State the purpose, starting and end points, and the timeline of the course. A course on "How to Create Basic Spreadsheets" does not need to begin with how to use a calculator, it must cover the basic points of spreadsheet usage. Specific objectives should be outlined, along with a homework timeline and a list of skills students should expect to gain. Upload this information so prospective students know what they are paying for and follow it exactly. You can always update the list and make it better for the next course.
Design an easy-to-navigate website. The site should not be too image-heavy for students with slow Internet connections or those who are not so tech savvy. The most important features for a good online learning site are well-marked buttons, an easily identifiable login feature and lack of advertising. This is an online course built for a single purpose; you are not trying to make money off your students through advertising. Once completed, have some of your friends or colleagues navigate the site and give feedback. You should also provide an "E-learning Checklist" to your students prior to the course.
Remember the mantra "to hear a thing is to learn a thing, to see or do a thing is to know a thing" when designing the materials for your course. Your students are taking the course to learn a new skill or update an already existing one. Online learning is not meant for the lecture hall, but is a hands-on environment where collaborative learning is the key element. Design your materials so that the students do, not just see. Create effective exercises where the students must do all the work and design a strong feedback system where you can give them fast, comprehensive evaluations. Make sure the students can download the work in case they do not have a 24-hour Internet connection, but also allow them to do all their work online if they choose.
Decide what types of technology you want to use. Get a demo of many different CMS (course management system) options before choosing the best for you. The advent of cloud computing now allows all work to be completed and saved online, but also comes with a greater cost to you and thus your students. All your students will need access to the Internet, but if they need other software for the course you need to find the best alternatives for them based on availability, cost and ease of access. Do not expect that all your students are willing to pay more out-of-pocket money to buy software for the course; have all the necessary technology ready for them.