance rates (50%+ of registrants), lots of questions, requests for more content, and positive feedback about wanting the full course.
4. Use Surveys and Polls (But Ask the Right Questions)
Ask your audience directly, but be strategic about how you frame questions. Focus on problems and pain points rather than solutions.
Smart survey questions:
- "What's the biggest challenge you face with [topic]?"
- "How much time do you currently spend trying to solve [specific problem]?"
- "What have you already tried to learn [skill]? What didn't work?"
- "If you could wave a magic wand and master one thing about [topic], what would it be?"
- "How much would solving [specific problem] be worth to your business/life?"
Where to survey:
- Your email list (highest quality responses)
- Social media followers
- Relevant Facebook or LinkedIn groups
- Industry forums and communities
- Past customers or clients
Pro tip: Offer an incentive for completion, but make it relevant (free resource related to your course topic, not a generic gift card).
5. Offer a Paid Mini-Course (The Perfect Test)
Instead of launching a full course, create a mini-version focused on a specific outcome. If people pay for the mini-course, that's a strong signal there's demand for a more comprehensive version.
Mini-course examples:
- Full course: "Build a Freelance Writing Business"
- Mini-course: "Land Your First Freelance Writing Client in 30 Days"
- Full course: "Master Instagram Marketing"
- Mini-course: "Create a Week's Worth of Instagram Content in 2 Hours"
Why mini-courses work for validation:
- Lower commitment threshold for customers
- Faster to create and test
- Provides real revenue data
- Shows completion rates and engagement
- Builds trust for your larger course
Pricing strategy: Price your mini-course at 20-30% of what you plan to charge for the full course.
6. Analyze Competitors and Marketplaces (Follow the Money Trail)
Look at similar courses on Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable. Are there courses in your niche with lots of students and high ratings? If yes, that validates demand. Also, check their reviews — they'll reveal what's missing or could be improved.
What to research:
- Student numbers: Courses with 1000+ students show proven demand
- Pricing ranges: What are people willing to pay?
- Course ratings: Look for 4+ star courses in your topic
- Review content: What do students love? What do they complain about?
- Course outlines: What topics are being covered?
- Instructor credentials: What makes certain instructors credible?
Pro Tip: Use this intel to position your course differently or offer more value. If everyone teaches the basics, you might focus on advanced techniques. If all courses are generic, you might target a specific industry.
Red flags to watch for:
- Lots of courses with very few students
- Low ratings across multiple courses in your topic
- Complaints about lack of value or relevance
- Oversaturated topics with identical approaches
7. Engage in Conversations (Qualitative Market Research)
Hang out in industry forums, Reddit threads, and Facebook Groups. Start genuine conversations. Ask about people's challenges and listen to their feedback. You'll get validation and real-world insights into what people are struggling with.
Where to have these conversations:
- Reddit: Find relevant subreddits and participate helpfully
- Facebook Groups: Join 5-10 groups where your audience hangs out
- LinkedIn: Comment thoughtfully on posts in your industry
- Discord/Slack: Join professional communities
- Industry events: Attend virtual or in-person networking events
Conversation starters:
- "What's the hardest part about [relevant topic] for you?"
- "I'm curious about [specific challenge] — is this something you deal with too?"
- "What resources have you found most helpful for [skill/topic]?"
What to listen for:
- Repeated pain points across multiple conversations
- Frustration with existing solutions
- Specific language people use to describe problems
- Willingness to pay for solutions
8. Test with Existing Content (Free Market Research)
Create a blog post, YouTube video, or social media post about your course topic. See how much engagement it gets. High engagement suggests strong interest in the topic.
Content testing strategy:
- Write detailed blog posts addressing problems your course would solve
- Create YouTube videos teaching pieces of your methodology
- Share insights on LinkedIn or Twitter with course-related hashtags
- Post helpful tips in relevant Facebook groups or Reddit threads
Engagement metrics to track:
- Comments and questions on your content
- Shares and saves (shows people find it valuable)
- Time spent reading/watching
- Email signups from content calls-to-action
- Direct messages asking for more information
9. Talk to Your Network (Start with Warm Contacts)
Sometimes the simplest approach is best. Reach out to people you know who might be in your target audience. Schedule informal 15-minute chats to understand their challenges and gauge interest in your course idea.
Questions to ask in these conversations:
- "I'm thinking about creating a course on [topic]. Is this something you'd be interested in?"
- "What's the biggest challenge you face with [relevant area]?"
- "If I could help you achieve [specific outcome], would that be valuable?"
Why start with warm audiences:
- Higher response rates to surveys and questions
- More honest feedback about your idea and teaching ability
- Potential early customers or beta testers
- Referrals to others who might be interested
10. Analyze Search and Social Media Trends (Data-Driven Validation)
Use tools and platforms to see what people are actively searching for and discussing around your topic.
Research tools:
- Google Trends: See search volume trends for your topic
- Answer the Public: Find questions people are asking
- YouTube search suggestions: See what completions appear
- Pinterest search: Look at popular pins in your niche
- Social media hashtags: Track engagement and usage
What to look for:
- Increasing search volume over time
- Related questions and topics people are asking
- High engagement on social media posts about your topic
- Paid ads running for similar courses (indicates profitable demand)
Advanced Validation: The Beta Launch Strategy
Once you've done initial validation, consider running a beta version of your course with a small group of students. This provides the deepest level of validation while helping you refine your content.
How to structure a beta launch:
1. Recruit 10-20 beta students
- Offer 50% discount in exchange for detailed feedback
- Choose people from different backgrounds within your target audience
- Set clear expectations about the beta nature
2. Deliver content in real-time
- Release modules weekly as you create them
- Hold weekly Q&A calls to get immediate feedback
- Adjust future modules based on student input
3. Gather comprehensive data
- Track completion rates for each module
- Monitor engagement levels and time spent
- Collect detailed feedback surveys after each section
- Record testimonials from successful students
4. Refine and prepare for full launch
- Update content based on feedback
- Create FAQ based on common questions
- Develop case studies from beta student results
- Price your course based on perceived value
Common Validation Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Being Vague in Your Questions
"Would you buy a course on marketing?" is too broad. Be specific: "Would you buy a course that shows you how to get your first 1,000 Instagram followers as a fitness coach in 30 days?"
Mistake #2: Only Asking Friends and Family
Your personal network will often tell you what you want to hear. Make sure to get feedback from strangers who represent your real target market.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Negative Feedback
If multiple people point out issues with your idea, don't dismiss it. Negative feedback often contains the seeds of a much better course idea.
Mistake #4: Not Following Up with Interested People
If someone shows interest, keep them engaged. Send updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive offers. Build a relationship, don't just collect a data point.
Mistake #5: Assuming Silence Means Approval
If your audience isn't responding to your validation efforts, it might mean the idea needs significant refining or the market isn't there.
Mistake #6: Stopping at Just One Validation Method
Use multiple methods to validate from different angles. Surveys plus workshops plus competitor research gives you a much clearer picture than any single approach.
Mini Case Study: Pre-Selling for Proof
Mark, a productivity coach, wanted to create a course called "Master Your Morning Routine." Instead of spending months creating content, he decided to validate first.
His validation process:
- Surveyed his email list (500 people) about morning routine challenges
- Created a simple landing page promising the course would launch in 6 weeks
- Offered early-bird pricing ($97 instead of $147) for pre-orders
- Promoted through social media and email over 2 weeks
Results:
- 50 pre-sales before he recorded a single video
- $4,850 in revenue before course creation
- Clear validation that people would pay for this topic
- Built-in accountability to actually create and deliver the course
What made it work:
- Specific, benefit-driven course title
- Clear timeline and pricing
- Transparent about the pre-sale nature
- Offered genuine value (discount) for early supporters
Mark used this validation process for his next three courses, each time improving his approach and building a sustainable course business.
How Teeeach Supports Your Validation Process
Teeeach makes validation and course launching seamless with its focused, no-bloat approach. Here's how Teeeach supports your validation journey:
Simple Pre-Sales Setup:
Unlike complex platforms that require extensive setup, Teeeach lets you create a course page and start collecting pre-orders quickly. No need to build elaborate sales funnels — just upload your course outline, set your price, and start validating.
Revenue-Share Model = Lower Risk:
With Teeeach's 10% revenue share and no monthly fees, you're not paying platform costs while you're still validating. You only pay when you actually make sales, which means lower financial risk during your testing phase.
Global Payment Processing:
Teeeach handles all payment processing and VAT compliance globally, so you can focus on validation instead of technical setup. This is especially valuable when testing with international audiences.
Easy Content Updates:
As you gather feedback and refine your course idea, Teeeach makes it simple to update your course description, add modules, or adjust pricing without complex backend management.
Student Data Access:
You get full contact information for everyone who purchases your course, allowing you to build relationships and gather detailed feedback for future course development.
No Feature Bloat:
While other platforms overwhelm you with unnecessary features during validation, Teeeach focuses purely on course delivery and sales — exactly what you need when testing course ideas.
Your Validation Action Plan
Here's your step-by-step plan to validate your course idea in the next 30 days:
Week 1: Research and Survey
- Day 1-2: Survey your existing audience (email, social media)
- Day 3-4: Research competitor courses and read reviews
- Day 5-7: Engage in relevant online communities and forums
Week 2: Test Content and Interest
- Day 8-10: Create and promote a free workshop or webinar
- Day 11-12: Analyze workshop attendance and engagement
- Day 13-14: Create valuable free content (blog post, video) on your topic
Week 3: Direct Validation
- Day 15-17: Set up a course landing page with Teeeach
- Day 18-21: Launch a pre-sale or waitlist campaign
Week 4: Refine and Decide
- Day 22-24: Analyze all validation data
- Day 25-26: Refine your course idea based on feedback
- Day 27-30: Make final decision and plan next steps
Success metrics to track:
- Survey response rate and feedback quality
- Workshop attendance and engagement
- Pre-sale conversion rates
- Social media engagement on related content
- Email list growth from validation activities
Key Takeaways
- Validate your idea before building — save months of wasted effort and ensure market demand
- Use multiple validation methods — surveys, workshops, pre-sales, and competitor research
- Focus on behavior over opinions — what people do matters more than what they say
- Start with warm audiences but get feedback from your actual target market
- Track real metrics — email signups, workshop attendance, and especially pre-sales
- Avoid common mistakes like being too vague or ignoring negative feedback
- Use Teeeach's simple platform to test ideas quickly without technical overhead
- Follow the validation hierarchy — move from interest to actual purchasing behavior
- Refine based on feedback — let your audience help shape your course content
What's Next?
Next up: From Idea to Outline: Build a Course Plan That Works
This article is part of the Ultimate Guide to Creating and Selling Online Video Courses. Explore other parts of the guide: