The Top 5 Common Obstacles in Creating an Online Course
Here’s what most course advice sounds like:
“Just get started!”
“Launch fast!”
“Your knowledge is valuable!”
Sure. True.
But what if you did start… and then got stuck?
What if you launched… and nobody bought?
What if you meant to build your course six months ago and it’s still sitting in a Google Drive folder named “Course V1”?
Let’s talk about what’s actually going on — with zero shame — and walk through what to do about it.
1. You’re Overthinking the Topic (and You Don’t Realize It)
You do have a course idea.
But the longer you sit with it, the more it unravels in your head.
“It’s too basic.”
“It’s already been done.”
“I need to think of something better.”
So instead of building, you keep brainstorming.
And the course never gets made.
What to do:
Teach something you already know how to explain. The kind of thing you’ve walked a friend, client, or colleague through before.
Ask yourself: “If someone paid me to teach them one thing next week, what would I confidently teach?”
Stop worrying about originality. Focus on usefulness.
If others have done it, good — that proves there’s demand. You just need your take, your structure, and your voice.
Remember: Simple and clear beats original and overwhelming. Every time.
2. You’re Building a Course That’s Way Too Big
You started with a great idea.
Then you added more. And more. And then bonus content. And maybe a webinar. And some templates.
And now it’s a 12-module monster you don’t have time to finish.
This is how most people quit — not because they don’t care, but because they’re drowning in their own ambition.
What to do:
Shrink the course. Your first version doesn’t have to be comprehensive. It has to be finishable.
Solve one problem. Help people do one thing.
Think of your course like a good guidebook, not an encyclopedia.
Package it in 3–5 lessons max. No fluff. Clear, tight content that gets them from Point A to Point B.
Your first course is allowed to be small, simple, and scrappy. That’s what gets it done.
3. You’re Letting Tech and Perfection Get in the Way
You don’t know which platform to use.
You feel weird being on camera.
You don’t have a microphone.
You think it needs to be “high production.”
So instead of starting with what you have, you wait for the setup to be “right.”
What to do:
Use tools you already know. This very site is built on Squarespace — and Member Areas is more than enough to host and deliver a solid course.
Skip video if you want. You can teach with slides and voiceover (Loom or Keynote + audio). Or do a PDF-based course. Or audio lessons.
Don't aim for pretty. Aim for clear.
Upload the course to a hidden page. Invite five trusted people to test it. That’s it. Not public. Not promoted. Just real.
Fancy tools don’t sell a course. Being helpful and findable does.
4. You’re Scared No One Will Buy It (Because What If They Don’t?)
This one’s big. It’s quiet, but it’s real.
You worry:
What if no one buys?
What if I look silly?
What if I worked on this for weeks and made $0?
That fear is enough to keep most people from ever hitting publish.
What to do:
Let the first version be small. Not a launch. Just a pilot. Even five sales is a win.
Pre-sell it. Open it up with a waitlist or a test group before you make the content. That’s how you validate it.
Ask people directly. Reach out to 5–10 people in your audience or network. Ask: “Would something like this help you?”
Reframe failure. If no one buys, it’s not a sign to stop. It’s information. Ask why. Tweak. Relaunch.
Most great courses were once slow launches that turned into second drafts.
5. You Don’t Have a Structure or Schedule — Just a Vague Intention
“I’m working on my course” sounds productive.
But without a system, that intention just floats.
You sit down to work… but don’t know what to tackle.
So you tweak the outline. Or look at course platforms. Or design a logo.
And weeks pass.
What to do:
Make a project plan. Not a vibe. A real checklist.
Week 1: Write outline + lesson goals
Week 2: Record 2 videos + build draft page
Week 3: Write intro emails + upload content
Week 4: Test it with 3 people
Block time. Even just 1 hour a week.
Track progress visibly. Use a simple Google Sheet or sticky notes. Move things from “idea” to “done.”
Set a finish date (even if no one sees it but you).
Most people fail to finish because they didn’t make a plan. Not because they didn’t have a good idea.
Final Thought
Creating a course is hard.
Not because you're not smart enough.
But because it asks you to organize your brain, your time, your ideas, and your fear — all at once.
So if you’re stuck, that’s not a flaw. It’s part of the process.
But here’s the shift:
Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, tech, or time…
Start small.
Shrink the scope.
Make it doable.
You can fix it later. You can relaunch. You can grow.
But none of that happens until you hit publish — even if it’s messy the first time.
Let version one be simple, clear, and done.
That’s what opens the door to everything else.
