Is choosing a course platform giving you analysis paralysis? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra helps you cut through the noise and strategically think about online course platforms without regret, stress, or duct tape. From tech comfort levels to student experience and scaling potential, she breaks down the five key categories to consider before committing to a platform.

Plus, in this week’s Instructional Design in the Real World segment, Cassandra shares how learning to French braid her own hair perfectly illustrates the power of repetition and real-world practice in any learning journey.

1. All-in-One Features:
   • Ideal for creators who want fewer tools and less tech setup.
   • Pros: Streamlined setup, fewer integrations.
   • Cons: Higher price point, risk of “putting all your eggs in one basket.”
2. Real Functionality:
   • Does the platform actually deliver what it promises?
   • Watch out for surface-level features that look good on checklists but lack depth.
3. Student Experience:
   • Your learners matter. Choose a platform that’s mobile responsive, easy to navigate, and distraction-free.
   • Poor UX = disengaged learners = higher drop-off.
4. Scaling Potential:
   • Will this platform grow with you?
   • Look for flexibility in pricing tiers, analytics, funnels, and upsell opportunities.
5. Your Usability as the Creator:
   • If using the backend makes you want to chuck your laptop, that’s a red flag.
   • Choose a platform that makes editing, updating, and managing your content a seamless experience.

[02:43] Five strategic categories for course platforms

[05:21] 🧰 Category 1: All-in-One Features

[10:33] 🛠️ Category 2: Real Functionality

[14:03] 🎓 Category 3: Student Experience

[17:42] 🚀 Category 4: Scaling & Growth

[20:42] 🧠 Category 5: Your Usability

[25:25] Take action over perfection (Cassandra pep talk)

[25:49] 🎯 Instructional Design in the Real World: French braiding as a metaphor for repetition in learning

[29:48] What’s something you’ve learned that was easy in theory but took a lot of practice?

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💬 Need support? Book a discovery call or send your platform questions via DM or email.

Is your course idea better suited for a group program or an evergreen online course? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra breaks down the real differences between these two popular formats—from pricing and scalability to time investment and student experience. Using relatable metaphors (Target runs and dinner parties, anyone?), she helps you decide which path fits your content, lifestyle, and goals.

You'll learn the key pros and cons of each model, common course creator mistakes, and the exact reflection questions to ask yourself before choosing. Plus, in the Instructional Design in the Real World segment, Cassandra shares lessons learned from her recent 30 Reels in 30 Days challenge—and how it’s the perfect example of “just-in-time learning” in action.

• [00:00] Target trips, toddlers, and teaching styles
• [04:13] Defining evergreen online courses
• [05:50] Pros of evergreen: scale, time freedom, passive income
• [09:53] Cons of evergreen: low accountability and drop-offs
• [14:04] Best use cases for evergreen courses
• [15:24] Defining group coaching programs
• [16:14] Pros of group coaching: connection, feedback, transformation
• [22:30] Cons of group coaching: time/energy intensive, harder to scale
• [26:03] When group programs are best: beta testing or step-by-step transformation
• [28:50] Reflective questions to help you decide your format
• [32:56] Instructional Design in the Real World: Just-in-time learning from 30 Reels in 30 Days
• [38:36] Wrapping up: key reflections, bike season bruises & next steps

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🎯 Need Help Deciding? Book a discovery call or submit your questions for an “Ask an Instructional Designer Anything” session

Do you really need slides to make your online course work—or can you just rock a messy bun and teach from your heart? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra breaks down five of the most common course content formats: video, audio, live sessions, workbooks, and slides. She shares the pros, cons, and best-use scenarios for each so you can stop overthinking and start creating with confidence.

• You don’t need just one format! Most courses benefit from mixing and matching content types.
• Video: Great for visuals and tutorials, but requires more setup.
• Audio: Flexible and easy to produce—perfect for solo topics or mindset lessons.
• Live Sessions: High engagement and real-time feedback—but harder to scale.
• Workbooks: Help reinforce learning, but require clear direction and buy-in.
• Slides: Provide structure for complex topics, but can easily fall flat without thoughtful design.
• Consider your content complexity, your audience’s lifestyle, and your tech comfort level when choosing formats.

• [01:54] Overview of the five course content formats
• [03:33] Celebrating 600 downloads & April’s 30 Reels challenge! 🎉
• [05:30] Video Content: Face-to-camera vs. screen share
• [09:34] Audio Content: The “white noise” of online learning
• [12:31] Live Sessions: The engagement goldmine (but beware time zones!)
• [17:30] Workbooks & Printables: When to use them, how to keep them relevant
• [20:10] Slide-Based Content: Great for structure, but tricky to get right
• [25:55] Picking the right format: Ask the right questions
• [28:16] Instructional Design in the Real World: A unique group-based learning experience from a cohort course
• [32:52] Final reminders & call to action

💌 Join the Unlock Course Creation Email List: Get updates when new episodes drop and stay in the loop with new offers and tips → cassandrameszaros.ca/email

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🧠 Need guidance? Book a discovery call or schedule an Ask an Instructional Designer Anything session for 1:1 support.