Now, before you panic and think you need a full-blown studio or a degree in video production, let me stop you right there.
The good news? You don’t need to overcomplicate it. What you do need is a smart stack of tools that work for you, not against you.
Here’s a breakdown of the technologies I use to create, polish, launch and manage online courses across my business, without the overwhelm.
Start With What You’ve Got: Smartphone + Webcam
If you’ve got a smartphone with a decent camera and a USB webcam, you’re already off to a great start. Your smartphone can double as a high-quality video recorder, perfect for filming lessons, walkthroughs or talking heads. Add in a webcam and you’re sorted for screen recordings, tutorials and live delivery.
Lighting and sound matter, but you don’t need studio-grade gear. Natural light and a basic lapel mic can go a long way when you’re starting out.
Thinkific – Your Course Creation Hub
Thinkific is where everything comes together. It’s where I build and host my online courses, complete with lessons, quizzes, downloads, and certificates. You can set up one-off courses, memberships, or even bundle products.
It’s scalable and user-friendly, which means you can start small and grow as your course (and your audience) grows.
Descript – Edit and Repurpose Content with Ease
Creating course videos used to be clunky until I found Descript. It’s an all-in-one editor for audio and video that lets you edit by editing the transcript.
That means you can remove filler words, cut clips, add captions, and repurpose your content without needing to master complex editing tools. It also lets you export transcripts, which is perfect for turning your lessons into notes, blogs or workbook content.
Canva – Easy, Professional Visuals
You know I love a bit of Canva. It’s where I design:
- Course slides and decks
- Promo graphics
- Workbooks and printables
- Course banners and thumbnails
- Social posts for course launches
You don’t need a design background, just good templates, clear branding and a message to share. Canva makes your content look the part with minimal fuss.
Wobo – Modern Workbooks That Actually Get Used
Old-school PDFs have their place, but if you want to give your students a more interactive, valuable experience, Wobo is the way to go.
It lets you create fillable, savable, digital workbooks that your students can complete online and come back to at any time. It’s great for reflection, planning, and deeper learning, plus it keeps everything digital and streamlined.
MailerLite – Email Marketing That Works
Once your course is ready, you need to market it, and MailerLite is my tool of choice for email automation and audience engagement.
From lead magnets to launch sequences, MailerLite allows you to:
- Send automated onboarding emails to students
- Nurture leads with value-packed sequences
- Share course updates and tips
- Build funnels that convert
It’s clean, intuitive, and perfect for solopreneurs and small teams who want to build genuine connections with their audience.
MeetEdgar – Keep Your Content Flowing
One launch isn’t enough. You need ongoing promotion to keep your course in the spotlight, and MeetEdgar handles that beautifully.
It loops your evergreen content, testimonials, course tips, blog links, FAQs, so your social media stays active, even when you’re busy delivering value behind the scenes.
Zapier – Automation Magic
This is where your tech stack gets supercharged. Zapier connects your platforms so everything flows automatically. For example:
- When someone enrols via Thinkific, they’re automatically added to MailerLite
- They get their welcome sequence, resources and bonuses
- You’re notified that a task is added to your project management system
It saves hours and ensures your student experience is seamless from the first click.
Bringing It All Together
You don’t need to overinvest or overcomplicate to build a successful online course. You just need:
- Your smartphone and webcam for recording
- Thinkific for delivery
- Descript for editing
- Canva for design
- Wobo for interactive resources
- MailerLite for email marketing
- MeetEdgar for content scheduling
- Zapier to tie it all together
These tools support me across The Marketing Circle, Consult With Me, and the many workshops and programs I offer. They help me create high-impact content and run a business that works smoothly behind the scenes.
Want Help Putting It Together?
Inside The Marketing Circle, I guide business owners through using tools like these to launch their own courses and digital products, with strategy, systems and support.
Or, if you want personalised, hands-on help, you can always Consult With Me and we’ll build your setup together.
Let’s make your knowledge work harder for you and turn it into a course that creates real impact.
