Benefits of launching a course on platforms like Udemy vs WSO/Clickbank vs self hosting

Clickbank is just so popular and user friendly that it's always been the best choice as far as platforms go.

Udemy is a self contained ecosystem of people looking exclusively for training. If you've got a good course that people want it's likely to be seen and purchased. Of course you still have to market.

Clickbank can say the same but their focus is not exclusively on training videos. Not only that but Clickbank probably attracts more people looking to promote products than people looking to actually buy them. Clickbank charges a fee to submit a product and have that nasty rule where they chip away at your balance when your account is inactive. Ugh. Udemy beats them hands down.

I'm starting to see the huge potential of the Udemy ecosystem but there is one HUGE downfall that I see on Udemy, and I might be wrong (let me know if that is the case) and that is you can't sell udemy on monthly payments and you can't up-sell? The up-sell part you can like send them emails later but it's not very effective you don't control the immediate sale process. But the biggest one is the monthly payments I just don't see that.

I haven't really looked into this but someone mentioned that Udemy recently changed their payment plan by which it heavily favors them and creators make a lot less.

The bad thing about putting your products on platforms that others control is that they can easily change the rules. Not that you couldn't migrate your membership somewhere else, but at the same time it seems to limit you as to how to do a launch, run your campaign, etc.

I'd love to hear more about Udemy from people who feel that it is still a fair game... if anyone has any more info. =D

Ok instead of creating a new thread, I'm going to bump this instead.

Does anyone actually have experience with Udemy? For the sake of keeping it simple, let's say it's a video course. What is better...publishing on CB/JVZ? Or publishing it on Udemy?

I'm about to create my next product and I'm weighing my options. I've published on Clickbank and JVZoo...both are pretty good. Although I don't really like how much CB takes {$1+ 7% if my memory serves me correctly}

Udemy looks good. Although this is what I've been able to find regarding them as a potential platform for publishing....

1. They say that they will promote your course through email campaigns, which include coupons. Not sure if they actually do it, and if so, if it's effective. If they act as an affiliate and promote the course, this would be a valuable point. Especially if it drives volume.

2. I read this article which basically says that Udemy isn't a sustainable model and that they benefit far greater than the instructors do. You can read it here if you'd like: Why I stopped selling courses on Udemy.

So I'm wondering where my time, energy, and money will be better spent. Clickbank/JVZ? Or Udemy. It's the same video product and I'll still be promoting it through content, ads, and affiliates. I'm leaning on just sticking with JVZ or CB since I'm not convinced that Udemy has anything to offer in comparison. If they really drive revenue by promoting the course, then perhaps I'll be convinced. But IDK.

So given all of this, would Udemy be a better choice? Let me know. Please, only those who have experience with Udemy as a publisher. Thanks.

Why not have sell a course on all of those platforms mentioned? There are several IMer's that do it and the great thing is that you will appeal to a different demographic on each platform! My two sense!

I have a course on Udemy. The problem with this platform is that they run coupon sales all the time. Many times they offer 90% off deals. My course is listed for $30, and 90 percent of the sales are from those coupon sales.

After taking out Udemy's cut, discounts, affiliate's cuts, I often end up receiving only $2.50 for my $30 course. Even without heavily discounted offers I get $10 at best. Most of my sales net me between 2.50 and $5. So you have no control at all over how much your product sells.

Udemy's entire business model is based on those constant coupon sales which they are running constantly. In order to make money with Udemy you have to have lots of volume and market the heck out of it.

Udemy is interesting because you get a focused crowd looking for training. And it is a marketplace that people remember and come back to. So you have natural organic traffic.

Offers on Clickbank need to be promoted by affiliates or your own traffic generation plan (e.g. social, SEO, ...).

And regarding the breadcrumbs - why not setting the price of the course to $197? That means after discount of 90% you still have a cart value of $20.

I find the quality of the courses that sell really well is also really high - so it is quite an effort to produce one course that is outstanding. (I smell there could be a connection between money earned and value provided!? ;-) )

On Udemy you can create your own coupons and that way you get 97% of the sale price. So if you do a lot of your own promotion it is ideal. Udemy only take a cut of the sale if it comes from their own promotions, and if you have a really good course they do a lot of marketing for it.

The only problem that I see with Udemy is that they don't give you your students' email addresses so you can promote additional products or follow up materials to them. I would probably make a squeeze page to capture email addresses and then send traffic to my Udemy page.