Conversations for Course Creators
By Lucas Marino
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Conversations for Course CreatorsJun 01, 2023
Ep.28 To drip, or not to drip content? That is the question!
Drip content is a way to control the amount of content we expose a learner to in a set period. Simply put, you release your course in batches.
In this episode of Conversations for Course Creators, Lucas discusses when you should and should not use a drip schedule. He also discusses how to use drip schedules in coaching programs, cohorts, and pre-development course launches.
Finally, he shares common mistakes course creators make with drip schedules and how to avoid them.
Learn more about the Monetize Your Book with a Course community here: https://www.marinotraining.com/products/communities/monetize-your-book-with-a-course-community
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EP.27 Should you write scripts for your online course?
Course creators often ask me whether they should write scripts for their online courses. In this episode, Lucas Marino discusses whether you should leverage scripts in your courses, considerations for recording video with scripts vs audio, how to use scripts as memory primers, and more.
Lucas also shares a lesson learned about the two things that outlive your business - your relationships and your assets.
If you are an author, you'll appreciate Lucas's perspective on whether you can use your book's content as a script!
Learn more about the community here: https://www.marinotraining.com/products/communities/monetize-your-book-with-a-course-community
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Ep.26 Give your learners what they need. Nothing more. Nothing less. Also, let's talk about dreaded assessments!
Give them what they need. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Have you ever signed up for something and thought, "Man, this is so exciting! This is going to be the best (insert awesomeness here) ever!"? And it really was the best ever... until it wasn't.
Your students worry about this when they buy your course. They don't want to be underwhelmed or overwhelmed. In this episode, Lucas gives you 3-steps to creating just the right amount of curriculum for your learners. You don't want to give them too much, and you don't want to give them too little. Give them what they need!
Lucas also discusses the details of everyone's (least?) favorite topic - assessments! What the heck are those? You know, quizzes, tests, surveys, and exams. Don't worry, you don't have to take one of them. But you will want to know how to choose one over the others and whether you need to use them at all.
Learn more about the community here: https://www.marinotraining.com/products/communities/monetize-your-book-with-a-course-community
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EP.25 Essentials - Organizing chapters and lessons in a logical way
EP.24 Essential curriculum! Defining your course's goals, outcomes, and objectives.
We're talkin' curriculum essentials in this episode of Conversations for Course Creators!
Your curriculum provides the learner with the information needed to achieve the outcomes and objectives of your course. The outcomes of a course may be generic or very specific, but they must always be valuable to the learner.
So...what are these things and how do you develop them for your course? Listen and find out!
Learn more at www.marinotraining.com
Join the Monetize Your Book with a Course program at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/monetize-your-book-with-a-course
Join the Community at https://www.marinotraining.com/products/communities/monetize-your-book-with-a-course-community
Not an author? That's cool! We've got you covered. Learn to build your online course with the Build Your Online Course program at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/build-your-online-course
EP.23 The critical step of identifying your ideal learner and ideal buyer
In this episode, Lucas discusses why identifying your idea learner is critical to your course project. He also discusses how your ideal learner may or may not be your ideal buyer. If you want to build the right course for the right learner AND sell that course to the right buyer...well, you'll need to know exactly who those people are!
Learn more at www.marinotraining.com
Join the Monetize Your Book with a Course program at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/monetize-your-book-with-a-course
Join the Community at https://www.marinotraining.com/products/communities/monetize-your-book-with-a-course-community
Not an author? That's cool! We've got you covered. Learn to build your online course with the Build Your Online Course program at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/build-your-online-course
Ep.22 Course Outlines
Course outlines are an important part of course creation. You've chosen a topic, now what will you say about it? In what order will you say the things?
Are you interested in using the outline or table of contents from your nonfiction book, paper, or presentation to create an outline for your course?
Lucas Marino, author of Monetize Your Book with a Course, discusses how to consider your existing content for a course outline.
Learn more about the book, Monetize Your Book with a Course: Your Guide to Quickly Creating a Profitable and Impactful Course from Your Book at https://a.co/d/15YZkrN
Learn more about the course at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/monetize-your-book-with-a-course
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Ep.21 Pre-Selling Courses, Book Launch News, and Some Shared Motivation
Ep.20 Course Pricing Strategies, Part 4 - The buying behaviors of your ideal learner. Why should you care?
In the final episode of this series on pricing strategies, Lucas discusses why the spending habits of your ideal learner are so important. He also discusses the consideration of industry trends, gaps, and accessibility. Where would your course fit into this picture? You really need to know.
Want to learn to Build Your Online Course? This course is amazing! Lucas will teach you how at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/build-your-online-course
Want to Learn Thinkific? Lucas teaches you every feature and function of the Thinkific learning management system at: https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/learn-thinkific
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy #pricestrategy
Ep.19 Course Pricing Strategies, Part 3 - The financial value of the learner's new knowledge and skills in action.
In Part 3 of the Course Pricing Strategies series, Lucas discusses the most important factor in price development - the value of the learner's new knowledge and skills. This knowledge and skill equips learners to do new things, close gaps, or perform differently. What is the financial impact of these outcomes for the learner?
Want to learn to Build Your Online Course? This course is amazing! Lucas will teach you how at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/build-your-online-course
Want to Learn Thinkific? Lucas teaches you every feature and function of the Thinkific learning management system at: https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/learn-thinkific
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy #pricestrategy
Ep.18 Course Pricing Strategies, Part 2 - Should you match your competitor's price? (Not so fast!)
In Pricing Strategies, Part 2, Lucas discussed the common mistake of adopting competitor pricing and how to better consider market prices. Lucas discusses common pitfalls entrepreneurs experience when competing solely on price and makes some recommendations on how to better approach the value of your course and business.
Want to learn to Build Your Online Course? This course is amazing! Lucas will teach you how at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/build-your-online-course
Want to Learn Thinkific? Lucas teaches you every feature and function of the Thinkific learning management system at: https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/learn-thinkific
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645
Learn about our Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy #pricestrategy
Ep.17 Course Pricing Strategies, Part 1 - What do price and volume have to do with success?
Should you choose to price low and sell more products? Or should you price higher and move less products? Does it matter if the thing you sell is a product or service? Lucas addresses the relationship between price and sales volume in this episode of Conversations for Course Creators! This show is sponsored by the Empire Builder's Masterclass, home of training for creative entrepreneurs. Check out the EBMc at: https://www.empirebuildersmasterclass.com Want to master the Thinkific learning management system? Check out Lucas's new course, Learn Thinkific, at: https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/learn-thinkific You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/ Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645 Learn about our Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645 Interested in working with us on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us #marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy #pricestrategy
Ep.16 What's the best way to learn how to use Thinkific? Problem solved!
Wonder what Lucas has been up to lately? Well, more solution development for course creators to start!
Have you developed course material but are intimidated or slowed by learning Thinkific? Want to avoid paying someone to do the Thinkific work by learning the system yourself? Perhaps you want to build courses for others. You want to learn everything about this amazing platform to create a new line of business.
Lucas hit "pause" on the podcast in September to help people in these situations learn the Thinkific platform in his new course: Learn Thinkific - A complete guide to the Thinkific learning management system.
This course covers every function and feature of Thinkific so you can build amazing courses, site pages, and communities.
Lucas also introduces us to his upcoming book, Monetize Your Book with a Course, which will help authors convert their non-fiction works into powerful courses. There's a lot going on here so check out the update and get involved!
Learn more about Learn Thinkific at: https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/learn-thinkific
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about our Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645
Interested in working with us on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy
Ep.15 September is for Strategy
Much is made of early, mid-, and end-of-year reflections on the health and trajectory of your products and business. BUT...what about September? I know, it sounds a bit odd, but I associate September with a significant annual milestone: your last opportunity to plan a successful final quarter. That's right, September is a time for season shifts, a new American football season, kids going back to school, and planning for a strong final quarter of course development, product launches, and all the fun of running large projects. I discuss how to consider your strengths and weaknesses, inject reality into your plans, and approach major project timing as we round the final quarter of the year in the next 30-days!
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about our Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Join our email list at https://keap.app/contact-us/1762730614586645
Interested in working with us on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #coursestrategy
Ep.14 Multiple uses for Thinkific with Tiffany Willyerd (Part 3)
This is the third and final episode of my interview with fellow Thinkific Expert, Tiffany Willyerd, about the multiple applications of the Thinkific learning management system. In this episode we discuss using Thinkific to do SO MUCH for your business. Lawdy. Okay here's the list of topics we discuss:
- hosting a masterclass
- integrating your courses with business and curriculum automations
- product listing and sales
- order bumps (!)
- interactive products for clients to experience between your one-on-one sessions
- payment processing (Thinkific Payments)
- treating Thinkific formatted courses as product containers
- Dolly Parton (trigger warning: VERY bad DP impression ahead)
- publishing a body of knowledge (more controllable than a wiki)
- hosting private site pages and content for enrolled clients/students
- hosting blog pages
- embedding live streams
- capturing prospect and client contact info (build that email list!)
Learn more about Tiffany and House 6 Designs at https://www.house6designs.com
You can learn more about Lucas and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about our Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with us on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife #house6designs
Ep.13 Multiple uses for Thinkific with Tiffany Willyerd (Part 2)
This is Part 2 (deux?) of my interview with fellow Thinkific Expert and battle buddy, Tiffany Willyerd. In this episode we continue the theme of creative and practical uses of the Thinkific learning management system including coaching programs, interactive online products (e.g., Wobo, Video Ask, Rob Galvin's Superpowerups), integration with other education products, organizing project and sales data/files, managing retreats, added value for membership communities, and more.
Fret not! We have a Part 3 ready to publish VERY soon!
Get Video Ask here: https://www.videoask.com/
Get Wobo (digital workbook) here: https://woboapp.com/?via=lucas
Get Rob Galvin's Superpowerups here: https://www.superpowerups.com/
Learn more about Tiffany and House 6 Designs at https://www.house6designs.com
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife
Ep.12 Using Thinkific for more than just courses with special guest Tiffany Willyerd (Part 1)
It's happening! In this episode I get to nerd out a bit with my buddy, fellow Thinkific expert, Tiffany Willyerd! In this first episode in a series, we introduce several ways to use your Thinkific learning management system for more than just courses. We discuss using the platform as your home website (like I do), to host virtual summits, communities, as a resource for students in live training, and as a resource library for your members. This is the first part in a series so surely check out the next episode!
Learn more about Tiffany and House 6 Designs at https://www.house6designs.com
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife
Ep.11 Order Bumps for the Win - The revenue generator that's so simple it hurts...if you don't use it!
Order pumps rock. Especially if you have multiple related products to offer your clients and you are into rewarding decisive buyers (by the way, you should be!). Order bumps are tried and true, can significantly increase your revenue and provide your students with additional value in their time of decisiveness. I'll explain how order bumps work, how to build one, and where to do so in your Thinkific account. Let's get to it!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife
Ep.10 Courses for Coaches - Integrating online courses into your coaching program
Coaches can offer super value to their clients by including online course content in their coaching programs. Let's learn more about it!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#marinotraining #onlinecourses #thinkific #coursecreators #entrepreneurlife
EP.9 Marketing courses - Strategic challenges and approaches when the course topic is unique or the market is saturated
What happens when your ideal client or student doesn't even know that your course topic provides a solution to a problem they have? Well, they don't purchase your course! I discuss this challenge as well as some of the hesitancy that course creators express when entering the opposite environment: a seemingly saturated market. At times, these barriers are enough to prevent you from developing that course you've always planned to launch and we can't let that happen (unless the course really is bad 😁 ). Let's learn a bit about how to get your mind right about these challenges and how to leverage positive thinking, personality, and a bit of elbow grease to push through these barriers and sell those courses!
Ep.8 Work/life balance - How to determine when best to create content without creating conflict in your life!
Is it okay to create content on weekends? What about holiday weekends!? Blasphemy!!! (I kid, I kid). The topic of work/life balance is extremely important and this episode is all about recognizing what's best for you and your situation. Context is king, living in balance requires some introspection, and you may find the advice of others helpful or hurtful depending upon your unique situation. Enjoy!
Ep.7 Blogs! A Simple Yet Powerful Tool for Audience and Business Value
In this episode, I discuss how blogs bring value to prospective clients, increase your brand and site traffic, establish your authority and reputation with readers, and fit into your Product Ladder. I also discuss my choice for blog publication software: DropInBlog and the many benefits this intuitive tool provide me. DropInBlog literally takes all of the guesswork out of SEO screening, authoring, and publishing your blogs to your site. Love it!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscriptionInterested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! https://www.marinotraining.com/pages/contact-us
#onlinecourses #onlinetraining #marinotraining #thinkific #productladder #courselaunch #onlinecoach
Ep.6 Robert W. Anderson, author and Fearless Lives Summit host joins us live to discuss his experience launching a virtual summit.
Course creators, like authors, can benefit greatly by expanding their product line and representing their subject matter expertise in virtual summits. It's just one of the many ways we can reach a new audience, grow our following, generate an email list fast, and push our brand into new areas. Virtual summits are also a very strong step or rung on the Product Ladder due to low price (starts free, increases for lifetime access) and high value (over a dozen expert speakers). They can also be repackaged later as courses, offered as value bonuses to mastermind program members, and leveraged as further evidence of your authority and expertise.
Please join me and Robert W. Anderson, author and Fearless Lives Summit host, to discuss his experience launching a virtual summit. This episode was recorded live and broadcast over LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube via a Restream feed so you'll notice we are having fun interacting on occasion with viewers in the chat. Enjoy!
You can access the Fearless Lives Summit for FREE while the offer stands. My advice is to grab the lifetime access, there is so much great content here, you'll definitely want to revisit these amazing guest speakers after this week's event: Access the Fearless Lives Summit FREE
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscriptionInterested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.
Ep.5 Product Ladders - What the heck are they and how does a course fit into a product ladder?
What the heck is a product ladder and how does a course fit into one? Well, the answer is: perfectly! :)
A product ladder is a range of products that you offer your clients and customers. Each step of the ladder contains products of various prices and features. You may choose to offer a book, then a course, then a coaching program, then a mastermind program. You may choose to offer a line of mini-courses, a masterclass, and a bundle of courses.
As you can see, product ladders provide us with the ability to diversify our product line to cater to customers of different types and willingness to invest. You can also use steps of the ladder to build relationships and select ideal fits for advanced programs or courses! Product ladders are a very strategic tool for growing your business!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.
Ep.4 The Power of Video for Marketing and Curriculum Development
Hello! In this episode I discuss how to leverage video to market your course and keep your course curriculum engaging. I cover one of my favorite marketing mediums in live streaming video before diving into a conversation about how to use video as a primary element of your course curriculum. The short story? Video is king. The longer story? Well, that's what the podcast is for! Enjoy!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.
Ep.3 Marketing Courses via Webinars and Virtual Summits
Are webinars and virtual summits worth the effort? In the struggle to market courses, many course creators rush the process of executing a well-designed and planned webinar. This leads to frustration because webinar attendance is weak, sales aren't materializing, and the course creator feels frustrated and down. Learn a few lessons from this episode about how to approach webinars and how to power up and leverage the force multiplier of virtual summits!
A big shout out to my friend and go-to virtual summit guru, Ray Brehm, who's name is shamelessly dropped throughout the episode. If you want to follow a master of virtual summits, he's the one to follow. Learn more about Ray at https://www.raybrehm.com/?r_done=1
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.
Ep.2 Marketing Your Course - Social Media
Do your ideal learners and clients know your course exists? Many course creators pour their time and energy into building courses but struggle with getting the word out. This often leads to frustration because sales aren't materializing, students are nowhere to be found, and the course creator feels frustrated and down. You have a fantastic solution to someone's problem and you can leverage social media to make them aware of this!
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.
Ep.1 We're live!
Meet Lucas, CEO of Marino Training, as he welcomes you to the podcast and discusses confidence for course creators.
You can learn more about me and Marino Training at https://www.marinotraining.com/
Learn about my Private Slack Group at https://www.marinotraining.com/courses/training-community-subscription
Interested in working with me on your programs? Let's talk! Schedule your 15-minute discussion with me HERE.