In the Business/Marketing Niche:
Marie Forleo: Offers courses on business, marketing, and personal development, known for her engaging style and the "B-School" program.
Amy Porterfield: Specializes in online marketing, particularly list building and webinars, with courses like "Digital Course Academy."
Neil Patel: A prominent figure in digital marketing, offering courses and resources on SEO, content marketing, and more.
In the Creative/Skill-Based Niche:
Skillshare Instructors: Skillshare is a platform with countless instructors teaching creative skills like illustration, photography, design, and writing. Examples include:
Jessica Hische: Lettering and illustration.
Aaron Draplin: Graphic design.
MasterClass Instructors:
MasterClass features celebrities and experts teaching their craft:
Gordon Ramsay: Cooking.
Serena Williams: Tennis.
Malcolm Gladwell: Writing.
In the Finance and Government Contracting:
Wallstreet Trapper: Teaching everyday people about options trading.
Jason White: Government Contracting
Online courses are incredibly versatile and are being used in a wide variety of contexts. Here's a breakdown of some key areas:
Formal Education:
Universities and Colleges: Many institutions offer online degrees, individual courses, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) through platforms like Coursera, edX, and their own learning management systems (LMS).K-12 Education: Online learning is used for homeschooling, supplemental learning, and in some cases, fully online schools. Professional Development: Online courses help professionals upskill, gain certifications, and stay current in their fields.
Corporate Training:
Employee Onboarding: Companies use online courses to train new hires on company policies, procedures, and job-specific skills. Compliance Training: Online courses are used to ensure employees are trained on legal and regulatory requirements. Leadership Development: Companies use online courses to develop leadership skills in their employees.
Personal and Hobby Learning:
Skill Development: People take online courses to learn new skills like coding, photography, music, cooking, and more. Personal Enrichment: People take online courses to learn about topics of interest, such as history, art, and philosophy. Test Preparation: Online courses help students prepare for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and GRE.
Business and Entrepreneurship:
Marketing and Sales: Online courses teach entrepreneurs how to market their businesses and sell their products or services. Business Management: Online courses cover topics like finance, accounting, and human resources. Software and Technology: Online courses teach people how to use various software programs and technologies.
Health and Wellness:
Fitness and Nutrition: Online courses provide guidance on exercise, nutrition, and healthy living. Mental Health: Online courses offer resources and strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Personal Development: Online courses help people improve their self-esteem, communication skills, and other personal qualities.
Many "everyday" experts: Beyond these well-known names, countless individuals with specialized knowledge in various fields (e.g., music, fitness, languages, specific software, school teachers, etc.) create and sell online courses.