Course Creation for Overthinkers: The 30-Day Action Plan to Finally Launch Your First Offer

There's no easy way to say it...

You were lied to.

The traditional way you've been taught to create online courses is designed to keep you stuck (and poor) forever.

Stop me if you've heard any of these before:

• "Build your audience first!"
• "The more comprehensive the course, the more valuable it is!"
• "Production quality needs to be professional!"
• "Create the course before you sell it!"
• "You need a marketing funnel!"
• "Build it and they will come!"
• "All of your technology needs to be right before you launch!"

I could go on...

These lies are the reason why so many aspiring course creators never launch.

It traps you in an endless cycle of preparation, perfectionism, and procrastination.

And before you know it, months or even years pass by, and that course still isn't launched, still not making money.

Here's the truth: The conventional course creation model is backwards.

It asks you to invest enormous amounts of time and energy up front – before you know if anyone is even gonna buy what you're selling.

The good news is that there's a better way – one that lets you:

• Start making money within days, not months
• Test your ideas before investing heavily in them
• Build confidence through quick wins!
• Create content that you KNOW your audience wants!
• Actually get paid to develop your course

Let me introduce you to the Workshop Course strategy.

What is a Workshop Course?

A Workshop Course is a simple 60-minute live training that solves ONE very specific problem for your audience.

You pre-sell it before creating any content, deliver it live via Zoom, and then provide the replay as an evergreen asset.

It's the perfect starter course because it removes all the usual barriers that keep people stuck:

• Too much content? (Nope, just 60 minutes)
• No audience? (You only need a handful of sales to validate your idea)
• Tech overwhelm? (One Zoom call and you're done)
• Perfectionism? (Live delivery keeps you moving & gets the best out of you!)
• Fear of failure? (Low risk, quick feedback, supremely helpful)

The 30-Day Workshop Course Launch Plan

Here's exactly how to create and launch your first Workshop Course in just one week:

Days 1-2: Planning Your Workshop

Start by identifying your perfect student. Who do you want to help? What are they struggling with right now? What's one specific outcome you could help them achieve in 60 minutes?

The key here is to think small and specific.

Never try to teach everything you know.

Instead, focus on ONE valuable quick win that will leave your students feeling accomplished and eager for more.

Some examples:

❌ "How to Start a Successful Blog"
✅ "How to Write a Blog Post That Drives $1,000 in Sales (60-Minute Framework)"

❌ "Master Social Media Marketing"
✅ "How to Create 30 Days of Social Posts That Convert Followers Into Buyers (60-Minute System)"

❌ "Learn to Meditate"
✅ "The 60-Minute Anxiety Reset: A Science-Backed Meditation Practice for Busy Professionals"

❌ "How to Network"
✅ "How to Land Your Dream Client Through LinkedIn in the Next 60 Minutes"

❌ "Learn Email Marketing"
✅ "Write an Email Sequence That Makes Sales While You Sleep (60-Minute Template)"

❌ "Basic Photography"
✅ "Take Photos That Make $500+ Per Session (60-Minute Photography Framework)"

❌ "Introduction to Public Speaking"
✅ "Craft a Signature Talk That Books You $3K Speaking Gigs (60-Minute Formula)"

❌ "Weight Loss Basics"
✅ "Design Your Personal Fat-Burning Meal Plan That Fits Your Life (60-Minute System)"

❌ "Learn to Paint"
✅ "Create Artwork That Sells: Your First Commission-Ready Piece in 60 Minutes"

❌ "Budget Planning"
✅ "Find $1,000 in Your Current Budget (60-Minute Money Rescue Plan)"

Once you've chosen your topic, outline 3-5 main steps your students need to take to achieve that outcome.

Keep it simple and actionable.

Days 3-4: Setting Up Your Offer

This is where most people overcomplicate things. Your offer should be suuuuper simple & straightforward:

• Live access to your 60-minute workshop
• Q&A time with you personally if they attend live
• Lifetime replay access
• Access to worksheets or templates you use (use AI to create these)
• (Optional) Quick implementation check-in

Price it based on your current audience:

• New creators with small/no audience: $27
• Established audience who knows you: $47
• Large, engaged audience: $97

Create a simple sales page with Xperiencify Business (included within Xperiencify) that includes:

• The specific outcome they'll achieve
• Who this workshop is for
• What's included
• The date and time
• How to join
• Your refund policy

Days 5-6: Creating Welcome Content

Before you start selling, create a basic welcome experience for your buyers inside of Xperiencify.

This doesn't need to be elaborate - just enough to make them feel good about their purchase and clear about next steps.

Essential elements:

1. A short welcome video (2-3 minutes) introducing yourself and explaining the big benefit folks will get from the workshop when they attend live
2. Clear instructions for joining the live session
3. A welcome email with their access details

Day 7-30: Starting to Sell

Now comes the fun part - finding your first students!

The key is to start with warm audiences who already know, like, and trust you:

• Past clients
• Email subscribers
• Social media followers
• Relevant communities where you're active
• Direct outreach to people who've expressed interest in your topic

Don't try to sell to everyone. Focus on finding 5-10 perfect students who will get real value from your workshop.

Here are some simple yet practical campaigns you can use...

1. Past Clients: "Help Me Make This Even Better" Email

Goal: Leverage trust and familiarity with past clients by asking for their input on your new course idea. This is both a chance to reconnect and offer value by involving them in the creation process.

Campaign: Send a brief email letting them know you’re working on a course that addresses [the topic/problem] and would love to hear their thoughts.

Email example:

Subject: Quick question about something new I’m working on
Hey [Client’s Name],
I’m working on a new [workshop/course] for people dealing with [specific challenge you know is relevant]. Since you know my work well, I’d love to get your feedback to make sure it really meets the needs of people like you. Any thoughts or ideas on what I should include?
Thanks so much for any ideas you can share!
Warmly,
[Your Name]

2. Email Subscribers: "Is This Something You’d Find Helpful?" Survey and Updates

Goal: Gauge interest among your subscribers with a low-pressure survey, then follow up with helpful resources based on their responses.

Campaign: Send a short email linking to a quick survey with 2–3 questions about their main challenges. Offer a thank-you gift, like a downloadable tip sheet or early course access.

Email example:

Subject: Quick 2-question survey—help me make this helpful!
Hi [Subscriber’s Name],
I’m creating a new workshop to help people who are struggling with [specific issue]. Before I launch it, I’d love to hear from you!
Could you take 1 minute to answer this quick survey? It’ll help me make sure I’m on the right track to give you the best resources. As a thank-you, I’ll send you [gift or early access] when it’s ready.
Thank you!
[Your Name]

3. Social Media Followers: "Workshop Idea—What Do You Think?" Engagement Post

Goal: Create casual, low-pressure engagement by involving your social media audience in the course creation process, making them feel part of it.

Campaign: Post about your course idea and ask followers if they’re interested. Include a call-to-action for feedback or direct messages for anyone curious to learn more.

Post example:

“I’m thinking of creating a quick workshop to help with [problem area], especially for those of you who are [description of ideal student].
Would this be helpful for anyone? I’d love to know what questions you’d want answered or what issues are holding you back. Drop your thoughts below or DM me! 👇”

Then follow up on anyone who comments or messages with thanks and interest in their needs.

4. Relevant Communities Where You’re Active: "Researching a Solution" Post

Goal: Show up in communities with curiosity and a genuine interest in solving a problem people are experiencing.

Campaign: Share a short, thoughtful post about what you’re working on and invite members to share their biggest struggles around that topic.

Post example:

“Hey everyone, I’m researching some common challenges around [topic] as I work on a new workshop idea. What’s been your biggest headache with this? I’d love to know so I can cover what’s most useful—no strings attached. Appreciate any feedback you can share!”

5. Direct Outreach: Personalized Check-In and Offer for Feedback

Goal: Approach friends, colleagues, or other connections individually to offer help and see if your workshop might be relevant to them.

Campaign: Send a direct message or email to people you know well. Make it a friendly, personal check-in and ask if they’re interested in helping you develop your new idea by sharing their feedback or thoughts.

Message example:

“Hey [Name], I’m putting together a workshop for people facing [specific challenge], and I thought of you. I’m trying to make it as relevant as possible, so I’m reaching out to see if you’d be open to sharing any thoughts on what’s most helpful. Let me know if you’re interested, no pressure at all! Thanks so much.”

The Magic of This Approach

Here's why this strategy works so well for new course creators:

1. Fast Validation Instead of spending months creating content that might not sell, you'll know within days if your offer resonates. If people buy, great! If they don't, you can adjust and try again without having wasted endless hours on content creation.
2. Paid Content Creation When someone buys your workshop, they're essentially paying you to create it. This completely flips the traditional model on its head and ensures you're creating content people actually want.
3. Built-in Deadline The live delivery date creates natural urgency and keeps you from getting stuck in perfectionism. You have to show up and deliver, ready or not.
4. Real Feedback Teaching live gives you immediate feedback on what works and what doesn't. You'll learn more from one live session than months of planning in isolation.
5. Multiple Revenue Streams Once you've delivered the workshop, you have several options:

• Sell the replay as a standalone product
• Bundle it with other workshops
• Use it as a lead-in to higher-ticket offers
• Include it in a membership
• Repurpose the content for marketing

You Can Get Started Today

The biggest obstacle to creating your first Workshop Course isn't tech, audience size, or expertise - it's mindset.

You have to be willing to start small, move fast, and most importantly – learn as you go.

Your first course isn't going to be your last course.

Everyone has to start SOMEWHERE and "perfect" is the enemy of profitable.

Your first workshop won't be perfect, and that's okay. It's better to create a simple workshop that helps a few people than to spend months planning an elaborate course that never launches.

But, As Simple As This Plan Is, I Still Get Questions

"Doesn't my course have to look like other courses?"

NO! Here's why this assumption is killing your chances of success...

Those big, complex courses you see? 

They're harder to sell, and actually struggling with completion rates under 5%. 

Most students never make it past module 2. 

A simple, focused workshop that gets real results will be far more valuable than a bloated course nobody finishes.

"But what about bonus content?"

Let's be honest: bonuses are usually added to justify a higher price, NOT because students really need them. 

But you know what students really want? 

Their problem solved, fast. 

And if you can solve a $2,000 problem in 60 minutes, they don't care about bonuses.

"But other courses have beautiful branded workbooks..."

You know what's better than a beautiful workbook? 

Actually solving someone's problem. 

One of my most successful students uses a simple Google Doc template. 

Her students rave about it because it works. 

She's made $40,000 selling a workshop that has zero fancy design elements.

"Don't I need video lessons with professional editing?"

Here's the secret about course videos: most students don't watch them. 

They skim, they skip around, they look for the exact solution to their problem. 

A live Zoom recording where you solve their problem step-by-step is more valuable than 20 perfectly edited videos they'll never watch.

"What about a course or membership platform?"

You're solving a problem that doesn't exist yet. 

So start with the simplest delivery method possible: Live workshop + replay access. 

If you end up selling hundreds of workshops and students are begging for a fancy portal, great!, build it then!

But don't let tech complexity stop you from helping people NOW.

"But nobody will pay for just a 60-minute workshop!"

The truth is that people happily pay $27-97 for focused solutions to specific problems. 

(Especially if they have live access to you for direct Q&A, guidance and advice.)

One of my clients sells a 60-minute workshop teaching photographers how to pose their clients naturally - $47, fully booked every time. 

Why? 

Because it solves an immediate, painful problem with a clear outcome.

"I don't have enough expertise to teach a workshop"

You don't need to be the world's leading expert at a thing. 

You just need to be able to solve ONE specific problem really well. 

Often, being just a few steps ahead is an advantage - you remember exactly what it's like to struggle with this problem and know the fastest path through it.

"What if no one shows up live?"

Plot twist: This is actually perfect for beginners. 

Record your workshop with even 2-3 people, then use that recording to sell it again and again. 

Some of my most successful students intentionally keep their first workshop small, get amazing engagement from those few students, and use the momentum to grow.

"But don't I need fancy tech and perfect slides?"

Reality: Your expertise delivered clearly over Zoom beats a perfectly produced course that never launches. 

One of my students uses nothing but Zoom and a Google Doc template - she's made over $15,000 selling her workshop. 

Students care about results, not production value.

"This sounds too simple - what's the catch?"

You know what the real catch is?

It's that we've been conditioned to believe course creation must be complicated to be valuable. 

But here's what nobody tells you...

Starting simple lets you get real student feedback, build confidence, and create exactly what your audience wants. 

The "catch" is that you have to be willing to start before everything's perfect.

Here's a real case study to inspire you a little...

Sarah thought she needed to create a 6-module course on Instagram marketing with beautiful workbooks, multiple bonuses, and professionally designed templates. 

She spent 4 months building it and got zero sales.

Then she stripped it down to a 1 hour workshop: "Create 30 Days of Converting Instagram Posts in 60 Minutes." 

No fancy materials. 

Just her proven system taught live on Zoom. 

She made $2,100 in the first week.

The difference? 

She focused on solving ONE specific problem really well, instead of trying to look like other courses.

Always remember...

Your job isn't to create a course that looks like everyone else's.

Your job is to solve problems and transform lives.

And the fastest way to do that? 

A focused workshop that actually works.

Your Action Steps for Today:

1. Set a date for your workshop (7-30 days from today)
2. Choose ONE specific outcome you'll help people achieve
3. Outline your main teaching points
4. Write a simple sales message
5. Share it with just ONE person who might be interested

The sooner you start, the sooner you'll have your first course success story to share.

Are you ready to break free from the traditional course creation trap and try this simpler approach?

Your future students are waiting for the solution only you can provide - even if it's just a 60-minute workshop to start.

The best time to launch your first workshop was yesterday.

The second best time is today.

Some Free Resources

• See our walkthrough of the Workshop Course template we give free to our Xperiencify customers
• Copy the FREE Workshop Course template into your Xperiencify account instantly (and hit the ground running!)