280+ Best Profitable Online Course Ideas Based on Research
Looking for the most profitable online course ideas? We’ve got a great list of such!
To create this list of online course ideas, we thoroughly analyzed hundreds of courses, enrollment rates, and popularity on popular online learning platforms as well as smaller private course websites.
As for the online course topic ideas, we are proposing suggestions that align with those offered by well-known research centers, course platforms, and instructors.
Jump to these categories and ideas to create online courses and be sure to find highly profitable topics!
But first, why trust this list of digital course ideas and implement them?
- Top popular categories curated from highly rated course platforms.
- Online course ideas categories aligned with market demands.
- Topics similar to ones offered by international and local research centers, education platforms, and instructors.
So it should stand to reason that we’re well-versed in the industry and are ready to share our results of online degrees or online classes with you!
What’s Important for Students in Online Courses?
Before we introduce you to the list of online course ideas, let’s highlight what’s really important for your students in the course information. This is the first section that a student scans, thus very crucial for you to consider.
- Key Subject
- What You Will Learn
- Hands-on Practice Provided in this Course
- Expertise and Skill Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
- Main Course Language or Foreign Language Requirements
- Specific App or Software Knowledge Requirements
- Duration of the Course or self paced online college (In Hours, Weeks, or Live Training)
- Instructors and Guest Experts Involved
And now it’s finally time to help you choose your category where you can thrive and earn profit!
Digital Online Course Ideas to Sell and Earn Profit
Technology & Software
We won’t exaggerate by saying that this is one of the top popular categories on every online learning platform we’ve researched.
The range of spheres and topics is so diverse that any instructor more or less involved can find a niche to join and get attention from prospective students in the technology and software courses.
Finally, it’s time to define categories that can serve you the most traffic and profit.
Software & Development
It was not hard to find out that in this category the following topics are super hot and trending:
- Amazon AWS
- Ethical Hacking
- Cyber Security course
- Python
- Web Development
Design
Designing definitely goes hand-in-hand with development. Thus, design courses are in equal demand in the market.
- Photoshop
- Graphic Design
- Drawing
- UX Designing
- UI Development
- Figma
- Illustrator
Development & Design Courses
- JavaScript for Beginners
- AJAX Development
- Full Stack Development
- How to Create Responsive HTML Emails
- Website Localization for Translators
- Laravel from Scratch
- Building Responsive Websites with HTML & CSS
- Understand NodeJS
- Python for Beginners
- Become a WordPress Developer
- Crash Course on Angular
- Creating an Online Website Business
- Become an App Developer
- Complete Guide on Flutter & Dart
- Complete the Android Developer Course
AI and ML Courses
It’s the age of AI. Thus, online AI courses and machine learning courses are hottest topics on various international learning platforms.
Businesses are looking for a new level of automation with deep learning and machine learning techniques. Eventually, individuals are looking to deepen their knowledge in this field to become more useful to businesses and stay relevant in any sphere. The demand for AI trainers is increasing day-by-day and thus, professionals are in the market to sharpen their skills.
From basic theory to more hands-on approaches, offering structured AI ML Courses is one of the best ways to secure your spot in the e-learning market.
AI and ML Online Course Ideas
- Generative IT – Fundamentals & Practical Tips
- Machine Learning & Deep Learning Software for E-Commerce Business
- Machine Learning Functionality in Business to Predict Customer Choices
- How to Build & Train a Neural Network with TensorFlow
- The Basics of Data Mining & Modeling
- Multilingual Speech & Language Models
- Photo Editing with Machine Learning
- Leveraging ChatGPT for your Website
- Using AI for Quick PPT and Excel Generation
You can also offer courses on ‘How to Use AI Models’. Here are some online school or courses ideas.
- Use AI for Content Creation
- Create PPTs with AI
- Building Chatbots with No-code AI
- AI for Small Businesses: Practical Tools
- AI in Education
- Build Voice Assistants with AI
- Create a Social Media Strategy with AI
- AI for Financial Analysis
- Use AI for Language Learning and Translation
- Build Custom AI Models Easily
- Leveraging AI in E-commerce
- Using AI for Graphic and Visual Designing
- How to be Safe from AI
- Skills to Beat the Wave of AI
- Getting the Full out of ChatGPT Free Plan
Marketing Courses with Presentation and Writing
The world of business is highly dependent on marketing skills. On top of that, marketing tactics for each field differ heavily and depend on the industry. Along with marketing, you must understand the aspects of presentation and writing. These skills would complement marketing knowledge for a complete package.
You can create separate courses for each category of marketing, presentation, and writing. Or you can merge them all in one with a course like ‘Essentials of Marketing: From Planning to Presentation.’
Marketing, Presentation, and Writing Course Ideas
- Market Research and Analysis – Tools You Need to Have
- Excel Skills for Business Specialization
- Content Marketing and Storytelling for Building Powerful Brand Image
- Developing a Go-To-Market Strategy for Enterprise Product Management
- How to Use Amazon Marketing Tricks on Your Own Store
- Social Media Marketing Course for Beginners that Works Today
- How to Leverage SEO
- Evolving Times of Email Marketing and How to Leverage It
- How to Write a Book
- Grammar Bootcamp
- Leverage ChatGPT for Writing
- Writing Business Emails
- Sell More with Great Copywriting
- Be a Technical Content Writer
- Jumpstart your Presentation Skills
- Hack Public Speaking
- Learn Advanced Networking
- Writing for Kids
- Start a Personal Blog
- Earn with Lifestyle Blogging
- Be a Pro Travel Blogger
- Learn to Write Fictional Content
- Leveraging the Art of Storytelling
Health and Fitness Online Course Ideas
No success story is complete without health efforts; many influencers and businesses start with the right routine, sports, and nutrition to stay healthy and productive.
Broad categories that deal with health include fitness, mental health, meditation, dance, yoga, nutrition, and general health. Let’s list the topics that are hot and popular these days with the profitable health course ideas below.
Health, Fitness, & Wellness Courses
- Basics of Nutrition
- Be a Certified PT
- Sports Nutrition and Training
- Learn to Create Balanced Meal
- Science of Exercise: Aerobic and Anaerobic
- Yoga for Life
- Techniques for Meditation
- Introduction to Doshas and Ayurveda
- Designing a Home Workout for Busy Individuals
- Meal Prepping Sundays: How to Plan
- Be a Marathon Runner
- Avoiding Allopathy with Natural Remedies
- Work-out Guide After 40s
- Mental Health and Self-care Practices
- Pilates for Core Strength
Courses on Arts, Crafts, and Other Similar Arenas
People enroll in art and humanities courses for various reasons beyond just practical or immediate career benefits, with some of the motivations including:
- Personal fulfillment and passion
- Critical thinking and analytics skills
- Cultural understanding, innovation, and creativity
- To spend some leisure time outside daily life
Art & Craft Course Ideas
- Learning Various Watercolor Techniques
- Sketching in Real Life
- Digital Sketching and Illustrations
- Establish a Doodle Sticker Business
- Learn Calligraphy and Lettering
- Embroidery for Modern Outfits
- Craft and Sell Personalized Jewelry
- Recycling and Upcycling at Home
- Resin Art and Selling Them
- Eco-dyeing with Natural Materials
- Furniture Restoration Techniques
- Create Art with Tiles and Glass
- Learn Advanced Oil Painting
- Create Art with Threading
- Modern Art: Types and Business Building
Personal Development Courses & Business Analytics
Growing as a person goes hand in hand with growing in business. Thus, we have clubbed the categories of personal development with business analytics. Based on the progress of business, you need to take up upskilling courses to move ahead.
Course ideas for you:
- Data Analysis using Microsoft Excel
- Data Engineering Essentials: Python, Bash, and SQL for Beginners
- Data-Driven Project Management and Why It Works
- Power BI for Project Managers
- Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL
- Practical Leadership Skills
- Team Management & Team Building
- Personal Productivity Course
- Managing Time Effectively
- Boosting Confidence & Wealth
- Basic Computing Skills
- Emotional Intelligence for Software Developers
- Learn Conflict Management with EQ
- Communication Skills for Strong Personality
- Project Management and Planning
- Business Strategy Planning and Execution
- Navigating Office Politics
- Effective Salary Negotiation
- Dressing Etiquettes at Work
- Job Interview Skills
Parenting Courses with Upbringing Skills
In the ever-changing landscape of the world with a digital boom, parents want to understand their children more. If you are an expert in parenting, child psychology, upbringing, and behavioral therapy, you must create parenting classes around that. These are in high demand as parents want their children to learn the best.
Course ideas for you:
- Mindful Parenting
- Treat Autism Early
- Caring for a Child with Special Needs
- Parenting Teens with Confidence
- How to Prepare for Labor
- Early Nutrition for Newborn Babies
- How to Develop Healthy Habits from the Start
- The Choice of Toys: Effect on Child Growth
- Best Parenting Advice for Growing Children
- Dealing with Relationships and Parenting together
- Being Adoptive Parents
- Deal with Child Loss
- Creating an Optimum Home Environment for Kids
- Don’t Feel Guilty as a Parent
- Investing for Your Children
Online Course Ideas for Mass Media and Journalism
The field of journalism is booming and so are journalism courses. With multiple independent methods of news-making and mass media creation, people need the right direction. If you are a veteran of the field or have practical expertise, look at these amazing online course ideas.
- Digital Journalism Essentials
- Social Media News Production
- What is Photojournalism
- Learning Media Ethics and Responsibilities
- Important Media Laws
- What is Public Relations Management
- Creating Content for Mass Media
- Documentary Creation
- Being a Short-film Maker
- Crisis Communication Strategies
- Radio in the Digital Age
- Reporting Techniques
- Being an Independent Reporter
- Importance of Research in Media
- Storytelling in Visual Media
- Digital Marketing Course
Online History Courses for Awareness of Ancient Culture
The importance of preserving our history and culture is crucial. With the fast life of social media and the online world, many people are not aware of the richness of history and how it shapes the modern world. If you are an avid researcher or passionate about ancient times, these course ideas are for you.
- Egyptian Mythology and Beliefs
- Lost Cities of Ancient World
- Mysteries of Maya and Aztec
- Indian Civilization and Ancient Practices
- Mythology in Varied Civilizations
- Learning the Vikings Way
- Rome: The Myths and Truth
- Studying Ancient Architecture
- Studying the Silk Road
- Exploring the Culture and Tradition of China
- Studying the History of Japan and Natural Calamities
- Exploring Astronomy in Ancient Cultures
- African Kingdoms and Their Culture
- Byzantine Empire: Art, Religion, and Power
- The Indigenous Cultures of the Americas
Beauty, Fashion, and Styling Courses Online
One of the most evergreen topics is fashion. From self-care essentials to running a salon, beauty and fashion courses are always in demand. It can help someone change their daily routine or even start earning an income to be independent.
Styling and Fashion Course Ideas
- Basics of Personal Styling
- Building a Salon Business
- Self-Makeup for Beginners
- Learning Skincare at Home
- Essentials for Men’s Grooming
- Learn Hair Care for All Textures
- Daily Hairstyles for College and Office
- Start a Nail Art Business with A+ Skills
- Understanding Color Theory in Fashion and Makeup
- Learn Styling for Different Body shapes
- Build your Fashion Portfolio
- Start with Modelling Career
- Understanding Fabrics and Textiles
- How to Be a Personal Shopper
- Creating Outfits from Scratch
Personal Finance and Investment Course Ideas Online
The media brings awareness and with that, many individuals want to manage their finances. If you have learned and have knowledge of investments, this is the right niche for you. Here is a list of course ideas to inspire you.
Finance and Investment Course Ideas
- Personal Finance Management 101
- Basics of Stock Market
- How to Build a Portfolio
- Tax Strategies for Investors
- International Trading and Dealing
- Introduction to Mutual Funds and ETFs
- Diversifying between High-risk and Low-risk Investments
- Ethical Investing and Social Responsibility
- Planning for Retirement
- Smart Will Planning and Asset Management
- Planning for Retirement
- Navigating Economic Indicators for Investment Decisions
- Private Wealth Management for High-Net-Worth Individuals
- Crowdfunding and Alternative Funding Models
- Impact Investing and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Analysis
Online Performing Arts Courses
Have you gained some skills with instruments, dancing, or acting? If you are a related professional, create a course around your skill to start earning a side income. Trust me, it’s needed. It’s not easy to live off as an artist.
Performing Arts Course Ideas
- Introduction to Musical Theatre
- A to Z of Starting a Career in Acting
- Body Language for Stage
- How to Train your Vocals based on your Pitch
- Basics of Contemporary
- Begin your Ballet Journey
- How to Prepare for Monologue
- How to Direct a Theatre or Film
- The Art of Writing and Performing Stand-up Comedy
- Importance of Costume and Makeup on Stage
- The Aspects of Non-Verbal Acting with Body Language
- Mastering Expressions to Say Beyond Words
- Introduction to Indian Classical Dances
- Mastering a Dance Routine/Choreography
- Historical Dance Forms: Renaissance and Baroque
- Essentials of Stage and Prop Settings
- Learning the Strings of Guitar (Any other String Instruments)
- Basics of Percussion Instruments
- How to Break Into the Film Industry
- The Process from Auditions to Modelling to Ads to Films
Food and Culinary Courses Online
Who doesn’t love experimenting with cooking and creating better dishes? These courses are loved by all ages and genders. So, it’s time for you to turn your cooking expertise into online course ideas with these topics.
- Exploring French Cuisine for Home Cooks
- How to Run a Cloud Kitchen
- Exploring Traditional Italian Cooking Styles
- Plant-based Cooking Essentials
- Daily Vegan Meal Swaps for a Better Lifestyle
- Baking a Variety of Breads at Home
- A-Z of Baking Goodness
- Knife Skills and Kitchen Basics: Hacks for Speed and Precision
- Easy Fermentation and Pickling at Home
- Varied Sauce Making: Styles and Types
- Pastry Techniques: Croissants, Danishes, and Eclairs
- Learn to Make Various Pastas at Home
- What is Flavor Profiling
- Chocolate Making: From Bean to Bar
- Cooking for Special Diets: Keto, Paleo, and Gluten-Free
- Farm-to-Table Cooking Techniques
- Dim Sum and Dumpling Crafting
- The Art of Sushi Making
- Creative Salad Combinations and Dressings
- Cooking for Kids and Family-Friendly Meals
- Cheese-Making at Home
- Exploring Indian Curries and Spice Combinations
- Mastering the Art of Pizza and Flatbreads
- Exploring Festive Treats Around the World with Its Significance
- Basics of Tea and Coffee Brewing
Content Creation Courses
The creator industry has been booming for a long time now. And with that, there is a demand for skills that are required for creators. If you are an expert with any specific skill that is in demand in the creative field, it’s time to create an online digital course to impart that.
Course Ideas to Target Content Creators
- Creating a Personal Brand on Social Media
- Video Editing for Beginners
- How to Write Scripts for Video Content
- Building Your Podcast: Ideating to Publishing
- Monetizing Your Online Content
- Editing Photos for Social Media Consistency
- Create Multi-platform Content Smartly
- Vlogging Essentials: Conceptualizing to Creations
- Mastering Video Transitions and Visual Effects
- How to Get Collaborations and Paid Partnerships
Upskilling Courses for Medicos
The medical field keeps on having advancements. Because of that, the students or professionals in the field need to keep up with that to sustain their profession. Here’s a list of online course ideas that can be targeted to Medicos to help them gain more skills.
- Advanced Patient Care Techniques
- Medical Coding and Billing Essentials
- Leadership and Management in Healthcare
- Learning About Digital Health Solutions
- Ethics and Legal Issues in Medicine
- Trends in Medical Technologies
- Cultural Competency in Healthcare
- Surgical Innovations and Techniques
- Being Strong Amid Chaos: Emotional and Mental Aspects
- Dealing with Senior Pressure and Favoritism
- Managing Personal Health with Hectic Hours
- Understanding Genomics in Clinical Practice
- Gender-Specific Medicine: Tailoring Treatment to Biology
- Rehabilitation Techniques for Chronic Pain Management
- Medical Writing and Clinical Documentation
- Online Medical Assistant Programs
- Nursing School Online
Out-of-the-Box Online Course Ideas
The possibilities for creating a digital course are endless. Multiple ideas can be thought of. Here is a list of ideas that are unique, innovative, and have a niche audience.
- Building Tiny Houses and Minimalist Living Spaces
- Dream Interpretation and Lucid Dreaming Techniques
- Time Travel in Fiction: Writing and Plot Design
- Urban Beekeeping and Sustainable Honey Production
- Intro to Fashion Tech: Wearable Technology Design
- Virtual Real Estate: Investing in Digital Land
- The Art of Balloon Twisting and Decorations
- Cosplay Design and Prop Making
- Street Magic and Sleight of Hand Tricks
- Upcycling Old Furniture into Art Pieces
- Introduction to Cryptozoology: Myths and Creatures
- Perfume Making: Crafting Your Signature Scent
- DJing and Music Mixing for Beginners
- DIY Escape Room Design
- Exploring Soundscapes: Creating Ambient Audio Experiences
- Guerilla Gardening and Urban Farming Techniques
- Creating ASMR Content: Techniques and Tips
- Voice Mimicry and Accent Development
- Foraging Wild Foods and Edible Plants
- Designing Interactive Fiction and Text Adventures
To Conclude: How to Pick Ideas for Online Courses for Maximum Profit
When selecting a course topic with a focus on profitability, we still recommend focusing first on the knowledge and skills you can deliver. Of course, tech-related fields like Python, SQL, and Data Engineering are consistently popular but look for niche areas where competition is lower. This will help you differentiate yourself and stand out.
More than that, research similar courses on popular platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or Skillshare (as we did to create our list of top profitable course ideas). Pay attention to the number of reviews and students enrolled in these courses. Because what else gives such a clear indication of demand and student interest? Courses with high engagement typically signal profitable niches, which allow instructors to earn good money.
And lastly, think about whether you can provide a new angle or deeper insights compared to existing courses, with your own clear value proposition, such as teaching specialized applications or offering real-world projects. Think of some of the creative ideas for online courses to stand out. Differentiating your offering would drive higher traffic.
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Brian Denim
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