Behind the Screens: How I Built My Online Course (And How You Can Too)

Tamara Reid
Jul 14
3 min read

When I launched Build It. Brand It. Bank It., it was the product of 17 years of industry experience — not 5 days of fast filming. It took me the better part of six months to bring it to life. Why? Because I wasn’t just building a course — I was building a legacy resource. Something the industry could come back to again and again as they shaped their own personal brands.

If you’ve been sitting on a bank of knowledge and wondering how to package it, this is a behind-the-scenes look at the exact process I followed — and how you can too.

Month 1: Start With Structure

The first step isn’t filming. It’s brain dumping.

I opened a blank Google Doc and started to pour in every lesson, framework, story, and method I’d ever used. Things would come to me in the shower, on the daycare run, at the park — so I kept that doc open at all times and continually fed into it.

Instead of starting from Module One, Lesson One, I started from wherever my brain went first. Then, once I had it all out, I began shaping it into buckets or themes of learning. This kept the course flow cohesive, but also gave me space to build content in a way that felt natural and less overwhelming.

Month 2: Map the Systems

There’s no way around it — course building has a tech stack.

Here’s what I used:

Google Drive: for strategy, WIPs and shared folders
ChatGPT: for refining copy and spelling
Canva: for designing everything from module covers to launch graphics
CapCut: for editing video with captions, audio and effects
Kajabi: as my LMS (Learning Management System) (where the course lives

Don’t wait until the end to think about these platforms) map them early so you know where everything goes.

Month 3: Filming

You’ve got two options here: DIY or professional.

If you’re on a tight budget, DIY is more than okay. Record from your phone or laptop, use natural light, and go with done over perfect. If you’ve got around $5k to invest, go pro — it’ll elevate the production value and build immediate trust with your audience.

Either way, think about:

Your on-camera tone and presence
Your outfit and set styling (does it match your brand?)
Whether you're screen sharing, demonstrating, or talking direct to camera

What matters most is that your students feel seen, understood, and guided.

Month 4: Build the Portal

This part is the most underestimated.

Building the actual course portal takes time. It's not just uploading videos. It’s:

Waitlist forms
Funnels and email sequences
Module descriptions
Lesson scripts
Downloadables (PDFs, workbooks etc.)
Certificates
Sales and landing pages
Checkout integrations

Everything needs to reflect your visual brand (colours, fonts, logos) and your tone of voice, so it feels cohesive from start to finish.

Month 5: Put It All Together

Now that you’ve got your content, videos and systems – it’s time to stitch it all together and test.

Are modules unlocking properly if you're drip-feeding content?
Are payment plans processing on schedule?
Are abandoned carts being caught by email sequences?
Is the learning experience smooth and logical?

This month is all about testing every part of the student experience, so launch day feels seamless.

Month 6: Launch Planning

Here comes the fun part — telling people what you’ve built.

There are two ways to approach it:

Tease it and reveal it with a big bang
Breadcrumb the journey along the way with BTS content

Whichever you choose, make sure you’ve got:

Static graphics and videos
Waitlists and early access offers
Countdown timers
Social proof (testimonials, preview clips)
A sales page that makes the transformation crystal clear

And the golden rule?

The truth about online courses: You can make money while you sleep.

The hard truth about online courses: You’ll need to keep marketing while you’re awake to keep that money coming in.

Want to Build Yours?

There are two ways I can help:

Jump into my online course (Build It. Brand It. Bank It.) where I walk you through the process on how to develop your personal brand and digital products

Book a connection call and let us build it for you. Inside Industry has helped brands like Skin Education International, Chiza Westcarr’s Menopause Skin Academy, and more bring their course visions to life.