Take Your Skillshare Channel to the Next Level

Looking to take your Skillshare channel to the next level? The most successful Skillshare channels are composed of classes that are loosely connected and build upon one another. Follow these 4 tips to build your Skillshare channel and grow your earnings!

1. Build Off Your Foundation Classes

If you have a class that covers the basics of a certain skill, teach a class that goes a few steps beyond. This often means assuming a level of previous knowledge and jumping right into the skill you are teaching.

Pro Tip: In the class description, be very clear that your class assumes a level of previous knowledge and take advantage of this space to direct students to other classes in your channel if appropriate. As an example: This class assumes you have a basic understanding of Photoshop, particularly how to use brushes. If you are a beginner to Photoshop, I suggest starting with my class “Mastering Photoshop”.  

2. Monitor Discussion Boards (not just your own!)

While we encourage you to use your class discussion board (as well as your other social media channels) to engage your students and ask for feedback, it can also be helpful to monitor external discussion boards as well. This could mean checking support boards on the software you use regularly, threads on Quora and Reddit, and even other Skillshare classes. What questions come up frequently? Have there been any software updates that users are having trouble navigating? Teaching a class that answers these niche questions can be a great way to create a focused and timely class.

Pro Tip: Sign up for newsletters, follow thought leaders, and attend industry events to keep your finger on the pulse. Keep a running list of ideas, questions, and problems that you see coming up and when it comes time to create your next class, you’ll already have a bevy of ideas at your fingertips.

3. Teach a Niche Class to Distinguish Your Channel  

Teaching a niche class that hones in on a very specific skill or topic can provide you with the opportunity to distinguish your class from content that already exists on Skillshare.

Pro Tip: Take a look at successful beginner classes on Skillshare and think about the class a student might want to take after that class. Teach that class!

4. How Have You Taken Your Work to the Next Level?

Think back to areas you struggled with when you first entered your field. What tips and tricks have you discovered along the way that have enabled you to become better at what you do? Teach a class centered on these tips that you have used to take your work to the next level.

Pro Tip: Reflect back on lessons you have learned in your career so far. Did you have a freelance project that ended terribly? What did you learn from that experience and how have these lessons influenced your work going forward? Have you reached the point where you no longer use the mouse when you’re in Excel? What keyboard strokes do you use that are now second nature to you but might completely change someone’s workflow?

Have specific questions about the direction to take your Skillshare channel? Reach out to us at teach@skillshare.com and we are happy to help!Build Your Skillshare Channel

Header image by Skillshare student Mor Sky from Bonnie Christine's class Intro to Surface Pattern Design: Learn Adobe Illustrator I Create Patterns