Welcome to the SmartSquatch Course Creator Guide! This platform (powered by the Memberships feature) gives you all the tools you need to build, host, and sell your knowledge.
If you need help with your course, we can create your first one. You can then clone it for any future courses, making the rest easier for you. Please complete the blueprint and send it back to us so we can start building your first course!
Click button below to get the blueprint:
Step 1: Set Up Your Course Identity and Instructor Profile
Your course's branding makes a professional first impression.
Instructor/Course Creator Profile
This information is typically set within the course builder's settings.
Item | What You Need | Use |
Profile Photo (Optional) | A clear snapshot of your face. | Used as the Instructor Image next to your name. |
Name | Full name of the main instructor/creator. | Displayed to students in the course area. |
Title/Role | e.g., Lead Trainer, Founder, Course Creator. | Displayed below your name. |
Short Description | A brief bio or statement about your expertise. | Used in the course's introductory sections. |
Business Logo
Item | What You Need | Use |
Business Logo | A high-resolution version of your logo (PNG with transparent background is best). | Uploaded in Settings to be displayed as the Favicon (the small icon in the browser tab) and often at the top of the course/membership menu. |
Step 2: Structure and Build Your Course Content
The SmartSquatch course structure is based on Products (the main course) which contain Categories (modules) which contain Lessons (individual content pages).
Course Product Setup
Navigate to Memberships → Courses → Products.
Click Create Product → Start from Scratch (or choose a blueprint like 'Marathon Course').
Enter your:
1. Course Title: e.g., The Ultimate SmartSquatch Launch Program
2. Course Description: A clear summary of what the student will learn and achieve.
3. Course Image Banner: A simple, eye-catching image (e.g., a Canva design) with your course title in a big font. This will be the main cover image.
Building Categories and Lessons
Course Component | What You Need | Notes |
Category Title | e.g., Phase 1: Foundation & Planning | Categories act as your main modules or sections. |
Lesson Title | e.g., Lesson 1: Market Research Essentials | Lessons are the individual pages of content within a Category. |
Lesson Description | A short summary of the lesson's learning outcome. | This helps students understand the value before diving in. |
Content Type | Video, Image, Text, or a combination. | Video: SmartSquatch allows for video uploads. Image: Use simple banners with the lesson title, charts, or graphs. |
Body Content | Bullet points, actual body text, downloads. | Bullet Points & Body: The main curriculum text for users to read. |
Additional Files | PDF guides, checklists, templates (DOC), or supplemental videos. | You can upload these files within the lesson content editor for students to download. |
Step 3: Assessments, Certificates, and Badges
Assessments/Quizzes
SmartSquatch allows you to add a final Assessment to any Category.
Assessment: When editing a Category, look for the Assessment tab or button.
Sample Questionnaire/Quiz:
Question: Which of the following is the key benefit of a high-converting landing page? (Multiple Choice)
A. Faster load times
B. Higher lead-to-sale conversion rate (Correct)
C. Better SEO ranking
Question: Describe the difference between a "Sprint" course and a "Marathon" course in your own words. (Open Text)
Certificates
Certificates provide proof of course completion and are a great motivator.
Requirement: They are typically awarded upon 100% completion of the course (or a specific Category, using the Category Completion Certificate feature).
What should the certificate have?
Student's Full Name (Pulled from their profile)
Course Name
Date of Completion
Instructor Name/Signature
Your Business Logo/Branding
Action: You can design custom certificates using the
Memberships → Certificates feature and then assign one to your course or a specific category.
Badges
SmartSquatch also allows you to issue Badges for completing a lesson, category, or course. Badges can be customized and act as visual recognition of a student's progress, often displayed on their profile.
Step 4: Monetization and Access Control
Creating an Offer (Free or Paid)
You must create an Offer to give users access to your course.
Navigate to Memberships → Courses → Offers.
Click Create Offer.
Assign Product: Link the course you just built (the Product) to this Offer.
Set Price:
Free: Set the price to $0.
Paid: Set a One-Time fee (e.g., $97) or a Recurring Subscription (*e.g., $19/*month). Ensure your payment processor (Stripe/PayPal) is connected.
Where to Put the Course as an Offer
An Offer is the link that students use to purchase or enroll.
Location | Recommended Use |
Funnel/Website | Highly Recommended. Create a dedicated Sales Page in the SmartSquatch Funnel/Website Builder. The Offer link is used on the checkout button to manage payment and grant access. |
Community or Group | The course can be presented inside a Community Group in SmartSquatch using the Learning tab. You can link the Offer here to sell to your group members. |
Private Channel | Useful for courses that are part of a larger membership. Users who buy the Offer can be automatically added to a private channel in your SmartSquatch Community. |
Content Locking & Publishing
This controls how and when students can access lessons.
Option | How to Implement | Recommended Use |
Locked until previous one is finished | This is the Drip Content feature. In your Course Product settings, select Drip for your Categories/Lessons. You can choose to release content after a certain number of days OR after the previous lesson is completed. | Structured learning, where sequential knowledge is mandatory (e.g., Step 1 must be done before Step 2). |
Publish All (Accessed Anytime) | This is the default Publish setting. All lessons are available immediately. | Reference-style courses, or when students need to jump around based on their immediate needs. |
Quick Checklist for Launch
Instructor snapshot uploaded. |
Course Title, Description, and Banner image set. |
All Categories and Lessons built with content (video, text, images, downloads). |
Assessment/Quiz added to key sections (optional). |
Certificate designed and assigned to the course (optional). |
Offer created, linked to the course, and price set (free or paid). |
Drip Content settings configured (locked or published all). |
Offer Link shared on your Funnel/Website to enroll students. |