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The Online Course Coach Podcast

The Online Course Coach Podcast, brought to by TrueFocusMedia.com is THE podcast for the latest in online course creation tips, news, interviews and ideas. Whether you're creating eLearning for your company or a solopreneur building an online course to sell your expertise, this podcast will give you tips from Jeff Long as well as regular interviews from other industry leaders.
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Now displaying: May, 2018
May 17, 2018

Please help us bring more content to the masses by subscribing to the podcast at https://onlinecoursecoach.com/itunesapp

Today I talk with Sharyn Sheldon about how you can create white label courses for companies. Sharyn has quite a unique model compared to most other course creators. Typical course creators create a course for themselves and sell it to the audience. Others are contracted to create a course for a company and that company sells the content to the audience. What Sharyn does is quite different but very intriguing. She owns contentsparks.com, where she offers business coaches and consultants with professional quality, brandable training programs and marketing materials. Sharyn’s content is the time-saving secret her customers use to expand their reputation, attract new leads, and raise their income. Let’s hear from Sharyn and her thoughts on creating white label online courses for companies: What is your background? Sharyn: My journey to online courses began when I was working for a consulting company. They were doing learning and consulting for big companies. As a consultant, I worked with places like Mary Lynch, MetLife, UBS, JP Morgan and many other financial and insurance institutions. I used to love the job because it was all about designing learning solutions at a strategic level, and that was really where my course creation started. Gradually online became the norm with things like online marketing and content marketing booming. Then I came across Private Label Rights (PLR), where I saw the opportunity to start my business.

You have an interesting business model, how did you think of it and how has it changed throughout the years?

Sharyn:  Well, my thinking was that coaches, consultants, and small business owner shouldn’t have to waste time creating course content when they can be directly helping their clients in sharing their expertise. They don’t need to create the courses themselves but rather benefit from our team of experienced professionals, who have been creating programs for big companies and small businesses for the last 25 years. So, we provide all the needed materials to teach various courses and all a course creator has to do is tailor it for their market. They can add their names, branding, and inject their own voice and insights. Basically, we help course creators help others.

What process do you take to find out what courses to create?

Sharyn: Picking topics is always a challenge. At the moment because I have a large customer base, I always start by requesting what they or their customers want to know. Another thing I look at is what sold well in the past and I regularly check online for those hot topics. Most importantly, I focus on evergreen topics that will last long.

How long should each lesson be and why?

Sharyn: Most of my lessons are about 2 to 7 minutes long. I would say that a video lesson shouldn’t be more than 10 minutes. The reason is that people start losing focus with very long videos, yet to want them to remember the content. That is for online but if I’m doing something like a webinar, I wouldn’t want to spend more than a minute on one slide. For offline lessons, I advise not to go more than 15 minutes before you start asking questions and getting interactions.

What are some marketing strategies that you’ve had that worked over the years?

Sharyn: I must say that the way I got my first big break was from referrals. Luckily, I had an affiliate program set up and so it was easy for my colleagues to refer people to my site. Since then, email marketing has always worked for me. My email list then led to content marketing. And when I re-branded to Contentsparks, I created a Facebook group for my existing customers. The group has helped me a lot in making repeat sales. I also create a waiting list which I use to notify customers about a new course and that way I get to close sales from the moment I launch a new course.

What is the process you quickly use to create courses?

Sharyn: Actually ours is not that quick process. But, whenever we want to do it quickly, the key is to start at that high-level outline without writing up a lot of the stuff. When we know the topic, we don't have to write in all the details - bullet points just suffice.

What would you tell someone that's created a course but hasn't seen it get the results they were hoping for?

Sharyn: When it comes to results, there are two types; monetary and student success. The first one is if you are making sales while the latter is based on whether your students are getting value from your courses. So I will advise that you get feedback from your students so you know what they need to hear. Once you understand your student's needs, then it's easy for you to customize a course for them. When your students know they are getting value from your course, then they're likely to buy it and, in turn, you make money too.

Where can we learn more about you and what you do?

Sharyn: You can find me at onlinecoursecouch.com/contentsparks, where I also offer my courses. We focus primarily on business coaches and consultants although we do have other people too. At the moment, we are hoping to create a curriculum that pulls together various topics. So, we're looking to create a membership site where people will learn a wide range of things from the courses.  

May 10, 2018

Please help us bring more content to the masses by subscribing to the podcast at https://onlinecoursecoach.com/itunesapp

We all know that getting found on Google is critical to the success of our online course. But did you know that Google owns YouTube and it's just as important to get found on YouTube which is the #2 most popular search engine (right after Google)? It's important to not just have quality content on your course but also create helpful content, build an audience and provide value. And you should be doing this on YouTube. In this episode, I talk with Tim Schmoyer about YouTube, Video and how to feel confident in front of the camera. First of all, we talk about YouTube. Do you have a YouTube channel set up yet? If not, we talk about some reasons why you might want to consider that. We also talk about how to get comfortable in front of the camera. Tim has some very interesting things to say, some of which I haven’t thought about. I’ve been producing videos for clients since 2003 and I’ve produced a LOT of videos, but even with my experience, Tim brought a different perspective on several different topics which I really appreciate. And since we’re talking about video today, are you like most of us that struggle with being on camera? Maybe you are uncomfortable or you don’t like doing it, and that has prohibited you from making effective course videos. Perhaps you are like many other people who struggle with the technology side or you don’t want to waste money buying the wrong equipment or software.


Online courses that use video are 83% more effective in helping students remember the information better!

But most people struggle with complicated equipment or software, the cost of buying equipment, or they don’t feel confident in front of the camera. That’s why I created Easy Video for Courses. I’ve taken all the confusion out of the process so you can make effective course videos in half the time, even if you don’t like being on camera. I share some of my go-to resources for creating better videos, whether graphics, stock photos or videos and even PowerPoint templates. So, you definitely want to check out easyvideoforcourses.com to learn more and get the course.

Go to EasyVideoForCourses.com to learn more and get the course.


Now let’s dive right into the interview.

Tim Schmoyer's Bio

In 2006 Tim uploaded his first video to YouTube to introduce his girlfriend to his family across the country. Others started watching, so he started digging into YouTube to figure out how it worked and in 2011 he became the first creator to start training YouTube creators. Today his company, Video Creators, has been featured by FOX, Forbes, BBC even YouTube themselves as he trains other creators to master the YouTube platform and use it as a place to spread messages that change lives. And he married his girlfriend. So Tim, thanks so much for being on the Online Course Coach podcast today.

What is your background and how did you get started with video?

I started doing video in 2006 when I was in graduate school in Dallas, Texas. I had just started dating this girl and wanted a way of introducing her to my family back home in Philadelphia. This place called YouTube had just started a few months prior. People were posting videos and watching them, and I thought I could try it too. We started going out with my girlfriend and making little videos together of the places we went to. I started posting those videos on YouTube for my family to see. We went on to creating videos on our engagement, wedding, honeymoon, first real job, first house, first kids, and more. Back in the early days when we were dating to our engagement, other people were watching and commenting on our videos. I started trying to figure out how the platform worked, how people found my videos, why they were watching my videos and why they were commenting on them. I ended up on the inquisitive side of trying to figure out how the platform works, how audiences grow, what causes people to watch and get them interested, and I ended up working with Disney, Time Warner, eBay, HBO, and other companies. In the meantime, I got known as the guy who’s trying to figure out how the platform works. So, here I am today, on a full-time business to help people create online businesses and audiences around their YouTube audience and channels.

What do you like about YouTube creators and why do you focus on that audience?

In the past, there used to be no money involved. People were just creating videos out of the passion to tell stories, to reach audiences, and to express themselves creatively. A lot has happened since then, including YouTube’s change of ownership from a group of guys to Google, and most people coming in these days with the aim of making money out of the platform. Even so, the people I like on YouTube are those with a mission behind what they are doing. The people who get excited about reaching people and changing their lives, notwithstanding the need to make money and make their practice sustainable.

Why did you create your first course?

There are different reasons as to why. The truth is, if you have videos embedded into your website and people click on those videos and watch them, that’s more time spent on your page. This is a factor that Google looks for ranking web pages. Pages with videos in them that people watch tend to rank higher than simple text pages. There’s also the fact that a YouTube video itself can rank outside any website. I’m not sure about the current stat but back when the stat came out, it was that making a video with the same content of an equivalent blog post, the video was 52 times more likely to rank on the first page of Google or YouTube than a blog post. I think the principle is still true that it’s easier to get videos to perform than it might be to enter into a big sea of other bloggers who are trying to get attention.

What is the process you used to create your online courses?

The first I made was actually an e-Book, which was like a lead magnet for me. The second was an EBook called, “30 Days to a Better YouTube Channel”, which is still my number one selling product. It’s kind of an e-course but in a book a format. Later on, I started creating videos of the same content.

What are some ways someone can get comfortable on camera to be truly authentic?

I actually have a whole course on that. Truth is, there’s always a starting point. For instance, my first video was so awkward and I improved over the course of doing about 4,000 videos. Many people tend to think that you have to be outgoing to perform well on camera but surprisingly most YouTubers I know are actually introverts. For me, the focus should be on presentation rather than trying to be comfortable on camera. And just like any other activity out there, you get better at it over time.

Should a course creator create a Youtube channel to build their audience?

It depends on what you want to accomplish. Of course, there are other ways you can build your audience including podcasts, blogs, and others. The biggest advantage that YouTube has over any other medium is its ability to not only tell but also show. I would say that if your aim is to create a deep connection with your audience on a personal level, then YouTube is the best platform to use.

What are some strategies you recommend for someone to grow their audience on YouTube?

My expertise on YouTube is organic growth. I’ve not done any promotions on YouTube or Facebook but growing my channel the best way I can. When it comes to promoting my courses, I’ve always relied on email campaigns. By sending out emails, I try to integrate my audience into my courses just to make them feel part of it and find value in whatever I’m offering them. In so doing, they also help promote my courses to other people, which leads to a larger audience.

What is VideoCreators.com and the courses you provide?

It’s the website that packs all my YouTube course videos including videos, podcasts and even consultation services. Check out the Find Your Voice courses that teaches you how to feel confident in front of the camera.


Online courses that use video are 83% more effective in helping students remember the information better!

But most people struggle with complicated equipment or software, the cost of buying equipment, or they don’t feel confident in front of the camera. That’s why I created Easy Video for Courses. I’ve taken all the confusion out of the process so you can make effective course videos in half the time, even if you don’t like being on camera. I share some of my go-to resources for creating better videos, whether graphics, stock photos or videos and even PowerPoint templates. So, you definitely want to check out easyvideoforcourses.com to learn more and get the course.

Go to EasyVideoForCourses.com to learn more and get the course.


 

May 3, 2018

Please help us bring more content to the masses by subscribing to the podcast at https://onlinecoursecoach.com/itunesapp

  In this episode, I talk about the top questions that get online creators stuck and how to fix them. I get asked a lot of questions by course creators and I narrow them down to the top 7. There are quite many issues that get online course creators stuck but I’m going to address the most asked questions by course creators. Without further ado, let’s get to the main course:

What platform should I use? Where should I host my online course materials?

This is probably the most popular question. The truth is, it might not matter that much as you think because many of the available platforms primarily do the same thing. The two things you might want to consider are whether you want a hands-off approach or flexibility in control. If you want more control or you’re a techie person, you might consider a WordPress website or using something such as LearnDash to deliver your courses. On the other hand, a software service is a great solution to those who want hands-off perspective. Generally, your content and course requirements, of course, will determine the ideal learning management system for you. I recommend you go to the Resources section download the 7-step checklist to know which LMS is best for your online course.

How do I build an audience for my online course?

Building your audience is the most critical part of the success of your online course. Some of the ways I recommend in doing this include creating guides, tips, quizzes, checklists, assessments – literally anything that can provide value to your audience so that they can give you their emails for you to build your email list. Podcasts and Facebook live videos are also a great way of introducing yourself and influencing others to follow you. If you are doing Facebook videos, make sure they are short and up to the point. Don’t forget to give a tip at the end of your video – quiz, guide, assessment – which guys can follow to your website and download. Again, check out my resources page to learn the “5 Ways to Build an Audience for your Online Course”.

How do I get started creating an online course?

The first thing you want to do here is gathering all the ideas for your course. Then, determine the 20% of those ideas that will give the 80% most value. Next, you will need to find your ideal students and pitch them the idea of your course. Sell your idea to them as beta testers and custom create a course just for them. Obviously, your students are going to give feedback about what they want to learn in the course. This way, they help you refine the content, which you can later sell to a wider audience.

How do I protect my course?

This is where a Learning Management System comes in. Basically, you can a WordPress plugin or a software service to protect your course. These methods allow students who pay for your course to access your content while it restricts those who haven’t paid for your course. Depending on the platform, you can put your audience in groups based on various factors. Perhaps you have different stages of your course and you want to ensure that students are only accessing the content they have paid for – some platforms can allow you to do this.

How do I make effective online course videos?

I’ve covered this section in details on my course, Easy Video for Courses. The big question is, what type of videos would make your content the most engaging and help your students learn the best way possible? Some people prefer to do screen capture videos, whereby you show your audience your screen. Others go to the field and capture the events of what they are teaching to their audience. So choose a method that engages your audience best. When it comes to devices, use what you are comfortable, whether your iPhone, Tablet, Webcam or DSLR. Just don’t be afraid to start no matter what you have. Make sure you are getting good audio, about good lighting too and ensure that your camera is stable.

What is the difference between a membership site and an online course?

An online course generally has a beginning and end for the learner. You might add lessons or modules to it over time and even replace the content if it changes. A course usually has a one-time fee. On the contrary, a membership site has a collection of content. The site might contain multiple courses on a single subject or various subjects. It usually has a monthly or annual fee to continue being a member. Watch this short video for more details on this topic. 

Get the 7 step checklist to know what type of LMS is right for your online course

How do I get more sales?

It all starts with building your audience and knowing what they really want. You then need to promote your course and the best way to do that is through your email list and even your email signature. Another strategy to get more sales is by using Facebook Ads. Speaking of FB ads, sign up for my upcoming Facebook Ads for Online Courses program and I will alert you when that will be about to happen. Doing content marketing on your blog can also create an avenue for people to buy your courses from your site. Let’s not forget the power of videos such as tutorials, FAQ’s and about me. Add as much value as you can and teach more people and you will see them asking for your course. Last but not least, do some partnerships and joint ventures such as affiliate relations and other profit-sharing programs.

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