#36 What Makes a High-Quality Online Course? It's Not What You Think!

"You can’t just hit “record” on a Zoom webinar, slap a price tag on it, and call it a course. That’s not teaching—that’s repackaging."

It’s time we rethink what makes an online course “high quality.”

In this episode, Shannon Boyer challenges the common misconceptions about course quality—and reveals what actually drives student success. 

Spoiler alert: It’s not fancy production or flashy design.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining a course you’ve already launched, you’ll learn what separates forgettable content from transformational experiences.

 Shannon breaks down the key differences between packaging content and designing for learning—and explains why thinking like a teacher is your most powerful asset as a course creator.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to have perfect slides, cinematic video, or 57 bonus modules just to feel legitimate… this episode will be a breath of fresh air.

You’ll walk away with:

• Why “production value” is not the same as “instructional quality”
• How to spot the repackaging trap (and avoid disappointing your students)
• The mindset shift that separates experts from exceptional educators
• The three instructional strategies that truly make a course unforgettable

Plus, Shannon introduces a brand-new segment: One Bold Idea—a powerful takeaway to help you reflect, refine, and reimagine your course long after the episode ends.

🎁 Free Resource:

Want to make your course more effective and more shareable?
Grab Shannon’s free guide:
👉 The 7 Things All Courses Must Have to MAX Student Referrals
Perfect for refining your current course or setting the foundation for your next one.

Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community.

To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU.

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This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more
information about how to start your own podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co
or e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co