Skillshare

What is Skillshare?

Skillshare is a subscription-based online learning platform hosting thousands of video classes on creative, business, and lifestyle topics. Premium members pay monthly for unlimited access to all classes. Teachers earn royalties based on how many minutes students spend watching their content.

For creators and educators, Skillshare offers access to millions of potential students without building your own marketing infrastructure.

How Skillshare Payment Works

Royalty Pool System

Skillshare uses a royalty model:

1. Platform pools 30% of all premium membership revenue
2. Pool is divided based on total minutes watched
3. Your earnings = (your minutes / total minutes) x pool
4. Monthly payouts via PayPal

Your earning rate fluctuates based on overall platform activity.

Referral Bonuses

Additional income from referrals:

• Earn $10 for each new premium member
• Members must sign up through your unique link
• Referrals can significantly boost earnings
• No cap on referral income

Top teachers earn substantial income from referrals alone.

Earnings Breakdown Example

Typical teacher with moderate success:

Minutes watched is the primary driver for most teachers.

What Makes Classes Successful

Popular Categories

High-performing topics on Skillshare:

Class Characteristics That Perform

Successful Skillshare classes share traits:

Project-based: Students complete a tangible project.

Specific focus: One skill, not comprehensive coverage.

Engaging delivery: Personality and energy matter.

Quality production: Clear audio and video essential.

Actionable content: Students can apply immediately.

Class Structure

Optimal class format:

Keep individual lessons 2-5 minutes for optimal engagement.

Creating Your First Skillshare Class

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Select strategically:

• What skill can you teach confidently?
• Is there existing demand on Skillshare?
• Can you demonstrate with a clear project?
• Can you create engaging visual content?

Research existing classes to find gaps or improvement opportunities.

Step 2: Plan Your Curriculum

Outline before recording:

• Define clear student transformation
• Break content into bite-sized lessons
• Design a compelling class project
• Plan visuals for each lesson
• Write or outline your script

Preparation dramatically improves final quality.

Step 3: Record Your Content

Production essentials:

Audio quality: Good microphone is non-negotiable. Students tolerate mediocre video but not bad audio.

Video options: Screen recording, talking head, process shots, or combination.

Editing: Remove mistakes, add visuals, maintain pacing.

Length: Aim for 20-60 minute total class length.

Step 4: Create Supporting Materials

Enhance your class:

• Downloadable resources (templates, guides)
• Class project description
• Engaging thumbnail
• Compelling title and description

Step 5: Submit for Review

Skillshare reviews all classes:

• Check for quality standards
• Ensure community guidelines compliance
• Verify content is educational
• Typical review takes 1-3 business days

Growing on Skillshare

Algorithm Factors

What affects class visibility:

• Watch time and completion rates
• Student engagement (projects, discussions)
• Class freshness (newer classes get boosted)
• Teacher consistency (regular publishing helps)
• Quality indicators

Building Your Catalog

More classes mean more opportunity:

• Each class is another entry point
• Different topics reach different students
• Existing students discover your other classes
• Compound growth over time

Aim for 5-10+ classes for meaningful passive income.

Engaging Your Students

Encourage interaction:

• Prompt project submissions
• Respond to comments and questions
• Feature student work
• Create follow-up classes based on requests

Engagement signals help algorithm placement.

Leveraging Referrals

Maximize referral income:

• Share links on social media
• Include in YouTube descriptions
• Mention in podcast appearances
• Add to email signatures
• Create dedicated landing pages

$10 per referral adds up quickly with consistent promotion.

Skillshare for Digital Nomads

Passive Income Reality

Create once, earn indefinitely:

• Classes generate income while you travel
• No live teaching required
• Income continues during breaks
• Build library over time

Location Independence

All work happens online:

• Record anywhere with decent setup
• Upload from any location
• No scheduling constraints
• Manage account from any timezone

Practical Considerations

Nomad-specific tips:

Skillshare vs. Alternatives

Skillshare Teacher Tips

Focus on completion rate. Short, engaging classes outperform long comprehensive ones.

Invest in thumbnails. Visual appeal dramatically affects click-through rates.

Publish consistently. Regular new classes maintain momentum and visibility.

Engage with community. Active teachers build loyal student followings.

Promote externally. Drive referral traffic from your other platforms.

Analyze what works. Double down on successful topics and formats.

Common Mistakes

Classes too long. Students abandon lengthy content. Be concise.

Poor audio quality. Invest in a decent microphone before recording.

Unclear project. Without a project, students disengage.

Expecting instant income. Building meaningful earnings takes multiple classes and time.

Ignoring referrals. Referral income can exceed royalties for promoted teachers.

The Bottom Line

Skillshare offers creators a proven path to passive income through teaching. The platform provides access to millions of paying students, removing the need to build your own audience.

Earnings per minute are modest, making volume essential. Success requires multiple quality classes and patience as your catalog grows. Teachers who publish consistently and promote externally build meaningful income streams.

For digital nomads with teachable skills, Skillshare provides genuine location-independent income. Create classes during settled periods, and let them generate revenue while you explore the world. The royalty model rewards cumulative effort, making it ideal for long-term passive income building.