How to Create the Perfect Masterclass
If you have knowledge you want that you want to impart, a masterclass is an ideal approach to get in front of your intended audience and get people talking.
The best part? Masterclasses can be as quick as or as long as you like, so you can give your best advice and provide maximal impact in only a small fraction of the time of the typical course.
Here at , we are experts regarding masterclasses. In fact, we've assisted many creators to create, teach and market their own masterclasses on the internet.
We've got a guide for how to make a great masterclass, with insider advice and examples from the greatest masters of masterclass.
Skip ahead:
- What is the format for masterclasses?
- How to make your own masterclass in 7 steps
- Choose a topic
- Plan your masterclass
- Design your masterclass
- Locate an hosting service
- Marketing and promoting your masterclass
- Edit and review your masterclass
- Expand your business
- Examples of top masterclasses from Creator Educators
What's the format for masterclasses?
Masterclasses don't follow a strict format - a masterclass may range between a single class up to a complete video class.
Masterclasses typically contain three key components:
- An explicit understanding of the goal(s) Each masterclass must have a goal or a learning purpose that participants will either master or finish by the end of the session.
- A skilled instructor Masterclasses are usually taught by an expert - someone with experience in education or experience relevant to the topic of masterclass or the industry.
- A test or activity: Many masterclasses also include activities or some form of assessment to help students apply and evaluate their understanding. Those who are successful may also be awarded a certificate upon completion of the masterclass.
Are masterclasses just videos?
Yes but no. Masterclasses can be described as learning content where specific skills are taught by an expert in their subject. They are usually video-based, however they can also be online webinars or blogs podcasts and much more. Masterclasses that are the best also provide other resources as well as learning opportunities like quizzes, questions and assignments along with certifications and accreditations.
How do you create your own masterclass with seven steps
If you're considering hosting your own masterclass, there are seven steps to take to ensure your course is well-organized, marketable, and ultimately beneficial to the audience you want to reach.
Here's how to make a masterclass (click for a skip more detail):
- Choose a topic: Find your niche and pick an area for your masterclass that will be interesting and relevant for your intended audience.
- Create your masterclass: Carefully plan your masterclass format, content, and style as well as writing an outline and a rough script.
- Create your Masterclass: Record and edit your masterclass in order to make a high-quality product buyers will be keen to purchase.
- Choose a platform for hosting Pick a platform hosting your masterclass where you are able to publish, advertise as well as manage and market your merchandise all from the same place.
- Promote and market the masterclass: Get the word out about your masterclass using a mix of marketing channels - including the use of social media, email marketing, and specific page landing.
- Edit and review the masterclass: Collect students' feedback, and then revisit the masterclass material to continually modify and enhance your work.
- Increase your revenue: Keep developing digital goods to increase your masterclass, build your name, and create several income streams.
Are you ready to get started? This is what you should learn about creating a masterclass - including tips, examples, and links to extra resources to guide you step-by-step through the process.
How to create an online masterclass
Choose a topic
If you want to create masterclasses, you'll first have to decide what your topic or niche is going to be. This process will look different depending on whether or not you have an existing brand or if you're starting your own business.
If you're starting your business from ground zero, start by creating a list of everything you're good in, passionate about, and qualified to perform - then make sure that it's something you are comfortable teaching to other people. This helps you get clear of your own unique service as well as the kinds of knowledge you're able to offer all of the world.
If you have already established a business, it's likely that you'll already have a good concept of what your specialization or niche lies - but this is also helpful to give you the opportunity to think of fresh ideas and possibilities if you wish.
In the next step, you must validate your idea. Here's how:
Research on the audience
It's not enough to just have an idea for a topic and then start creating a masterclass right away. First, you need to do audience research to make sure there's a market for the masterclass, and a specific group of people who are willing to watch and even pay to attend it.
- Research on the audience could include: Customer surveys
- Interviews
- Focus groups
Research on competitors
As well as talking to your target audience, you can also find your niche by conducting market studies. Research on competitors involves looking into what your top competitors are currently offering customers to help you see what you can do different - and even better - to gain over customers.
Here are a few easy steps that can help with your competitor's research:
- Conduct do a Google search: The simplest method of starting your competitor research is to search for your masterclass idea through a search engine, such as Google. Find out what brands appear first and the services they offer - how similar is it to what you're proposing? What do they differ from? What do they haven't done?
- Check out their website After you've made your top contenders list go deeper in your research and look at their websites and masterclass landing pages. What are the topics they're talking about? Who are they targeting? What are their core messages?
- Check social media: Along with looking over their presence on the internet, you should check the social media pages of their followers and the types of content they're posting and connecting with. Check out your competition's users, followers, and comments. You can also take a look at the other brands they're collaborating with.
- Review customer feedback customer reviews and testimonials can also be a wealth of information about your competitors and their products. Look at customers' main comments, complaints, and what kind of items that they purchase from them.
Evaluate your competitors based on these key elements:
- Product: What are their masterclasses contain? What are the resources they offer? What features are good or undesirable?
- Pricing: How much does the cost of their masterclasses? Are their rates different for different customers? Do they provide bundles and discounts?
- Promotion: What marketing tactics are they currently using to connect with their clients? What social media channels are they using? What type of content are they sharing?
- Place: Where are they located? Where are their customers based?
- Positioning The question is: What is their distinct advantage? What is their strategy for positioning themselves? What are their main messages? Who is their target audience?
- Reputation: What do people saying about their products and services? What issues are they facing?
Throughout your competitor research In the end, you're hoping to be able to answer the following questions:
- Who are my top competitors?
- What is their strength and weakness?
- What are the potential opportunities and risks in the market?
- What is the features of my ideal clients versus my competitors' ideal clients?
You can keep track of your research with a spreadsheet. It will assist you analyse the information from your research and then use the information to create an original plan to teach your class.
You should ask yourself: "What am I good at compared with my competitors and what am I looking to be focusing in?"
Plan your masterclass
If you've conducted your research, you should have a clear idea of your topic for masterclasses and the specialization - which includes the audience you intend to target and how you will distinguish your product from other products on the market.
Next up, it's time to organize the master class.
Selecting your preferred format
Based on the topic of your masterclass and the target audience it is necessary to pick the appropriate format for the masterclass. In this case, for example, the masterclass you choose to give could include:
- Video tutorials
- Audio
- Webinars recorded or live
- Blog posts or ebooks
- Slideshows
Choose the style (or combination) that you believe is most efficient for the presentation of your material to the audience, while also keeping your masterclass engaging and interesting for customers. What is your target audience likely to be most interested in?
Creating an outline
Focus your masterclass by writing an elaborate outline based around your key educational objectives and goals. The outline you write should contain:
- What subjects will you cover
- The length of your masterclass will be
- What types of things you'll include
- What additional resources and materials you'll provide
- What assessments or certifications learners need to complete
By breaking your masterclass session down into specific subjects, tasks and exams, you will be able to develop your content according to a predetermined format. This will help you make sure you include the information you need and follow through the promises you made to your participants.
Writing a script or a plan
Once you've got the outline you need, begin making a thorough plan or script for your masterclass. To make sure your content is natural and flow well make sure you avoid using a script word-for-word Instead, write down what you're planning to talk about and the key elements you'll be covering in order to ensure you don't forget anything.
Create your masterclass
Now it's time to write the material to your masterclass, based on the outline you created and your plan.
The precise steps to follow for how to create a masterclass will depend on the kind of masterclass that you're planning to make - including your chosen format and design.
Masterclasses tend to be recorded tutorials. These usually take the form of talking-head style videos with an instructor or expert talking to the camera aided by diagrams, visual illustrations, and prompts that assist in explaining the key ideas.
To create this type of masterclass, you'll need some basic equipment, including:
- A video camera equipment or a recording device
- Lighting equipment
- Equipment to record audio
- Editing software
The masterclasses of this kind depend on the passion of the instructor or professional and their engagement, including how entertaining they can be, how clear they're able to explain the subject matter, as well as how they convey their personality in front of the camera. Don't forget to smile!
It's an excellent idea to have multiple takes of your class to help you cut and edit the text to make it the most effective source for your viewers.
For more help with the process of creating masterclasses in different formats, read these guidelines:
You'll also want to create additional resources and assessment at this stage. Here are some resources to help you make masterclass materials to add value for your audience:
When editing your masterclasses, check out these guides to the best software and top techniques to make your editing flawless:
Find a hosting platform
When you've successfully created an outstanding masterclass you're confident of and eager to promote, you'll need to locate a web hosting service to help you deliver the knowledge directly to your audience.
Here are three tips to help you choose the best hosting platform for you:
Be aware of the structure of your payments
Understanding the kind of payment structure you're going to be using before time can help to ensure that your payment system is compatible with and supports the payment method you choose.
This might comprise:
- Subscriptions or memberships
- One-time transactions with limited time access to web-based content
- One-time payments that provide lifetime access to the content
- Useful as a lead magnet
If you intend to make masterclasses that cover the same subject, using the subscription or membership arrangement will enable you to generate recurring revenue by selling your services. Customers pay an annual or monthly subscription cost to gain access to your content.
If you just want to develop one or two masterclasses for the moment, it's usually best to charge an annual fee to customers to gain access to your educational materials. It is possible to grant your customers limited time access to the masterclass or offer a higher price and give them an unlimited access to your content so that they are able to revisit your material and knowledge whenever they wish to.
Not all platforms permit subscription-based payments like PayPal. So, be sure your chosen platform allows you to bill customers with the payment method that you would like to use.
Consider your marketing strategy
As well as thinking about your business model as well, you should think about your marketing plan when choosing a hosting platform. Why? Because different hosting platforms include tools designed to assist you market and promote your masterclass or other digital goods.
If you've got some specific strategy for marketing in mind - such as live webinars, email marketing and other events, or specific landing pages - make sure the hosting platform you use supports your plans and offers extra features to help you.
Customer reviews are available.
In the event of choosing a platform to host your company, existing clients usually are the most knowledgeable.
Marketing and promoting your masterclass
When you've signed up with a host platform and uploaded your masterclass material, it's time to start advertising and marketing your content in order to start getting your first sales coming in.
Here are some effective methods to advertise your masterclass
Social media
If you're looking to sell masterclasses in 2023, it's essential to have a social media presence.
Select the most effective platforms for marketing your masterclass, based on the intended audience. If, for instance, you're offering a B2B class, consider promoting your product on LinkedIn. If the masterclass you're offering is something that is a lifestyle subject, Instagram and Pinterest are more likely to work in attracting your ideal client.
If you're just getting started you should choose between three or four social media sites to begin promoting your masterclass.
Develop content that is specific to the audience you want to reach, including:
- How-to posts
- Tips and techniques
- Behind-the-scenes
- Interviews with experts from other fields
Email marketing
In addition to establishing an online following on social media to promote the master class, you may also use email marketing for further marketing.
If you don't have one begin creating your list of email addresses to aid in addressing the people you want to reach and create stronger connections with your potential customers.
Email marketing can include:
- Monthly newsletters
- Updates and product launches
- Round-ups, and other recommendations
- News from the industry
- Mini how-to guides
The number one rule for email marketing is to ensure that every piece of email material you write is useful to your audience Nobody likes junk email, so ensure that your content is providing value each time it is delivered to your subscribers' inbox.
Landing pages
Naturally, you'll want somewhere to direct your visitors to where you can let them know more about your masterclass. That's where landing pages are essential.
landing pages or sales pages are designed to inform your target audience exactly the information they require to convert them from interested viewers to paid customers.
The best landing pages are:
- An attention-grabbing headline
- Enticing overview of your masterclass
- Some information about your teacher
- Key topics or highlights
- Customer reviews
- Call-To-Action (CTA) e.g. an option to sign up
Revise and modify your masterclass
So you've created, launched the product, and even started to sell your masterclass - congratulations! Now what happens next?
The work doesn't end when you've finished your first launch. Businesses that are most successful remain in the process of developing and improving their content in order to be more appealing to their intended audience and develop the most impressive products.
To help you do this, you should begin to collect customer feedback following your masterclass which includes:
- Post-attendance surveys
- 1:1 customer interviews
- Follow-up emails
If you are able to gather as much feedback as you get from previous learners The more information you have, the easier it is to enhance your masterclass and adapt the content to your intended audience for improved satisfaction of customers and increased sales.
Customer feedback can also help you decide what future digital offerings to develop, as well as open possibilities to convert your current customers into HTML0.
Grow your business
Many Creator Educators find that making a masterclass is only the start. Masterclasses are a fantastic digital product to help you establish yourself as a professional within your field and build your brand, while also creating revenue for your company.
It is important to build on your success by opening up multiple revenue streams - for example, it could be possible to create a full-length online course that is linked to your masterclass, or even create a membership community for your existing clients.
When you're ready to make the next step in expanding your company, check out these guides to get ideas:
Masterclasses with top examples of masterclasses from Creator Educators
Take a look at these examples of the best masterclasses taught by highly successful Creator educators that can provide inspiration and come up with ideas for your own class.
George Pitts: George Pitts: Masterclass in Money Management Masterclass
George Pitts was motivated to start his own personal finance company after he was able to get himself out of debt. In 2017, he was living paycheck to paycheck and had no idea how he could improve his financial situation - so the week he was off of work in order to figure out what he had to do to improve his credit score and his finances.
Being a self-taught financial planner, George became determined to assist others like him to get financial security. Since launching his company and teaching over 10,000 people through a variety of masterclasses, online courses and programs, and generated a seven-figure annual income through the process.
XayLi Barclay: The Camera Confidence Masterclass
Expert and coach in content creation XayLi Barclay is a specialist in helping entrepreneurs become the best version of themselves on the internet. The masterclass helps creators distinguish themselves from others and make an impact through engaging videos and visuals.
Since she started her business, XayLi has created multiple masterclasses in order to share her experience to students. This includes her Camera Confidence Masterclass, which will allow creators to feel more confident before the camera.
Learn more on the way she began here.
Create your own masterclass
The first step in the process of develop your own class can be scary - but when you take it by one step at a moment, you'll be able plan, prepare, and deliver a masterclass which you are proud of. It's your responsibility to your audience to create that masterclass that's hiding in the back of your mind. Don't let imposter syndrome keep you down!
Are you willing to make the leap? Take a free trial and build your own masterclass now.