A complete course ladder might include:

• Free mini-course: 5-day email course or short video series
• Low-ticket workshop: Focused, 60-90 minute training
• Core course: Comprehensive self-study program
• Cohort course: Group learning with live elements
• Mastermind: High-touch ongoing community

Not every creator needs all levels. Choose the rungs that serve your audience and fit your capacity. The key is providing progression for students at different stages.

A free mini-course is one of the most effective lead magnets for course creators. Delivered over 5-7 days via email, it provides genuine transformation while demonstrating your teaching style. Students experience your approach before committing to paid programs.

Design your mini-course to deliver a quick win. What's the smallest transformation you can provide in a week? A content creator might offer "5 Days to Better Headlines." A fitness coach might offer "5 Days to Better Mornings." The win creates momentum and trust.

A focused workshop provides deeper transformation in 60-90 minutes. Price it accessibly to reduce friction for first-time buyers. Deliver clear value that leaves participants wanting more. The workshop serves as both product and promotion for your core course.

Live workshops build connection and allow Q&A. Recorded workshops can sell on autopilot. Consider both formats to serve different preferences. Promote the workshop to mini-course graduates who are ready to go deeper.

Your core course is your main offer. It delivers complete transformation through comprehensive curriculum. Structure it for self-study with video lessons, worksheets, and resources. Price it based on the value of the transformation it provides.

Core courses can be evergreen (always available) or open on a schedule. Evergreen courses generate passive income but require strong student motivation. Scheduled courses create community and accountability but require more active management.

Core Course Elements:
- Video lessons (10-20 modules)
- Worksheets/workbooks
- Resource library
- Community access
- Lifetime updates
  

Cohort-based courses add live elements to self-study. Weekly calls, group accountability, and fixed start dates create structure that many students need. The cohort format commands higher prices and produces stronger results.

Run cohorts 2-4 times per year. Each cohort becomes an event you can promote and fill. Students bond with each other, increasing retention and referrals. Cohort graduates become candidates for your highest offers.

At the top, offer a mastermind for your most committed students. This might include ongoing coaching, peer accountability, and advanced content. The mastermind provides maximum support for maximum transformation.

Masterminds work well as ongoing memberships with monthly calls and community. Students stay for years, building deep relationships and achieving sustained results. This rung provides recurring revenue and deep fulfillment.

Each course should naturally lead to the next. Within your mini-course, mention the workshop. Within the workshop, mention the core course. Within the core course, mention the mastermind. Make progression feel like the obvious next step for those ready.

But never pressure. Some students will only ever take your mini-course, and that's fine. Others will climb every rung. Serve each where they are, and they'll climb when they're ready.