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How to teach online without showing your face or being on camera (Youtube/online courses)

Because teaching online should be about what you know, not how you look.

Not everyone is comfortable being on camera.

It’s a real fear, especially in the world that we live in today where everything is visual.

For all our introverts out there or creators who just want to keep some things private, there are other ways to teach online without having to hit the record button on your Canon G7.

1. Explainer videos

(Also known as just get creative on youtube or any video platform) Talk about how to do something or break down a concept via other visual elements.

Do some whiteboarding like those Draw my Life videos, or illustrate comic book page style like many storytime sketches.

You could simply narrate and just flash a collection of videos, pictures, and memes. Or if you're really creative- animate your video with some motion graphics, or even stop motion!

It may take a little more time (or a huge chunk of time if you animate) to produce video content though, so if you've got a busy 9-5 or just barely any spare time on your hands, this might not be the best fit.

2. Podcasts

This is a skyrocketing space right now, since it's one of the easiest, simplest and fastest ways to teach and share content, and just be totally genuine.

You could create a podcast about absolutely anything under the sun, and can totally ramble on and nerd out about certain topics. Here's one about the wonderful world of insects.

Only issue is, you'll need around 50k episodic listeners to get sponsored or make revenue.

3. Audio newsletters

This could be a unique way to teach online without showing your face. The Hustle, a popular newsletter about business and tech, released their first audio version newsletter a couple of days ago.

Not a lot of creators are doing it yet so it would be good to hop on it. However, it is a free resource.

4. Audio courses

An audio course (or "series”) is a great way to monetize your podcast, and breaks that wall between podcasting and monetizing.

Think of it as a premium podcast. No longer will you get stray $2 donations here and there on Patreon. If they like you, they gotta pay to hear from you.
If you took 10+ years to learn about your passion, shouldn’t you charge for it?
Not to mention, you'll only have to record once, and earn forever.

It’s also super:
Quick - much easier than editing an 8hr video (ok more like 8 videos, 1 hr each)
Low cost - recording on the voice notes on your iPhone is good enough

5. Information products (E-books, ppts, etc.)

If you’re good at writing, you can sell ebooks!
There are many creators on Gumroad that sell their written guides online. They don't have to be long either. Ariel Adams had gone from 0 to 100k followers, wrote and sold a guide for that, and made 14k at her peak within a week.

However, writing is still the hardest way to share what you know which is why most people don’t just go ahead and publish a book.

6. Blogging

It’s classic. Everyone (used) to have one. But blogging isn’t dead: when you search a question on Google, what comes up as an answer is a blog post.

Now people use it to boost SEO or drive traffic to their website, along with clever keywording. But take blogs as a great way to teach something online.

You could use a step by step guide with explanations and pictures. They're also great for building credibility so people trust you more once you start teaching online.

In short, it’s all about choosing which medium is best fit for you and your audience.

We've got a more in-depth explanation for these on our blog, as well as an audio recording if you wanna listen podcast style!

If you want to learn more about creating an audio course/ audio series, check us out at AVID.fm

Happy creating!

  1. 1

    most tech related courses I take typically have a screen capture with a voiceover. they usually have one intro video that shows the instructor and then the rest of the course is just screen capture

    1. 1

      Funnily enough, I learned to code through audio. There are plenty of ways to do it but I guess I just wanted to show first time creators that showing your face isn't the only way to create great online courses/vid content. This is good insight, thank you!

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