The Uncomfortable Truth About Your Course
Here's something nobody wants to hear.
The course you worked so hard to create? It's aging.
Maybe slowly. Maybe quickly. But every piece of content has a shelf life.
Tools change. Best practices evolve. Screenshots become outdated. What was cutting-edge becomes common knowledge.
And if your course feels stale, sales will suffer.
But here's the good news: updating your course doesn't mean starting over. With the right approach, you can keep your content fresh without burning out.
Signs Your Course Needs an Update
Not sure if it's time? Here are the warning signs:
1. Students Are Asking About Changes
"Is this still accurate?" "The interface looks different now..." "What's the latest version?"
When students have to ask, they're already losing confidence.
2. Completion Rates Are Dropping
Students might be abandoning the course because content feels irrelevant.
3. Refund Requests Mention "Outdated"
If refund reasons include "this seemed old" or "not current," you have a problem.
4. Tools or Platforms Have Changed Significantly
If you teach software and the interface has changed, your screenshots and tutorials are wrong.
5. Industry Standards Have Evolved
What was best practice two years ago might not be today.
6. You've Learned Better Methods
Your own skills have grown. You know better ways now.
7. You Cringe When You Rewatch
If you can't stand watching your own content, neither can your students.
The Update Spectrum
Not all updates are created equal. Here's the spectrum:
Quick Fixes (1–2 hours)
- Fixing typos or errors
- Adding a note about an interface change
- Updating links that have broken
- Adding a short disclaimer
Light Refresh (1 day)
- Updating screenshots
- Recording one or two replacement lessons
- Adding a new bonus resource
- Refreshing the sales page
Module Update (1 week)
- Re-recording an entire module
- Adding new lessons on emerging topics
- Restructuring a confusing section
- Updating all downloadable resources
Full Course 2.0 (1–3 months)
- Comprehensive re-recording
- New course structure
- Updated positioning and marketing
- Potentially new pricing
Match the update level to the actual need.
How to Audit Your Course
Before updating, understand what actually needs work.
Step 1: Watch Your Own Course
Yes, really. Go through it as a student would.
Take notes on:
- What feels outdated?
- What's confusing?
- What's missing?
- What's unnecessarily long?
Step 2: Review Student Feedback
Pull together:
- Common questions from support
- Survey responses
- Community discussions
- Refund reasons
Patterns will emerge.
Step 3: Check the Competitive Landscape
What are competitors teaching that you're not?
Are there new tools or techniques you should cover?
Step 4: Create a Priority List
Rank issues by:
- Impact on student results
- Number of students affected
- Effort to fix
Focus on high-impact, high-frequency issues first.
The Efficient Update Workflow
Principle 1: Don't Re-Record What's Still Good
If a lesson is still accurate and well-taught, leave it alone.
Only update what needs updating.
Principle 2: Use Additive Updates When Possible
Instead of re-recording, consider:
- Adding a new lesson ("Here's the 2026 update...")
- Including a text note or PDF addendum
- Recording a short video introduction explaining changes
This preserves your original work while staying current.
Principle 3: Batch Similar Updates
If you need new screenshots, capture all of them in one session.
If you're re-recording, do all the filming in one day.
Batching is more efficient than scattered updates.
Principle 4: Version Your Content
Keep your old versions archived. You might need to reference them or roll back.
Label clearly: "Module 3 v1 (2024)" vs "Module 3 v2 (2026)"
What to Do When Tools Change
Tool-based courses are most vulnerable to becoming outdated.
Option 1: The Disclaimer Approach
Add a note at the start: "This course was recorded in [date]. The core concepts still apply, but the interface may look slightly different."
Works for minor changes.
Option 2: The Addendum Lesson
Record a single new lesson: "What's changed in [Tool] and how to navigate the new interface."
Place it at the beginning of the relevant module.
Option 3: The Full Re-Record
For major tool overhauls, you may need to re-record entire sections.
Consider whether the tool is worth it—sometimes switching to a more stable tool is smarter.
Option 4: Teach Principles, Not Buttons
Long-term, design your course around principles that transcend specific interfaces.
"Here's HOW to think about organizing your files" lasts longer than "Click here, then here."
Communicating Updates to Students
When you update, let people know.
For Existing Students
Send an email:
- "Good news! Your course just got better."
- Explain what's new
- Encourage them to revisit the updated content
This re-engages students and generates goodwill.
For Your Sales Page
Update your "last updated" date.
Consider adding: "Regularly updated to reflect the latest in [topic]."
This addresses the "is it current?" concern before it arises.
For New Buyers
Mention in your marketing that the course is maintained and updated.
"This isn't a course that was created once and forgotten. It evolves with the industry."
The Annual Review Rhythm
Instead of waiting for problems, build updates into your schedule.
Quarterly: Quick Checks
- Review student questions and feedback
- Check for broken links or outdated references
- Add quick notes if needed
Annually: Deep Audit
- Watch the full course
- Compare to current best practices
- Plan and execute significant updates
Every 2–3 Years: Consider a Full Refresh
At some point, a "Course 2.0" may be warranted—especially if your approach has evolved significantly.
When to Create a New Course vs. Update the Old One
Sometimes updating isn't the right answer.
Update the Existing Course When:
- The core framework is still sound
- Updates are incremental improvements
- Students expect continuity
- You don't want to manage two products
Create a New Course When:
- Your approach has fundamentally changed
- The topic has evolved significantly
- You want to charge more for new students
- The old course has too much technical debt
Hybrid approach: Keep the old course for existing students. Create "2.0" as a new product with updated pricing.
Pricing After Updates
For Minor Updates
No price change needed. It's just maintenance.
For Major Updates
You can:
- Raise the price (justified by added value)
- Offer existing students free access to updates
- Create an "upgrade" tier for old students
For Full 2.0 Versions
Often sold as a new product at a higher price.
Offer existing students a discount or free upgrade as a loyalty reward.
The "Evergreen" Mindset
The goal is to build a course that stays relevant with minimal ongoing effort.
Design for Longevity
- Teach principles, not just procedures
- Use tool-agnostic language where possible
- Avoid referencing specific dates or versions unnecessarily
- Build modular content that's easy to swap out
Create an Update-Friendly Structure
- Short, focused lessons are easier to replace than 30-minute lectures
- Separate "tool demo" lessons from "concept" lessons
- Keep downloadable resources in editable formats
Document as You Go
Keep a log of:
- When lessons were recorded
- What version of tools was used
- What feedback you've received
This makes future updates much easier.
Your One Small Win Today
Open your course and watch just ONE module.
Ask yourself:
- Is anything outdated?
- Is anything confusing that could be clearer?
- Is anything missing?
Make notes. You don't have to fix it today. Just start the audit.
Next Step: Your course is up to date. Now let it sell while you sleep. Read Automating the Funnel—how to transition from live launches to an automated evergreen sales machine.