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14: The difference between creating online courses & programmes · Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to the Digit She Does It Show.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode 14, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about the difference between creating an online course and delivering a tailor-made programme.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the digitally she does it show.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host Karen and I'm here to lift the lid on what it actually takes to create a successful business.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: If you are an ambitious creative ready to build a business on your own terms and without compromise, then this podcast is perfect for you.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: With my award-winning approach to marketing and expert knowledge in creating online courses, this show will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to bring those big dreams to life.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Join me each week for a dose of motivation and marketing know-how, along with actionable step-by-step strategies to help you accelerate your business's growth.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to today's episode.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode 14.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so grateful that you're here with me today because I've got a great topic coming up where I'm going to be talking about the key differences between online courses and tailor-made programs, and which one may be more suitable for you to create in your business.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the reason why I've decided to create this episode is because I get asked the question a lot about what the difference is because it's not always obvious to know what the difference is, and it can leave people scratching their heads if they're trying to figure out what option is right for them to create in their business.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I thought I would dive into this subject a little bit more deeper and outline what those key differences are and what to consider so that if you do decide to create one for your business, you will know which one best aligns with the aspirations that you have for your business.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I mentioned the word aspirations because that's really what you need to start with when you're considering creating an online business.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: When you are thinking about creating a one-to-many model, you need to be thinking in terms of what the aspirations are that you have for your business.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Where do you want your business to go?
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: And why create a program or an online course?
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what's the purpose that sits behind it?
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: You need to have a really good understanding as to what your goals are so that you can decide on the right product suite that's going to support your business's growth.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Creating any type of offer takes time, it takes effort.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: So you need to really understand why you're creating it in the first place.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: And also by knowing where you're going to be going with your business, knowing what that end destination is, you can then create the plan to get there.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: So when we know what that destination is, we can reverse engineer our efforts and then make a solid, well-structured and strategic plan that's going to ultimately get us to where we want to be.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: So if your goal is to eventually get to the point where you're working less in your business, then you want to think about what you need to do that's going to support that.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And if you want to be in a position where you're developing a consistent revenue stream to support you and your business, then you know exactly what it is you need to focus on.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: When you know what it is you need to put your attention to, you can then make conscious decisions about the route to take, and then you can get into the weeds of how to make it happen.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: But you can't do that if you don't know where that end destination is.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: So if you haven't figured out what your goal is for your business, then I would really encourage you to take some time and work that out.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Work out where you want your business to go to, or at least what revenue you want to start creating for your business, and think about it from an ideal perspective.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: So if you want to create that sort of financial freedom in your business, what does that number look like?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: What does it look like for you, and how is it going to feel when you get there?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: The more we can connect to our aspirations and our goals, the more likely we are at bringing them to life because we know what we're striving for.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: So, what I wanted is for the goal of this episode to at least give you some food for thought about what you can do to get off that never-ending cycle of trading your precious time for money and start you thinking about what you can create instead to support those ambitions and the aspirations you do have for your business.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: So let's start with online courses.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Let's look at what's involved in creating an online course and what the benefits are for you to create an online course for your business.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you've been an avid listener of this show, you'll know that I've been talking a lot about online digital courses.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: And the reason for this is because as entrepreneurs, we're always chasing time.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Time is this precious thing that we just never seem to have enough of.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: And looking at ways to create offers in our business that saves us time is what's going to help us grow and, of course, make our lives that little bit easier.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now, online courses are a great way to get that time back in your business because you build the product once and then you sell it on repeat.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, of course, there is upfront work involved, however, once the course has been created, you don't then need to be there in person to deliver it over and over again.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: And if you are somebody that currently delivers workshops in person, it's going to save you a huge amount of time in the long run by automating that process.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: Online courses are a great way to still deliver the same, if not even more, value than you would delivering a workshop in person.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: But instead, you're delivering that content in a more automated way, and your students benefit because they get to work through that content at their own pace.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: So they can work on it in their own time, in their own home, like I say, at their own pace, and they can also work through that content on repeat if they choose to do so, and they can walk away with a result that they need to help them move forward in their life.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: And you, as the course creator, can do this once by creating the course, but then you don't need to be there time after time to deliver it in person, so it gives you that time back.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_00: If you are currently spending a huge amount of time delivering workshops or webinars where you're providing that value in person, then it's worth considering whether an online course will support your endeavors and whether it will make your life easier by creating something that is more automated.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: Now, by automating that process, you're going to be getting your time back because of not having to be there in person.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: So that's one of the benefits of creating an online course, is that it is a build once and sell on repeat approach to the offer that you're providing your students.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now, some other advantages of creating an online course is that it also enables you to expand your audience's reach and widen your audience base as well, because you're not limited to location.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Having online products means that you can sell worldwide because you're going to be selling via the internet, which means that there is limitless opportunity available to you.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: And once you know what your course is, who it's for, and how you can help your students in the easiest and quickest way possible, you can then develop strategies to help you sell to your audience online in volume if that's what you choose to do.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what I will say with this is this may not necessarily happen overnight.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: This may be something that you then work up to, but once you've got your offer in place, you can then focus your efforts on developing strategies that's going to support the sale of your online course.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: And there are loads of strategies out there that can really get you into the minds of your audience.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: With the right strategies in place, you can create that financial independence that you are looking for.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: So that's where online courses really do come into play because they give you the opportunity and the potential to really elevate your revenue and what you bring into your business.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now, another thing to consider with creating an online course is that you can create an online course to support your sales funnel.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: So it may be that you want to create an online course because you want to bring somebody in at the very top of your funnel.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: So you can even create a free mini course that brings people into your email list.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: You can also use your online course as a way to upsell to your audience.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it doesn't just have to be that your online course is the main offer, it could be that you use your online course to support other aspects of your business.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're wanting to bring a client on board, but maybe they're questioning whether or not they want to spend that money with you, then you can offer an online course as a way of building that know, like, and trust.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: So your online course doesn't just have to be the main offer, you can use it strategically in other ways to expand your audience and to bring new customers on board.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: Another thing to consider with online courses is that if you have some training that you want to offer your audience, then an online course is a very quick and easy way to get it out into the world.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_00: So if you train in a certain area, or maybe you just want to share a process or a system of some kind, then creating an online course allows you to do that in a short amount of time.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so now we've looked at online courses.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's dive in and look at tailor-made programs and the benefits to maybe creating a program for your business.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, programs are a little different to online courses because you're most likely going to need to be there in person to deliver that program to your audience, and that's probably one of the biggest differences.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: Programs are a really great way of delivering something to a group of people.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're looking at developing an offer that is a one-to-many model, then programs are a great way to do that because it enables you to deliver that training in a group format than on a one-to-one basis.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: Something to think about if you are considering creating a program is that programs are often a lot more comprehensive, so that the transformation that's being offered is a lot bigger.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: With a course, you can create a mini course that focuses in on one small area of a topic.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, you may want to create a course that talks all about email lists.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: So, this course may take the student from having no idea on how to start an email list to building an email list with confidence.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: So the course itself is going to really be showing them what they need to do in order to get started with creating their email list.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this course may include actionable steps that gets them to a place where they are starting to generate the results that they want.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: But essentially, the course itself is going to offer a quick win.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you are creating a program around the same topic, the likelihood is that your program would most likely be a lot more in-depth and comprehensive, and it will also most likely take place over a longer period of time.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: So, whereas a course you can create something very quick that gives that student a quick win.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: So, I don't know, building their email list in three easy steps.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: If you were to approach this through creating a program, it may be that you go into a lot more detail in terms of what they need to do.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: So it may be that you talk about creating a freebie or a lead magnet, for example, or how to set up landing pages, how to build email funnels, or write compelling email sequences.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: So this is going to create something that is a lot deeper and has a lot more sort of meat on the bone than perhaps what that online course would provide.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now, of course, you can create an online course that includes the same amount of content, but this will be a bigger course, and of course, it will take you longer to create.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_00: So that's quite an important distinction between online courses and programs is the fact that with an online course, you're not going to be there to make sure that they're implementing it in the right way.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with a program, you could at least facilitate that transformation in person.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: So you can be there to guide them through step by step.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: Another difference between a program and an online course is the availability of content as well.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: With online courses, students are most likely to have full access to the content there and then.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with a program, it's most likely going to be drip fed over a period of time.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this means that with a program, of course, you can create that community feel so that everybody's going through the content at the same time.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_00: So if they come across anything that they find a challenge or they're struggling with, then you can facilitate conversation around it, building more of a community-like approach.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with an online course, if you've given them full access to the content as soon as they've purchased it, then they're all going to be working through the course in their own time.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're thinking about what approach is right, I would just take into account that as well.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: Do you want to build more of a community feel around a program, or do you want people to really approach your course in an individual way so that they are working through it in their own time at their own pace?
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: The downside to a drip-fed approach is what it requires is that all your students are going to be working at it at the same time, which can be frustrating for students, then they want to work on something at a faster pace.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are looking at approaching your offer in this way, then you just really need to make sure that you know exactly who your students are, how they like to work, and if this approach is going to be right for them.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think one of the real benefits of creating a program is that you will have direct contact with your students so that you can create a more intimate and tailored approach to your teaching, which you can't do if you're delivering an online course.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: Because the online courses are pre-recorded, it means that you do record the content once and then you deliver it to your students through an online platform.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with a program, you can tailor your approach to your audience, which enables you to build a deeper connection with them because you're going to be seeing them week on week as you deliver that program so that you can get to know them and really build that know, like, and trust.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: Another advantage to running a program is that you can gain valuable insights from your students.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: You're working with them week on week through the curriculum that you've set, but you can also build in opportunity to really find out what your students are struggling with and what they need help with and what they feel about the content that you're creating.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: You can actually do this in real time, whereas with an online course, you can't.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: You can get feedback by running an online course, but you're relying on waiting until that student has completed that online course and then they've given you the feedback.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with a program, you're building those relationships so you can get that feedback whilst they're in the program.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: So there's some real advantage to that because that feedback, those insights could be what takes your program to the next level.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_00: In my business, I offer both online courses and programs.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I've experienced both sides of the coin.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: Passion to Launch is my signature program that helps female entrepreneurs to create and sell an online course with confidence and ease.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now, every time I deliver my Passion to Launch program, I learn something new about my students and what they want, which is great, because then I can include that in the next time I run the program, which makes my program even better.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_00: So delivering a program in person does allow you to be more present and it also enables you to be more responsive so that you can provide your students with exactly what they need and help to elevate their learning experience.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now, once you understand what your students want, how they like to learn, you can then develop a program that is so effective that it helps them to achieve the transformation that you're promising them.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: The first time I ran my Passion to Launch program, I realized that weekly trainings and a few resources weren't enough.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: My students needed a roadmap, they needed easy, so that's what I went away and created.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: The second time I ran my program, I gave them more and more to help them create their online course, and I also created an additional product called the Course Creators Template Pack, which was packed full of every type of template a course creator would need to make their life easier, not just when they're creating their course, but when it came to selling it as well.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this was really successful because it was exactly what my students wanted.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_00: So what I'd produced was going to help them along the way.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, for me, it was a success because not only did I generate additional revenue, I also knew that I was making a real difference in the way I was supporting my students.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I would not have gained that insight had I not listened to my students during our group sessions.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: I've since taken it a step further and made these resources available for any course creator to buy.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_00: But what I learned off the back of Delivering My Group program was that it uncovered new opportunities, and that's what delivering a program can do.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: It can help you gain that valuable insight into what is needed so that you can deliver something of true value.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so now let's touch on time and how much time it will take to create either an online course or a program.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_00: So, with an online course, you have options on the different types of courses you can create.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: And if you want to know more about this, then check out episode seven, how to choose the right type of course to create, because I dive into this in more detail.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_00: But essentially, depending on the type of course you choose, that's what's going to determine how long it's going to take for you to get it out in the world.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: So the more extensive the course is, the longer it's going to take for you to create it, which is why I always recommend that if you are creating an online course for the very first time, start with creating a mini course because it's going to give you a quick and easy win.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: When it comes to online courses, you can make it as simple or as comprehensive as what you want to be.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: But you do just have to bear in mind that if you make it complex, it's going to take you longer to start making money from it.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when it comes to creating a program, again, the program itself is most likely going to be more comprehensive than an online course, which means again, it's going to take you longer to create.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: Entrepreneurs often create programs that tend to be their high-ticket offer that sits at the bottom of their sales funnel because of the depth of content and teaching involved.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: So you just need to think about when it comes to your funnel, where do you want this product to sit and how complex do you want to make it?
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_00: Are you looking to get a quick and easy win?
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: In which case, maybe think about creating an online course, or do you want to develop something that has some real meat on the bone, some substance that's really going to help your students to transform in some way?
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about revenue potential.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what I will say is that if you are looking to create an online course or a program in order to achieve a quick win and to make money, then I wouldn't encourage you to do either because both take time and energy and effort to create.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_00: If you're going to provide your students with any kind of value, then you need to take that time to figure out what that looks like and then put in the effort to make sure that it's as good as what you can make it.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are looking at just getting a quick win in terms of making money, then I would say neither are probably right.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: But if you want to show up and you want to serve and you want to provide your students with a huge amount of value and help them to transform in some way, then both options are great.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now, online courses are often a lot cheaper to sell, and they are a really great way for your students to get the teaching that they need at an affordable price, which is why online courses are so popular.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_00: It just takes away that barrier now.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: So students don't have to go into adult education centres in order to learn something, they can just learn something from the comfort of their own home.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: So there's some real benefit there, not only for your students, but of course for you as well, because it means that your students are most likely looking for some kind of transformation that you can help them with.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's also easier to scale with online courses as well, because you're not restricted to the amount of people that take your online course.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas with a program, if you're delivering it live, you may have a capacity on the amount of people that you can help through that program at any given time.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now, something to consider with programs is that whilst they are more extensive and that there's a lot more teaching involved, you can of course sell it for more money.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_00: So programs are a great way to generate larger sums of money by creating a program that sits over a period of time.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: And you can scale with a program.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_00: The only thing you have to think about is if part of the appeal of the program is that they're getting you and access to you through that program, you have to think about your limitations as well.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: You can't really be there and support hundreds of people through a group program because they're not going to get that time with you or have that access to you because it would just be too much.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_00: So with a live program, it may be that you have a capacity that you can support before it becomes too much.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: So also consider that as well.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_00: There you have it.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_00: The main differences between creating an online course and creating a program for your business.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you are still sitting on the fence not knowing whether to create an online course or a program for your business, then I just want you to really consider the following.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to ask yourself where you see your business five years from now.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: Where do you want to be?
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_00: Think about how that business looks and what you have available to you.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_00: What kind of business do you want to create?
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_00: And how do you want to feel as well?
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think we need to step into that sense of feeling to know if it's really going to align with what we want.
• 26:43
  SPEAKER_00: Also, consider whether you want to create a business that provides teaching online or whether you actually want to build a community that supports your audience by giving them direct access to you.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: Also, think about what's going to bring you the most joy.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_00: Do you enjoy creating products?
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_00: And if so, will you enjoy creating an online course, or would you prefer to simply deliver your teaching in person?
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, creating an online course isn't for everyone.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_00: Some people love creating online courses, where others enjoy teaching people in person.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_00: But either way, it's going to be about you, what you want to create, and what's going to give you the most enjoyment, and no one can make that choice for you.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I've created both options in my business.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_00: I have online courses and I've got a signature group program which is called Passion to Launch, both of which work really well in my business and have made a huge difference, not only to my revenue, but also to the future potential of my business as well.
• 27:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now I enjoy delivering both options.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: I love creating.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: I get a huge amount of satisfaction from creating content that I know will help other people.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_00: However, for me, it's all about offering a choice to my audience.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_00: You can either buy products that I've created to help you grow, or you can come on board my group program and become part of a community of like-minded course creators who share similar ambitions and dreams.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_00: There's true power in being made accountable and having a team there to support your success, which I think is a huge advantage of delivering a program.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_00: So, whatever your approach is that you choose, the one thing I do believe that in order to create true long-lasting success in our businesses, we must find absolute joy in what we do, how we create it, and also how we deliver it to our audience as well.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_00: The direction that you choose to take must align with you, the goals of your business, and ultimately lead you towards the freedom and financial independence that you truly desire.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you found this episode of value, and of course, please feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_00: If you are feeling inspired and would like to know more about getting started with creating an online digital course, then why not download my free ebook, 10 Steps to Digital Course Success, by visiting my website www.carinhyfendavies.com.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_00: I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a great week.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on Wednesday, so why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.