How to make money from an educational course without even launching It: a designer’s story

Daniil Klinchuk, author of the blog “klinchuk, taknepoydet,” helps designers work with texts, meanings, and marketing challenges. His private Telegram channel became a platform for preparing his upcoming course and, despite being active for less than six months, is already generating around 2000 $ per month. We discussed with Daniil how to start earning money from an educational course even before its launch.

Why a private channel?

I explain how to improve websites in terms of structure and content, how to analyze competitors, and how to adapt projects to clients’ needs. In short, I create content for designers on everything related to marketing and conveying meaning.

I spend about 5–6 hours per week on the channel. Usually, that includes one live session—about three hours—and preparing all the materials. Occasionally, I answer questions in the chat, but there aren’t too many. Twice a week, I publish something new: either a long article or a live session. If I’m feeling inspired, I might add a third post.

The subscription fee is 20 $  per month. Currently, I have 103 subscribers, which brings in roughly 2000 $ after commissions. The vast majority of subscribers pay for the knowledge, though there are a few who subscribed simply to support me—these are people I know personally or have worked with before.

I’ve never paid for advertising; all subscribers have joined organically, either because they knew me as an expert or saw reposts in other channels.

How to create a course together with your subscribers

The idea for a course was always in the back of my mind, but it seemed too extensive and time-consuming to prepare. I started looking for simpler options that would require less time. That’s when I learned about Tribute and private channels. I observed how they work and realized they suited my needs. It’s a platform where I can gather material for a future course while already earning money.

I used to publish four texts per month, but then I realized that was overwhelming for people. They’d read the content, see that there was a lot to cover, and simply wouldn’t engage. Now, I publish two long texts and host two live sessions each month. The live sessions are much more engaging.

On the channel, there’s an in-depth analysis of a project where we review a website together, analyze competitors, and adapt the texts. There’s also a format for quick reviews, where we discuss several projects at once, and a collaborative session where subscribers propose ideas and I provide feedback. It’s important to me that people don’t just passively consume the content, but participate actively. When they see how I work through projects in real time, the engagement is at its peak.

If I was simply running the channel without the strategic goal of creating a course, I’d provide less content and wouldn’t dive as deeply into topics. Now, I publish materials intentionally so that they can later be compiled into a complete product. There’s no entertaining content in the private channel—only useful information.

However, I learned that some topics are better presented in a simpler way. My main mistake was assuming that everyone would engage as deeply as I do; for example, when I buy a product, I immerse myself completely—participating fully, watching, and reading everything. I assumed everyone was like that, but it turns out I was wrong. The audience isn’t always ready for complex texts, but they respond excellently to live sessions. This is important to consider when preparing a course. To get subscribers involved, you have to engage them actively. Live sessions are my way of not only explaining but also demonstrating how to apply the knowledge in practice.

What’s next?

I still build websites myself. Even if courses become my main source of income, I don’t plan to leave my main job. This helps me stay connected to reality and be genuinely useful to those I teach. It’s a part of my work that I don’t want to lose.

Right now, subscribers mainly consume content in a free format, but later I want to offer them something more practical. The channel will become a place for mentorship, while the course will serve as the theoretical foundation. I’m working on providing even more value. It takes time, but I see that my approach is working, and that motivates me to keep going.