Why your course name matters (a lot)

Your course name is the first thing people see, and it's often the deciding factor for whether they’ll click to read more about it. Even without having gone through your full marketing funnel, it should tell them most of what they need to know.

At a basic level, a strong course name will:

• Set expectations about outcomes

• Communicate the value of your content

• Start building trust and credibility

• Differentiate you from your competitors

• Make it easy to remember and share with others

But coming up with a great course name is easier said than done, so here's a rundown of different types and when to use them.

Transformative names

For when your course promises a clear and significant change.

Transformation-focused course names are great when your course offers a clear journey and takes learners from where they are now to a much better place. They work best for courses that promise a personal or professional transformation, such as losing weight, improving mindset, or building a business from scratch.

Real examples

• Hot Mess to Home Success – Helps people go from a disorganised home life to tidy, clean and well-managed.

• A to Z Webinars – Promises a full journey from not knowing anything about webinars to completely mastering them.

• 10x Landing Pages – Implies a major improvement in landing page performance, i.e. 10x-ing the conversions.

Other examples

• Couch to 5K Hero – Transforms beginners who barely get off the couch into confident 5K runners.

• Messy to Minimalist – Promises a shift from a cluttered home to an organised, minimalist lifestyle.

• From Burnout to Balance – Helps people go from stressed and overwhelmed to balanced and calm instead.

People are drawn to these names because they focus on the big "before/after" change they really want, making it clear that things will be completely different by the end of the course.

Asset-based course names

For courses that act as a valuable and reusable tool or resource.

Asset-based course names position your course as something people can use again and again. They appeal to people who want practical tools, templates, or guides that they can return to whenever needed.

Real examples

• Video Podcasting Playbook – Step-by-step guidance on how to incorporate video into a podcasting strategy.

• Genius Blogger’s Toolkit – A collection of tools and templates bloggers can use to improve their content.

• The Copywriting Toolbox – A set of copywriting templates and resources that are designed for repeated use across lots of different projects.

Other examples

• Ultimate Resume Builder – A training resource for job seekers to refine and update their resumes continuously.

• Freelance Photography Toolkit – Practical training and resources that photographers can use during shoots.

• The Digital Detox Toolbox – Offers a range of strategies and challenges for better digital well-being that can be revisited regularly.

By framing your course as a resource, you show that it provides ongoing value that they can use to master a repeatable process.

Event-based course names

For courses that feel like an immersive experience or live event.

Event-based course names create excitement and urgency, making your course feel like a live event or workshop. These names work especially well for courses that involve group activities, action-oriented learning, or real-time interaction.

Real examples

• Click and Convert Workshop – A hands-on workshop where attendees learn how to write titles, headlines, and subject lines that get clicked.

• Traffic Booster Workshop – A pre-recorded workshop designed to help people get traffic without paying for ads.

• Cash Flow Fundamentals Workshop – A mini course framed as a workshop, which teaches online business owners how to manage cash in their business.

Other examples

• The 7-Day Self-Care Retreat – A week-long course that focuses on introducing daily self-care routines.

• Quickstart Guitar Bootcamp – A fast-paced, hands-on program for beginners to jumpstart their guitar skills.

• Social Media Growth Weekend – An intensive training course designed to be completed in two days, with strategies to grow your social media following quickly.

These names appeal to people who enjoy learning by doing and prefer a hands-on approach. Event-based names also give the sense that the course is engaging and interactive.

Institution-like names

For courses that want to convey authority and structure.

Institution-based course names make your course feel formal, authoritative, and well-structured. These names appeal to people who value credible, organised education, often for professional development or career advancement.

Real examples

• B-School – A fairly broad name that suggests a well-rounded business education for entrepreneurs.

• Freelance Writing Academy – A structured set of courses that help people become professional freelance writers.

• Digital Course Academy – Presents itself as a comprehensive guide for creating and launching online courses, with a structured, educational feel.

Other examples

• Nutrition Science Institute – Suggests a formal program for learning about the science of nutrition.

• Creative Writing Academy – Gives the course an official, school-like feel for people who want to improve their creative writing skills.

• The Language Learning Hub – Sounds like a central place to learn and practice languages in a structured environment, likely with multiple language options.

By using an institution-like name, you signal that your course is part of an established, high-quality framework, making it more attractive to people who want a more structured learning experience.

Community-based names

For courses built around group learning or peer support.

Community-based course names focus on the social aspect of learning, i.e. the support and connections students will get from being part of a group. They're ideal for courses where collaboration, networking, or peer support is a key feature.

Real examples

• List Builders Society – Focuses on growing an email list and implies being part of a community, even though it's mostly an on-demand video course.

• The Writer's Circle – Offers cohort-based learning where members get expert feedback and step-by-step instructions for creating proposals.

• The Millionaire Mother Experience – A mastermind for women managing motherhood and running a business.

Other examples

• The Lightbulb Collective – Training for writers on how to generate powerful and interesting ideas, with an emphasis on peer collaboration among members.

• Plant-Based Living Circle – A course and community for learning plant-based cooking and lifestyle practices.

• The Homeschooling Network – A training program and online network where homeschooling parents can connect to share resources and tips.

These kinds of names appeal to people who want to learn with others and be part of a community that shares similar interests.

Skill-focused names

For courses that teach a specific skill or expertise, focusing on mastery.

Skill-focused course names clearly communicate what people will master by the end of the course. They tend to appeal to people who want to go deep on a particular skill, whether it's creative, technical, or professional. It's all about getting better.

Real examples

• Writing With Flair – Focuses on improving writing skills for a range of use cases, with a focus on writing clearly.

• Content Marketing Mastery – Teaches content marketing, aiming to be a comprehensive education on the topic.

• Mental Mastery - A course that focuses on overcoming various mental roadblocks that hold people back.

Other examples

• Mastering Mindful Meditation – Focuses on helping students master the practice, as opposed to a course that simply offers guided sessions for them to follow.

• Advanced DSLR Techniques – Teaches in-depth, expert techniques for DSLR photography, aimed at professionals.

• Speed Reading Secrets – Helps college students develop and improve their speed reading abilities so they can get through their required reading faster.

Skill-focused names are usually direct and clear, making it obvious what the student will master. They'll attract people who have a specific goal in mind and want to go deep on that topic.

Action-focused names

For courses that teach people how to complete a specific task.

These course names use strong, action-oriented language to attract students who want to take action. They're best for self-starters just want a clear, step-by-step plan that they can follow, perhaps with a little guidance.

Real examples

• Build Your Own Brand – A free five-day challenge that guides people through building a branded website.

• Find Your Dream Job – Helps people get unstuck from an unhappy career and find the job of their dreams.

• Delegate and Done – A step-by-step process for finding, hiring and working with a trusted virtual assistant.

Other examples

• Declutter Your Life – Gives students a follow-along process for clearing out their house and keeping it organised.

• Write Your Novel – Walks aspiring writers through planning, drafting and editing their novel, from start to finish.

• Start Your Fitness Journey – Inspires people to take the first steps toward better health and fitness with a manageable beginner's program.

These names work best for courses focused on getting specific tasks done, whether that's starting something, improving something, or building something new.

Identity-based names

For courses that help people step into a new role or status level.

Identity-based course names tap into students' aspirations to see themselves in a new role or identity. They're perfect for courses that focus on career development, professional identity, or significant lifestyle changes people want to make.

Real examples

• Six-Figure Blogger – Appeals to people who want to leave their 9-5 job and build a blog that replaces their income.

• The Profitable Creator – Targets creators and business owners who are struggling to make money from their content and want to earn more.

• The Confident Creator – Helps course creators with their mindset issues and mental blocks that prevent them from making progress in their business.

Other examples

• The Confident Public Speaker – Helps people see themselves as effective and confident speakers.

• The Ethical Fashion Designer – Targets people who want to become designers committed to sustainability.

• The Empowered Parent – Aims to help parents feel more in control and capable in their parenting role.

These types of names resonate most with people who want to transform how they see themselves on a fundamental level, usually with some kind of significant overhaul in one area.

Level-based names

For courses that target a specific level of experience.

Level-based course names make it clear what ability level the course is aimed at, whether that's beginners, intermediates, or advanced students. They work well when you have multiple courses that each cover a different stage in the learning journey.

Real examples

• Smart From Scratch – Targets beginners who want to build a business from the ground up, following a proven process.

• YouTube From Scratch – Clearly aimed at beginners who want to start using YouTube to grow their business.

• Fundamentals of Photography – Aimed at beginners who want to learn the basics of photography from an expert.

Other examples

• Guitar for Absolute Beginners – A course designed specifically for people who've never picked up a guitar.

• Intermediate Watercolour Techniques – Targets people with some experience in watercolour painting looking to improve their technique.

• Advanced Investment Strategies – For students who already have a solid foundation in investing, who want to explore more advanced techniques.

These types of names are particularly helpful for students who might be anxious about starting a new topic. They also imply a clear path for further learning if you have more advanced courses.

Outcome-focused names

For courses that promise a specific, practical result.

Outcome-focused course names highlight the specific result people will achieve by completing the course. They usually appeal to people who are goal-oriented and focused on reaching a measurable outcome, rather than emotional outcomes or mastery.

Real examples

• SEO That Works – Promises students they'll see real results with SEO strategies that have proven success.

• Systems That Scale – Teaches business owners how to implement systems and processes that will help them to scale without so many growing pains.

• Double Your Freelancing Rate – Offers a clear promise of helping freelancers increase their rates significantly.

Other examples

• Financial Freedom Blueprint – Implies a clear outcome of achieving financial independence if they follow the steps.

• Pain-Free Posture Program – Promises relief from pain for students by taking steps to improve their posture.

• Publish Your First Book – Guides students through the process of self-publishing their first book.

These kinds of names are particularly effective for courses that deliver measurable results or solve a specific problem. They imply that if you take this course, you'll land in a very specific situation.

Simplicity-focused names

For courses that make complex topics easy to understand.

Simplicity-focused course names emphasise making something complicated easier to grasp. These names appeal to people who feel overwhelmed by a subject and want a clear, straightforward way to understand or implement it.

Real examples

• Podcast Advertising Made Easy – Simplifies the complicated process of monetising a podcast through ads.

• No Stress Negotiation - Gives students a word-by-word process for handling salary negotiations well.

• Digital Marketing Demystified – Simplifies the complexities of digital marketing for people who are new to the topic.

Other examples

• Easy Gluten-Free Cooking – Makes gluten-free cooking simple and accessible for all levels of experience.

• Simple Social Media Strategies – Breaks down the basics of social media marketing into easy-to-follow steps.

• Quick & Easy Home Workouts – Offers simple, no-fuss workouts that can be done from home with no equipment.

These types of names work especially well for technical topics or processes that often seem complex or daunting. The name handles the "it's too complicated" objection right off the bat.