How much content is too much?

HI everyone. I've been struggling with how much content to put into a course. I have been teaching my material at the college level for 10 years, so I have a good sense of what works. I published a book late last year on my coursework and am now looking to create an online course from that content. The book covers three different areas (teamwork, leadership and communication). Each of those could probably have 4-5 shorter courses under them based on the book. What's the best way to build out the online courses? Is it better to create several mini-courses with sub-themes for each of the three? I feel like I have too much content. Would you offer all of them together as a bundle? Any recommendations? Many thanks.

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Accepted answers

ChrisBankes120

My best selling course in terms of income is 104 hours long.

My best selling in terms of minutes-watched-per-business-student is 70 hours long with some lectures 50+ minutes

My best selling in terms of active enrolments is 75+ hours long

My highest earning in terms of my time: earnings is one hour long (took me 3 hrs from start to finish)

In the end there is no 'right' answer as it varies from subject to market to your time to content etc etc One of the highest enrolment courses I have seen in my area is a 40 minute course that qualifies you to be a psychologist.

In the end it's what you are perceived to offer…

FettahBen

I advise you to create shorter courses, around 2 to 4 hours, as the new PP system works better with shorter content. Also, since this is your first course, starting with a shorter one will help you build experience and fix any issues in future courses.

BrianJackson

I generally try to:

o Have the longest course in my niche.

o Have the best rated course(s) in my niche.

o Have the most courses in my niche.

I referred to this as dominating a niche once upon a time.

You've already identified three broad niches: teamwork, leadership and communication.

I like the way that they're separate but related. Seems like a good group of high-level niches.

Next, research these broad niches to be more specific with your ultimate courses.

Ultimately, you'll identify many shorter course to create within each of your broad niches.

See what search results are produced for various related long-tail keywords.

Use Instructor Marketplace Insights to dig deeper and find more keywords to stuff into your course titles and subtitles.

Sorry, this is getting long. I'll stop now, but there's lots more…

—Brian

All comments

ChrisBankes120

My best selling course in terms of income is 104 hours long.

My best selling in terms of minutes-watched-per-business-student is 70 hours long with some lectures 50+ minutes

My best selling in terms of active enrolments is 75+ hours long

My highest earning in terms of my time: earnings is one hour long (took me 3 hrs from start to finish)

In the end it's what you are perceived to offer…

FettahBen

BrianJackson

I generally try to:

o Have the longest course in my niche.

o Have the best rated course(s) in my niche.

o Have the most courses in my niche.

I referred to this as dominating a niche once upon a time.

You've already identified three broad niches: teamwork, leadership and communication.

I like the way that they're separate but related. Seems like a good group of high-level niches.

Next, research these broad niches to be more specific with your ultimate courses.

Ultimately, you'll identify many shorter course to create within each of your broad niches.

See what search results are produced for various related long-tail keywords.

Use Instructor Marketplace Insights to dig deeper and find more keywords to stuff into your course titles and subtitles.

Sorry, this is getting long. I'll stop now, but there's lots more…

—Brian

JoanDKC

Thanks, Brian. I appreciate your thoughtful response.

Based on your comments, it looks like I'll use my book as the roadmap since I do a deeper dive into each of the three topics.

From each one of them there might be a few different courses. Thanks for your help!

Best, Joan

JoanDKC

Interesting…I toyed with the idea of creating one signature large course comprised of all three topics but wasn't sure if that was too much. Together they could be in the 70+-hour range. Are your longer courses a bundle of shorter ones?

Thanks for your reply.

Best, Joan

JoanDKC

Good point. There's a lot to consider which is why I can't seem to get off the starting block.

I knew exactly what information I wanted when I wrote the book but that is a completely different experience than taking a class.

Thanks for your comments.

Best, Joan

ChrisBankes120

The longer ones are just courses that have grown over 9 years. Yes, they could be split into a series of shorter ones but then I'd have to hope for new enrolments etc. This way, someone enrols and stays and watches and watches and watches. For example, on one course for the last 30 days the minutes taught per active learner is 177 minutes - if the course was, say, 3 hours then I suspect the minutes taught would be a lot less. I have a reasonably popular 1 hour course and the minutes per active learner last 30 days is 30.

BUT if you have a long course and it is given low reviews then that makes it difficult to succeed; if the long course was, say, 6 short courses then, hopefully, at least one would succeed.

My point is that the long course will continue earning for months whereas a short course, maybe not.

Vinod Kumar (Educator)

Hi Joan,

In my view, knowledge should never be measured only in hours of video or number of lectures. Its real value is measured by:

✅ How clearly students understand it
✅ How quickly they can apply it
✅ How effectively their doubts are resolved

Students don’t buy “10 hours” or “50 videos.”
They buy clarity, confidence, and transformation.

Since your book covers teamwork, leadership, and communication, each of these is powerful enough to stand alone. If each can become 4–5 focused mini-courses, that’s actually a strength — not a problem.

My suggestion:

1. Create focused mini-courses (clear outcomes, small wins).
Instead of one massive course, break them into:

Teamwork fundamentals
Leadership mindset
Communication mastery
Conflict handling
Decision-making in teams
(Just examples)

Smaller courses:

Feel less overwhelming
Convert better
Allow students to choose what they need
Give you flexibility in pricing

2. Then offer a bundle.
After creating separate courses, combine them into:

A “Complete Leadership & Team Mastery Program”
Or a professional certification-style pathway

This way:

Beginners can buy one topic.
Serious learners can buy the full bundle.
You maximize both reach and revenue.

3. Focus on clarity over volume.
Short, high-quality, precise lessons are more powerful than long academic-style lectures.

In online learning:

Clear explanation > Long explanation
Practical examples > Theory overload
Fast doubt resolution > Heavy content

If a student can understand a concept in 10 minutes instead of 60, they will respect your teaching even more.

You already have 10 years of teaching experience — that’s gold.
Now it’s just about structuring it for the online mindset:

🎯 Outcome-focused
🎯 Bite-sized
🎯 Practical
🎯 High clarity

Too much content is only “too much” when it reduces clarity.
If it increases transformation, it’s never too much.

Wishing you great success with your course launch!

RonErez

Hi @BrianJackson , great tips.