The Most Practical Guide to Get the First 10 Learners For Your Online Course
In this article
In this article
— A brutally honest, slightly funny, and research-backed guide for creators who are done waiting
✅ TL;DR (because we’re all skimming)
Getting your first 10 learners is not about ads, funnels, or launching a mega course. It’s about real people, real problems, and real conversations. Start small, validate big, and stop waiting for perfection.
Q: Why do most creators struggle to get even 10 learners?
A: Because they do everything except talk to people.
They build courses, write sales pages, hire designers, record 50 video modules… and forget the only thing that matters early on: getting a yes from actual humans.
According to Gumroad’s creator insights report, less than 5% of creators earn over $1,000 from a launch.
Why? No audience, no trust, and no strategy to build either.
Step-by-step guide to getting the first 10 learners for your online course
Step 1: Narrow your course promise like it’s a laser
“If you’re for everyone, you’re for no one.” – literally every successful marketer ever.
Instead of “Master Instagram,” go with:
👉 “Plan 30 days of Instagram content in 60 minutes — even if you’re not a ‘content person.’”
Why it works:
- It’s fast.
- It promises an outcome.
- It filters who it’s for.
💡Expert Tip:
Digital product consultant Courtney Foster-Donahue calls this your “Minimum Viable Offer” — not perfect, but punchy enough to get a yes.
Also read: 300 Profitable Online Course Ideas with Examples
Step 2: Find your “first believers” (they’re not strangers)
No cold traffic. No Instagram Reels. Not yet.
Your first learners are:
- Past clients
- Newsletter subscribers
- People who said “this sounds interesting” on a Zoom call
- Ex-colleagues who asked you for help once
- That one person who DM’d “This is exactly what I need!”
Start with them. Email. Voice note. Message. Ask:
“Hey, I’m launching a beta version of a course that helps [insert super specific result]. Would you be interested in being one of the first 10 learners?”
You’re not selling. You’re inviting.
💡From the Field:
Course coach Mariana Ruiz says your first launch should look more like a coffee chat than a campaign. Don’t scale. Connect.
Step 3: Conduct “casual research” (without sounding like a bot)
People don’t want surveys. They want to talk.
Start DM convos. Ask:
- “What’s your biggest struggle with X?”
- “Have you tried fixing it? What worked?”
- “If a magic wand solved it, what would that look like?”
This gives you:
- Exact words for your course sales page
- Real validation
- Possible students (because now they’re invested)
💡Pro Insight:
Marketing legend Rob Fitzpatrick calls this “The Mom Test.” If your audience can explain their problem better than you, they’re ready to buy your solution.
Step 4: Create a “no-brainer” beta offer
Now that you know what people want, don’t build a full course. Build:
- A workshop
- A 3-week sprint
- A cohort
- A Google Doc with Looms (yes, really)
Keep it lean. Charge something (yes, even $50).
Why charge? Because free = flaky.
A paid beta validates that your offer has legs.
💡Research says:
According to Teachable’s 2023 Creator Trends Report, courses with a beta cohort first had 32% higher success rates when scaled.
Step 5: Personally onboard your first 10 learners
Don’t just send a link. Make it human.
“Hey! So glad you’re in. This is gonna be fun. Quick note: I’ll guide you personally, so feel free to ping me any time.”
Add:
- Personalized welcome email
- Invite to a private WhatsApp/Slack/Notion board
- Weekly check-in
These 10 people = your founding members. Treat them like gold.
💡Coach wisdom:
Creator consultant Justin Welsh calls this “success scaffolding.” Help them win, then show the world what winning looks like.
Step 6: Document the journey in public
While you’re running your beta, start sharing the story. Not the sale. The story.
What to post:
- “Helping 10 creators plan their first content calendar this week — loving the feedback!”
- “One of my students just got 1,000 views on their first Reel — wild.”
This builds what marketers call “strategic transparency.”
You’re not selling — you’re showing the value in action.
💡Podcaster gold:
From Jay Clouse’s Creator Science: people don’t buy outcomes, they buy involvement. Sharing the messy middle makes you relatable and credible.
Step 7: Use their wins to fuel your next 100
Once your 10 learners go through the beta, don’t ghost them.
Ask:
- “What’s one thing that surprised you?”
- “Would you recommend this to a friend?”
- “Can I quote that for my site?”
Use:
- Screenshots
- Testimonials
- Before-after metrics
- Casual wins in DMs
Then, update your landing page to say:
“10 creators used this to [specific outcome] — here’s what they said.”
That’s proof. The kind algorithms and humans both trust.
FAQ Section
Q. Can I launch a course with no email list?
A: Yes — if you have a phone and Wi-Fi, you have a list. It’s your DMs, LinkedIn contacts, Zoom logs, and WhatsApp groups.
Q. Should I launch a full course or a beta?
A: Beta, 100%. Start small, learn fast. Then scale with confidence.
Q. What if I hate selling?
A: Don’t “sell.” Invite. Guide. Share. Selling becomes easier when your offer is genuinely helpful and tested.
Q. Do I need a website to start?
A: Nope. You can use Notion, Gumroad, Google Docs, or even a PDF and Looms. Keep it scrappy.
Q. How long does it take to get the first 10?
A: If you follow the human-first approach: 7–10 days. If you wait until everything’s perfect: 7–10 months (and therapy).
Your Launch Checklist: First 10 Learners Edition
✅ Define a crystal-clear course outcome
✅ Talk to 15–20 people who match your learner profile
✅ Pitch a beta version — lean, live, or cohort-based
✅ Onboard with warmth and check-ins
✅ Document learner wins publicly
✅ Use feedback and testimonials to update your offer
✅ Prepare to scale with a validated course + real proof
Final Thoughts
Your first 10 learners are not numbers. They’re people.
People who trusted you before the polish. Who said yes to the messy version.
Get those first 10 right — and you’ve got the foundation to build anything.
Remember:
Courses don’t grow from content.
They grow from conversations.
Now go talk to someone.
