How to Create a Mini-Course (Step-by-Step)

You keep bookmarking articles about course creation, don’t you? You read about building comprehensive programs with 20+ lessons, multiple modules, fancy graphics, and launch strategies that sound like military operations. Then you close your laptop and think, “Maybe someday when I have more time.”

I get it completely. The online course trend seems designed to make you feel like anything less than a massive, polished program isn’t worth creating. But what if I told you there’s a simpler way to share your skills that takes one week to create instead of months? In this post, I will teach you how to create a mini-course.

It’s called the 1-1-1 Method, and it’s perfect for people (coaches, consultants, experts, etc.) who want to test their course ideas without the overwhelming commitment of building something huge. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear plan to create your first mini-course using knowledge you already have, and you can start this week.

No complicated tech setups. No months of planning. Just a simple way to help people while proving to yourself that you can absolutely do this course creation thing. Now, let’s learning how to create a mini-course!

Are Mini-Courses Better Than Full-Length Courses?

Did you know that shorter, focused courses often work better for both course creators and their students.

Think about your own learning preferences. When you want to solve a specific problem, do you want to commit to 20 hours of video lessons, or would you prefer something you can complete in an afternoon? 

I know I would not and will not watch 20 hours of videos – who has time for that? Listen to my podcast episode about having a huge library of videos!

Most people choose the shorter option, especially when they’re just getting to know you as a teacher.

Mini-courses let you test your ideas without the massive time investment. Instead of spending three months creating a comprehensive program that might not sell, you can spend one week creating something focused and valuable. And if it resonates with people, you can expand it later. If it doesn’t, you’ve only invested a week instead of a whole entire season of your life.

Creating and successfully selling a mini-course feels amazing! You prove to yourself that people will pay for your knowledge, learn how the whole process works, and build momentum for bigger projects. Compare that to spending months on a large course and feeling completely paralyzed by the whole process and being burdened with wondering whether anyone will actually buy it anyway.  

Plus, mini-courses are easier to promote because they’re easier to explain. “I help empty nesters organize their homes” is harder to package than “I teach you how to declutter your master bedroom in one weekend.” 

Specific problems are easier to market and easier for people to say YES to.

The 1-1-1 Method Explained

The beauty of a mini-course lies in its simplicity. I’ll explain it to you through the 1-1-1 Method.

The 1-1-1 Method means every mini-course contains exactly three elements: 

• 1 Learning Objective
• 1 Video (15-30 minutes)
• 1 Workbook (3-5 pages)

That’s it.

This combination works perfectly because it addresses different learning styles without overwhelming you or your students. Some people learn by watching and listening (your video), others learn by doing (your workbook), and everyone benefits from having one clear goal to focus on.

Let’s break it down…

One Learning Objective 

Having one transformational learning objective, or goal, means you’re solving one specific problem or teaching one specific skill. Not “everything about retirement planning,” but “how to figure out if you can afford to retire at 62.” Not “complete home organization,” but “how to organize your kitchen pantry so you can actually find things.”

One 15-30 Minute Video 

Having a video that is short enough to watch in one sitting, gives you enough time to explain the problem, walk through your solution, and provide clear action steps. It’s long enough to be valuable but short enough that people will actually finish it. Most people can find 20-30 minutes in their day, but asking for 2-3 hours is a much bigger commitment.

One 3-5 Page Workbook 

Having a short workbook (aka mini-workbook) helps students apply what they learned in your video. Nope, this isn’t a fancy design project. This is a simple, practical tool that guides them through implementing what you taught in your video, helping them to reach the one learning goal. 

Why does this specific combination work so well? Because it matches how most people actually want to learn something new. They want to understand the concept (video), then immediately practice it (workbook) without getting overwhelmed by too much information (learning objective).

Now let’s tackle the process step-by-step.

1. Choose Your Learning Objective

Your learning objective should pass what I call the “lightbulb moment” test: when someone finishes your mini-course, they should be able to do something specific that they couldn’t do before.

Good learning objectives let your students know the transformation they will have, after completing your mini-course. They would sound something like this:

• How to have the ‘what’s next’ conversation with your spouse when you’re both ready for retirement
• How to price your handmade crafts so you actually make money
• How to organize digital photos so you can find them again”
• How to set boundaries with adult children who still treat you like their personal ATM

Notice how specific these are? Each one solves a distinct problem that someone actively searches for solutions to.

Bad learning objectives sound like this:

• Everything about retirement
• Craft business success
• Photo organization and management
• Healthy family relationships

These are too broad and don’t promise a specific outcome.

Let me walk you through some examples across different backgrounds:

• If you’re a former teacher: Instead of “classroom management techniques,” try “how to handle the first day of school so students respect you from day one.”

• If you’re a nurse: Instead of “patient advocacy skills,” try “how to ask doctors the right questions so you get clear answers about your loved one’s care.”

• If you’re a business consultant: Instead of “small business marketing,” try “how to get your first 10 Google reviews without begging customers.”

The key is thinking about the specific questions people ask you repeatedly. What do friends, family, or former colleagues come to you for help with? That’s your learning objective.

TIP: You’ll want to include “just one more thing” because you know it’s related and valuable. Don’t do it. Save additional information for your next mini-course. Remember, you’re creating a focused solution to one problem, not a comprehensive guide to everything you know.

2. Create Your Video

Your video needs three basic parts that fit in about 15-30 minutes: 

1. Problem (3-5 minutes): Start by acknowledging the specific problem your student is facing. Describe what it feels like, why it’s frustrating, and why common solutions don’t work. This shows you understand their situation.

2. Solution (15-20 minutes): Share your approach to solving this problem. Break it down into clear steps, explain why each step matters, and provide examples or stories that illustrate your points. If you’re up to it, add in some on-screen text or animations that make the video feel high-value.

3. Action Steps (3-5 minutes): End the mini-course  by telling students exactly what to do next. Connect directly to your workbook by saying something like, “Now grab your workbook and we’ll walk through applying this to your specific situation.”

The optimal length for your video is 15-30 minutes because it fits into most people’s schedules easily. They can watch during a lunch break, while dinner is cooking, or after the grandkids go to bed. Asking for more than 30 minutes significantly reduces completion rates. So try to stick within this time frame.

For recording your video, you don’t need professional equipment. Your smartphone or laptop camera will work fine for your first mini-course. Just find a quiet space with good lighting (facing a window works well), and speak as if you’re explaining this to a good friend.

Many people worry about being perfect on camera, but students actually prefer authentic teaching over polished perfection. If you stumble over a word or lose your train of thought, just pause and continue. You can always edit out long pauses later, but don’t stress about being flawless.

TIP: Record a practice run where you just talk through your outline without worrying about the final result. This helps you get comfortable with the material and figure out your natural flow before recording the actual lesson. Practice multiple times if necessary!

3. Design Your Workbook

Your workbook transforms your video from passive watching into active learning. Students need a way to apply your advice to their specific situation, and that’s exactly what your workbook provides.

The purpose of pairing a workbook with your mini-course is to help students take action on what they just learned. This means including worksheets, templates, checklists, or exercises that guide them through implementing what you’re teaching.

Keep the content focused on your learning objective. If your video taught “how to have the retirement conversation with your spouse,” your workbook might include:

• Questions to ask yourself before the conversation
• A template for bringing up the topic naturally  
• A worksheet for mapping out shared goals and concerns
• A checklist for next steps after the conversation

Notice how everything connects directly to the video content? Don’t add random bonus materials or try to cover additional topics. Your workbook should feel like the natural next step after watching your video.

Also, keep it simple design-wise, keep it. You don’t need fancy graphics or elaborate layouts. Clean, easy-to-read formatting matters more than artistic design. Students want to use your workbook, not frame it.

As I detailed in my workbook creation guide, tools like Canva or even Google Docs work perfectly for creating professional-looking workbooks. The goal is for your students to learn from the information, not winning design awards.

TIP: Try out your workbook yourself before including it in your mini-course. Go through each exercise or template to make sure they directly relate to what you’re teaching. If something feels confusing or unnecessary, simplify or remove it.

Three to five pages is the sweet spot for mini-course workbooks. It’s substantial enough to be valuable but not overwhelming. Students can complete it in 20-30 minutes, which matches the commitment level of your video.

Putting It All Together

Once you have your video and workbook, packaging them into a mini-course is straightforward. Most course platforms make this process simple, and you don’t need elaborate sales pages or complex marketing funnels.

The $47-97 price range works well for mini-courses because it feels accessible while still valuing your expertise. People will pay $67 for a focused solution to an immediate problem, especially when it comes with both video instruction and practical tools.

For platform setup, focus on simplicity over features. You need a place to host your video, deliver your workbook, and process payments. Don’t worry about extra features like discussion forums or completion certificates, they aren’t necessary for your first mini-course.

Start by sharing with your existing network. Email friends who’ve asked about your topic, post in Facebook groups where you’re already active, or mention it in relevant conversations. You don’t need a massive marketing campaign, you just need 10-20 people who trust you and want to solve the problem you’re addressing.

Going From Mini to Full-Length Course

The beautiful thing about starting with mini-courses is the natural expansion path. Once you’ve created and sold your first mini-course, you’ll have data about what people want to learn next.

For example, imagine you create a mini-course about navigating hospital visits for aging parents. Students might start asking for help with insurance navigation, medication management, and family communication. You could create additional mini-courses for each topic, then eventually bundle them into a comprehensive caregiving program.

Or say you start with a mini-course about networking for people who hate traditional networking. Students might request follow-up courses covering job interview skills, salary negotiation, and professional brand building. Each mini-course would validate the next idea and build your audience.

You might also discover that your mini-course covers everything people need to know about your topic. That’s perfectly fine too. Not every subject requires a massive course, and sometimes a focused mini-course provides exactly the right amount of help!

The Permission to Start Small

The 1-1-1 Method removes the common barriers that may prevent you from creating a much larger course. You can’t procrastinate for months because the scope is manageable. You can’t get lost in perfectionism because the format is simple. You can’t avoid launching because the time investment is just one week.

Your mini-course doesn’t need to solve every problem—it needs to solve one problem well. A focused mini-course that helps someone take one important step forward is more valuable than a massive course that overwhelms them into inaction.

Mini-courses prove that you have the knowledge and skill to help people. That first sale and first thank you message gives you confidence that what you know matters to others! 

Start with one learning objective, create one video, design one workbook. You have something valuable to share, and now you have a simple way to share it.

Want to share your knowledge with more people without the overwhelm of writing a book or creating a full course? Download my free Workbook Cheat Sheet – a roadmap to plan, design, and refine your workbook. Sometimes the simplest approach creates the biggest impact.