The Teacher Biz Podcast Heather O’Donnell
-
- Business
-
Hey there! Welcome to The Teacher Biz Podcast with Heather O’Donnell.
Each week, Heather shares strategies she’s used in her own online business to replace her teacher income (several times over) while working just 25 hours a week. Learn how a profitable teacher biz actually works (psst… we’re not throwing up resources on TPT) and how to get started without falling into the most common pitfalls and time wasters in the online business world.
Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, you’ll learn about building an email list, creating and selling digital products, time management, a must-have mindset for success, how to run a profitable business on your own schedule, and much more.
Hit subscribe and get ready to learn how to build a profitable home business with a lot less effort than it takes to run a classroom!
Connect With Heather:
https://teacherbiz.com/about/
https://instagram.com/teacherbiz
-
46: Social Media Strategies for Beginners
In this episode of The Teacher Biz Podcast, Heather shares her free and effective social media strategies for growing your online business! Learn how to choose a platform that works best for you and then study performing posts to gain inspiration. Heather gives tips for creating captivating captions, selecting trending audio, and experimenting with different types of content, such as tutorials, behind-the-scenes, or step-by-step guides. If you’re new to promoting your business on social media (specifically Instagram), tune in for a simple yet strategic formula that will allow you to connect and engage with your ideal audience.
Don’t forget to take action → Choose a social media platform, study it as a consumer, and take note of what works. Start posting, experimenting, and have fun along the way!
Key Takeaways:
(02:00) Choosing the right social media platform(04:05) Analyzing posts for inspiration(08:25) Taking notes; selecting trending audio and music(10:30) Examining the use of words, formatting, and emojis(13:20) Treating social media as an experiment(15:00) The ultimate goal of using social media
FREE RESOURCE ALERT → If you're ready to start your own Teacher Biz, check out the Teacher Biz Starter Guide! teacherbiz.com/Start
Connect With Heather:
teacherbiz.com/about
instagram.com/teacherbiz -
45: What if Your Product (or Business) Has Already Been Done Before?
Are you feeling like your idea isn’t worthwhile because someone else has already created a similar product or business? Don't let comparison steal your confidence! Your product is still valuable. In this episode, Heather addresses the common fear of creating a product that already exists in the market. She explains that even though your product may cover a topic that has been done before, your unique perspective and personal stories make it worthwhile. She also shares how you can infuse personality and stories into products to make them stand apart from the crowd. Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back, friend! Hit play and learn why YOUR product or business is still very much needed!
Key Takeaways:
(02:45) Feeling insecure when seeing similar products(05:50) Why it’s a good thing that a similar product already exists(06:40) The importance of personalizing your product and using your unique experiences(08:30) Using stories to make your product stand out(10:40) The online market isn’t oversaturated
Listen to Episode 04: 3 Reasons to Sell Your Products on Your Own Website (not on TPT!)
Connect With Heather:
teacherbiz.com/about
instagram.com/teacherbiz -
44: Creating an Evergreen Online Course with Lisa Marker Robbins
Since 1999 Lisa Marker Robbins has supported thousands of students as an independent college counselor. In 2010, she doubled down specifically on college major and career coaching for students because she realized those two things were the cornerstone of post-high school planning. 4,000 students have benefited from her proven three pillar framework, moving them from overwhelmed and confused to clear, confident, and motivated about their future.
In this episode, Lisa shares her journey of leaving the classroom and building an online business focused on college and career coaching for students. She discusses her transition from one-on-one coaching to creating an evergreen course, which allows her to reach more students and provide support on a larger scale. Learn strategies for growing your email list, finding a supportive community, and the secret to a successful online course launch. If you’re on the fence about starting your own teacher biz, hit play to hear Lisa’s thoughts on “being brave and taking the plunge!”
Connect with Lisa Marker Robbins:
courses.flourishcoachingco.com/majors
flourishcoachingco.com
instagram.com/flourishcoachingco
facebook.com/flourishcoachingco
Key Takeaways:
(02:50) Lisa's background as a teacher and transition to online business(07:00) Transitioning from one-on-one coaching to creating an online course(09:30) Explanation of an evergreen course and its benefits(13:30) Email list building and strategies for growing a list(15:15) The process of creating a lead magnet and its purpose(20:30) Advice for teachers considering starting their own online business(24:10) Using bonuses as incentives during a launch(26:00) Creating a life that fits with your priorities
Don’t forget to grab the FREE Teacher Biz Starter Guide!
teacherbiz.com/Start
Connect With Heather:
https://teacherbiz.com/about/
https://instagram.com/teacherbiz -
43: Starting an Online Teacher Biz (Answering Listener Questions!)
Looking for answers to your burning questions about starting an online teacher business? Don’t miss this episode of The Teacher Biz Podcast where Heather answers questions from listeners just like you! She addresses concerns about standing out in a crowded market, the costs of starting a teacher biz, and the types of products that can be sold. She also explains the importance of being yourself, building relationships with customers, and leveraging your unique perspective and experiences. Hit play now to learn practical tips for differentiating yourself and succeeding in your teacher biz!
Submit Your Own Questions Here: teacherbiz.com/listener-questions
Key Takeaways:
(02:55) How to stand out in a crowded market(06:20) Showing up and building relationships with your customers(09:10) The cost of starting a teacher biz(12:10) Types of products to sell; printable resources and digital courses(16:05) Benefits of having a membership
Resources Mentioned:
Cost of Starting Your Teacher Biz Guide: teacherbiz.com/cost
Teacher Biz Blueprint: teacherbiz.com/waitlist
Kindergarten Ready Shop: kindergartenreadyshop.com/
Episodes Mentioned:
12: Creating a Digital Course
13: Why Digital Courses are Perfect for Teachers with Amy Porterfield
14: Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your First Digital Course
22: Building Relationships with your Online Community
26: Teacher Biz Startup Costs: Breaking Down Initial Investments
Connect With Heather:
teacherbiz.com/about
instagram.com/teacherbiz -
42: Making a MUCH Greater Impact Beyond the Classroom (24,000+ Students) with Carlin Liborio
As an experienced educator, Carlin Liborio has been teaching grades K-6, coaching teachers, and writing curriculum for 17 years in 3 different countries. She specializes in helping teachers improve their students' writing skills and has worked on numerous TEA & Pearson anchor committees, item development, and standards setting for the new RLA STAAR test. Carlin’s goal is to help teachers feel empowered and prepared during these challenging times and to grow ALL students to become avid readers and writers.
In this episode, Carlin shares her journey from being a fourth-grade language arts teacher to creating a thriving online business focused on helping teachers improve their students' writing skills. She discusses how she identified a gap in the market and developed digital resources to support teachers in preparing their students for standardized tests. Carling also talks about the importance of being authentic and true to yourself when creating content and building an online presence. She shares her strategies for balancing in-person professional development (PD) workshops with digital products and offers so much advice for teachers looking to start their own online business. This is such an inspirational episode that you don’t want to miss!
Connect with Carlin Liborio:
carlinliborio.com
youtube.com/@teachingrlawithcarlinliborio
instagram.com/carlinliborio
facebook.com/CarlinLiborio
Key Takeaways:
(02:40) Carlin’s background as a teacher and her transition to online business(04:15) Identifying a gap in the market and creating digital resources(09:55) Utilizing virtual assistant work to gain experience(13:45) Establishing a work schedule and balancing home and work life(19:50) Creating a digital course to reach more teachers(25:40) Advice for teachers starting an online business(29:35) Diversifying your income and exploring different possibilities(34:35) Carlin’s future goals for her business
Don’t forget to grab the FREE Teacher Biz Starter Guide!
teacherbiz.com/Start
Connect With Heather:
https://teacherbiz.com/about/
https://instagram.com/teacherbiz -
41: 3 Strategies for Adjusting When Things Don't Go as Planned
Life doesn't always go according to plan, especially when running an online business! In this episode, Heather shares the challenges she faced during a recent launch and how she adjusted to make things work. Despite sickness, technical difficulties, and other obstacles, she navigated these setbacks and pivoted to keep her business running smoothly. Heather also provides three strategies for when things don't go as planned: eliminate what you can, ask for help, and prioritize and focus on what matters. Hit play and learn how to endure the ups and downs of running an online teacher biz!
Key Takeaways:
(05:25) Things that went wrong during the recent launch(11:45) Lessons learned; Prioritizing, planning, and giving yourself grace(16:45) Eliminating unnecessary tasks(18:55) Asking for help from friends and team members(21:30) Prioritizing and focusing on what matters(22:45) Giving yourself space after a launch
FREE RESOURCE ALERT → If you're ready to start your own Teacher Biz, check out the Teacher Biz Starter Guide! teacherbiz.com/Start
Connect With Heather:
teacherbiz.com/about
instagram.com/teacherbiz
Customer Reviews
She is realistic!
I love how she gets me! She is so real about the world of education and how as teachers, we can use our expertise in many different ways.
Great Resource, Thank You!😊
So happy to meet you Heather! I am looking forward to learn a lot about teacher biz from your podcast. I just listened to your first episode and I am so excited for all the possibilities to grow my online preschool biz, thank you for what you do💚
A wealth of information!
I’m so excited to have found this podcast and Heather’s Teacher Biz program! My husband has been wanting to start his own online teaching business for years. We can’t wait to dive into the info Heather has to share to get us to the next step in starting a business that will give him the freedom to work from home!