Many of us create online courses because we hear they're "passive income," but as you might have discovered (possibly the hard way), they're not quite as hands-off as some would suggest. While courses are certainly more leveraged than one-to-one services, they still require significant upfront work—and more importantly, ongoing maintenance to ensure they continue to deliver the transformation you promised.
Let's talk about how to approach course updates strategically and what schedule makes sense based on where you are in your course journey.
The frequency of your course updates depends largely on what stage your course is in:
If your course has gone through multiple iterations and refinements, and you have solid evidence it's working well for students, you're likely in maintenance mode. For these mature courses:
If your course is in its early stages—perhaps you pre-sold it, ran it as a beta, or quickly assembled it from existing materials—you'll need to be much more hands-on:
This more attentive approach is necessary until you have proof your course consistently delivers the transformation it promises. Only then can you shift to a more maintenance-focused update schedule.
Read more: How to Get Students to Actually Give You Feedback on Your Online Course
Regardless of your update frequency, you need a system to capture insights between review periods:
Create a dedicated "course improvements" document where you collect:
Schedule dedicated review periods in your project management system so they don't get overlooked
Block off implementation time in your calendar—many course creators make time to create the course initially but don't allocate time for necessary updates
Remember: Those first few iterations of your course require significant attention. Don't expect to "set it and forget it" until you have clear evidence your course is effectively delivering results.
Course updates range from quick fixes to complete revamps. Here's a breakdown of your options:
These smaller changes can often be implemented without rebuilding your entire course:
Optimize the Text in Your Course Portal
Enhance Video Playback Features
Update Supplemental Resources
Read more: The Top Mistakes Course Creators Make With Supplemental Resources (And How to Fix Them)
Edit, Add, or Remove Individual Lessons
If you update individual lessons, try to maintain consistency with your existing content. Use similar slide templates, audio quality, and teaching style to avoid a jarring experience for students.
Reorganize Lesson Order
These smaller updates can help improve your course incrementally without requiring a full revamp. They're particularly useful for addressing specific issues that arise between larger update projects.
Sometimes, the collection of needed changes becomes so significant that a full revamp is necessary. Here's what you need to know about course revamps:
Many course creators assume revamping an existing course will be easier than creating a new one from scratch. This is rarely the case.
In fact, revamps often require as much—or more—time than creating a new course because:
When planning a revamp, approach it as you would a new course creation project. Block off adequate time, set realistic deadlines, and don't try to squeeze it in between other major initiatives.
When you've been immersed in your course content, it becomes almost impossible to see it with fresh eyes. This is where outside help becomes invaluable:
An objective perspective helps ensure your revamp addresses the root causes of any issues, not just the symptoms.
If you're investing the time and energy into a complete course revamp, make it count:
The goal of each revamp should be to move your course significantly closer to its ideal form—a learning experience that delivers consistent, meaningful transformation for your students.
The most successful course creators understand that their courses are never truly complete. Rather than seeing updates as a burden, they approach them as opportunities to deepen the value they provide and strengthen their connection with students.
By establishing regular review periods, collecting ongoing feedback, and being strategic about both small updates and larger revamps, you can ensure your course continues to deliver the transformation you promised—while also reflecting your evolving expertise and perspective.
Remember: The work you put into maintaining and improving your course doesn't just benefit your students. It solidifies your reputation as someone who genuinely cares about student success and stands behind the educational experiences you create.
Ready to take your course to the next level? My Course Audit service provides expert eyes on your curriculum, identifying specific opportunities to enhance your student experience and results. Book your audit today and transform your course into a learning experience that truly delivers.