I built a number of SAAS apps (and apps that had similar functionality) for a few freelance clients. Then I eventually thought "hmm, lots of repeated patterns here, maybe I can make this into a course", so then I made the course.
As for the process. Funny you mention it. The changelog just had me on as a guest for their "backstage" podcast last week where we talked about content creation and the process of recording courses. That's at: http://changelog.com/backstage/4
It covers most of your questions but it doesn't cover nitty gritty details on sales figures and revenue. Thousands of people have signed up for the course but I still do quite a bit of freelancing. Freelancing and course creation is my full time job.
I find it really rewarding at a personal level. I just like creating things, but it is a lot of work. It's not just hitting record and being done in 2 days. Expect it to take 3-6 months of full time work to make a course. Then there's having to keep it updated (because tech changes so fast) and ongoing 24/7 support.
Couple people have asked me to make a course on making courses. Maybe one day but at the moment there's still a bunch of technical courses I still want to make, a million blog posts to write (I have 85 draft posts that are unpublished) and some side projects in the works.
Definitively I'll check the podcast, thanks a lot!
What can you tell about your experience building this course, is it worth it ? rewarding ? Did you find difficult to promote it ? what are the main channels to adquiere customers ?
And if you don't mind sharing some numbers, how many people purchased it so far?
I'd like to get an idea on how profitable (or not) and personally rewarding are type of courses, to motivate myself and write one of these one day.
thank you!
edit: I'm thinking maybe that was too many questions, sorry if so, you could create a "meta-course" on explaining all these things and I'd buy it! :)))