As you can probably guess from the title, I’m taking aim at online courses today.
I’m not saying online learning is a bad thing.
Online learning has its place and is a great way to democratise education. (Although let’s not pretend for one second that making education available online for free is really leveling the playing field.)
But there’s a common misconception that you need to take these courses before you can freelance. Like they offer some kind of magic formula.
And this simply isn’t true.
If anything, an online course can make things a lot more complicated than they need to be.
Running a business is a lot like swimming.
You can sit on the side of the pool watching YouTube videos to learn how to move your arms and legs. You can learn how to time your breathing.
But if you really want to learn how to swim, you have to get wet. There’s no avoiding this. Until you’ve thrashed around in the deep end, you only have a theoretical knowledge about how to swim.
And the same goes for running a business.
You can hash out your freelance business plan. Get your website looking awesome. Even perfect your sales scripts.
But until you’ve actually landed your first client, delivered a piece of work and got paid for it, it’s all just theoretical. You’re just sitting on the side of the pool, flailing.
Why are online courses bad for freelancers?
I firmly believe that freelancers should learn from their own experiences. If you truly have no idea what freelancing is and how you can make money from it, you should probably start with a few free blog posts.
And if you want to know how to scale your business, you might benefit from some business coaching.
But online courses rarely offer what you need.
Running a business isn’t easy. And no one is going to wave a magic wand and make you a better business person. Ambition is a great thing. But it isn’t something that can be outsourced.
What’s worse is that people are actually profiting from this surplus of ambition. Things that should really be accessible for free are being monetised.
A common thread that runs between all of these course operators is that they’re making a lot of money. But they aren’t making money running the kind of business you or I run, they’re making money selling online courses.
Those who can’t do, teach.
How to spot a scam course
First things first, I’m not saying all online courses are scams. I know some amazing people who have managed to package up their knowledge and sell it back to people in a way that delivers incredible value. But not all courses are created equal.
I have a very specific issue with a certain kind of online course.
The marketing always looks the same.
“Want my life? You could achieve this for your business for the one time fee of $399.”
The course seller usually lives on a beach. Or in a mansion. They drive a fancy SUV. They have darling children. They have it all. And you could have it for just $399. They work 3 hours a week. They’re always planning their next holiday. Sounds tempting, right?
It might sound like a lot of money, but then you start to rationalise it. They’re promising instant results and a 6 figure income. So it’s pennies in the long run.
These people literally always have the same story.
“I started a business and it failed. So then I put these processes in place and now I’m earning buckets.”
I don’t doubt that processes are great for your business.
But processes need structure.
You need a reason to bash out 50 blog posts and 20 podcasts a month plus the daily emails and a bajillion social media posts.
The person selling you the course didn’t make a 6 figure income from the thing they say they’re really good at. They made a 6 figure income from selling people like you a course.
Which courses are actually worth it?
Some courses are great for getting to grips with the basics and giving you the confidence you need to move forward. Sometimes it’s not so much about gaining the knowledge, but confirming to yourself that you already have the knowledge, so you can sell this with confidence.
Take the course if…
✅ You need a structured way to learn the basics and don’t know where to start.
✅ The course is created by someone with real experience in your field, not just someone selling a lifestyle.
✅ You want accountability and a clear roadmap to follow.
✅ You can afford it without feeling pressured or desperate for a “quick fix.”
Skip the course if…
❌ You’re hoping it will be a shortcut to success. (Spoiler: there are no shortcuts.)
❌ The main selling point is “how much money you can make” rather than the actual skills or knowledge provided.
❌ You’re using it as a way to delay actually starting your freelance business.
❌ The person selling the course makes all their money from selling courses – not from doing the thing they’re teaching.
