The Art of Selling Online Courses 219 30 Years of Teaching: What Actually Worked For Me
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Jan 2, 2026 Venkat Subramaniam, a veteran software educator and author, shares his invaluable insights from over 30 years in tech training. He reveals why he shunned online teaching during the pandemic despite lucrative offers and emphasizes the power of in-person engagement. Venkat also discusses effective strategies for student retention, like accountability through lab work and peer-supported learning. Discover why word of mouth has been his best marketing tool and how he fosters a vibrant classroom culture with techniques like rotating pair work and weekly office hours.
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Reputation Over Marketing
- Venkat never sent a marketing email and built a global training business purely through referrals and reputation.
- He spent time scheduling courses instead of marketing because satisfied learners sold his work for him.
Word-Of-Mouth Discovery
- Venkat got discovered teaching a university C++ class and a visitor hired him to teach their company the next day.
- Word of mouth then sent him across teams, countries, and eventually the globe without him marketing at all.
Why He Returned To In-Person Training
- During the pandemic Venkat taught online extensively, traveled less, and earned well but felt guilty about falling engagement.
- He eventually halted most online work and returned to in-person training for the deep, energetic interaction he values.