How to Host & Upload Your Online Course: A Step-by-Step Guide

After filming, editing, and creating your online course content, the next step is hosting and uploading it to a platform. Selecting the right platform is crucial for a seamless and professional experience for your students. This article guides you through the process of hosting and uploading your course, focusing on how to create a user-friendly environment and leverage platform features to enhance your business.

Choosing a Hosting Platform

A hosting platform serves as the central hub for your online course. It's where your videos, resources, and lessons are stored, and where students log in to access your content and download supplementary materials.

• It provides a polished and professional look to your course.

• It ensures a smooth and user-friendly experience for students.

• It can assist with sales and marketing through landing pages, automated emails, and analytics tracking.

Investing in a professional hosting platform is essential. While free options might seem appealing, they often come with hidden costs such as time wasted on setup, frustrating systems, and lost sales due to a lack of professionalism. A good platform is an investment in the quality and success of your course.

Free Trials and Basic Plans

Most hosting platforms offer free trials, typically lasting 14 to 30 days, allowing you to test their features before committing. It's also advisable to start with a basic plan and upgrade as your course and revenue grow.

Cartra: A Recommended Hosting Platform

While numerous hosting platforms are available, Cartra is a highly recommended option due to its comprehensive features and user-friendliness. The principles discussed are generally applicable to other platforms, even though specific names and wordings may differ.

Key Benefits of Cartra

• Ease of Use: Cartra simplifies the process of uploading and organizing content, even for those who are not tech-savvy.

• Professional Design: Its templates, layouts, and course pages are polished and clean, creating a positive impression on students.

• Complete Marketing Solution: Cartra offers email automation, sales funnels, and affiliate management tools to help you grow your business.

• Scalability: The platform allows you to start small and easily scale as your audience and sales increase.

Uploading Content to Cartra

After choosing a platform, creating an account, and logging in, the next step is to upload your content and organize it into a course.

Uploading Videos to the Media Center

1. Navigate to the Media Center.
2. Click on "Video" and then "Add Video."
3. Upload your video file.
4. Enter a name for the video.
5. Select or create a category to organize your videos (e.g., "Online Course Test").
6. Upload the video file.
7. Change the image associated with the video in the settings for a more professional feel.
8. Enable "Visitor Memory" to allow students to resume videos where they left off.
9. Publish the video.

Uploaded videos can be edited by navigating to the Media Center, selecting the video, and clicking the edit option.

Organizing Content into a Membership (Course)

Once your videos are uploaded, you'll need to organize them into a structured course within Cartra's membership feature.

1. Go to the "Membership" tab.
2. Click on "All Memberships" and then "Add Membership."
3. Enter a name for your membership (e.g., "Online Course Creation").
4. Select branding colors and a desired layout for your course.
5. Add a branding image to the header.
6. Click "Launch Builder" to customize your course.

Customizing Your Course

Cartra offers extensive customization options to help your course stand out. Before adding content, customize the header and sidebar.

Header Customization

1. Click "Edit" on the header.
2. Upload your logo.
3. Save the changes.

Sidebar Customization

1. Add a "Host" content block to the sidebar.
2. Select a layout.
3. Add your name, title, and a photo.
4. Include links to your social media profiles.
5. Add a progress bar to motivate students.

Building the Course Framework

Use your course outline to create the structure for your online course.

1. Click "Edit" in the navigation bar.
2. Rename the "Home" section to "Start Here" for an introductory welcome lesson.
3. Add categories to represent your course modules or pillars.
4. Edit each category to reflect the module titles (e.g., "Module One," "Module Two").
5. Save the changes.

Adding Lessons to Modules

Add lessons under each module, incorporating videos and supporting content.

1. In the toolbar, drag "New Post" into the desired module.
2. Enter the name of the lesson.
3. Select an icon.
4. Add a video to the lesson by dragging the video element.
5. Choose a video from the media center.
6. Include a headline and supporting text to describe the lesson.
7. Add downloadable resources such as PDFs.

Repeat these steps to add all lessons to each module. Use the preview option to see how your course looks. Remember to save your progress regularly.

Additional Cartra Features

Cartra offers various additional features to enhance your course and student experience.

• Comments: Enable or disable comments on lessons.

• Access Levels: Create different membership levels with varying access to content.

• Progress: Add a progress bar and enforce linear progression (requiring students to complete lessons in order).

• Completion Badge: Award a completion badge to students who finish the course.

• Help Desk: Provide a support system for students experiencing issues.

• Welcome Email: Customize the welcome email with professional templates.

• Automations: Set up triggers and automations for advanced functionality.

By following these steps, you can effectively host and upload your online course to Cartra, creating a professional and engaging learning experience for your students.