Part 2: Producing Your E-Course — What You Need to Know
Welcome back! Now that you’ve planned your course, it’s time to tackle the most intense phase: production.
DIY or Hire a Pro?
Production quality matters—especially if you plan to monetize your course. You can either film it yourself or hire a professional, depending on your budget and the look you want.
DIY Production:
Expect to spend $600–$1,000 for a decent entry-level setup (camera, mic, lighting). If you go this route, audio is your top priority. Students will tolerate a slightly underwhelming visual setup, but bad sound is a dealbreaker. Make sure your microphone delivers crisp, clean audio—your learners (and their ears) will thank you.
Professional Production:
I offer full production services through Thrive Film Co., with packages starting at $2,500–$5,000+ depending on course size and complexity.
Hiring a pro can save you time, stress, and ensure your course looks polished and credible—especially important if you’re positioning yourself as a thought leader or charging premium prices for your course.
Why Quality Counts
Top-earning courses either:
- Look professionally produced, or
- Deliver high-value, complex content (like coding or certifications) in a clear, accessible way—often via screen recordings.
- They’re selling to the right audience – more on that in the next blog.
If your course needs to stand out, presentation matters. I’ve filmed and produced countless e-courses, and I know exactly what it takes to make content look clean, engaging, and market-ready—whether you’re teaching design, business, wellness, or anything in between.
What Filming With Me Looks Like
If you decide to go the pro route with me and Thrive Film Co., here’s the process we’ll follow:
- We meet at your chosen filming location—your home, office, or a rented studio space.
- You start with hair and makeup while I set up the gear.
- Lighting, cameras, and audio are professionally set for a flattering, cinematic look.
- Your script and outline are preloaded into the teleprompter so you can deliver your content with ease and confidence.
- We film for up to 4 hours per day—this is the sweet spot before fatigue sets in.
- For smaller courses, one day is often enough.
- Larger or more complex courses may need 2–4 days of filming.
- Post-production begins! I take all your footage back to my editing suite and shape it into a high-impact course over the next 6–12 weeks.
- We go through a revision process to make sure the final product reflects your voice, brand, and message—ready to sell, sell, sell.
Whether you’re doing it yourself or bringing in a pro, remember: great production isn’t about being flashy—it’s about making your content easier to absorb and more enjoyable to watch.
Stay tuned for Part 3: Selling Your E-Course—because even the best content needs the right audience.
More from this series:
Planning (1/2)
Production (2/3)
Selling (3/3)
Bonus: Using ChatGPT to Create Your E-Course
