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53: The 4 stages of the course creation process · Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode 53, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about the four stages of the course creation process.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 0:23
  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.
• 0:30
  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.
• 0:38
  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.
• 0:48
  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.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me today.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host Karen and I really appreciate you hitting the play button to listen to today's episode.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: In today's episode, I'm going to be talking about creating your online course, and I'm going to be breaking down the process into four key stages, which will help you to understand what goes into creating an online course if you are new to this.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: But before I do, do you fancy some freebies?
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: If so, then I want you to head over to my brand new resource hub and go and grab some free resources that's going to help you to move forward in your business.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now I've got all kinds of freebies in there from branding to online course creation.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Just go and visit marketplace.pink-lemondigital.com to grab your freebies.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Now my goal is to help you build momentum in your business, whether it's through this podcast or through my resource hub.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm in your corner.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to succeed.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: So go and download the resources, they're going to help you, and then get in contact with me and let me know how you're getting on.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Back to today's episode, and in today's episode, I'm going to lift the lid on the course creation process because this is something that I get asked a lot, and I'm going to share with you the four different stages that you will need to go through before you start making sales.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the biggest mistakes course creators can make is not planning out their course properly.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: This step could either be overlooked or it can be skipped over, but it is one of the most essential ingredients to creating an online course that sells.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: So it's important the time is taken to plan out the course in the right way.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you don't take that time and work on your online course, you're going to end up with something that's not going to either deliver results or it won't deliver a transformation that you are going to be promising your students, meaning that your students probably won't either finish the course, or if they do, they're not going to get what they needed from it.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as course creators, we have a responsibility to deliver a course that is effective and that delivers the results that we are actually promising.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: So it's important to remember that your students are not going to be buying your course because they're looking to take another course, they're actually going to be buying your course because they want to get hold of that result, they want to get that transformation because that's the thing that's going to make a difference in their life.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Nobody wants to spend their valuable time watching countless videos or downloading resources if it's not going to give them something in return.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: So you need to make sure that when you create your online course, you are delivering something that is effective, that does what it says on the tin.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: And the only way you can really do that is by planning it out properly and going through these various stages that I'm going to share with you today.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: If you don't, then the chances are you're either not going to get the sales, or if you do get the sales, then you're going to end up with unhappy students because what will happen is that there won't be enough of a framework or a system in place to hold them as they're working through your online course because your course is a vehicle, and that vehicle is for your students to get a result.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: And what I don't want for you is for you to spend so much time creating your online course only to walk away despondent because you're not getting those sales and therefore feeling as though you have wasted your time.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: An online course in your business can be the difference between you being trained to your desk or you getting the freedom that you desire.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: Because with an online course or a digital product, you build it once and then you sell it on repeat, which means that yes, there's work to be done up front, but you have something on the table ready to go time after time, which is going to bring you income into your business.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: So it really is worth taking the time and working through this and going through the various stages so that you end up with an online course that is of true value and that delivers results to your students.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are currently creating a course or you're thinking about it and you're curious to know what's involved, then I'm going to share with you these four really important stages of the course creation process.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: So stage one is of course the planning stage.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I touched on this a few moments ago.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this stage is really really important.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: The way to look at it is you wouldn't build a house without laying the foundations first.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: So why would you create an online course and not lay the right foundations?
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: The planning stage is all about the foundational pieces.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: They need to be there to hold up the thing that you're selling.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: This stage involves many different things.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: It involves the you know you setting your course goals because that's really important.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: You need to have a really good understanding of what you're looking to achieve before you even set about trying to achieve it.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: You need that clarity, you need to know what that end goal is going to look like, you need to know your target audience, who your ideal student is.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: Your online course is not going to be right for everybody, but it is going to be right for someone.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: Who is that someone?
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: And what are the learning outcomes?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: What are you teaching?
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: What do you want them to walk away with?
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: And what does that look like in their life?
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: What are the benefits to your students?
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: So get really clear on that.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this stage also includes carrying out research, making sure that your idea is a viable idea, there's a market for it, therefore it's going to sell.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: So you need to do the research, and then, of course, developing an outline for your content, which is going to guide you through the creation process.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I know there's lots and of things there to think about, but each component is really important that it holds its own weight, and so you need to get really clear as to what each of those is so that you can create your online course with that clarity that you know exactly who it's for, what what it does, and what the results are?
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: So the planning stage is where you get really clear on all of those areas.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: You also want to identify your teaching strategies.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: So, how are you going to deliver your content?
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: Are you going to be delivering it through video?
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Are you going to be delivering it through voiceover and slides?
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Are you going to include quizzes and interactive elements to engage your learners?
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: How what are you going to include and how are you going to deliver it?
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: So, this is where you need to get really clear on that as well.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: Because that will ultimately influence the content that you'll then go on to create.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: You also need to have a really good idea on timeline.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: How long do you want your online course to be?
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: Because this again is going to influence how long your videos are, how long your teaching is going to be in your modules, in your lessons.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: So, what does that look like?
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: And then you want to be thinking about the materials that you're going to include within your course.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: So, are you going to have templates, digital downloads?
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Are you going to have case studies, bonuses?
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Are you going to include cheat sheets and swipe files?
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: All of these elements that help your learner, your student, to get to where they need to be.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: And then are you going to ask for feedback throughout your course as well?
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is something that often doesn't get thought about, but actually, it is really important, especially when you're launching your course for the first time.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: You really want to be able to engage your learners but get that feedback as well so that you know how they're doing as they're going through your course, and then also you need to really think about how you're going to revise and update your course because you might find that the feedback you then get from your students will give you ideas on how you can make your course better.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now remember, planning your course is going to take time and it's going to take effort.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: So you need to be patient, persistent, and you need to be open to feedback as well.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Your course is going to evolve over time, but you do need to get your first draft started and done, and that starts with planning.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so stage two is the creation stage.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: So this is the fun stage, this is where you get to be creative.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: So this is where you start to work out what that content looks like.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now your course content should be engaging, it should be informative, and ultimately it should be aligned with your learning outcomes, which is why, in stage one, the planning stage, you need to determine what they look like.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the planning stage is going to make the creation stage so much easier because in the planning stage, you're going to have a really good idea on your framework, what that looks like, the process that you're going to use to take your students on a journey.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: So in stage two, it's about creating the content that's relevant to that framework.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: So make sure in the planning stage you are outline outlining the framework.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: So this is the stage, stage two, the creation stage, is where you then go on to develop the content.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: Having researched your topics and having broken them down into easily digestible sections that build on each other, you should at this point be in a position where you can start creating the content around those topics.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: This is where you're going to most likely get involved with using video or audio or creating slides.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: So your content is what you're going to be using to engage your students so that they work through your course.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: One of the things that I do recommend through the creation stage is that you have a workflow, and what I mean by that is that you have some kind of system that helps you to identify all the key tasks that you need to do through this stage.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: You could use any project management tool at this point, it could be Trello, it could be ClickUp, it could be Asana, it could be Notion.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: There are so many tools there on the market.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: But what I do recommend is having a workflow that you work by because what you'll find during this stage is that you're going to have so many key tasks that you're going to need to work on, you really want to keep on top of what those look like, and it could be something really simple where you identify what there is to do, you identify what is in progress, and then you identify what is completed.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: But this system is going to be enough of a system to help keep you on track.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: So during the creation stage, when you've got a lot of things going on, especially if you're creating a course that maybe has five or six modules, you really want to be in a position where you know where you are at any given time.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: Once you have created your content during this stage, you really want to make sure that you take the time to check it all your content through to eliminate any errors or inconsistencies in your course content.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: And this might be a good time to maybe bring somebody on board that can maybe look at through your content as well, just to make sure everything flows, it all makes sense, and that actually it delivers the outcomes that you're promising.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so stage three is the build stage.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: So this is the stage that I think many, many people dread because it's the stage where you're using tech.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the amount of questions I get asked about tech is crazy, and it more or less always starts with, I'm not great at tech.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing: not much tech is actually needed, or not as much as what you may think.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, of course, we need to use the tools that to deliver our content and to help us get our course out in the world, but I promise you, it's not as difficult as what you may think.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Once you have clarity around what you need and how you would like to deliver your course, then it's about finding the right tool to support your needs.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in the build stage, you're going to be looking at online course platforms.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now, there are so many platforms out there on the market.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: The market has exponentially grown over the past couple of years, mainly due to the pandemic where everyone went online, it's made online courses more accessible.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, more and more people are creating online courses, so the trend has definitely shifted, and with that, we've now got an abundance of platforms that we can choose from, which is great in one respect, but in the other respect, it means that there's there's almost too many platforms to choose from.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: So, what I say at this point, really, and what I advise my students is when you go to choose your course platform, you need to really think about your goals and you need to align your platform with your goals.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: If you think in the future you could be creating multiple courses, a membership, a group program, digital products, all of that good stuff, then absolutely invest in a really good platform.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_00: Punjabi is amazing, Member Vault is amazing, teachable, you've got you've got ThinkIfic, you've got so many platforms out there that do the job.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: On the other flip side of that, if you think this is a one-time thing, you're not going to do this again, and you just want to have something that you can offer your clients, then maybe have a look at some sort of more cost-effective solutions like Podia.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Even I mean, I mentioned Teachable before, but that's got a really good sort of cost-effective uh price point as well.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: So, really have a look around, do your research, but don't choose your platform based on cost alone.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: Your platform is an investment and you need to invest wisely.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: And what you don't want to do is move from platform to platform because if you get set up on say Kinjabi and then you move to another platform, trust me when I say there's a lot of work involved, and you really don't want to have to deal with that.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: So choose your platform, but take your time and make sure that the platform that you choose is right for you.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the platforms are created in a very simplistic way.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: So if you go for something like Podia or Punjabi, in terms of price points, they're at the opposite end.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: Podia is very cost-effective, Punjabi is that bit more expensive, but the thing they do have in common is that they both are easy to build on.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: What I recommend is that you don't approach this stage of your course creation process with dread and fear, because I promise you it's not as difficult as what you may be thinking.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: If you approach this with a negative mindset, then that's the experience that you're going to receive.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas if you remain open and allow yourself time to learn, then you will actually find that you'll enjoy this stage of the process.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: I really enjoy building courses.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_00: I know my clients enjoy building courses.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, one of my clients is a confidence coach, and she worked with me on her course, she was in my group programme, and when she started, she felt anything but confident when it came to building her online course.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_00: She'd tell herself that she couldn't do it, she wasn't very techie, and that it was going to be really, really hard.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_00: But by the end of our time working together, not only did she build her own course, she was also using video and tools in other areas of her business because she realized that once she got through the barrier of her own mindset, then it became so much easier.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: So by her shifting her mindset and giving herself permission to be okay with learning this for the first time, she actually found that she enjoyed the process and she became confident with building her online course.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't want you to fear this stage of the process.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, there's tech involved, but I promise you it isn't as challenging as what you might think.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so stage four is the launch stage.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: So this is where you're going to launch your online course out into the world.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_00: Now, at this point, your course is going to be published on a platform, you're going to have created all your content, and you'll have planned your course.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: So you'll have done all of those really important stages, and now you're at the launch stage.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_00: So this is where you're going to be looking at your launch strategy and how you're going to get your online course out into the world in front of your people.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: So this does require some marketing because you're going to need to promote your course, but there are lots of simple strategies out there to support you with launching your online course.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: So during the launch phase, you want to really set a launch date for when you're going to have your product ready to sell.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_00: Once you know what that date is, then you can communicate that with your audience and let them know that you've got something really exciting that you're going to be launching.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: And then once the launch date has arrived, then you encourage people to enroll in your course.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now there are various ways to launch your online course.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: There are lots of strategies and tactics that you can use to get your course out into the world in front of the right people.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_00: But the thing to remember at this stage is that launching an online course is going to be an ongoing process, it's not just a one and done thing, it requires effort and it requires persistence.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: And at the beginning, when you're new to launching, it might be that you don't necessarily get the sales that you really want because you're learning.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: So you have to give yourself time and you have to give yourself grace to learn what needs to be learned in order to get the results that you actually desire.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: However, with the right tools and the right strategies in place, you can create a really successful online course that provides immense value to your students.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
• 20:36
  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.
• 20:45
  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.pink-lemondigital.com.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a great week.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the digitally she does it show.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: So why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.