The design of an online course business completely out of the gate

Read the case study and listen to our entire discussion about the case study with Marlene... Also If this makes you think of creating your own online course (and we're convinced that it does!) begin by registering at RoadmapTo5k.com.

Marlene Hielema is known as the Image Maven

Marlene is a fantastic photographer and video instructor. She's the creative force behind ImageMaven.com and ImageMavenVideo.com. Explore both sites to find stunning videos and ways to enhance your photography and video within a matter of moments.

What do I need to know before starting the instructing of online classes?

Flash since 2004. Marlene was teaching photography in the class of the local community college. While she loved working directly for the pupils, she found herself burning out.

It was becoming more exhausting for her. It was impossible for her to relax when she wanted to: "I was just teaching each day."

Her goal? She would like to be flexible and free of her timetable.

Marlene says, "I want to enjoy my life... my life is too small. I'd love to go on the time to go to the skating park! I want to jump on my longboard during the middle of the day and not feel guilty."

The desire to be free and flexibility led her to design the first of her online classes.

Where did she get her inspiration?

Marlene started taking photography classes online . She found it to be "clunky." She considered to her "this should be made better."

Then she began looking for concepts for her own classes. The fall of 2010 was the time the course was launched as her first fully online course created with ..

Marlene offers eight online classes, some of which she's taught with various classes of students.

Her courses consist of short, inexpensive, specific courses, and also more intensive and longer-lasting classes (some as long as 8 weeks in length).

Marlene creates her courses in response to specific inquiries that clients send her "I've asked this question more than 10 times in the last 3 months. Maybe I'd like to design this course!"

She is also attuned to the questions people have regarding. In the case of example, she started getting questions about her videos, she would inquire: Could you show me how to create the same video?

Overcoming challenges

Marlene confesses to having the biggest challenge is selling -- "I'm by nature not a salesperson."

With time and she's come up with strategies to engage and inform people prior to making them purchase a course.

At present, she gives the opportunity to sign up to receive free photo lessons via email. Following these free 10 lessons, she'll offer a paid course.

Though she found sales intimidating initially, Marlene now says "I often sell courses -- individuals find an online class that they are interested in, they find it attractive and purchase the class."

An effective business model that is based on the courses

A key learning that has been a key learning experience for Marlene is that learning and services (one-on-one consultation with private clients) go hand-in-hand.

The courses generate leads to her personal client support. Following a course "people simply want a little amount of help, and they're willing to spend the amount."

Students who take videos require assistance in making and editing. Students taking photography classes require individual critiques and additional assistance with technical issues.

In the end, she declares, "My revenue has increased by way of clients, just in the same way that it increased with my training courses."

Courses are extremely valuable on their own, but they're even more valuable when they're combined with other services.

Marlene is able to enhance the services she provides with classes. Marlene states the following "If anyone hires me from the beginning, I will be grateful.

(for consultation) For consulting purposes, I provide the training course without cost." This helps make her service all the more attractive to prospective customers.

Making connections with students

Marlene utilizes her classes as a way of connecting to students beyond teaching information. Marlene has observed that, the majority of the time "People feel less afraid on the internet."

Her connection to her is established through being involved and present during her training courses: "I respond to every inquiry, and to each email."

Marlene says that the event is enjoyable and satisfying to her "I love teaching and I like helping individuals... I think my favorite aspect is seeing people reach their goals! It's a great feeling to be a proud mother when somebody pops up on my screen, with a quick video and stunning white backgrounds that I've created with them. It's my goal to assist people overcome their frustration."

We are looking forward

Moving forward, Marlene is looking to expand on the successes of her programs. Marlene plans on "relaunching and revitalizing the current courses, creating better sales pages, and raising the bar across the entire range of classes she offers."

Additionally, she tries to create at least at least fresh courses, which are based on the needs of the local population. She notes that "I've not created courses entirely from the ground up." In her mind, she often considers the subject of what are people asking for?, and builds courses around those requirements.

She is also looking to collaborate with experts from different fields in order in order to develop innovative new ideas for programs. As an example she recently collaborated with a counselor in order to develop a personal development program called Take a Break Photographic Therapy to help maintain your health.

Marlene's top recommendations and tips for online courses to help you get your beginning on the right foot

1. Just Do It!

Marlene tells us "My first class was approximately 20 paid students with 10 students which was extremely rewarding!"

It's the right time to get your procrastination out of the past and get to work. Do a low-risk course for starting regardless of whether you have to invite some friends to join to join for free!

Learn to get over your obstacles because you'll gain so much by doing your first class! Go for it.

Do not get caught up in perfection for your first time -the people will be very accommodating.

#2 - Connect

Make sure you create a connection with your students -truly be in touch with them.

If they believe that the material you're teaching is good aspects, they'll have the ability to ask questions, and you'll be able to learn from them.

If they trust your abilities, then you're capable of helping them.

Engage fully in the discussion by answering any questions in addition to posting any questions.

#3 3 Express Yourself

Incorporate your own style into your class. Marlene declares, "I act a little humorous when I create my own video." The more she exposes the character she portrays in her educational videos and classes and classes, she creates an emotional connection with her students.

Start now. Take our FREE training course Discover the 5 steps needed to begin developing and selling the online course to allow you to begin building your online course company from the ground up.

This post was posted on here