Udemy for beginners: how to get started step by step

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 11m ago

How Udemy works for instructors

Udemy is a marketplace. Students search for courses on topics they want to learn, compare ratings, prices and previews, and enrol. Instructors create courses, set prices within allowed ranges and earn a share of revenue when students enrol. Udemy handles hosting, payments, customer service and much of the marketing, including frequent sitewide promotions. In return, it takes a share of each sale. Students who subscribe to Udemy's subscription plans can also access courses, with instructors paid from a subscription revenue pool according to consumption.

Step 1: choose a topic with real demand

Pick something you know well and that people actively want to learn. Search Udemy for your topic and look at how many courses exist, how many students the top courses have and what reviewers praise or criticise. A popular topic with many courses can still work if you offer a clearer, more current or more practical approach. Very niche topics may have little competition but also few students.

Step 2: read the quality standards

Before recording anything, read Udemy's course quality checklist. It covers minimum content length, the number of lectures, video resolution, audio quality and rules about promotional content. Following these from the start avoids rework.

Step 3: outline your course

Define your target student and the result they will achieve. Break the course into sections and short lectures, each covering one idea. Include practice activities, quizzes or a project. A clear outline keeps your course focused and makes recording easier.

Step 4: record audio and video

Clear audio matters most. Use a decent microphone, record in a quiet room with soft furnishings and test levels. For screen-based topics, record at a readable resolution and zoom in on details. For talking head lectures, use good lighting and a tidy background. Keep lectures short and edit out long pauses and mistakes.

Step 5: upload and build the course page

Upload lectures in order, add resources such as worksheets or code files and write a course title, subtitle and description that explain clearly who the course is for and what students will learn. Create a professional course image and a short promotional video.

Step 6: become a premium instructor

To charge for courses, apply to become a premium instructor by providing payout details and tax information. Udemy reviews applications before you can set paid prices.

Step 7: set a price and submit

Choose a price within Udemy's allowed range, then submit the course for review. If the review finds issues, fix them and resubmit.

Worked example: understanding revenue share

This is an illustrative example. Ravi's course is priced at 50 dollars but usually sells at a promotional 15 dollars. If his marketplace share is 37%, he earns 5.55 dollars per marketplace sale. When a student enrols at 15 dollars through his own coupon and his share is 97%, he earns 14.55 dollars, more than 2.6 times as much. The percentage calculator on this site helps compare scenarios.

Step 8: get your first reviews

Ratings and reviews strongly influence how Udemy ranks your course. Early on, invite people who would genuinely benefit, such as colleagues, social followers or newsletter subscribers, using your own coupon links. Ask them to leave honest reviews if they find the course useful. Avoid offering rewards for positive reviews or asking friends to leave fake ones, which breaks Udemy's rules and can lead to penalties. Respond politely to questions in the course Q and A section, because helpful, responsive instructors tend to earn better ratings over time.

Step 9: promote your course

Udemy brings students, but you can increase sales by promoting through your own channels. Share free tips related to your course topic on social media, a blog, a video channel or professional networks, and link to your course with your coupon. Students who come through your links earn you a much higher revenue share than marketplace sales. Udemy also allows instructors to send a limited number of educational announcements and promotional messages to enrolled students, within rules, which can help when you launch a new course.

Step 10: improve the course over time

Read reviews and questions carefully. If students struggle with a section, add a clarification lecture or update examples. Keep software and tools current, and refresh outdated lectures. Updated courses keep earning good reviews and continue to appear in search results.

Realistic expectations

Most first courses earn modest amounts. Some instructors build meaningful income over years by publishing several courses in one area and building an audience. Treat your first course as a learning project, and be wary of programmes promising guaranteed Udemy income.

Common beginner mistakes

Beginners often record long, unfocused lectures, ignore audio quality, choose topics without checking demand, write vague titles and descriptions or give up after a few months of slow sales. Others spend heavily on equipment before validating their idea. Start with what you have, focus on clarity and value and improve steadily.

Taxes and records

Course income is usually taxable. Keep records of payouts, revenue reports and expenses, and speak to a tax adviser about your obligations.

Writing a course title that students understand

Your title should state the skill and the outcome in plain words. Compare Excel course with Excel for beginners: build budgets, charts and reports step by step. The second tells students exactly what they will learn and who the course is for. Use the subtitle to add detail, such as the software version or the time commitment, and make sure your description repeats the main topic naturally so students searching for it can find your course. Avoid exaggerated promises, such as becoming an expert overnight, because students who feel misled leave poor reviews.

Making your promotional video count

The short promotional video is often the deciding factor for students comparing courses. In under two minutes, explain who the course is for, what problem it solves, what students will be able to do afterwards and why you are a good person to teach it. Show a brief example of a lesson or the final project. Keep the energy friendly and the audio clear, and finish by inviting students to enrol.

Planning for subscriptions and promotions

Many students access courses through subscription plans or buy during frequent sales. That means your income depends on volume and engagement rather than high prices. Create courses that students will want to finish, with clear progress and practical results, because engagement can influence how your course performs over time.

Choosing equipment on a budget

You do not need a studio to create a good first course. A modern laptop or desktop with free or low-cost screen recording software is enough for software and coding topics. For talking head lectures, a recent smartphone on a small tripod, positioned at eye level, works well. Spend money first on a reasonable microphone, because poor sound is the most common reason students complain. Natural light from a window, or an inexpensive light placed in front of you, makes video look much better. Free editing software can trim mistakes, add titles and balance audio. Upgrade gradually once your first course shows that teaching on the platform works for you.

Building a series of related courses

Instructors who earn steadily often have several courses that build on each other, such as a beginner course, an intermediate follow-up and a project-based course. Students who enjoyed one course are more likely to buy another from you. Plan your topics as a series from the start, and mention related courses in your final lectures and announcements so that interested students can continue learning with you.

A simple first month plan

In week one, research your topic, study competing courses and write your outline. In week two, prepare slides, scripts or demonstrations and test your recording setup. In week three, record and edit lectures in batches. In week four, upload everything, write your course page, create the image and promotional video and submit for review. A clear plan keeps the project moving alongside work and family commitments.

Reader questions

Questions about teaching online? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only. Revenue shares and rules change; no income is guaranteed.

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