Udemy vs Kindle - Pros and Cons | Warrior Forum - The #1 Digital Marketing Forum & Marketplace

9 years ago

Well, you already have 4 Udemy courses. So, now write 4 kindle books and you will have your answer.

My personal thoughts is Udemy and Kindle are still viable but not as easy as they once were. Marketers started creating course after course after course teaching people how to make passive income with these two platforms. Now, they are both filled with crap and anything you create will be lost in this sea of crap

al

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Derek_Franklin

9 years ago

Originally Posted by agmccall

Well, you already have 4 Udemy courses. So, now write 4 kindle books and you will have your answer.

That's the obvious answer, but I was hoping to tap into the collective mindset of the forum before I spent 4-8 weeks creating 4 Kindle books to test it for myself.

I agree, both platforms have their challenges, but both are still viable.

Thanks, Al.

Derek

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dlane1987

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Derek_Franklin

That's the obvious answer, but I was hoping to tap into the collective mindset of the forum before I spent 4-8 weeks creating 4 Kindle books to test it for myself.

I agree, both platforms have their challenges, but both are still viable.

Thanks, Al.

Derek

Totaly agree the only way to find out what works for YOU is to try it. As maybe Kindle is better for me but Udemy for you. Just try them out. Alternatively host to both.

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Derek_Franklin

9 years ago

Thanks for the feedback - I think I should clarify my question.

I know that the absolute best way to find the answer to my question is to create Kindle books and get them on Amazon.

That being said, before I invest too much time on doing something like that, I'm trying to get a FEEL for the 'personality' of each marketplace, what types of information products work best for each platform. I'm pretty sure there's a general answer to this question.

For example, with my limited experience, I can state the following about Udemy:

* It's an amazing platform for selling your knowledge if you teach coding, Facebook marketing, how to make money, Wordpress, etc.
* It seems to be a 'decent' platform if you want to teach people confidence, habits, communication skills, etc.

Udemy definitely FAVORS job skills over people skills when it comes to being successful on the platform.

I'm wanting to know:

A: If someone else who uses Udemy can verify this (that it's not just my experience).
B. If someone who is a Kindle publisher (and perhaps a Udemy instructor) would be able to offer a general observation about whether topics on people skills do better on Kindle.

Not looking for hard science here, just some feedback/experience.

Derek

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Sandra Martinez

9 years ago

Maybe this is a stupid question (I don't know anything about Udemy), but: can't you put the same information in both platforms for leverage?

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Derek_Franklin

9 years ago

Hey Sandra,

Yes, you can take the information from a video course and compile it into a Kindle book - no problem from Udemy or Kindle about doing this.

That being said, taking the content from a video course and turning it into a Kindle book takes time - for me, about 1-2 weeks per course.

While it might be nice to have the content on both platforms, my desire it to focus on one or the other. I'm very much a quality over quantity kind of guy - I'd rather spend my time doing everything I can to become a top-notch instructor on ONE platform that I would spreading that same amount of time just trying to be good on both platforms.

Thanks!

Derek

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Sandra Martinez

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Derek_Franklin

Hey Sandra,

Yes, you can take the information from a video course and compile it into a Kindle book - no problem from Udemy or Kindle about doing this.

That being said, taking the content from a video course and turning it into a Kindle book takes time - for me, about 1-2 weeks per course.

Hum... can't you hire someone to make the videos into ebooks? I did that a lot with seminars back in the day.

EDIT: everyone gets what you want, but like your expertise and your skills are your own, I don't think anyone will be equipped to give you the answer you are seeking.

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Derek_Franklin 9 years ago

Hey Sandra,

Yeah, I could probably hire someone to do this, but I've been the sole employee of my company for the last 18 years because I can crank out content and teach pretty well. Hiring and managing others (even a little bit) isn't something I desire or do very well - I have to have my hands in what I create. :-)

As for additional clarity about whether Udemy or Kindle would generally be a better place for teaching 'soft' skills, think of this example...

Let's say I sell coffee cups. I can spend time, energy, and resources to make connections to try to sell them at:

Walmart
Starbucks

Will my cups sell at either of those places - IF I put in the work? Likely...

But I'm simply asking those who have had experience selling things at either or both places which marketplace (platform) would likely be better for selling my coffee cups.

--- END OF EXAMPLE ---

While you can likely sell flowers at a GNC and headphones at a Subway - if you try hard enough - various marketplaces tend to favor certain types of products.

So my question again (from anyone with experience on either/both Udemy or Kindle): If you were to create a product on improving your communication skills, do you generally believe it would do better on Udemy or Kindle? Generally...

Thanks!

Derek
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- livinglarge 9 years ago
  
  Derek,
  
  I have many books on Kindle that do well, in all sorts of niches. If you want to just test it out, I would create an inexpensive Kindle book that is well written and goes over the major points of the topic and then leads them to your more detailed Udemy course.
  
  The important factor is to make the Kindle book good as a stand alone book, otherwise you will get slammed in the reviews that what you have written is simply a promotional tool. But I think it could be done well and it would give you your answer without having to spend a lot of time turning your Udemy courses into text.
  
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  livinglarge 9 years ago
  
  I just saw your very last post/question.
  
  A book on improving your communication skills can do well on Kindle. I have a book on that topic that is one of my best sellers.
  
  That said, I do market it. I don't know if it, or any of my books, would do well if I just tossed it up there.
  
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quadagon

9 years ago

I've no experience on udemy but kindle's my thing. I've clients in all sorts of genres and as far as I can see you can make money in all niches. On kindle however there is more money to be made in fiction but don't let that put you off.

In your case why does it have to be either or

What about creating textbook/workbooks to compliment your course? Or using your course as an upsell from a kindle book.

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Derek_Franklin

9 years ago

Hey livinglarge,

Your responses are exactly what I was looking for - thank you!

I especially like your idea of creating an inexpensive Kindle guide that be a lead to my Udemy course...very great idea.

Also, thanks for your specific insight on my question about a Kindle book on improving communication skills. I have a number of ideas like that one, but was hoping to get a general idea about how well topics like that do on Kindle with some marketing behind it.

Again, thank you!

Derek

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marciayudkin

9 years ago

I take the same content and morph it into as many variants as possible:

- Udemy course
- Kindle ebook
- Audible audiobook
- Paperback book
- Live course / coaching program

A small percentage of those who find you in one of the above formats will want to learn more and more from you, so in addition to product sales you can also get consulting or coaching clients from these formats.

I definitely have!

Marcia Yudkin

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ED1190

9 years ago

Originally Posted by marciayudkin

I take the same content and morph it into as many variants as possible:

- Udemy course
- Kindle ebook
- Audible audiobook
- Paperback book
- Live course / coaching program

A small percentage of those who find you in one of the above formats will want to learn more and more from you, so in addition to product sales you can also get consulting or coaching clients from these formats.

I definitely have!

Marcia Yudkin

I agree with this. Each market will like that you created a Udemy course, a kindle e-book, audiobook, etc. You're catering to each market that way.

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Dave Espino 9 years ago

Udemy (even with 8 million members) is still in its infancy.

If those soft skills courses are not selling well, it may just mean that that market has not yet discovered Udemy.

In the bigger scheme of things, an online course carries a higher perceived (and actual) value than a Kindle book, which means that, in the long run, once Udemy marketplace matures, it will be a great venue for your topics.

(It may actually be one now, you would just want to experiment with titling and positioning your courses to meet in-demand needs. I've re-positioned some of my 30 Udemy courses and seen much greater sales because of a simple title change)

Also, Udemy has "Udemy For Business" which is geared toward large businesses that want training for their employees.

Many larger businesses are looking for soft skills training and they are going to Udemy because of it's lower cost and less need to get employees on a plane or get seminar leaders on site.

So, that is another avenue.

The bottom line is, sometimes there's gold just below where we might dig... We sometimes need to dig a little deeper than an initial opinion to find the gold, though...

Dave
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AmberJB

9 years ago

As to getting those kindle books done quickly - I know you don't want to hire anyone, you say you need to have your hand in it... Here's a thought: You could get someone to inexpensively transcribe your videos. Then, you have a manuscript you could fiddle with, to put your hand in... That might make the process easier/more manageable. Outsourcing works well for some.

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DRP

9 years ago

Seeing how Skillfeed is closing down on September 30, the market may be suggesting that platforms like Udemy won't last very long. Amazon on the other hand....won't be dying anytime soon.

P.S. Udemy is VIDEO and Kindle is BOOKs. I think the original OP is comparing Apples to Oranges.

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Dave Espino 9 years ago

Skillfeed bowed out because they knew they couldn't compete with Udemy and Lynda, which was recently bought by LinkedIn.

Online learning is on a massive growth trajectory and isn't going anywhere but up.

When Amazon and eBay were growing, there were many "competitors" that fell by the wayside, so the shakedown and weeding out of lesser competitors is just part of the game.

Udemy has 8 million students and growing by about a million a month.

At the end of 2015, they will have between 12 and 15 million, due to a massive push they do during the last quarter.

With about 32,000 courses to meet 12 - 15 M students' needs - I'm liking those numbers...

Dave
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seobro

9 years ago

Actually, I am on both and the crowd is not the same. That said, it is a lot easier to make money on Kindle because you are creating a text document and on udemy you are creating many mini movies. Editing video is not easy. Also, it is a lot easier to convince people to buy a 99 cent e-book than a $99 course.

Still, I try to keep my mind open. Certain subjects might do better on udemy, such as how to create movies. Also, creating free courses on udemy can give you a lot of needed exposure. Still, it is better to be on you tube and that way you get both exposure and money.

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shim333

9 years ago

Most of udemy courses sold in 10$ because udemy give you discount every 3-4 days and sell most of all courses in 10$, so is more easy to sell course in 10$ then in 99$.
Also it fast way to build your email list with udemy courses.

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drjoeel

9 years ago

I have both 6 courses on Udemy and kindle books, and I would say that Udemy is easier to create passive income with out to much marketing while the ebooks takes more marketing. I do mostly soft skills as well like relationship, happiness, finding purpose and so on. I Have found that with udemy is creatign that initial traction with a lot of free users and then it maintains sales with out little work. When I do market my courses I push those people to my platform, since udemy sends to many emails out and undervalues your work with all the discounts. I know SHim333 metioned you can build your email list but you dont get access to their emails and udemy users to me expect low cost and discounts, I have 12k students and it provides me residual income at least much more than my ebooks do.

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HelpingYouBeAnExpert

9 years ago

Udemy is harder then Kindle. But both are good platforms I think Kindle is better udemy is getting more publishers/courses in ratio to buyers and it's opposite on Kindle plus Amazon is a better owner then LinkedIN or who ever owns udemy. But you can do both, I prefer to do my own course as an upsell to kindle then give the control to udemy, but that' s me.

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Udemy vs Kindle - Pros and Cons

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