Level Up Your Course Podcast with Janelle Allen: Create Online Courses that Change Lives

Janelle Allen: Learning Designer, Online Course Coach, and Entrepreneur
  • 4.8 (35)
  • BUSINESS
Level Up Your Course Podcast with Janelle Allen: Create Online Courses that Change Lives

Janelle Allen from the Zen Courses blog interviews successful online course creators, sharing their stories, successes, and struggles. On the podcast, she also reveals her strategies for creating and growing an online learning business, based on her 9 years as an Instructional Design consultant. Discover how you can build a profitable online course that improves learning, increases revenue, and boosts your authority. Learn how to take your existing learning platform to the next level so you can better serve your audience. Hear stories from agencies, consultants, CEOs and founders who felt called to transform lives through education. Although a lot of podcasts focus on online courses as a means to passive income, you won’t find that here. Instead, you’ll hear from people driven to democratize education and deliver results. Instructional Design, video and audio, engagement, on-boarding, workshops, group programs, marketing your course, launching your course, automation, building authority and trust, social media, getting things done, outsourcing and everything that works (and doesn't work) to help you create a profitable online course that changes lives--including your own!

  1. 06/17/2020

    Writing Copy & Case Studies that Work for You with Joel Klettke

    What’s up everyone! We’re back this week with Joel Klettke, the founder of Business Casual Copywriting and Case Study Buddy. Joel has created very successful workshops and courses and he’s here to talk copywriting, course creation, and growing a client base. Joel launched Business Casual Copywriting in 2013, focusing on content marketing assets and website copy. He’s worked with clients like HubSpot, WP Engine, Safelite, and Ion Interactive. Two years later, he started helping clients understand their customers better and improve their conversion rates with conversion copywriting. Tune in to hear Joel’s copywriting journey, how he created Case Study Buddy, his copywriting advice, and how you can write effective case studies. Enjoy! Episode Quotes "The best way to grow your client base is to network and make connections." "My strategy has always been to solve problems in public, be useful first, worry about selling later." "It's not about genius, it's about discipline and repetition." "Confidence is a byproduct of a solid process - when you know what you are doing and why you are doing it." "I don’t want to work to make a living. I want to work to build a life." Listen to Learn 00:21 - Rapid 5 Questions 04:45 - How Joel got into copywriting 09:41 - Going freelance growing a client base 13:14 - The shift to course creation 18:17 - Marketing as a service-based business 24:23 - How Joel started Case Study Buddy 32:51 - Copywriting best practices & pitfalls 40:36 - Leveraging audience feedback 45:39 - Tips on copywriting for course creators 47:52 - Exciting things coming up from Joel Connect with Joel BusinessCasualCopywriting.com CaseStudyBuddy.com Follow Joel on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 130

    52 min

  2. 05/27/2020

    LUYC 129: Is YouTube Worth it for Course Creators?

    Hey family! I hope you are doing well. This week, we’re talking about another growth strategy: YOUTUBE. It actually took me six months to launch my YouTube channel. It wasn’t that it’s especially difficult, but I procrastinated. I found that I was stuck because of my own negative thoughts surrounding doing things that I’m not comfortable with. I mean, I’m really comfortable doing podcasts, but definitely not YouTube. There are things we procrastinate on because of this resistance within ourselves. I realized that the key to getting unstuck is taking time to reflect, acknowledging the negative loops, and acting anyway. Tune in to hear my YouTube experience, my advice for starting on YouTube from scratch, beginner tips, and DOs and DON’Ts. Learn how to create a solid YouTube strategy by visiting JanelleAllen.com/YouTubeGuide.

    33 min

  3. 05/20/2020

    LUYC 128: You are the Magic with Janelle Allen

    I shared something on Twitter recently: I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there is no magic genie that's going to help you start your thing. There is no moment when everything will feel easier. You just have to start. You are the magic. I believe this is so important for people who, for the longest time, have been wanting to start an online business or focus on something they love. I want to encourage you this week to start your thing. You and the actions you take are the magic. Stop waiting. In this week’s episode, I’m also sharing another growth strategy: GUEST POSTING. If you’re already running an online business, or you want to start building your audience online, this is an incredibly effective way to gain forward momentum. Tune in to hear me break down the key points of guest posting, the pros and cons, and DOs and DON’Ts you need to keep in mind. By the way, make sure you’re staying up to date with future episodes and getting growth strategies directly in your inbox. Sign up to be part of the family here. Episode Quotes "Everyone's roadmap is different... What works for someone else may not work for you." "The magic is not only you, but it's the action that you take." "You create your path, but you can only create it through action." "Guest posting is a flexible and effective strategy if you don’t have time to do podcast appearances." Listen to Learn 02:21 - Do the thing. You are the MAGIC! 08:41 - What is guest posting? 11:41 - Pros and cons of guest posting 16:23 - Guest posting DOs and DONTs 27:59 - Updates and announcements Connect with Me JanelleAllen.com Follow Me on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 128

    29 min

  4. 05/13/2020

    LUYC 127: Growth Strategies in the Wake of COVID-19 with Janelle Allen

    Hey family! How is everything going with you? Today’s episode is a solo show. I’m trying to do more of these so I can check in, especially as we all navigate how the pandemic is changing the landscape of our lives and businesses. It’s nice to be able to touch base with all of you. In this episode, I’ll chat about the COVID-19 situation, recap the big takeaways from recent interviews, discuss podcasting for your business, and dig into some lead generation tips. Make sure you stay tuned, because I also have a very exciting announcement that you don’t want to miss. Enjoy! Episode Quotes "If you're an online business owner, you were positioned to adapt better than if you have a brick and mortar business." "Podcasts are good for traffic, nurturing, and discoverability, but it's not great for lead generation." "Students do better when they have a community where they can connect and ask questions." Listen to Learn 01:07 - COVID-19’s impact on online course creators 04:15 - Recap of previous episodes 08:46 - Podcasting for your business 12:36 - Effective lead generation channels 16:01 - New and exciting things happening! Connect with Me JanelleAllen.com Follow Me on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 127 Ready to start a podcast for your business? Learn how to start a podcast in three simple steps. No excuses! https://janelleallen.com/startyourshow

    26 min

  5. 05/06/2020

    LUYC 126: Make Podcasting Work for You with Tara McMullin

    Hey, family! This week I’m joined by Tara McMullin, the founder and CEO of What Works, a top business podcast and community centered on the number one question business owners want answered. Tara is here to talk about her pivot from 1:1 consulting to facilitating honest conversations about what’s working in small businesses and discovering the real key: what works for you. Instead of thinking of podcasts as purely a marketing asset, think of it as part of your business model. One thing that works for Tara is podcasting. She has interviewed over 180 small business owners about systems for marketing, management, operations, product and personal development, sales, and productivity. I’m so excited to welcome Tara for her second appearance on the show. Tune in and hear how she’s making What Works work and her tips for course creators looking to add podcasting to their business model. Episode Quotes "Peer-to-peer learning was really, really important to me." "During the pivot we did our very best to communicate the change, walk clients through it, and allow them to feel really supported." "The very first step is demystifying the process because podcasting is not difficult at all, it is just opaque." "It is a mistake to create content for your podcast and just insert your pitch as an ad." "I believe in the power of small business owners to reshape our economy and our culture in positive ways." Listen to Learn 02:00 - Rapid 5 Questions 05:09 - Pivoting to a community-oriented business 13:23 - How Tara started podcasting 15:29 - Podcasting tips for beginners 20:50 - The 3 different types of podcasts 23:51 - Benefits of podcasting for businesses 28:26 - Developing a content strategy 33:40 - DOs and DON’Ts of pitching in podcasts 37:48 - Importance of value propositions for podcasts 41:25 - Exciting things coming up from Tara Connect with Tara Join the What Works Network Listen to the What Works podcast TaraGentile.com Follow Tara on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 126

    44 min

  6. 04/29/2020

    LUYC 125: Get Stronger with Python with Reuven Lerner

    What’s up everyone! This week’s guest is Reuven Lerner, full-time Python trainer, computer scientist, and author of Python Workout. If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show. Reuven teaches developers and corporate engineers around the world to become fluent in Python. In his corporate training, he serves top tier tech companies like Apple, Cisco, IBM, and Intel, but he also offers Weekly Python Exercises, a set of 15-week courses to help learners become better Python developers. His online video courses consist of hands-on labs that empower his students to understand Python at a deeper level. Tune in to hear Reuven’s Python journey, plus how he creates engaging online trainings, creates his evergreen newsletters, and drives traffic to his website. Let’s dig in! Episode Quotes "There's a bunch of different ways to drive website traffic, so it's important not to put all of your eggs in one basket." "Narrowing down the service offerings on my website has been more effective." "If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show." "Informality is no longer seen as a bad thing, so be yourself and keep experimenting." Listen to Learn 01:28 - Rapid 5 Questions, Reuven's business journey 10:45 - Converting in-person to online training 14:40 - Tips for creating engaging online training 18:24 - How to build an evergreen newsletter 22:26 - Ways to increase website traffic 26:37 - Sales funnel and lead nurturing 29:25 - Importance of a customer-centric website 34:47 - The power of online courses during COVID-19 crisis 41:10 - Advice for online course creators 42:22 - Exciting things coming up from Reuven Connect with Reuven Check out Reuven’s Weekly Python Exercise Read Reuven’s book, Python Workout Lerner.co.il Follow Reuven on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 123

    45 min

  7. 04/22/2020

    LUYC 124: Pivot Strategies & Community Building with Alex Hillman

    Hey family! This week brings you a special episode. Alex Hillman and I teamed up for a live podcast interview and Q&A as COVID-19 was starting to take a toll on business owners. This is a tough time for most of us. Some online entrepreneurs are seeing a decline in revenue while several industries have been shut down completely. What do we do when we're facing uncertainty, struggling to figure out our next move, and are trying to avoid thoughts of giving up completely? We pivot. We lean into our communities. We get resourceful. Alex is the founder of Indy Hall, a coworking community in Philadelphia, and the co-founder of Stacking the Bricks along with Amy Hoy. He joined me to dig into practical pivot strategies, tips for building online communities, and effective sales strategies for a down economy. Our live audience brought some great questions, so stick around after the interview for some more great advice about marketing during a pandemic, free vs. paid communities, and creating free content when your business is struggling. Episode Quotes "If we wait, there may be nothing... so let's be resourceful." "The difference between a group of people and a community is the direction that the support flows." "The value of the community gets bigger if the more people are in it and contributing." "The value of a community is the resiliency of your customers in their businesses." "Short term thinking is the thing that will kill a lot of businesses." Listen to Learn 04:45 - Getting to know Alex Hillman, Rapid 5 Questions 11:52 - Challenges small business owners are facing due to COVID-19 18:06 - Marketing and pivot strategies 26:40 - Product sales strategy in a down economy 31:30 - Community building and management essentials 40:07 - Community building during COVID-19 crisis 43:59 - Q&A on finding the right marketing tone 47:28 - Q&A on free content 53:02 - Q&A on free vs. paid communities 1:00:05 - Tools for online community building 1:06:02 - Practical advice for business owners Connect with Alex DangerouslyAwesome.com IndyHall.org StackingtheBricks.com Follow Alex on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 124

    1h 10m

  8. 04/15/2020

    LUYC 123: Mastering Productivity & Virtual Consulting with Paul Minors

    Hey everyone! This week I’m joined by Paul Minors, productivity expert, virtual consultant, and founder of PaulMinors.com. He is here to talk about his course, How to Become a Virtual Consultant, and how he helps businesses set up and use tools like Asana, MailChimp, Pipedrive and Zapier. Productivity is the vehicle by which you can have a great life. As someone who is passionate about productivity and automation, Paul understands that setting up efficient systems is the key to success in any business. His course, How to Become A Virtual Consultant, enables clients to learn the processes and tools he uses to be more organized and achieve more in both business and life. Paul has helped more than 400 clients create more effective businesses using the best tools to get them results. Tune in to hear Paul’s transition process from one-on-one work to an online course, plus his productivity and marketing hacks and how to build an online community. Episode Quotes "Surveying your audience is always a good idea." "Community is the X factor when building your business online." - Janelle "You're going to have a load of failure, so patience is really important." "You will always be rewarded for being consistent." "The success of a business comes down to how clearly you can communicate an idea." Listen to Learn 01:43 - Rapid 5 Questions 07:28 - Paul's career and business journey 11:24 - Initial steps and transition to course creation 16:28 - Ways to build an online audience 18:41 - Course launching and audience survey 25:42 - Creating the course structure 27:51 - Marketing channels, why YouTube is worth it 32:21 - How to build and personalize marketing funnels 39:10 - LinkedIn, Google AdWords, and other marketing tips 41:31 - How to price online courses 45:50 - Paul's advice for online creators 48:29 - Exciting things coming up from Paul Connect with Paul Check out How to Become a Virtual Consultant PaulMinors.com Follow Paul on Twitter! Looking for the Transcript? Episode 123

    51 min
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4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Janelle Allen from the Zen Courses blog interviews successful online course creators, sharing their stories, successes, and struggles. On the podcast, she also reveals her strategies for creating and growing an online learning business, based on her 9 years as an Instructional Design consultant. Discover how you can build a profitable online course that improves learning, increases revenue, and boosts your authority. Learn how to take your existing learning platform to the next level so you can better serve your audience. Hear stories from agencies, consultants, CEOs and founders who felt called to transform lives through education. Although a lot of podcasts focus on online courses as a means to passive income, you won’t find that here. Instead, you’ll hear from people driven to democratize education and deliver results. Instructional Design, video and audio, engagement, on-boarding, workshops, group programs, marketing your course, launching your course, automation, building authority and trust, social media, getting things done, outsourcing and everything that works (and doesn't work) to help you create a profitable online course that changes lives--including your own!

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