How to Sell Online Courses Without a Website

The e-learning industry is booming, and selling online courses is now one of the most profitable ways to share your expertise. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a website to start earning from your knowledge. Thanks to social media, online marketplaces, and third-party platforms, you can build an audience, market your content, and sell courses quickly—all without investing time and money into designing a website.

Whether you’re a beginner course creator or a busy professional looking for a side hustle, this guide will walk you step-by-step through how to sell online courses without a website. You’ll learn:

• The best platforms to host and sell your course
• Social media strategies to attract students
• Tools for marketing and automation
• How to scale your course sales over time

Why You Don’t Need a Website to Sell Courses

Traditionally, course creators believed a professional website was necessary to sell online courses. While a website can add credibility and branding, it’s not essential when starting out. Today’s technology offers multiple ways to create, host, and sell content with zero coding or web design skills.

Here’s why skipping the website can be an advantage:

• Faster launch time: You can upload your course and start selling within hours.
• Lower costs: No hosting, domain registration, or web design expenses.
• Built-in traffic: Some platforms, like Udemy, already have millions of students searching for courses.
• Focus on content: Instead of managing a site, you can focus on creating valuable lessons.

Best Platforms to Sell Courses Without a Website

1. Udemy

Udemy is one of the largest course marketplaces in the world with over 70 million students.

Pros:

• Free to start with no monthly fees.
• Huge built-in audience for organic discovery.
• Handles all payments and delivery automatically.

Cons:

• Higher commission fees (Udemy takes up to 50%).
• Limited branding options.

2. Skillshare

Skillshare is a subscription-based platform where students pay monthly, and instructors earn revenue based on watch time.

Best for: Creators with bite-sized, creative, or skills-based lessons.

Pros:

• No need for marketing; Skillshare has millions of subscribers.
• Great for testing course ideas quickly.

Cons:

• Earnings depend on watch time, not per-student sales.
• Limited control over pricing.

3. Teachable

Teachable lets you build a branded course landing page without needing a full website.

Pros:

• Easy drag-and-drop customization.
• One-time purchase or subscription options for students.
• Supports upsells, bundles, and coaching services.

Cons:

• Monthly fees after free trial.
• Marketing is mostly up to you.

4. Thinkific

Thinkific is similar to Teachable, offering a no-code platform with simple course hosting and sales tools.

Pros:

• Create a free course with unlimited students.
• Integrates with Stripe and PayPal for payments.
• Easy to use for beginners.

Cons:

• Some advanced features require a paid plan.

5. Gumroad

Gumroad is perfect for creators who want a simple checkout link for their course.

Pros:

• Easy to set up in minutes.
• Sell videos, PDFs, or entire courses.
• Offers both one-time and subscription payments.

Cons:

• No built-in discovery traffic like Udemy.

6. Podia

Podia is an all-in-one platform where you can sell courses, memberships, and digital products.

Pros:

• Clean, simple interface for selling courses.
• No transaction fees on paid plans.
• Easy to create a sales page without a website.

7. Kajabi

Kajabi is best for advanced creators who want full branding control but still don’t want to build a traditional site.

Pros:

• All-in-one system (courses, email marketing, landing pages).
• Great for scaling a full business.

Cons:

• Expensive for beginners ($149/month).

Social Media: Your Free Marketing Engine

If you don’t have a website, social media becomes your storefront. Here’s how to leverage each platform effectively:

1. Instagram

• Share bite-sized content from your course.
• Use Reels and Stories to engage followers.
• Link your course platform in your bio (Linktree helps manage multiple links).

2. TikTok

• Perfect for going viral with short, value-packed videos.
• Add captions and hooks like “3 mistakes to avoid in [topic].”
• Link directly to your course sales page.

3. YouTube

• Create free tutorials and direct viewers to your paid course.
• Build authority in your niche with consistent, helpful videos.

4. Facebook Groups

• Start a niche-focused group to build a community.
• Offer free tips, then promote your course as a deeper solution.

5. LinkedIn

• Ideal for professional or career-focused courses.
• Share thought-leadership content to attract students.

Build a Simple Sales Funnel (Without a Website)

You don’t need a full website to have an effective sales funnel. Here’s a minimalist funnel setup:

1. Lead Magnet: Offer a freebie (PDF guide, mini-course, checklist).
2. Email List: Use tools like ConvertKit or Mailchimp for free signups.
3. Sales Page: Host on Teachable, Gumroad, or Kajabi.
4. Checkout: Let the platform handle payments automatically.

This approach gives you the functionality of a full website without the hassle.

Pricing Your Course Without a Website

Pricing can make or break your success. Here are some strategies:

Tip: Start with a lower price to attract reviews and testimonials, then gradually increase pricing as your brand grows.

Email Marketing Without a Website

An email list is one of the most powerful tools for selling courses. You can collect emails using:

• Landing pages (ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Systeme.io).
• Social media opt-ins (Instagram Stories or TikTok links).
• Free mini-courses or guides to build trust.

Once you have a list, send:

• Educational content to nurture leads.
• Discount offers to drive sales.
• Updates on new courses for repeat customers.

Influencer Collaborations & Affiliate Marketing

If you don’t have a website, leverage other people’s audiences:

• Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your course.
• Offer affiliate commissions (10–30%) for every sale they bring in.
• Guest on podcasts and YouTube channels to gain credibility.

Success Stories: Creators Without Websites

• Fitness Trainer on Instagram: Started by posting workout tips, linked a Gumroad checkout page for her $49 fitness course, and earned $2,000 in the first month.
• Language Teacher on TikTok: Created short, viral videos teaching Spanish phrases. Linked a Skillshare class and earned passive income from watch time.
• Freelancer on LinkedIn: Used LinkedIn posts to market a writing course hosted on Teachable and grew a 6-figure business without ever making a website.

Scaling Your Course Business Without a Website

Once you’ve validated your idea, you can:

• Launch membership programs for recurring revenue.
• Bundle multiple courses together.
• Expand to platforms like Udemy for extra reach.
• Invest in paid ads for more traffic.

Pros and Cons of Selling Without a Website

Quick Action Plan

Conclusion

Selling online courses without a website is 100% possible in today’s creator economy. With platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Gumroad, you can launch your course in days—not months—while focusing on building an audience through social media and email marketing.

If you want to start earning from your knowledge quickly, skip the tech headaches, leverage ready-made tools, and get your content out to the world. Your future students are waiting—you just need to start.