Latest / Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs / 7: How to choose the right type of course to create

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7: How to choose the right type of course to create · 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 seven, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about how to choose the right type of course to create.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the digitally she does it show.
• 0:24
  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.
• 0:31
  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.
• 0:39
  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.
• 0:49
  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.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: After all, where do you start?
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Where do you begin this journey?
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: And I know when I first started out creating my course, which is Crafting Your Brand, I spent a great deal of time trying to figure it all out, and I didn't know where to start.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: I knew my topic because I knew what I wanted to create a course on.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: I had a really good idea about the value that I wanted to offer my students, and I had a kind of idea about where I wanted them to be at the end of the course, but anything outside of that I really struggled with.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the first things that I would advise you to consider is to think about the type of course that you want to create for your business because there are many different options available to you.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the reason why I say this is because by choosing the type of course you will create, you can then be intentional not only with the type of content to include, but of course with the amount of content you include as well.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Now, you don't want to be adding everything and the kitchen sink if you are only creating a short mini course because it's going to be too much and it's most likely going to overwhelm your students.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: But then on the flip side, you don't want to be creating only a small amount of content if you're intending on creating a signature offer.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: So it's important to get that balance right, and I think by choosing the type of course that you're going to be creating at the beginning, you will then have a better idea as to what is required as you are pulling together your content.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Now you also want to be thinking about your ideal student and of course what is right for them at their stage of their journey.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: For example, if you're creating an online course because you want to have a low-cost offer available to new customers when they first come into contact with your business, then you don't want to be overwhelming them with a course that's going to take them ages to complete.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: It may be far more effective to create an online course that gives them a quick win so you can start building that no, like, and trust and prove that you are the person to teach them what they need to know and move them forward in their life or in their business.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I think, in order to create the right course for your students, you need to really determine what course is going to best suit them at the right stage of their journey.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in order to help you understand this a little bit more, I'm going to run through five main course types that exist.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: So when you are thinking about creating an online course, I'm hoping that this will help you when deciding what type of course you're going to be creating.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: So the first type of course that I'm going to talk about is the masterclass course.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you have signed up to any offers online, perhaps you've seen a Facebook ad and you've clicked through their call to action and it's taking you through to a landing page, you may well come across a masterclass course that they're giving to you for free.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: And this might be because at that stage of your journey, you need to see the masterclass course, which of course is then going to lead to something else.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: So, what's great about this type of course is that it gives the person creating the course a very quick win because more often than not it will consist of only one video recording, and it may be up to about 90 minutes maximum.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: So it's enough time to teach the students something very small, but it gives them a quick win as well.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this could be a webinar recording or it could be a workshop that you have delivered in person that you've then gone on to record, and this option is great if you're building out your funnel, so you can use this type of course to nurture prospective customers along your pipeline.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: And these courses tend to offer a great deal of value, so it's teaching your prospective students something straight out the gate, essentially.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: So if your offer is something that is relatively low cost, then what you may do is add this masterclass course to the next stage of their journey.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a really great way to nurture your students and to bring them along that journey so you can then nurture them further.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: And the great thing about this type of course is that it doesn't take long to create, it gives you a quick win and enables you to build a really effective funnel that offers tons of value to your audience.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: Now, my second course type is the mini course, and the mini course is a great place to start when you're creating an online course for the first time.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: It does require more effort than the masterclass course, and it will often follow a five or six-step framework.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: This course provides more value to your audience than the masterclass course because it's longer, and you can use this type of course to teach something for the first time.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: Mini courses are a great course to use when you're jumping off into a subject matter that perhaps your students are looking to learn about for the very first time because it's not too long, but it also contains enough content that it gives them value and leads them to a result.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this type of course is my favorite because, again, you can have a relatively quick win without having to spend months and months and months creating the course, and also mini courses are not expensive, they don't have a high price point, which means that if your students have any objections around the pricing, you can quickly deal with these head-on.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: And often people put pricing plans in place to support this.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: Mini courses often sit around the 100 to 300 pound mark, so again, it doesn't have a huge price point, but it gives you enough money to make this type of course worthwhile.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a great example of a mini course I think that's done really well is the Jenna Kutch's The Podcast Lab, which I recently completed.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: It consists of a simple six-module system that is designed to help you set up and launch your podcast in 30 days or less.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what was great about this online course is that it wasn't overwhelming, there was just enough information provided to help with every step, and every step of the framework was actionable, which meant by the end of the course you walk away with a podcast.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: So it really does feed into the promise that it made at the start.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Which proves how powerful online courses can be, it can really help move your business forward, whether you're creating them or taking them.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: So my third course type is the spotlight course.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a spotlight course allows you to dive deeper into the subject matter that you're teaching your students.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: It does take longer to complete because there's much more content that needs to be included, but because there's more content, this type of course is charged at a higher rate, so you will earn more money for your efforts.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of my clients has recently created a spotlight course all about creating a social media strategy.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: So this is a perfect example of a really great spotlight course because it provides a deeper level of teaching.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_00: This online course helps students to create a well-structured social media plan for their business so that they can get the most out of the social media channels and make it work for their business.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: So, no more wasting time and effort.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: This course gives a plan on how to move forward.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if my client was just creating a mini course, she would most likely focus her efforts on one single platform.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: So she probably would have created a course around Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_00: But instead, she decided to create a course that helps her students to not only define their goals but also get clear with who they want to connect with and then choose the right platform and need to be on in order to leverage that social media platform effectively.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: So as you can see, she dives in a lot deeper than what the previous two courses would have provided.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: But of course, this course also still leaves the door open for more.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: So she can go further into this subject matter and create a deeper course around this.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: So a spotlight course is really good if you are literally wanting to create a course that has some real meat on the bone, but you don't want to take it so far that you end up throwing everything at it.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Now, course time number four is the signature course.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is the course that you want to be thinking of if you want to create a signature offer that sits at the bottom of your sales funnel.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: So this would be the equivalent to the gold at the end of the rainbow.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: And in this course, you're most likely going to be adding everything and the kitchen sink because ultimately this course is going to be your main offer.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: This is where you're going to be nurturing your audience and you're going to be directing them to this place at the end.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the transformation that you're going to be providing for a signature course is going to be a lot bigger because, with this course, you're going to be diving into your subject a lot deeper.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: You're going to be teaching your students something that's going to make a significant impact in their life or in their business, and it's going to influence them in some way.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: So that transformational aspect of your course is going to be bigger, which means the results that your students are going to be achieving are also going to be bigger.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a great example of a signature course is the Marie Folios B School.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're not aware of what this course is, B School is a six-week video-based course that teaches online marketing strategies to business owners.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this course is extensive and it's broken down into an easy-to-follow framework, which consists of modules and lessons that have been designed to lead the student on a journey to achieve a specific outcome.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the reason why this course is a signature course is because it's comprehensive, and Marie Follio is teaching her students to get a significant result at the end of it.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: By the end of the course, they will have lots of marketing strategies that will ultimately help them to grow their business and make more money as a result.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now, because this course is expensive, the price for this starts at$2,500.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: But two and a half thousand dollars is obviously a lot more money than the previous three course types that I've spoken about.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, most signature programs will start around£2,000 or dollars because of the amount of content and value that's been included, but also it will require a significant amount of value as well.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: Because these signature courses are often based on the facilitator, the person providing the content to have packaged up what they know.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: So there will be a lot of knowledge and experience involved, which means that they can sell that at a premium price because it offers a great deal more value.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: However, just be aware with this type of course, it will take a long time to create and will require you to be really credible in your subject area.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I'm not saying not to be credible in the other course types, I'm not saying that at all.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_00: I think whenever you create an online course, you must be able to deliver on the promise that you're making.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's an absolute.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: But with the signature course, because you are delivering an extensive program that will lead to a big result, you need to have proof that you can do this, i.e., you've worked with clients where you have gotten the results that you are promising your students.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_00: And often signature programs are built around service offerings that have been done through one-to-one services, so to speak.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: So often signature courses are delivered because the facilitator that's delivering the course has been doing this on a one-to-one basis.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: So they have proof of the fact that they can get a result, but where they are in their journey is they're ready to automate it.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_00: So instead of delivering it on a one-to-one basis, they will often create a signature course that then delivers it on auto.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: But more often not, it's because they have the results and they can guarantee through the course that they're creating, the results are going to be delivered.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think that's a fundamental point to make that if you do decide to create a signature course that you're going to deliver on auto, i.e., you're going to package it up into a course, then you must have proof of the fact that it delivers the results that you're promising.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_00: Because your students are going to be paying a lot of money for this course, they're going to have big expectations, and of course, you're going to want these expectations to be met.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the fifth and final course to consider is a certification course.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, these courses are often high-ticket type courses because of what the students are going to walk away with.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_00: However, in order to be able to create this type of course, you do need to be able to certify your students, which means that you'll be able to qualify them in your area of expertise.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this type of course is great if you want to give out qualifications and you want to give a recognized skill that your students can walk away with and apply to their life or their business.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: So they are walking away with a certificate which has been qualified so that they become an expert in that area.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_00: This type of course is the most comprehensive type of course purely based on the level of work involved.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: So often there will be an official curriculum of some kind that will need to be followed by the student so that they meet specific criteria in order to gain the recognized qualification.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, an example of this type of course would be an online coaching course that promises to qualify the students as a qualified coach once they pass the course.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_00: So these types of courses often start with a very high price point because of the end result that the student's going to walk away with.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: So you may see these courses priced at about£10,000 or$10,000 because they offer a big result at the end of this.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I would only consider this type of course if you are qualified to qualify others in your space.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: For example, if you are a well-being practitioner who is able to qualify other well-being professionals, then this could be the type of course to consider.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_00: But just know that there's going to be a lot of work involved because it's going to take time.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_00: And this course is definitely not for you if you are looking to get a quick win.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: So there you have it.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: I have shared with you five different course types that you can create in your business, all of which will deliver a result at a different level.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: Before you get going on creating your online course, I would encourage you to take some time to consider which course type will work best for you, your goals, and where your students are in their journey.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: Consider why you want to create an online course and how you want your course to support your business.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: Is it something that's going to sit at the top of your sales funnel to help bring in more clients into your business?
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: In which case, consider starting with a mini course.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_00: Or are you wanting to digitalize your main offering that you currently deliver in person?
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you need to consider creating a signature course that sits at the bottom of your sales funnel.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_00: But before you start, I would definitely encourage you to get laser clear on your core objectives for your business and then choose the course type that supports your vision.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_00: If a client is new to course creation, then I always recommend starting with a mini course because it is a great place to begin your online course journey and it doesn't take too long to create.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: You can sell this for about£100 to£300, depending on the amount of value that you include in the course.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are just dipping your toes into the exciting world of online course creation, then why not start here?
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_00: Don't start overcomplicating something that really doesn't need to be overcomplicated.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: Start small and build from there.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_00: Because online courses are all about sharing your knowledge, your expertise, your know-how, and your wisdom to your students.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: So get comfortable by creating something small that you know will deliver a quick win for your students and then build from there.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you found this episode of value, and of course, please do feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: If you are feeling inspired and would like to know more about getting started with creating online digital courses, then why now download my free ebook, 10 Steps to Digital Course Success, by visiting my website www.carinhyphies.com.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_00: I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a great week.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday, so why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.