If you're planning to start working on your online course, let's talk about how much content to include in a course.
Creating an online course is an exciting journey, but one of the biggest mistakes many course creators make is stuffing their course with too much content.
There's a fine balance between delivering value and overwhelming your students. Let's break down how much information you should include in a course and how to structure it effectively.
Listen to this in a podcast episode instead:
The Misconception of "More is Better"
A common belief among course creators is that packing a course with as much information as possible makes it more valuable. But here's the truth: more information doesn’t necessarily lead to better results for your students. In fact, too much content can make a course feel daunting, leading to unfinished lessons and frustrated learners.
There are two major pitfalls course creators often fall into:
Adding excessive information while creating a course – trying to cover every single aspect of a topic.
Piling on more content to boost sales – thinking that adding bonuses, extra modules, or lowering the price will convince people to buy.
Neither of these approaches actually work. Let's explore why.
Focus on a Clear Goal, Not Endless Content
The key to an effective course is not the quantity of information but the clarity of its goal. When people enroll in an online course, they usually have a specific outcome they want to achieve. Your job as a course creator is to guide them to that outcome in the simplest, most effective way possible.
Avoid Information Overload
Many course creators struggle with narrowing down their content because they have extensive knowledge and want to showcase their expertise. While it's great to have deep expertise, your course should provide the shortest and most efficient path to success for your students.
Ask yourself:
What is the core transformation or result my students need?
What are the essential steps to get them there?
What can I remove that doesn’t directly contribute to that transformation?
Your course should be designed to help students achieve their goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Defining Your Audience to Avoid Content Creep
Another reason why courses become bloated is that creators aren’t clear on their audience. If you don’t know exactly who you're creating your course for, you'll feel the need to cover every possible angle, scenario, or experience level.
For example, let’s say you’re a nutrition coach creating a course on healthy habits:
Are you targeting complete beginners who have never built a healthy habit before?
Are you helping busy professionals streamline their nutrition?
Are you guiding athletes to optimize their diet for performance?
Each of these audiences requires a different approach, and trying to cater to all of them in one course will only create confusion. The clearer you are on your audience, the easier it will be to determine exactly what content to include.
The Problem With "Adding More" to Boost Sales
If your course isn’t selling as well as you’d like, your first instinct might be to add more content, more bonuses, or even lower the price. However, these tactics rarely work. Instead of adding more, focus on refining your messaging and marketing.
Why More Content Won't Fix Sales Issues
More content leads to more overwhelm – Too many lessons can make students feel like they’ll never get through the material.
Lowering the price doesn't add value – People buy solutions, not content. If your messaging isn’t clear, a lower price won’t necessarily make them purchase.
Bonuses can distract from the main goal – Adding extras that don’t directly support the course outcome can make it feel cluttered and unfocused.
What to Do Instead
If your sales are struggling, revisit your messaging instead of adding content. Ask yourself:
Is my audience clear on the transformation they’ll get from my course?
Does my sales page highlight the benefits, not just the content?
Am I effectively communicating why my course is the best solution?
Your marketing will determine your success far more than the number of modules in your course.
Keep It Focused, Keep It Clear
The most successful online courses aren’t the longest or the most information-packed. They are the ones that provide a clear, specific transformation in a structured, easy-to-follow way. Before you add another lesson, module, or bonus, ask yourself: Does this help my students reach their goal faster and more effectively?
When in doubt, simplify. Your students will thank you for it.
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPS
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