How to Build an Online Course in LearnWorlds from Scratch (Step-by-Step)

learnworlds

Designing and selling an online course today is easier than ever—if you have the right tools and a clear system. In this blog post (and in the video embedded above and linked here), I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I build and launch online courses using LearnWorlds, my favorite eLearning platform for building and selling online courses, eLearning programs, and learning experiences. Whether you're a course creator, an educator, or an entrepreneur wanting to monetize your expertise, LearnWorlds gives you a full toolkit to build, sell, and deliver immersive learning experiences.

What I share below is more than just a walkthrough—it's the exact framework I use to turn an idea into a ready-to-sell online course. This includes using LearnWorlds' AI assistant, integrating interactive video and SCORM files, and customizing everything from sales pages to onboarding emails. And the best part? You can grab your 30-day free trial and bonus online course so you can follow along and get everything setup so you can start serving your learners as soon as possible.

Getting Started: Why LearnWorlds?

I’ve used several LMS, LXP and BMS platforms, but when it comes to selling customer-facing courses with SCORM and HTML5 capabilities, LearnWorlds is in a league of its own. It offers native support for SCORM and interactive video, a powerful course builder with AI assistance, and a fully customizable sales page editor. Unlike internal-facing LMS platforms designed for corporate training, LearnWorlds is built specifically for course creators who want to scale their offerings and build community with learners.

The moment you open up LearnWorlds, you can feel its potential. With just a few clicks, you can start creating a new course. You enter your course title, upload a cover image (I use Canva for this), and then you begin structuring the learner journey from start to finish. And yes, LearnWorlds even auto-generates a "Coming Soon" page if you’re not ready to launch, which is a brilliant way to build anticipation.

For a full step-by-step walkthrough of how to get everything setup for your online courses and learning experiences with LearnWorlds, I highly recommend that you watch the YouTube video embedded above and linked here.

Letting AI Do the Heavy Lifting

LearnWorlds features an AI-powered assistant that helps you outline your entire course. This is a huge time-saver, especially if you're staring at a blank page. I simply filled in key details like the course title, a few topics I wanted covered, and the number of sections and activities. For example, I built a course called “LMS Mastery” for advanced users who want to customize and scale their learning platforms. I entered five to six topics and asked the AI to fill in the rest.

The result? A structured outline with milestones (called “sections” in LearnWorlds) and specific activities for each. You can customize these further, delete suggestions you don’t like, or add your own. While the AI won’t write your course content for you, it’s like having a curriculum strategist helping you blueprint a rich learning journey. And that’s just the start.

Building the Course Structure

Once the outline is generated, I dive into the builder. This is where you add your learning modules—videos, PDFs, quizzes, SCORM files, and more. Each section represents a key milestone in the learner’s transformation, and each activity moves them closer to that goal.

You don’t need to write this out in a separate Google Doc first—LearnWorlds becomes your living, breathing course map. You can even reuse sections from existing courses if you’ve built content previously, which saves an enormous amount of time. And with drag-and-drop functionality, building and updating is refreshingly intuitive.

Going Deeper with Interactive Content

If there’s one feature that sets LearnWorlds apart, it’s interactive video. I can upload videos directly or pull them from Vimeo and then overlay quizzes, clickable buttons, links, or even navigation jump points. This turns passive watching into active learning, giving students a more engaging and personalized experience.

Interactive video is particularly useful for coaching-style courses or when you want to build in reflective exercises. You can ask learners to respond with their thoughts, guide them to other modules, or direct them to bonus content. For those of you considering alternatives, Kajabi doesn’t support SCORM or interactive video natively. That’s one reason many of my clients choose LearnWorlds over other platforms.

SCORM and External Tools Integration

For more advanced eLearning professionals, SCORM integration is non-negotiable. LearnWorlds accepts SCORM 1.2, 2004 (third and fourth editions), and Captivate CAM 1.3 packages. I personally use Articulate Rise 360 for creating SCORM content, but you can use any authoring tool that exports in the correct format. After exporting, you simply upload the zip file into LearnWorlds, and it’s embedded right into your course.

If you're on a tighter budget or want to experiment before investing in Articulate, check out TalentLMS and its free TalentCraft authoring tool. While it can’t export SCORM yet, it’s a solid place to get your feet wet before committing.

Customizing the Learner Experience

Once your content is in place, it’s time to customize. I like to tailor the look and feel of the course player to match the brand and mood of the course. LearnWorlds offers multiple player layouts—classic, minimal, and more—and lets you control everything from navigation to section visibility.

You can also set drip content rules to control how and when learners access different parts of the course. Dripping by day or date helps pace learners through the material and keeps them coming back, which boosts completion rates.

Automations, Emails, and Analytics

To scale your course without constant oversight, you need automation. LearnWorlds lets you trigger actions based on learner behavior—like welcoming them with an email when they enroll, awarding bonus content after course completion, or re-engaging them if they go inactive.

The email editor is robust, and I always encourage course creators to customize their onboarding emails. This is your first impression after a purchase, and it sets the tone. I typically include a warm welcome, next steps, and a contact link in case they run into any issues. This simple personalization helps reduce refunds and increases satisfaction.

On the backend, LearnWorlds offers detailed analytics and insights. I can see who’s enrolled, who’s completed what, how exams are performing, and what certificates have been issued. This data helps me continuously improve my content and better support my learners.

Building a High-Converting Sales Page

A well-designed sales page can make or break your course. Thankfully, LearnWorlds has a drag-and-drop editor that’s just as powerful as most landing page platforms. I can embed videos, testimonials, countdown timers, FAQ sections, and multiple CTAs—all while matching my brand colors and fonts.

Better still, I can A/B test layouts or let LearnWorlds’ AI polish my copy for clarity and tone. Every section of the page is editable, and I can even pull in dynamic content directly from the course itself. The result? A fully integrated marketing experience that feels seamless for the learner and streamlined for me.

Final Thoughts: Try It for Yourself

The journey from idea to online course can feel overwhelming—but with LearnWorlds, it becomes a structured, supported, and even enjoyable process. Whether you're a first-time course creator or a seasoned learning designer, the platform gives you every tool you need to succeed.

I encourage you to grab your 30-day free trial of LearnWorlds and free bonus online course here. Follow the steps I’ve outlined here, and by the end of the month, you could have a course fully built, a sales page live, and your first learners enrolled.

No more waiting. It’s time to build your course—and your business—the smart way.

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