What can you do to earn more passive earnings from online courses |

Jun 6, 2024

     Reader Disclosure

We could inform you that you could make an additional passive income through your online course by making use of self-hosted platforms for your course?

WHAT'S INSIDE Toggle

Untruths about third Party LMS Platforms

You might agree with this statistic which indicates that 57% of the course creators determine the course's success based on the satisfaction of students. 23% of course creators consider participation by students while 21% concentrate on student income.

This is why some instructors believe it's better to select third-party LMS platforms such as Udemy, Teachable, and Kajabi for the following reasons:

  • They hope it can cut their marketing expenses and thereby reducing the requirement of huge expenditures at the start to purchase hardware and software.
  • They believe they can introduce their brands to the public in a quicker way.
  • It is assumed that it's easy to use and needs no technical skills This makes it easy for instructors to develop courses, create the courses, and keep them up to date.

However, these advantages are not without a price including:

  1. An increasing revenue-sharing cost.
  2. 75 % of course creators earn less than $1000 annually. One percent of instructors make more than $50,000 annually.
  3. Some courses may get lost in the crowd, requiring an additional investment in marketing to get your message out to the right audience.
  4. There aren't many opportunities to establish relationships with students beyond the platform.
  5. It is not possible to personalize your profile or your brand's image through these platforms.
  6. It's a challenge to monitor the progress of your students through the funnel.
  7. The limited engagement opportunities are due to the absence of gamification as well as integrated community services.

     Introduction to Courses hosted by self-hosted    

If you're an online course creator and are frustrated by the expensive cost and limitations in SaaS LMS platforms, you're not the only one. Many educators are experiencing similar problems.

However, there's a better option to host your own course: self-hosted platforms.

When you run your own courses You can have complete responsibility for the course's content as well as save on the cost of revenue-sharing as well as discover new opportunities to earn profits.

Take a moment to think about what you can do with...

Imagine the possibility of getting the chance to design your courses exactly how you would like while making an extra portion of the hard-earned money you earn.

Making the switch to self-hosted services isn't just about cutting down on expenses, it's about unlocking the potential you have and creating a more profitable lasting business.

Still not convinced? Check out this explanation in the following.

     The Price is High for Revenue Sharing    

If you are using the most well-known SaaS LMS platforms to sell and manage your online classes It is essential to be aware of the models for revenue sharing they use.

The platforms typically take you a significant percentage of income that may add rapidly and consume the earnings you make.

Below is a comprehensive description of the most popular models that are used to share revenue among the most well-known SaaS LMS platforms:

     1. Teachable

Teachable provides a wide range of pricing plans and the structure of their revenue sharing varies depending on the plans you pick. This is how their pricing is for the entire year like:

  • Free Plan charges $1 + 10% on each transaction.
  • Basis program ($39/month): 5 per cent transaction fee.
  • Business Plan ($119/month) and Business Plan ($499/month) The Professional Plan does not charge for transactions. However, they do publish of course.

     2. Thinkific

Thinkific has a range of pricing tiers that have various implications with respect to the revenue sharing process:

  • Free Plan: No cost for transactions, but limited abilities.
  • Basic Plan ($49/month) Base Plan: No cost for transactions, however it is limited to digital downloads.
  • Plan Pro Plan ($99/month) and Premier Plan ($499/month) There are no transaction fees, but limited access to online community services.

     3. Udemy

Udemy is built on a distinct revenue-sharing model compared to Teachable as well as Thinkific:

  • Organic sales: Udemy takes 50% of their revenue from the transactionsmade through the marketplace.
  • Teaching Instructors Promoting: Instructors receive 97% of revenue for purchases made via their own promotions (using an instructor coupon) and Udemy charging a three percent administration charge.
  • Paid User Acquisition: In the instance of sales made through Udemy's advertising paid for, instructors only receive 25 percent of the profit.

     4. Kajabi

Kajabi provides subscriptions that mix additional fees that depend on the plans.

  • Kickstarter ($69/month) and Basic Plan ($149/month) Basic Plan: No transaction fee However, there are a few options and features.
  • Growth Plan ($199/month) and Pro Plan ($399/month) The Growth Plan has no transaction costs, but only a limited amount of students enrolled in the program.

Revenue sharing programs are designed to emphasize the costs associated with using third-party LMS platforms. Even though these platforms are convenient along with robust capabilities, recurring fees and revenue reductions can drastically cut your profits.

Self-hosted hosting can enable you to keep some of your funds and permit the flexibility about how you structure and conduct your program.

This is an in-depth study of the two platforms.

     Analyzing Earnings Comparatively Potential: SaaS LMS vs. Self-Hosted Course Platforms.    

HTML0Scenario: Let's say you are able to offer your online class for just $100.

SaaS Model for LMS:

  • Teachable (Basic plan): With a five percent transaction cost, you'd be losing $5 for each sale.
  • Profits per sale: 95 dollars.
  • Monthly subscription. Monthly: $39
  • If you're able to make a profit of selling 20 courses per month, this formula will work: $95 x 20 + $39 = $1,861.
  • Udemy (Organic sales): In the event that you earn a 50% profit share you'd be losing $50 per sale.
  • Per sale, earnings of $50.
  • If you sell 20 courses per month: $50 20 + 20 = $1000

Self-hosted Solutions Examples

  • A monthly membership fee for (Most Well-liked Plan) The cost is $33
  • Per sale, earnings of $100.
  • In the event that you're selling twenty courses per month, 100 times 20 = $33 = $1,967

Comparison:

  1.       Teachable (Basic Plan):      
  • SaaS LMS Earnings: $1,861/month
  • Self-Hosted Earnings: $1,967/month
  • Difference: $106 more with self-hosted
  1.       Udemy (Organic sale):      
  • SaaS LMS Earnings: $1,000/month
  • Self-Hosted Earnings: $1,967/month
  • The difference is $967 higher when hosted by self.

Over a long period, these differences are important. This is about $11,604 saved over one year!

     Self-hosted course platforms like Courses can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the number of transactions.    

You now know the amount you can save and earn with self-hosted courses, let's see some benefits that come with switching to this type of service.

     Benefits of Self-Hosted Course Platforms    

Self-hosted platforms for courses offer an effective option for SaaS LMS solutions by giving total control over the material you publish and your operations.

From these, it stands out as an efficient choice especially in the context of

Through the use of WordPress it provides unbeatable flexibility and options for customizing that allow you to create the perfect learning experience that aligns with your brand and goals for your company.

If you choose self-hosted course platforms, such as the ones offered by e-learning.com, you enjoy numerous advantages such as reduced expenses increased control, as well as the capacity to employ various methods of monetization to increase the amount of money you earn.                Learn more about courses by watching the video below. Overview of the Featured Courses

Let's examine these benefits thoroughly.

     Control and the ownership of Content    

Control is among the greatest strengths of an artist and the basis of successful advertising and branding.

If you host your own courses, similar to the ones you use, you are capable of customizing every aspect of your course to reflect your distinctive brand identity.

From design and layout, to the inclusion of multimedia content, having full control over your content lets you build an engaging and seamless experience for your learners that is a reflection of the aesthetics of your company's values.

Your content's ownership allows you to use a broad variety of techniques for marketing without restrictions.

It is possible to create and provide promo content, bundle course discount offers and utilize numerous marketing tools and plug-ins on WordPress.

This flexibility enables you to engage with your audience better and to modify your approach based upon real-time data and user feedback.

     Direct Customer Relations    

One of the main advantages of learning platforms hosted by self is the capacity to establish direct, unmediated relationships with your students.

In the absence of any limitations from an intermediary it is possible to communicate directly with your students by communicating with them in a personalized manner as well as support and feedback.

As the administrator of the platform, you'll be able to access a wealth of information regarding the behavior of your students along with their interests, progress, and preferences.

It's essential to understand how you can make the right choices and also what's not during your studies.

Through analyzing the data it helps you customize your teaching methods and curriculum according to the unique requirements of your students. This could lead to greater satisfaction from your clients as well as retention rates.

The intermediaries' platforms often hamper the ability of intermediaries to offer prompt and efficient customer service.

If you host your own service, it is possible to implement a robust customer support system that includes forums, live chat as well as direct messaging.

The immediate accessibility to assistance and help can dramatically improve student experience and solve issues prior to them becoming more severe.

     The Financialization of Membership    

One of the most efficient methods to make money from your courses online by using a self-hosted platform is to incorporate them into the model of a membership.

Benefits of memberships include that they encourage ongoing involvement and improve retention of customers because members are constantly benefited from the benefits of their memberships.

By providing access to an extensive catalog of contents for a regular fee, you offer substantial value and will encourage students to enroll.

Forums and live Q&A sessions help build a bond between users, strengthening their dedication to the platform.

     This method increases the educational value that you provide to your students. It also it gives you the chance of a constant income.    

Base Body Homepage
Base body girl

They provide online as well as person-to-person training sessions at their exclusive fitness facility located in Sydney, Australia.

Through utilizing Base Body Babes manages their special offers and paywalled content through their website. The site provides customers with access to online as well as classes to help with weight loss in addition to tutorials and an extensive recipe collection.

This lets them generate regular revenue while offering significant benefit to their customers.

     Fixed costs and unlimited expansion    

Here's a breakdown the following costs:

  •       Web Hosting      
  •       Domain Registration      
  •       LMS Software/Plugins      
  • The company provides four pricing levels :
  • Basic: $179.50/year, suitable for beginners.
  • Plus: $299.50/year, includes additional options and features.
  • Pro: $399.50/year, ideal for firms that need advanced features.
  • The Elite plan: $499.50/year, great for entrepreneurs and creative creators.
  • Extra cost:
  • SSL certificates for safe transactions ($0 up to $100/year) generally offered in hosting plans).
  • The fees charged by payment gateways (typically about 2.9 percent plus $0.30 per transaction).

What are the benefits of choosing us ? We'll tell you our cost and what you stand to get...

Pricing:

  • A Basic Plan $179.50/year
  • Plus Plan: $299.50/year
  • Pro Plan: $399.50/year
  • Elite: $499.50/year

HTML1Return on Investment (ROI):

To evaluate the ROI, let's assume that you choose to purchase the Plus option for $299.50/year. If you offer the bundle of courses or membership for $100, and you sell only three memberships per month, your monthly income is $300.

If you're able to complete a whole year, that's $3,600. By subtracting hosting costs ($299.50) as well as hosting ($240 per month at the price of $20) You'll earn an annual net of $3,061.

This analysis shows that even with only a tiny amount of money, the ROI on investment is high and makes it the best option for cost savings for you!

Evaluation of the Possibilities for Scalability with no additional charge per User or Content

One of the main benefits that self-hosting your course with is scalability.

Contrary with SaaS platforms, which charge per user, or take a cut of revenue, SaaS allows you to expand your business at no costs.

Here's how:

  • Unlimited users: When your web site is set up and you are functioning it is possible to create an unlimited amount of users with no any additional charges. Your expenses will remain fixed regardless of how much the number of members you have.
  • Content Flexibility: You can create and offer unlimited lessons or courses as well as membership levels. It allows you to broaden the possibilities of your income streams without the worry of increasing charges.

The fixed-cost structure for self-hosted websites like this one can provide an affordable cost structure and ample development possibilities.

Through an infrastructure that's scalable and without extra costs per user You can increase the amount of users you are able to accommodate as well as your content offering increasing profitability while ensuring an ongoing increases.

There's more.

     Integration with other Business Tools    

Self-hosted solutions like these allow the possibility of integrating different enterprise software to enhance general operations as well as providing insight on student behaviour as well as efficiency.

Here's how:

     2. CRM Systems:

     3. Analytics Tools:

     4. Calendar/Scheduling Tools:

     5. Form/Survey Builders:

     6. Payment Gateways:

More details are provided about ways to integrate your account with business tools.

Check out the video below to learn how to boost your website's membership through integrations and add-ons

     Moving to Self-Hosted Hosting Switch to Self-Hosted    

After you've been convinced by the many benefits of switching from SaaS-based LMS platforms and moving to self-hosted ones, here's how you should do the next phase:

Switch to HTML0!

The transition from a SaaS LMS platform to self-hosted courses like these can be overwhelming, but it's doable with a plan.

This is a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through the steps

     1. Get started with a plan

  • Test Current Platform Test your installed SaaS LMS platform's features, limits, and data.
  • Set goals Set the objectives you want to accomplish by adopting the new method (e.g. reduced costs and better control).
  • Make a migration Plan Define the dates, tasks, and your obligations. Make sure you've got an archive of your files.

     Step 2. Set-Up the Self-Hosted platform you have created.

  • Install: Purchase and install the plug-in on your WordPress website.
Check out the video below to learn how to install the plugin

     3. Export Data from SaaS Platform

  • backup information Make sure you've got backups of the entire course's contents, including the user's information as well as course material, along with any other data that's pertinent.
  • Export Content Use the export tools offered via your SaaS LMS to download all required details, including information regarding the user as well as media documents.

     step 4: import data    

  • User Import Make use of plugins and manually-based methods of importing details from users in order to guarantee an uninterrupted access to students.

     Step 5: Configure    

  • Members Levels You can set up levels of membership which are in line with the structure of your business.
  • Payment Gateways Create payment gateways such as Stripe or PayPal to ensure safe transactions.
  • Customization It is possible to customize the appearance and look of your site to be consistent with the brand image of your business.

     6. Check Everything

  • Functionality Testing: Ensure all features, such as course access, membership levels, and payment processes, work in a way that is correct.
  • user experience Examine the experience of a user when they sign up until course conclusion to ensure a seamless user experience.

It's the right time!

     Step 7 Promotion and the Launch    

  • Inform users current customers of the new platform, providing detailed directions and help in navigating the new system.

5 Tips to ensure a seamless transition

  • Plan thoroughly with precise timelines and backups of your data.
  • Communicate modifications clearly for users and provide assistance.
  • Try every function thoroughly to ensure there are no interruptions.
  • Use available resources and migration guides. Begin by explaining only a small portion of information that tackles issues earlier.
  • Provide continuous support via FAQs and help desks. Also, track efficiency, making changes based on the feedback.

By following these steps, you will be able to transition seamlessly from an SaaS LMS system to an self-hosted solution like having total control over what you create and maximising the profits you earn.

     A Quick Recap    

See how far we've been.

One of the first issues we talked about was the negatives of relying on third party LMS platforms to manage the revenue-generating potential of your online course.

In the following, we spoke about the many benefits self-hosted course like this one offers such as full ownership of content, lower cost, and more control of the marketing and branding of your course.

We also conducted some comparatives and we were able to make you believe that investing in self-hosted course platforms like Courses is a game-changer for your creative venture that you manage.

In the end, it's important to remember that if you can get rid of high fees to share revenue and utilize Tools like Courses, then you will be able to create a sustainable and profitable online educational company.

Think about evaluating the expense of your current system against. its benefits. If you're using WordPress you should consider it the possibility of a more efficient platform which will maximise the opportunity to grow and increase profitability.

Please let us know in the comments if you will change to a self-hosted platform to take courses such as Courses. We're looking forward to assisting you with any questions you have for us.

Sarah O Sarah is passionate about reducing the technical nitty-grittys of websites, plugins, as well as marketing via digital. As a Content Writer at Member Press, she has an eye for writing engaging and informative writing. Sarah has a significant role in instructing and encouraging users to make the most of the possibilities that can be accessed through Member Press plugins. With a mix of technical know-how and artistic style, her aim is to ensure that each article is not just informative but inspires. In her spare time, she enjoys researching new technologies and trends in digital marketing. She is always looking for new methods to improve the experience of users.

This post was posted on here