Today, creators are actively competing to establish credibility, while viewers are seeking accessible information, and the Free Course Video trend satisfies both needs.
This trend has become one of the most powerful ways for creators and entrepreneurs to connect with their audience and establish authority within their niche.
Free Course Videos are a subcategory of educational content primarily on YouTube. Such videos are usually long-form – they give the audience a comprehensive and actionable course on a niche-related subject for free.
On YouTube, long-form videos and playlists can resemble traditional online courses, but for free. This is a huge advantage, as people can track their progress and see what videos they’ve already watched, even though it requires a tiny bit of manual effort.
The Free Course Video trend mostly relates to the info-product industry and SaaS; however, you can get creative and apply it to tangible niches like e-commerce.
Why Are Free Course Videos Trending?
There are various reasons why the free course videos are trending:
- Creator Audience and Authority Building: Offering valuable information and advice for free is a powerful marketing strategy that allows creators to establish themselves as experts and build credibility, trust, and a vast loyal audience.
- Free Value For Viewers: Accessible, high-quality educational content is desirable for today’s audience. It allows people to explore new interests, develop skills, and advance their professional and personal development at their own pace and without a financial commitment (unless they’re paying for YouTube Premium).
- YouTube’s Algorithm Likes It: This trend’s long-form format puts you in the good graces of YouTube’s algorithm, as it increases overall watch time. The extended engagement helps boost the visibility of the creator’s channel.
- Monetization Opportunities: Though the courses and information offered are free, they are a powerful marketing tool for creators. Free course videos help establish authority, which fosters a loyal, trusting audience.
A loyal audience is likelier to engage with additional monetization avenues, such as affiliate links, premium content, consulting, and/or coaching.
Note: While free course videos are primarily trending on YouTube among creators, some big companies have also participated in the trend using their own platforms, too.
For example, HubSpot Academy provides free courses on marketing, customer service, and sales, complete with credible certifications.
Adobe has a YouTube channel, where you can find an extensive collection of free tutorials on its creative suite products, such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Google provides a library of free courses ranging from fundamentals to machine learning. You can find the courses in Grow with Google.
Free Course Videos: Your Guide To Riding The Trend
Here is a step-by-step guide and actionable advice on how you can participate in the Free Course Video trend.
Part 1: Foundation & Content Creation
This part is about planning and creating content conditioned for social media success.
Step 1: Identify a High-Demand Topic Within Your Niche
Your topic of choice has to be a balanced combination of what you’re passionate about, what you know, and what is in demand.
Write out your interests, passions, skills, and areas of expertise. Use this list to decide what you can teach confidently.
Conduct research by scrolling on YouTube or using free tools like Google Trends to identify what people are currently searching for. Notice rising trends and FAQs.
Look for similarities between your original search and results. Notice specific keywords, keyphrases, and topics related to your niche. For example, instead of Graphic Design, people might be searching for something specific like “Create a logo on Canva for a small business”.
If you have a Google Ads account, use the Keyword Planner tool to research your chosen topic to determine whether it is in demand. Notice similar keywords and keyphrases with good reach.
Step 2: Structure Your Course
The structure of your YouTube course is critical for engagement. Remember, YouTube’s algorithm appreciates and rewards watchtime and session time, so ensure that your course is binge-worthy.
Your overall course structure should encourage people to watch one video after another, almost non-stop.
Tip: Create a 5-10 video playlist. Each video should be one actionable lesson, about 8-20 minutes long. This is enough time to go in-depth and for YouTube to place mid-roll ads, which boost algorithmic favor.
Structure each video like this:
- Hook (First 30 Seconds): State what your audience should expect from this particular video and briefly mention what the full course (playlist) is about.
- Value (The Core Lesson): Deliver your main content. Ensure it has a logical flow, clear graphics, and screen recordings if appropriate.
- CTA and Teaser: Use a verbal CTA at the end of each video. For example, you can say, “In the next video, we’ll cover XYZ. Click here to watch now.”
Step 3: Film and Edit Your Course For Viewer Retention
Ensure the quality of your video keeps viewers engaged. Film in landscape mode, using the 16:9 horizontal format for the standard YouTube player.
Ensure the quality of your audio is pristine. Viewers are much more forgiving of mediocre video quality than audio quality. Use an external mic for clear sound.
When editing your videos, keep them visually interesting and not mundane. Use zooms, text overlays, sound effects (where appropriate), and relevant B-roll footage to help retain viewer engagement.
Brand your videos by creating a simple intro and outro that stays consistent in all your videos.
Part 2: Optimization, Publishing & Promotion
This part is about ensuring your free course video gets discovered by your TA and inspiring them to watch the entire playlist.
Step 1: Optimize Each Video for YouTube SEO
YouTube speaks the search engine language; therefore, it needs the right verbiage and signals to recommend your videos to the right people.
Your titles must be compelling, specific, and keyword-rich. For example: “Canva for Beginners: Getting To Know The Platform”.
Add strategic thumbnails. The thumbnail may catch your audience’s attention faster than the title, so don’t forget to create one.
Your video descriptions should be detailed, almost like a mini-blog. They should contain your main keywords and keyphrases, related search words, a summary of your video, and applicable links, like links to other videos in the playlist or your affiliate links.
Step 2: Create a Strategic Publishing Plan
Upload and organize your videos to compile into a cohesive course.
Create a new playlist on your channel first. Create a simple, clear, keyword-rich title and description in the YouTube Studio’s settings. This will tell YouTube that the videos are meant to be watched in a specific order.
Upload your videos and schedule them to be released daily. This will help build momentum and audience anticipation.
Step 3: Engage and Amplify Your Series
Engagement from you is just as important as engagement from your audience.
Post a comment to each of your videos, linking to the full course playlist, and pin it to the top.
Promote your playlist on platforms outside of YouTube – share the link to the full playlist in your community (if you have one), on your social media platforms, in email newsletters, and in relevant online communities like Reddit.
If or when you get comments, engage and respond to them! This will help build even more credibility among your audience.
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