My Experience With Udemy

After my last  failed attempt to offer a webinar, I decided to take a break.  Still, I wanted to present content on starting a practice in a different fashion than blog posts or books, and I wanted the ability to reach a larger audience than a Google Hangout would allow.

So I began to explore the option of pre-taped, on-demand webinars. In contrast to the webinar format, where my live program would be recorded through an online platform for future use, recording a program right off my machine was simply more dependable because I wasn’t reliant on a shaky Internet connection that often lacks the bandwidth to support webcasts.  (Note – I use Screenflow to record on my Mac and edit videos; Camtasia is a popular PC option). At the same time, whereas a webcast platform hosts the recordings, I would need to find a place to upload my programs. So I began to investigate the platforms available for MOOCs (massive open online courses) and thus, began my love affair with Udemy.

Udemy allows users to create courses in a variety of formats – video, ebooks and/or audio – and upload them to the Udemy platform where you can make them available for free or fee. For my course, I created a free program, How to Launch A Successful 21st Century Law Practice, consisting of seven 20 minute modules and several handouts. Setting up the “classroom” and uploading my materials and the relevant descriptions was seamless and intuitive.  In fact, I was able to set up my course (once I prepared the videos) in a matter of minutes. The platform is robust, allowing for written Q&A, live sessions, quizzes and a video/powerpoint mashup.  Udemy also has a broad reach, and over the past several months, nearly 1000 students have signed up to take my class.

But what I liked even more about Udemy is that it strives to maintain quality. Udemy requires users to create an attractive “cover” for the program and provides a checklist that Udemy will run through before approving a class.  

Although I posted a free course to experiment with Udemy, users can also charge for a program, with a 70/30 split between the instructor and Udemy (certainly better than a CLE program)  So depending upon your expertise,  you could potentially generate some additional income as well. And even if you make the class available free, your clients might appreciate the information provided.  Finally, if you’re interested in generating paid speaking engagements, you can use a Udemy class to demonstrate what you have to offer.

So if you’re looking for different ways to deliver content, Udemy is hands down one of the easiest ways to do it.