AI is changing the game for entrepreneurs.
No more excuses.
With the right strategy and tools, you can create a 7-figure online course in just 60 days.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Build Your Personal Brand
Your personal brand is your digital handshake. It’s not about fame; it’s about trust. Founder-led brands outperform faceless companies on social media by tenfold because people trust people.
To start, identify your niche and become the go-to person in that area. Look at Elon Musk and Tesla: while Tesla has 22 million followers, Elon has 189 million. This is the power of personal branding.
Develop your unique voice and consistently share valuable content. Engage with your audience authentically, and remember, your personal brand is your unfair advantage.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Identify Your Niche: Research and find a specific area where you can add value. This could be something you are passionate about or have expertise in.
- Create a Content Plan: Develop a strategy for regularly sharing content that provides value to your audience. This could include blog posts, videos, podcasts, or social media updates.
- Engage Authentically: Interact with your audience in a genuine way. Respond to comments, answer questions, and show that you care about their success.
Example: Consider the rise of personal brands like Marie Forleo. She created a niche in business coaching with a focus on creative entrepreneurs. By consistently delivering valuable content and engaging with her audience, she built a loyal following and a successful business.
2. Leverage Your Audience for Offer Validation
Before launching any product, it’s crucial to validate your ideas with your audience. Don’t waste time and resources guessing what people want. Instead, ask them directly.
Here’s how:
- Schedule One-on-One Calls: Speak directly with your followers to understand their pain points and desires. This personal touch can provide deep insights.
- Analyze High-Performing Content: Look at the content that gets the most engagement. This can give you clues about what your audience is interested in.
- Send Direct Messages: Reach out to at least 50 people asking what they would like to learn from you. Use their responses to shape your offer.
Your audience is a goldmine of insights. Use their feedback to refine your offer before launching.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Create a Survey: Develop a simple survey to gather feedback. Ask questions about their challenges, goals, and what kind of content they find most valuable.
- Host Webinars or Live Q&A Sessions: These sessions allow you to interact with your audience in real-time and gather immediate feedback.
- Use Social Media Polls: Platforms like Instagram and Twitter have built-in poll features that can provide quick insights.
Example: Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income often uses his podcast audience to validate new ideas. He discusses potential products or services on his show and asks for feedback, which helps him refine his offerings.
3. Craft a Magnetic Offer
Your offer is the foundation of your monetization strategy. It should solve a pressing problem for your target audience and be so irresistible that they feel compelled to buy.
Here are the steps:
- Identify the Problem: Determine the most significant pain point your audience faces.
- Create the Solution: Design a course that addresses this problem in a comprehensive, actionable way.
- Make It Irresistible: Offer bonuses, limited-time discounts, or exclusive content to make the deal even sweeter.
Remember, your offer needs to be clear and straightforward. Your audience should instantly understand the value they are getting.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Develop a Value Proposition: Clearly articulate what your course offers and how it benefits the user. Focus on the transformation your course provides.
- Add Bonuses: Include additional resources like eBooks, checklists, or access to a private community to enhance the perceived value.
- Create Urgency: Use limited-time offers or exclusive content availability to encourage quick decision-making.
Example: Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy offers not just the course content but also a range of bonuses including live coaching calls, templates, and a private Facebook group, making the offer highly attractive.
4. Build an Organic Content Funnel
Your content funnel should seamlessly attract your audience and guide them towards becoming buyers. There are three key stages in this process:
- Rented Audience: Engage with your audience on social media platforms where they spend their time.
- Owned Audience: Convert these followers into email subscribers to build a more controlled and reliable communication channel.
- Monetized Audience: Finally, turn your email subscribers into paying customers by offering valuable content and products.
Every piece of content should serve a purpose in this funnel, leading your audience closer to making a purchase. Overdeliver on value at each step to build trust and loyalty.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Create High-Quality Content: Develop blog posts, videos, and social media updates that provide real value to your audience.
- Capture Leads: Use lead magnets like free eBooks or webinars to convert your social media followers into email subscribers.
- Nurture Leads: Send regular emails with valuable content to build a relationship and keep your audience engaged.
- Make Offers: Periodically offer your products or services to your email list, ensuring the offers are relevant and valuable.
Example: Neil Patel uses a content funnel to drive traffic from his blog to his email list and then to his paid services. By providing consistent, high-quality content, he builds trust and gradually converts readers into clients.
5. ConvertKit Newsletter
Your email list is your most valuable asset. ConvertKit is an excellent tool for turning followers into subscribers and subscribers into customers.
Start by setting up a ConvertKit landing page with a compelling lead magnet—something valuable that your audience can’t resist. Once they join your list, nurture them with high-quality, relevant content. This consistent engagement will prime them to buy your course when you launch it.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Create a Lead Magnet: Develop a free resource that provides significant value, such as a guide, template, or mini-course.
- Set Up Landing Pages: Use ConvertKit to create landing pages that promote your lead magnet and capture email addresses.
- Segment Your List: Organize your email subscribers based on their interests and engagement levels to send more targeted content.
- Nurture Your List: Send regular emails that provide value, build trust, and lead your subscribers towards your paid offerings.
Example: Brennan Dunn of Double Your Freelancing uses ConvertKit to segment his audience and deliver personalized email sequences. This targeted approach increases engagement and conversion rates.
6. Implement a Content Monetization System
To maximize conversions, implement a robust content monetization system. Each email you send should have one unique call-to-action (CTA). Link your course in your social media profiles and regularly remind your audience of the value you offer.
Perform weekly A/B tests to optimize your content for conversions. Experiment with different subject lines, CTAs, and email formats to see what works best. Your goal is to find the most effective way to turn your content into sales.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Develop a CTA Strategy: Ensure every piece of content has a clear and compelling call-to-action.
- Optimize for Conversions: Use A/B testing to experiment with different elements of your emails and landing pages.
- Track Results: Monitor key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to understand what works best.
- Refine Your Approach: Use the insights gained from testing and tracking to continuously improve your strategy.
Example: Russell Brunson of ClickFunnels uses a highly effective content monetization system. He regularly tests different CTAs and email formats to optimize conversions and maximize revenue.
7. Build a Community on Skool
Creating a community around your course can significantly enhance engagement and loyalty. Skool is a great platform for this purpose. It allows you to schedule courses, host events, and manage your content all in one place.
Launch your community on Skool and invite your audience to join. By hosting and mentoring others, you’ll not only raise your profile but also unlock the power of reciprocity. People are more likely to support those who have supported them.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Set Up Your Community: Use Skool to create a community space for your audience.
- Engage Regularly: Host live sessions, Q&A events, and discussions to keep your community active and engaged.
- Provide Value: Share exclusive content, answer questions, and offer support to build strong relationships.
- Monetize Your Community: Offer additional paid services or products within your community to generate revenue.
Example: Gina Bianchini’s Mighty Networks platform provides a space for course creators to build and monetize their communities. She uses the platform to host events, share content, and engage with her audience, creating a loyal and active community.
8. Hire an Executive Assistant
As your business grows, managing all the moving parts can become overwhelming. This is where an Executive Assistant (EA) comes in. An EA can help optimize your sales process, handle scheduling, and free up your time so you can focus on high-impact activities.
Hiring an EA is an investment in your business’s scalability. As your audience and revenue grow, having someone to manage day-to-day operations will allow you to maintain momentum and continue scaling.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Identify Key Tasks: Determine which tasks you can delegate to an EA to free up your time.
- Hire the Right Person: Look for an EA with experience in managing sales processes and scheduling.
- Train Your EA: Provide thorough training to ensure they understand your business and can perform their tasks effectively.
- Delegate and Monitor: Gradually delegate tasks to your EA and monitor their performance to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Example: Tim Ferriss, author of “The 4-Hour Workweek,” emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks to focus on high-value activities. He hires assistants to manage his day-to-day operations, allowing him to concentrate on growing his business.
By following this detailed playbook, you can transform your course idea into a 7-figure reality in just 60 days. Leverage AI tools, build a strong personal brand, validate your offers, create an engaging content funnel, and utilize email marketing and community platforms to maximize your reach and conversions.
No more excuses. Start building your 7-figure course today.
