Your Course Structure Is Everything. Here’s How to Get It Right!


Hi Reader,

When people tell me they feel stuck creating their course, it's rarely about the tech.
More often, it's this:

“I have all this knowledge… but I don’t know how to structure it into a course.”

It’s a common problem, and a crucial one. A well-structured course doesn’t just make your content easier to teach, it makes it easier for your students to learn, and when your students get results, your course gets shared, reviewed, and recommended. That’s how you grow.

Here’s how to make sure your structure sets you (and your students) up for success:

Step 1: Start with the end in mind

Before you create any content, ask yourself: What outcome do I want my students to walk away with? This isn’t about cramming in everything you know, it’s about helping someone move from A to B.

Be clear and specific. “Get fit” is too broad. “Build a 4-week beginner strength routine using only bodyweight exercises at home” is better.

That’s your outcome. Everything else builds from there.

Step 2: Map the milestones

Break the big outcome into smaller steps and milestones that your students must reach to succeed. Think of these like chapters in a book or steps in a recipe. Each one becomes a module or lesson.

For example:

  • Module 1: Getting Started – Foundations of Bodyweight Training
    Learn the key principles behind bodyweight training, proper form, warm-up techniques, and how to stay injury-free.
  • Module 2: Week-by-Week Strength Plan
    Follow a structured 4-week program with progressive difficulty, focusing on full-body workouts using no equipment.
  • Module 3: Fuel and Recovery for Strength Gains
    Understand basic nutrition and recovery strategies that support muscle growth and energy levels without supplements or meal plans.
  • Module 4: Staying Consistent and Tracking Your Progress
    Build long-term success by learning how to track results, stay accountable and adjust the plan to fit your lifestyle.

Each module should move the student closer to the outcome you promised.

Step 3: Choose your content types wisely

Don’t overcomplicate this. You don’t need 20-minute videos in every module; in fact, short, focused lessons (3–8 minutes) often work best. I do occasionally include a longer 15-20 minute lesson if it's a tutorial, but often I do aim to keep each lesson short and 'punchy'.

Mix it up with:

  • Short explainer videos
  • PDFs or cheat sheets
  • Practical assignments
  • Call to Action Steps. Eg. Stop the lesson and take this action...

The key is to keep your student moving forward.

Step 4: Use my free course planning tool

To make this process easier, I’ve created a free course planning worksheet that walks you through each of these steps.

Download it HERE

You can print it, sketch out your course flow, and start creating content with total clarity.

Need a little help?

If you’ve been sitting on your idea but struggling to structure it, I also go deeper into this in my free 2-hour Thinkific course on YouTube. You’ll see exactly how to map out modules, structure lessons, and build it all inside Thinkific.

Watch it here:

video preview

And remember: if you use my Thinkific affiliate link (https://try.thinkific.com/RomneyNelson), I offer a free 1:1 coaching session (valued at $200 USD) to help you get your course off the ground.

1. Use my link to sign up for a free 30 day trial with Thinkific https://try.thinkific.com/RomneyNelson

2. When you become a paying Thinkific Customer, contact me via the below Google form: https://forms.gle/vTNDataj77euZTud8.

I will then email you to arrange our 1:1 coaching session.

You’ve got the knowledge. Let’s get it into the world with a structure that works.

All the best,

Romney

Romney Nelson - Founder of Global Self-Publishing

Online Course Instructor & Coach

www.globalselfpublishing.com

Global Self-Publishing

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