Can’t Find a Star? Why Not Create One?
Adding a Unique Twist to Your Content Strategy
There’s a common formula for success in content planning: a sizable target audience, proven talent, and trend-driven ideas that act as a sure bet. But in the rapidly shifting world of content creation, there’s no single “correct” formula. What works depends on the type of content, its purpose, and even the timing.
That’s why FastCampus’s content planners develop their own winning formulas. With a sharp focus on problem-solving, they carve out their own path to success, finding reasons that guarantee their content will thrive. From their sweat and brainstorming, come curricula that change lives and content that resonates deeply with audiences. We spoke to several of these content planners to hear about their journeys in creating their signature content.
Content Planner K | Creating Fairy-Tale-Like 3D Characters with Blender
Not discovering a star but creating one
Q. We’ve heard this course has been highly successful. Can you tell us more about it?
A. I recruited a completely unknown artist with no industry recognition and made them the course instructor. They had only one portfolio piece to their name. Yet, based on that single piece, I created a course. My expectations weren’t sky-high, but it turned out to be a big hit. Not only did the course succeed, but the instructor also gained industry-wide fame, making this my signature course.
Q. Weren’t you worried about recruiting an unknown artist?
A. I won’t say there was no anxiety, but because the artist had no prior teaching experience and only a single portfolio piece, my expectations were modest. Instead of worrying about their recognition, I focused on making the course content as strong as possible. Blender, being a relatively new tool, lacked many widely recognized artists, but it was gaining traction fast, with lots of people eager to learn it. So, I sought out an artist with raw talent rather than fame, aiming to create a high-quality course that could stand on its own.
Q. What specific efforts did you put into making the course stand out?
A. Usually, the key factors that make a course shine are the instructor’s reputation, the structure of the curriculum, and the quality of the final output. For this course, I prioritized the quality of the student’s work. In the past, I would launch a course without pre-prepared content, building it as we went. However, for this course, I worked with the instructor for four to five months before launch, ensuring high-quality examples. I also took a hands-on approach, managing the quality of these examples myself, rather than leaving everything to the instructor.
Q. The course was more successful than expected. How did that feel?
A. We put in a lot of hard work, and the quality was top-notch, but since we were working with a relatively unknown artist, I didn’t have grand expectations. However, the course exceeded all projections, and the instructor’s reputation skyrocketed within the 3D artist community. It was deeply satisfying to know we delivered a great product to students while helping a talented artist gain well-deserved recognition. The experience reaffirmed the belief that, while a famous instructor can help with initial buzz, content quality is king. In 3D character design, the final product matters most, and this led us to adopt pre-production for future courses.
Planner J | Bringing Every Emotion to iPad Drawing
Connecting personal needs creates a product the market wants
Q. FastCampus offers many professional courses. Why choose a hobby-focused course as your signature content?
A. It was the first course I developed after joining, and it was a big challenge. I was still learning the ropes, and this course took the most thought and effort. Drawing is often seen as a casual hobby, but I structured this course to take students beyond mere recreation. The curriculum enables them to monetize their skills through branded illustrations and merchandise creation.
Q. You worked with nine instructors for this course. How did you structure the curriculum?
A. Each of the nine instructors covered a different aspect of drawing. I had to figure out how to organize the content in a way that made sense and appealed to prospective students. I was careful not to overwhelm the audience with too much information, so I spent a lot of time combing through art communities and social media comments to understand what people really wanted. This helped me create a cohesive, targeted curriculum.
Q. What did you learn from this experience, and how did you apply it to future projects?
A. When you’re dealing with multiple subjects in a single field, it’s hard to rely on just quantitative research to gauge customer preferences. Focusing solely on statistics makes it difficult to scratch that itch customers are looking to address. Stats are great at showing past trends, but they don’t always capture the present. So I emphasized qualitative analysis—looking at what potential customers were saying across various platforms. This approach helped shape future projects like the [My First Emoji Design] course, which received excellent feedback.
Content Planner S | Bio Diagnostics & Drug Development Using Medical Data
Winning with niche, one-of-a-kind content
Q. This seems like a highly specialized topic. Can you tell us more about it?
A. This course covers AI applications in medical data analysis and bio diagnostics. It’s definitely a niche subject, and we had concerns about attracting enough students, but the results were great. AI in healthcare is still relatively new, but the potential for growth is enormous. By creating in-depth content in a field with few existing resources, we were able to draw significant interest from professionals.
Q. Given how specialized the topic is, how did you find your marketing angle?
A. Traditionally, developing new technologies or drugs in healthcare requires extensive trials and research, which is both costly and time-consuming. AI changes that—it reduces labor and time. For instance, in bio diagnostics, AI can minimize subjective errors that human doctors might make when analyzing X-rays or CT scans. We highlighted this potential in our marketing materials, using logical arguments to persuade our audience of AI’s effectiveness.
Q. Given the higher price point and technical nature of the course, what do you think drove its success?
A. Interest in AI is at an all-time high, and its application in healthcare could revolutionize the industry. While the current pool of professionals working with healthcare AI is small, company executives and investors with a stake in AI technology took a keen interest in the course. By focusing on a niche field where few dared to venture, we created a highly sought-after product for those who needed it the most.
Content Planner Y | Media Art Graphics: The New Paradigm of Motion Graphics
Making unfamiliar topics approachable with familiar language
Q. Why did you choose this course as your favorite?
A. It was the first course I handled from start to finish—from market research to completion. Before this, I had inherited courses already in the pipeline, so I didn’t have full ownership over the projects. This one felt different.
Q. Why did you recruit a studio instead of an individual instructor?
A. We wanted to emphasize practical examples rather than just teaching the tools. By working with a studio, we ensured that the final output was of the highest quality. I also worked hard to showcase the example projects on the course page in a way that would resonate with potential students.
Q. “Media art” sounds unfamiliar to many. How did you target the right audience?
A. The word “art” in “media art” can make it sound more abstract than it is. But media art is everywhere—think outdoor LED screens, product launch shows, music performances, and even the Olympics. Motion graphics are part of our daily lives. So, while the term might seem unfamiliar, I used relatable language in the course description—like “the new paradigm in motion graphics”—to make it more approachable.
Q. What did you learn from producing this course?
A. I realized that conducting market research firsthand gives you a solid understanding of the bigger picture, which in turn helps set a clear direction for the course planning. While it’s crucial to quickly seize opportunities in emerging fields, I also learned that it’s important to connect these new areas with existing ones so that they don’t feel completely unfamiliar to the audience. Since this is a relatively niche topic, I found that emphasizing the examples and clearly explaining what students will be able to create by the end of the course is key. Ensuring the quality of those examples is also essential to make the course more accessible and engaging for learners.
✍️Key Takeaways
- While flashy marketing helps, the true key to success in the content industry is quality. If the content itself is excellent, word-of-mouth will lead to success.
- When quantitative data is lacking, gather qualitative insights to understand what customers truly want. The logic behind these insights will reveal market needs.
- Don’t shy away from niche topics. If no one else is offering a particular type of content, it’s often worth the investment. Scarcity can drive demand.
- For unfamiliar fields, use familiar language to bridge the gap. This approach makes the content more accessible to a broader audience.
