Building an online course without a community is like hosting a dinner party, inviting all your friends, and then never introducing them to each other! In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra Meszaros breaks down the role of community in online courses—whether it’s essential, when it makes sense, and how to build a thriving group without creating another full-time job for yourself.

From cohort-based programs to evergreen courses, Cassandra explores different models of community engagement, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies to make sure your course community actually enhances the learning experience. Plus, she dives into Instructional Design in the Real World, exploring why we remember song lyrics forever and how that connects to how we learn best.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. What a course community really is—and why it’s not just another Facebook group.
2. Why community matters for engagement, retention, and accountability.
3. Does every course need a community? The real answer—it depends.
4. How to build a community without overcomplicating it or adding unnecessary work.
5. Common pitfalls to avoid when fostering a course community.
6. Instructional Design in the Real World: How song lyrics stick in your brain forever!

Timestamps:

• [01:18] Is community essential or overhyped?
• [03:06] What does “community” actually mean in an online course?
• [05:33] Cohort-based courses: Why they naturally foster strong communities.
• [07:22] Evergreen courses & community: What works and what doesn’t.
• [09:06] The role of engagement and accountability in learner success.
• [10:44] How a course community builds loyal customers & brand advocates.
• [11:30] Does every course need a community? Answer: It depends!
• [14:09] How to build a course community without creating another job.
• [19:30] Common mistakes: Set-it-and-forget-it communities, overpromising, and ghost towns.
• [23:18] Instructional Design in the Real World: Why do we remember song lyrics forever? 🎶
• [29:03] Big announcement: Unlock Course Creation email list is live!

Key Takeaways:

• Community isn’t one-size-fits-all. Cohort-based courses benefit more from structured community spaces than evergreen ones.
• Engagement leads to retention. Learners who feel connected are more likely to finish your course and see transformation.
• Keep it simple. A good community doesn’t need flashy graphics or daily posts—focus on connection over complexity.
• Overpromising = trouble. If you market your community as a major feature, be prepared to show up consistently.
• Music & memory connection. Just like we remember song lyrics effortlessly, the way we structure learning impacts retention.

Call to Action:

• 💌 Join the brand-new email list! Get podcast updates & exclusive extras: cassandrameszaros.ca/email
• 📲 Follow Lauren Evans on Instagram for tech streamlining tips & help: @laurenshakevans
• 📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @cassandra.meszaros & tell her what song you instantly know all the lyrics to! 🎶

This episode is packed with insights to help you decide if a community is right for your course and how to build one that actually works. Listen in and start creating connections today! 🚀