You wouldn’t believe it, but by posting short videos on TikTok sharing Microsoft Excel tips and tricks, I gained nearly 1 million followers in just one year, and I’m earning $2 million annually by selling Excel tutorials through knowledge monetization.
Today, I’m going to share with you a case study featuring Kat Norton.
Initially, Kat Norton might have started just out of passion, sharing short tips and tricks about Excel on TikTok, but to her surprise, her videos garnered millions of views, and then…
She tried sharing more videos, and within a few weeks, she gained over 100,000 followers.
After consistently sharing for 5 weeks, she launched an online course about Excel, and within just two months, her course sales reached an astonishing six-figure sum.
In the span of a year, working only 3-4 hours a day, solely through knowledge monetization, she earned over $2 million.
It must be said, selling tutorials online is a highly lucrative business.
And it’s not just Excel; there are various software programs on the internet that can be monetized through knowledge sharing in a similar manner.
You might wonder why, despite the abundance of free tutorials online, many people are still willing to pay for knowledge?
The answer is simple, for two reasons:
- They want to save time (by shortening the learning curve and avoiding a plethora of useless information)
- They want specific results (e.g., professionals in a particular industry aiming to achieve a specific outcome through AI)
Now, let me break down the entire project process for you.
Contents
Step One: Choose a Software
Kat initially chose Microsoft Excel for her video tutorials because she was familiar with it from her job.
She later expanded her course offerings to include Google Sheets, PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, etc., essentially covering the entire Microsoft Office suite.
Apart from these, there are many other software options to consider, such as:
- Adobe software (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, etc.)
- Jasper (AI writing/marketing assistant)
- Helium 10 (Amazon/KDP keyword + sales volume research)
- ConvertKit (email marketing/newsletter/selling digital products)
- Deadline Funnel (limited-time offers/building sales funnels)
- PlayHT (AI voiceovers that sound human-like)
- Canva (graphic design)
- Fliki (AI video production)
- HeyGen (YouTube/social media realistic AI avatars)
- VidIQ (YouTube keyword/trend research)
- BookBolt (low content book creators)
However, it’s important to note that software like Excel and Photoshop have a large user base, meaning there’s significant potential for course sales. But with high sales potential comes fierce market competition.
So, if you’re a beginner, it might be advisable to start with software that has a smaller user base. While the market might be smaller, there will also be fewer competitors.
Remember, it’s not just about the size of the user market; it’s about how many users you can attract within that market. Even if the market is large, if you can’t attract customers, it’s futile.
For example, Jasper, ConvertKit, HeyGen, Helium 10 (and other software listed above) are emerging but increasingly popular options.
Step Two: What If You Don’t Have Paid Courses?
Many people may wonder, “I don’t even know how to use these software myself, so how can I create paid courses to teach others?”
The answer is simple:
During your learning phase of using these software, you can earn initial profits by referring paid users to these software.
Most software programs have affiliate marketing programs, usually accessible at the bottom of the website or within your account after registration.
For example, let’s consider Canva’s official website:
Upon searching at the bottom, I didn’t find an affiliate entry point, so I registered an account. Upon accessing the backend of the website, I found the “refer friends” menu, which provided me with a referral link:
However, upon reviewing Canva’s terms, I discovered that Canva affiliates can only earn virtual tokens, which cannot be withdrawn but can be used to purchase premium elements such as images, illustrations, icons, and music.
But many other software programs offer direct cash commissions for referred subscribers, which can be withdrawn.
For instance, ConvertKit offers direct paid referrals.
By visiting the official website and scrolling to the bottom, you can find the “paid recommendations” section, where you can view the commission structure:
As shown, for every ConvertKit subscriber you refer, you can earn a commission ranging from $2 to $20, depending on the subscriber’s payment plan. The higher the subscriber’s payment, the higher your commission.
At this stage, choose software that offers lucrative referral commissions as the focus of your content.
Note: Most social media platforms allow you to include affiliate links directly in your content or descriptions.
Step Three: Earn Money While Learning
While you’re learning to use software, you can record your screen and solve problems in real-time as you go through the learning process.
Since your learning process will likely be intermittent, you can simply edit out the less smooth parts.
Then, upload these videos to your chosen social platform. We generally recommend YouTube or TikTok, as they are both high-traffic video-based social platforms.
Next, you can include your referral links in the video descriptions, as shown below:
As long as users subscribe to the software through your referral link, you can earn referral commissions.
Unlike earning revenue based on video views, the difference here is that:
These types of videos don’t require a large number of views or subscribers to make money because the users watching your videos are highly targeted.
Even if a video only has tens or hundreds of views, it can still generate revenue for you.
Step Four: Create and Sell Your Own Paid Courses
Creating the course itself is relatively straightforward. You’ll need to outline your course, create PowerPoint presentations, and then record instructional videos according to the outline.
When it comes to selling your course, there are two main approaches:
- Building Your Own Blog/Website: You can directly sell your courses on your own blog or website.
- Using Third-Party Platforms: Alternatively, you can leverage third-party platforms to sell your courses. Examples include:
- Teachable and Thinkific: These software tools make it incredibly easy to create and sell online courses. These platforms allow you to upload course content, set up quizzes, design sales pages, and configure payment methods. Teachable even allows you to offer one-on-one coaching as part of your course. Their pricing is relatively affordable, ranging from $39 to $199 per month. If you’re hesitant about these costs initially, Teachable offers a free trial plan that allows you to sell one course for free for 30 days.
- Udemy and Skillshare: Platforms like Udemy and Skillshare also provide opportunities for course creators to sell their courses.
These platforms offer a ready-made audience and infrastructure, making it easier to reach potential customers. However, they may also charge fees or have specific requirements for course approval. Choose the platform that best fits your needs and goals.
