Should You Create an Online Course

1
Should You Create an Online Course

• ...and if so, what should you take into
  consideration before building it.

2
FACTORS

• An online course is a good idea if
• Your potential clients need to sample your
  business at an entry level price point before
  seeing your value.
• For example, someone who has never experienced
  coaching may not realize how impactful it is
  until they have experienced it for themselves.

3
FACTORS

• An online course is a good idea if
• There is a gap between when you offer your
  program live again.
• Customers dont want to wait weeks or months for
  your next offering. An online course is there to
  satisfy clients when the live program isnt
  available.

4
FACTORS

• An online course is a good idea if
• Your price is a barrier to your potential client.
  
• An online course will allow potential clients to
  take baby steps into working with you. Once they
  get a taste of your services, they will gain
  trust and be more receptive to a premium program.
• Try before you buy is a big trend currently.

5
WHAT NEXT

• If one or more of the previous FACTORS applies to
  your business, the next question is...
• What do I create?

6
COURSE DEVELOPMENT

• It is always a good idea to host a course in a
  live face-to-face environment before creating an
  online version.
• This will allow you to see where your audience
  became confused, had questions or had a-ha
  moments.
• This live experience is the basis for your online
  course.

7
COURSE DEVELOPMENT

• Even if you have to gather friends and family for
  your live presentation, I still highly recommend
  it.
• Your Online Course content should be designed so
  that you have answered all the questions that
  your audience could possibly have.

8
COURSE DEVELOPMENT

• In the live experience, you were there to answer
  questions.
• In the online experience you are not, so you need
  to be sure you have avoided confusion and
  answered all potential questions with your
  content.

9
COURSE CONTENT

• Your content should include
• Videos or screen shots of any detailed
  instructions - such as how to complete a form,
  how to use a piece of software or how to download
  a worksheet.

10
COURSE CONTENT

• Your content should take into accout learning
  styles.
• People learn in different ways so have a mix of
  content that appeals to learners who are
• VISUAL - Videos, infographics, screenshots
• AUDITORY - audios, meditation music
• KINESTHETIC - have hands on exercises that
  involve different senses and movement

11
COURSE CONTENT

• If at all possible make your content Evergreen.
• Evergreen means it is timeless. Your content
  wont be out of date quickly.
• Avoid references to dates or seasons when
  presenting content.

12
TEST, TEST, TEST

• Always have a test group go through your program.
• Your test group can identify content or
  instructions that are confusing.
• They can let you know if they felt something was
  missing in the course.
• They can give you feedback on the value your
  course provided.

13
TEST, TEST, TEST

• Take the feedback and tweak your program. Dont
  skip this step.
• Remember you wont be there when your paying
  customers are experiencing your program. You
  want to have the best possible outcome for them.
  If you fail to deliver, you wont get a second
  chance with that client.

14
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Walk through the entire client experience on
  paper.
• Sales Marketing Messages
• Payment Process
• Thank You Welcome
• Content Delivery
• Follow-Up

15
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Once you have a good handle on the flow, find
  technology that will facilitate each step as
  simply as possible.
• Avoid purchasing solultions with lots of bells
  whistles that you dont need. Extras will just
  slow you down.

16
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Consider having a custom solution built that fits
  your process completely.
• The monetary investment may well be worth it in
  time savings and an excellent customer
  experience.

17
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Some Tools Needed
• A host for video or audio content.
• You can use free such as YouTube and iTunes and
  your blog.
• Or you can use paid such as Amazon Web Services
  and Sound Cloud.
• It is a matter of personal choice.

18
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Some Tools Needed
• A follow-up system.
• You can use an autoresponder like Get Response or
  Mail Chimp for automated emails.
• Or you can send personal emails if you expect to
  have a small intimate audience.

19
COURSE TECHNOLOGY

• Some Tools Needed
• A payment system.
• You can use a free service like PayPal that is
  widely trusted and accepted
• You can use a credit card processing merchant but
  be aware that many of these systems are complex
  and expensive.

20
CALL TO ACTION

• Be sure to conclude your course with a call to
  action.
• What do you want your clients to do as a result
  of taking your course?
• Take another course
• Join your email list
• Schedule a strategy session for premium program

21
FOLLOW-UP

• After the course ends, how will you stay in touch
  with your client?
• Email or newsletter series
• Event notices
• Feedback survey
• Testimonial request
• Contest
• Invitation to go deeper with you

22
CLOSING THOUGHTS

• An online course will allow you to get your
  knowledge to others who may not have otherwise
  experienced your service.
• As a coach, you have a responsibility to expose
  as many people as possible to the power of
  coaching and your course is a great tool to do
  that.

23
RESOURCES

• To learn more about creating a course or other
  topics related to having a successful business as
  a solopreneur
• Visit the Events Courses Page on
  woo-women.com/events
• Listen to the Keep It Simple for Success Podcast
  on iTunes
• Read an e-book from the Keep It Simple for
  Success series on Amazon.