Guitar · Lessons, app, books
JustinGuitar
Justin Sandercoe
Structured, free lessons first, then an app, songbooks and paid courses.
justinguitar.com ↗TEACH ONLINE
How to teach what you know online.
You’ve probably been teaching for years without calling it that. Online, you can teach the people who need it most, wherever they are.
Find your thing →free · about 5 minutes
THE SHORT ANSWER
To teach online, start with one live class on a video call to test your material, then turn what works into recorded lessons or a short course. Plan each lesson around one problem and one result, show more than you tell, and use a course platform when you’re ready to sell lessons on demand.
WHY YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS
Good teachers are made in the field, not in classrooms.
The best online teachers aren’t necessarily professional educators. They’re people who’ve done the work and can explain it plainly, mistakes and all.
Teaching online lets you reach the people who need your knowledge most, not just the ones who live nearby. A woodworker in Ohio can teach a beginner in Oregon.
Start live. Teaching a real group shows you where people get stuck, which becomes the outline for everything you record later.
IDEAS THAT FIT
Ways to teach online
| Idea | Format | Effort to start | How it earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| A single live class | Video call | Low | Tickets |
| A live cohort course over a few weeks | Video calls and a group | Medium | Course fee |
| A self-paced recorded course | Course platform | Medium | Course sales |
| Free video lessons | YouTube | Medium | Ads, and the paid offers they lead to |
| One-on-one lessons | Video calls | Low | Per lesson |
| A membership with monthly lessons | Course platform or community | Medium | Monthly fees |
| Teaching for an online school | Their platform | Low | Pay per course |
PEOPLE WHO DID IT
Real people, real knowledge, real second acts.
Gardening · YouTube, courses, books
Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding
Free videos about no-dig gardening, with paid online courses and books.
charlesdowding.co.uk ↗
Woodworking · YouTube & membership
Paul Sellers
Paul Sellers
Free videos, a paid masterclass membership and books about hand-tool woodworking.
paulsellers.com ↗
Music · YouTube, book, courses
Rick Beato
Rick Beato
A record producer explaining why great songs work, with a book and courses behind the channel.
youtube.com ↗HOW TO START
Five steps, one at a time.
- 01
Know
Write the outline of what a beginner needs to learn, in order.
- 02
Find
Invite ten people who want to learn it to a first live class.
- 03
Tell
Teach one live session, record it, and note every question people ask.
- 04
Build
Turn the best of it into short recorded lessons or a cohort course.
- 05
Grow
Add lessons based on questions, and gather testimonials as students succeed.
FIND YOUR THING
Get a plan made for what you know.
Answer six quick questions and the free Know + Tell Business Builder suggests your best first thing, who it’s for and which tools to use. Your first answer is already filled in.
TOOLS FOR YOUR FIRST STEP
Start with these.
Teachable ↗Host recorded lessons and sell a course with checkout built in.Descript ↗Edit lesson recordings by editing the transcript.Claude ↗Turn your outline into lesson plans, worksheets and quiz questions.
Know + Tell is free. Some tool links pay us a commission; here’s how we choose.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
Questions people ask.
Do I need teaching experience to teach online?
No. Clear explanations and real experience matter more than teaching credentials, and a first live class will teach you a lot.
Should I teach live or record lessons?
Start live to learn what students need, then record the parts that work. Many teachers offer both.
How long should an online lesson be?
Short lessons, often 5 to 15 minutes, focused on one skill each, are easier to follow and to finish.
What equipment do I need?
A recent computer or phone, a decent microphone and good light. Add a second camera if you need to show your hands.
How do I keep students engaged?
Give small assignments, answer questions quickly, and celebrate progress. A simple community space helps students learn from each other.
KEEP GOING