If we haven't met before I'm Dama and I love all things tech. I am all about finding the best and simplest way to save time, and using the right course creation tools is how I do it. In this blog post, I’ll share the tech stack I use to manage my online courses and digital products.
My Favorite Online Course Creation Tools and Resources:
1) For Sales Pages, Checkout Pages, Affiliate Program, and Course Hosting – Thrivecart & Thrivecart Learn
Of course, number 1 on my course creation tool list is Thrivecart! I use Thrivecart for so many things to run my business including all of my sales pages, checkout pages, and affiliate program. With Thrivecart Learn, it’s also my course hosting platform of choice.
2) For Email Marketing – Drip
I’ve tried many email marketing service providers over the years, including MailerLite, FloDesk, ConvertKit, and ActiveCampaign, but I’m currently using Drip because of:
1) It’s powerful integration with Thrivecart and…
2) The advanced analytics and data
Not sure which email marketing provider to use for your business? Drip isn’t necessarily the right choice for everyone, but you can get all of the techy details inside Email Service Matchmaker.
For Selling Courses on Evergreen
Who doesn’t love evergreen sales? Live launching is great and all, but those daily sales notifications are pretty great!
3) ConvertBox
One of my favorite tools for selling more evergreen courses is ConvertBox.
As you’re reading this post, you’ve likely seen a ConvertBox in action over to the side. Pretty cool, right?
It’s a perfect tool for targeting visitors with what they want. It helps grow your email list and convert more traffic into new customers.
4) Deadline Funnel
Besides ConvertBox, another great tool for selling more courses and digital products is Deadline Funnel. With this software, you can create ethical evergreen countdown timers for special one-time offers, tripwires, and flash sales. ConvertBox and Thrivecart also have built-in countdown timers, but not nearly as sophisticated and powerful as Deadline Funnel.
5) For Creating Course Workbooks and Worksheets – Google Docs
Making your course accessible is great because we all learn in different ways. That’s why I love using Google Docs for my course workbooks!
Starting with a blank doc can be a challenge, though, which is why I created my best-selling digital product – On-Brand Fillable Workbooks. With this training, you’ll be able to create your own fillable workbooks for your course.
For Course Automations
We can’t talk about tech tools without digging into automations!
6) Zapier
You can easily create zaps to connect different tools. My most common way to use Zapier is to connect Thrivecart events (purchases, failed payments, etc.) to my Airtable bases.
7) Airtable
There is nothing that makes my heart happier than playing around in Airtable to figure out a way to simplify or automate something. A lot of my business automations and processes are handled through Airtable.
Sidenote: If you want to dig into Airtable more, you might want to check out my friend Ashley’s program Systems Over Stress.
8) For Video Hosting – ScreenPal
There are a lot of options out there for video hosting and they can become pretty expensive. For hosting my course videos, I use Screenpal. It’s almost like a Loom & Vimeo alternative in one.
With ScreenPal, I can share direct video links and embed videos directly into my course in Thrivecart Learn.
9) For Transcriptions – Otter, CastMagic, or Transcript LOL
For accessibility and course accessibility, I lovee Otter for transcriptions. It also allows you to connect with Zoom so attendees can turn on live subtitles during live training sessions.
CastMagic is also a really great tool that brings in AI features to help you make the most of your newly transcribed recording. It's also got a really great ‘share this transcript' feature that will embed the audio (or video!) you uploaded, along with the transcript, with speed control. I use that a LOT.
Transcript LOL is something I grabbed on Appsumo as a lifetime deal – its not as feature rich as the other two, but if you ever see it pop up back again on Appsumo, grab it. So far, it's done the best job of generating timestamps for me of all them!
For Writing Sales Copy
Creating and selling online courses requires quite a bit of copy. While I love writing copy, I’m all about using course creation tools to save time.
10) Marketing Magic App
For sales pages and other bits of copy, the Marketing Magic App is the only AI tool out there designed for course creators and digital product sellers. It’s a magical resource and I can’t recommend it enough!
11) Damn Copy Templates
Another option I love and recommend are the course creator templates from my friend Sandra over at Damn Copy. These copy templates are super easy to work from and make your own.
12) For Private Audio Feeds
Having a private audio feed for your course is an awesome value-add for your students. Plus, it’s also a good thing to have for accessibility. The most popular option out there is Hello Audio, which is what I use.
13) For Course Legal Terms and Conditions
You can’t forget the legal aspects of creating and selling online courses!
If this is something you haven’t prioritized or need help with, you definitely need Braden Drake's Contract Vault. It’s jam packed with all of the legal templates you need as a course creator, plus it’s only really, really affordable.
For Graphics and Design
14) MOYO Mockups
A great course needs great mockups and that’s where MOYO Studio comes in to save the day! I love using all of their design resources and device mockups.
15) Canva Pro
I can’t forget to mention Canva Pro. In my opinion, the pro version is very much worth the monthly cost. You get access to so many more elements, resources, and fonts, for your designs.
Final Thoughts
As we wrap up this comprehensive guide on the course creation tools that have transformed my business, I want to emphasize the importance of choosing tools that resonate with your specific needs and workflow.
Remember, what works wonders for one person might not be the perfect fit for another. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where efficiency, ease of use, and effectiveness meet. My journey through various tech stacks has taught me that the right combination of tools can not only save time but also enhance the quality of your digital products and the experience you offer to your learners.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools or switch things up if something isn’t working for you. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your current process, I hope this list serves as a valuable resource. Here’s to creating impactful, engaging, and successful online courses with the power of the right tools at your fingertips!