Best Practices for Participating in our Community

Jan 15, 2019

In the spirit of our community, we’ve put together a couple best practices to help make participating in our online forums the most valuable experience possible.

1. Do your research.

With thousands of instructors creating thousands of courses, odds are, someone has gone through the problem or situation you’re going through right now. And, they’ve probably had questions about it too. Take advantage of our search feature and search for your question before you start a new post.

It might seem trivial to you to ask a simple question about marketing or reviews, but some of our veteran instructors have seen the same question asked hundreds of times. Be courteous and use our search feature before you ask a question.

2. Consider the best forum for your post.

Our online community has several different spaces where you can ask questions and start discussions. Take a look at this guide to see what each forum is for when deciding where to post.

Please also consider whether our online community is the best place to talk about your particular situation. It may be more beneficial to reach out directly to our instructor support or Trust & Safety teams to get one-on-one support about bugs, payments, reviews, and piracy. To learn more about how to reach our instructor support teams, click here.

3. Keep tagging to a minimum.

Our community champions and moderators are fantastic. They read every single post in the community and do their best to answer everyone. Please be courteous of their time and don’t directly tag them in your original post.

Keep an eye on this space as we may update best practices periodically.

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nelsontonga123

Aug 15, 2025

Creating a video course for Udemy is a great way to share your knowledge and build a passive income stream. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create a successful course:

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation

1. Choose Your Topic and Audience

Pick a topic you know and love: The most successful courses are taught by instructors who are passionate and knowledgeable about their subject.
Validate your idea: Before you start, check if there's a demand for your course on Udemy. Use their Marketplace Insights tool to see what topics are in demand. Look at the competition—are there gaps you can fill or a new perspective you can offer?
Define your ideal learner: Who are you teaching? Are they a complete beginner, or do they have some prior knowledge? What do you want them to be able to do by the end of your course? This will help you tailor your content.

2. Outline Your Course

Set clear learning objectives: What specific skills or knowledge will a student gain? These should be demonstrable and action-oriented.
Create a detailed curriculum: Break your course down into sections and individual lectures. Each lecture should be a small, digestible chunk of information. Udemy recommends at least 5 separate lectures and a minimum of 30 minutes of video content, but a paid course typically has at least two hours of video.
Plan for engagement: Incorporate quizzes, practice activities, and assignments to help students reinforce what they've learned.

3. Write Your Scripts and Plan Your Visuals

Script your content: While you don't need to read from a script verbatim, having a clear outline or script for each lecture will ensure you stay on track and cover all your key points.
Plan your visuals: Decide what kind of visuals you'll use. Will you be on camera ("talking head"), or will you use screencasts, slides, or a combination of all three?

Phase 2: Production

1. Set Up Your Recording Space

Audio is key: Udemy emphasizes that high-quality audio is more important than video. Invest in a good microphone (a USB mic is a great place to start). Make sure your recording space is quiet and free of echo.
High-definition video: Your video should be at least 720p or 1080p resolution. You can use a DSLR camera, a high-quality webcam, or even a modern smartphone.
Lighting: Good lighting can make even a simple setup look professional. Use natural light or invest in a basic lighting kit.

2. Record Your Videos

Record one lesson at a time: This makes the process less overwhelming and easier to manage during editing.
Be energetic and engaging: The camera can diminish your energy, so speak with enthusiasm and maintain a positive tone. Don't worry about being perfect; you can edit out mistakes, "ums," and long pauses.

3. Edit Your Course

Clean up your footage: Edit out mistakes, long pauses, and any distracting sounds.
Add value: Incorporate text on screen, graphics, and other visuals to keep your lectures engaging.
Export in the correct format: Ensure your videos are in a format and resolution that meets Udemy's requirements.

Phase 3: Launch and Marketing

1. Create Your Course Landing Page

Write a compelling title and subtitle: Use relevant keywords that people would search for.
Craft a detailed description: This is your chance to sell the value of your course. Detail what students will learn and what they can achieve.
Design a course image: A good thumbnail stands out. Make sure it adheres to Udemy's quality standards.
Record a promotional video: This short video (30-90 seconds) is crucial for attracting students. It should be a concise and exciting trailer for your course.

2. Submit for Review

Once all your content is uploaded and your landing page is complete, you can submit your course to Udemy's Quality Review Team. They will check your course to ensure it meets all of their standards.

3. Market Your Course

Leverage your network: Share your course with your professional network, friends, and family.
Use social media: Promote your course on platforms where your target audience spends time.
Offer promotions: Use Udemy's built-in tools to create coupons and promotional announcements to drive initial sales and reviews.
Engage with your students: Respond to student questions and feedback. A high rating and positive reviews are key to a course's long-term success.