You don’t need more encouragement. You need evidence.
Find out whether people will actually pay for your course.
The free Course Validation Check shows what’s already validated, what’s still an assumption, and what to test before you build more.
Takes about five minutes. No email required to see where you stand.
From a course creator who used the check
“The results were impressive. They gave me an idea of the loopholes and what needs to be worked on. You’ve built such a wonderful resource for every coursemaker.”
Does this sound familiar?
- “People tell me they love the idea.”
- “My poll got a lot of yeses.”
- “I know the problem exists.”
- “But I still don’t know if anyone will pay.”
That gap, between liking an idea and paying for it, is exactly what this check is designed to separate.
What the check looks at
Validation gets stronger as the commitment gets real.
Each kind of course validation asks more of the people you’re testing with. You don’t need all five. The check asks where you are first, then tests only the steps that fit.
- 01Conversation People already spending time or money on the problem.
- 02Survey Clear groups of people, described in their own words.
- 03Presell A waitlist or founding round that fills before the course exists.
- 04Live Build A paying group whose feedback shapes what gets taught.
- 05Paid Pilot People who pay, and then finish.
Why this check is different
A promising answer from AI is not proof that people will buy.
AI can help you organize research, explore an audience, and think through an idea. But it cannot create the evidence that validates a course. That evidence has to come from real people and real behavior.
The Course Validation Check looks for signs of increasing commitment: people already spending time or money on the problem, clear patterns in what they say, meaningful waitlist or presale activity, paying students, and completion.
The Course Validation Check
Can you trust the evidence you have, or are you still guessing?
One question at a time. Your result appears on screen as soon as you finish.
About course validation
What this check looks for
A poll, a compliment, or “I would totally buy that” can sound like validation. But there is a big difference between someone liking an idea and someone taking a real step toward buying it.
That does not mean your course is a bad idea. It may simply mean you do not have enough proof yet.
I look for that proof in five places: real conversations, surveys, presales, live builds, and paid pilots. You do not need to do all five. You need to know which kind of course validation fits where you are right now.
Want a clearer picture first? Read how to validate your course idea before you build it.
How much proof do I actually need before I build this?
It depends on where you are. Someone with no email list yet needs different proof than someone with an established one, and a smaller, lower-priced offer needs less than a course you plan to sell for years. The check asks about your list and your offer first, then tests only the evidence that fits.
People said they’d buy it. Doesn’t that count?
It counts as interest. It becomes evidence when people act: they’re already spending time or money on the problem, they join a waitlist after a real push, or they pay before the course exists. The check compares what you have against a benchmark for each kind of evidence.
I’ve already started building. Is it too late?
No. You can still test before you finish, or run a paid pilot with a small group before you open it to everyone. If the course is already built and launched but not selling, the Course Business Diagnostic below is the better fit.
Can AI validate my course idea?
AI can help you research a market, organize what you learn, and identify questions worth testing. But it cannot prove that real people will pay. Validation comes from behavior: people spending time or money on the problem, joining a meaningful presale or waitlist, paying for a pilot, and completing what they purchased. This check helps you evaluate those signals instead of relying on an AI opinion.
Course already built and not selling? The free Course Business Diagnostic finds where your course business is breaking down.
Already teaching this?
The question changes when you already have the material.
If you deliver this through your services and already have materials, an audience, or a waitlist, you have more to work with than someone starting cold. The question is no longer “does anyone want this?” It’s “which audience, which angle, and which format will they buy?”
Demand for your one-to-one help is a strong clue. It is not proof people will buy a self-paced version. The check helps you see which of those you have actually tested.
I already have content and a waitlist. Is this still for me?
Yes. Content and a waitlist are real assets. The check looks at what the waitlist actually tells you: how it filled, who is on it, and whether anyone has committed money yet. That shows you what is proven and what is still an assumption about the course you plan to sell.
