Go Behind the Scenes of our Course: Your Book, Your Rules

Creating a Course is a lot like Publishing a Book

Publishing a book and developing an online course have a lot in common. Both can seem like daunting tasks, yet they offer immense rewards for those willing to take the plunge. Business leaders and entrepreneurs often struggle with the time and resources required to pursue these endeavors. However, understanding their combined potential for enhancing credibility and generating revenue can be the key to that motivation that you may have been missing.

As demand increases easier ways to gain knowledge and build businesses, there has never been a better time to tap into these opportunities. With the right strategy and guidance, anyone can navigate the complexities of publishing and create an engaging course (or book!) that captivates learners.

Here's a behind-the-scenes peek into our course: Your Book, Your Rules.

Courses and Books Both do This:

As we began working through the content for the course, we realized the "why" was just like books. A course can:

1. Establish your authority

Becoming a published author or course creator instantly elevates your status within your industry. They give you tangible proof of your expertise, allowing you to position yourself as a thought leader. Readers perceive you as a credible source of information, and you have a new marketing tool that opens doors for speaking engagements, media opportunities, and collaboration prospects. These pathways not only showcase your knowledge but also help cement your place at the forefront of your field.

2. Expand your reach

The beauty of publishing courses and books lies in their ability to transcend geographical boundaries. You're reaching audiences that may otherwise have been inaccessible. Your ideas travel far beyond your immediate network, helping to create new connections with other professionals and potential clients. Each book or course sold adds another voice to your message, expanding your influence and building momentum for your brand. Additionally, this wider reach enhances your visibility and makes you more appealing to potential partners or investors.

3. Generate new revenue streams

Books and course can serve as passive income generators, contributing to your financial growth without continuous effort on your part. While not every book becomes a bestseller, each sale positions you for future opportunities, such as consulting or speaking engagements. By establishing multiple income channels through publishing, you fortify your business’s foundation and increase your overall earning potential.

➡️ Before we go any further: If you want to find out how you can 10X Your Business with a Book, join my FREE FOCUSED WORKSHOP on October 29 at 1:30 PM Central Time. REGISTER HERE.

Take it Step by Step

For every book we publish, we create a comprehensive project plan. It was the same for the course.

We started by defining our objectives, identifying the topics we'd cover (leaning into the questions we're asked most often), and outlining the learning outcomes we wanted to achieve. We also mapped out a timeline, including milestones for course development, marketing efforts, and launch dates. Having a clear path forward helped us maintain focus and avoid unnecessary stress or delays as we worked to complete the course.

We tested our assumptions

Before launching your course, we scheduled a beta launch. We reached out to a small group of people who were eager to publish a book, and gave them access to the material. Their feedback was invaluable as we updated the lessons, started planning our marketing campaigns, and looked ahead to the big launch.

We developed a high-converting sales funnel

With a background in marketing, I already knew the value of a well-structured sales funnel. I wanted to guide potential students through the buying process, attracting those who could benefit most from the course. I started by raising awareness through compelling content, such as blog posts and promotional videos. Next, I ran ads and nurtured leads with targeted emails that addressed future authors' specific pain points, encouraging them to register. And ultimately, I created the short workshop/webinar that I mentioned earlier to give prospective participants clear insights into the course and how having a book can dramatically impact their businesses.

Will this really work for me?

In the back of their minds, prospective course participants are often thinking: "Yes, that's great for most people, but will it really work for ME?" That's when it's time to share some real-world examples of clients and students who are knocking it out of the park with their businesses, just because they published a book. 

In the workshop, I share examples of how Jake Brown, author of Leadershit,  and Catherine Brown (no relation!), author of How Good Humans Sell, have found success with their books. In fact, I have an excerpt of an interview I did with Catherine on YouTube if you want to check it out. (CLICK HERE) It's just 3 minutes, and Catherine answers the question, "Can you really 10X your business with a book?"

The Nuts and Bolts

During the process of creating a course, I was asked lots of questions about exactly how we did it. The main two are:

Q: What's the process?
A: There are too many steps to name, but I followed every single step of Courtney Foster Donahue's wisdom in her course: The Course Course. She's made multiple millions using it, so why re-invent the wheel? If you want to check out Courtney's process, here's a link:  https://courtneyscourses.com/courseclass

Q: What backend tech did you use?
A: We used Kajabi to keep as many tech-y things in one place as possible and Keira is the master of all things Kajabi. You can host the course, there, schedule emails, and set up your sales funnel. (That's Keira's affiliate link to a 30-day trial of Kajabi if you want to check it out.)

Q: What is included in your marketing plan?
A: I have literally years upon decades of experience in publishing and marketing, so I relied on that to build out a full sales funnel that could take even cold leads from ads and invite them into an opportunity to find out what it's like to work with me (via that free workshop I mentioned). 

What I do isn't for everyone. I get that. But for those who DO jump into the workshop or the course, I can guarantee they'll walk away with more ideas and opportunities than they had when they arrived! 

Key Takeaways

‣ Establishing authority through publishing books and courses boosts your credibility.
‣ Courses facilitate direct engagement with your audience, enabling personalized teaching.
‣ Understanding your target audience improves marketing effectiveness and lasting connections.
‣ Collaborations with others in your industry can amplify your reach.

💡 What step can you take today to begin your journey toward becoming a published author or course creator?

Take action now: What three ideas do you have for a book or a course? What would the title(s) be? Write those down and imagine the possibilities! 

And don't forget! 

➡️ If you want to find out how you can 10X Your Business with a Book, join my FREE FOCUSED WORKSHOP on October 29 at 1:30 PM Central Time. REGISTER HERE.