Level Up Your Course Podcast With Janelle Allen: Create Online Courses That Change Lives

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 o

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.Episode Quotes"It's not about the procrastination, it's about why are you procrastinating.""Procrastination is a symptom of something that we are resisting.""Video is a great way to connect

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 fam

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 Learn01:07 - COVID-19’s impact on online course creators 04:15 - Recap of previous episodes 08:46 - Podcasting

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

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 websit

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 b

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.""Com

Hey everybody! This week, I’m joined by Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of Rent 2 Rent Success and HMO Heaven and creator of Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter. For your business to grow, you have to grow – dream bigger, be bolder, and be a game changer.Being a property investor, Stephanie believes in creating value for everyone she works with: tenants, landlords, investors, and partners. Her online course, Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter, helps people create and grow a profitable rent-to-rent business -- fast and stress free. With her system, you can kickstart your property business in no time, and with minimal experience. Tune in to hear Stephanie’s story, her marketing tips, and how to have the right mindset for success.  Episode Quotes"You can presell your course. All you just need to do is be transparent about it.""In creating a course, just do it.""For your business to grow, you have to grow.""All you have to do to start is connect with people.""Our vision going forward is dream bigger, be bolder, and be a ga

Hey family! I'm so excited to be back with you. It's been three months since the last episode because I took a bit of a hiatus. Thank you for hanging out and giving me the leeway to take that break and come back.  In this solo episode, I’m going to report on what I did over these past three months, including finally launching my YouTube channel. I’m happy to say that it’s been up for almost a month now. In line with that, I’ll share my thoughts on YouTube for course creators. Is it really worth the effort?Then, on a serious note, let’s talk about COVID-19. I’ll get into how it’s affecting online course creators and business owners, and what to do in terms of launching and marketing your course in these unprecedented times.  Finally, we’ll wrap up with what you can expect going forward on the podcast. I was so encouraged during the hiatus by your kind notes, emails, and tweets, and I’m excited to share what’s coming up. Episode Quotes"Part of being a business owner is being able to adapt and be agile because t

Hey family! This episode is going to be different because I’m doing it solo. It’s time for the annual review for 2019. I love doing this part because I’m such a nerd in reflection and planning, and this is the time of the year where things slow down and I can get really intentional about what I want to do and also express gratitude. So listen up as I share with you what went well, what didn’t go well, lessons learned, and what I’m focused on for 2020. Enjoy! Episode Quotes"Marketing isn’t a bad word. Marketing is just communicating your value to your audience.""Transformation is not about information; it comes through action""Doing everything on your own is not the way to grow.""Growth requires investment (money, time, relationships).""Focus on what you love to do, focus on what you're good at, and collaborate more." Listen to Learn02:09 - My wins for 201912:28 - What didn't go well in 201920:51 - Things I learned this year32:21 - Shoutouts to these amazing people 36:34 - My focus areas for 202041:00 - One mo

What’s up everyone! This week I’m joined by Francesco D'Alessio, productivity expert, YouTuber, and founder of Keep Productive. He’s here to talk about his course, Notion Made Simple, and how he’s helping people find the best productivity tools for their work and life.My mission is to help people find the right productivity software for their life and work.Francesco’s passion for tech and productivity tools paved the way for Keep Productive, a blog and YouTube channel that currently has 105K subscribers and more than 10 million views. His course, Notion Made Simple, is an 8-module program that teaches learners at beginner, intermediate, and advanced experience levels how to master Notion. The course is built to help people learn to use Notion effectively, from navigating the vast number of features to managing projects and databases.  Tune in to hear Francesco’s tips about tech and productivity, and how he created Notion Made Simple. Episode Quotes"Just be patient. Good stuff comes a couple of years after, no

What’s up everyone! In this episode, I am joined by Pamela Slim, speaker, business coach and award-winning author of Escape from Cubicle Nation and Body of Work. Pamela joins me to share her story and how her brick and mortar learning lab empowers diverse entrepreneurs.  The core of everything is that we all need each other and we work together from our diverse ecosystems.For over 20 years, Pamela has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs to support them in launching and growing their businesses. Even with the evolution of online courses, many business owners are still stuck with the same problems Pam has been helping them solve for years. In 2016, she started the K’é Main Street Learning Lab in Mesa, Arizona, which is a community-based leadership development lab that supports and strengthens local small businesses. Since launching the Learning Lab, Pam has hosted over 200 events led by 38 community leaders for her more than 4,000 community members.  Listen as Pamela shares her insights about building a comm

What’s up everyone! I am joined today by Ken Wallace, online course creator and the brain behind MastermindJam. He’s here to share how he created MastermindJam and discuss the value of peer-led mastermind groups.  Mastermind groups help you to have another set of eyes on the problems about your business.The idea for MastermindJam came after Ken joined the the 2015 MicroConf. After some some customer feedback and a few tweaks in pricing, Ken created MastermindJam in 2019. MastermindJam is a platform that helps people find a peer-driven mastermind group or create a new group from scratch without having to waste time cobbling together a bunch of different software. With MastermindJam, entrepreneurs can now easily join a business mastermind that can help them supercharge their business growth and move their business forward.  Tune in to hear Ken’s take on value-based pricing, the benefit of peer-led versus guru-led communities, and the story behind MastermindJam. Episode Quotes"Always price based on the value of

Hey family! This week’s episode is the live interview from my workshop with Charlie GIlkey, logistics expert turned executive coach, author, and founder of Productive Flourishing. He’s here to talk about his new book, Start Finishing, and how you can finally finish all of those projects you’ve been wanting to dig into.  All great ideas don't matter. What matters is our execution, our ability to pull them into light, ship them in the marketplace, and make the difference that they are going to make.Before becoming an executive coach, Charlie worked in the Army as a Joint Force Military Logistics Coordinator, where he mastered the skills of planning and strategizing. In his book, Start Finishing, he shares his expertise and the 9-step method to re-align your life with the things that matters most. Charlie believes that we’re all meant to do our best work, and a core piece of that is finishing what we start. The strategies in his book help creatives work through three major emotions that hold them back (overwhelm

What’s up everybody! This week I’m joined by Gareth Pronovost, Airtable consultant, founder of GAP Consulting, and creator of Airtable Automation Machine. He’s here to share his course creation story and how Airtable Automation Machine helps businesses build databases and automate their workflows.When we automate processes we can focus on doing the stuff that we love and work less.Having been a financial analyst in a billion-dollar public company, Gareth knows the burden of spending countless hours doing reports manually on spreadsheets. This slow and inefficient process prevented him from doing the work he should have been focusing on. Then, Airtable came to his rescue.  With Airtable, Gareth was able to automate his workflow, organize data, and eliminate long hours of manual work. Now with GAP Consulting, he’s helped hundreds of business owners do the same. His course, Airtable Automation Machine, helps entrepreneurs optimize their Airtable setup, integrate business process, and train their team on Airtable

What’s up, everybody? This week, I’m joined by Lydia Lee, founder of Screw the Cubicle and creator of 90 Day Launch. She’s here to share how she transitioned from the corporate world to living a life of purpose and doing work that matters, and how she’s helping her students do the same.Stop trying to look good in your business, and start being good.Six years ago, Lydia had hustled her way up the corporate ladder and landed a comfortable six-figure job. Despite her success, she knew she wasn’t happy. After a realization that this wasn’t the life she wanted -- and a bit of a breakdown, some therapy, and coaching -- she quit and started her own business.Screw the Cubicle is all about helping people transition from corporate shackles to satisfying work, and the freedom to do it on their terms. Lydia’s course, 90 Day Launch, guides her learners to map out their processes, craft the framework of their offer, and launch their next big thing that matters. Episode Quotes"Remember not to burn bridges when transitioning

What’s up, family! In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Louise Henry, web designer and founder of Solopreneur Sidekick. She’s also the Squarespace specialist behind Website that Wows, a course that helps “non-techie” entrepreneurs build their own website in as little as one week.Having a website is important because it is your digital home.Being a digital nomad herself, Louise knows how important it is to have a digital home that represents who you are and what you do. In Website that Wows, Louise teaches entrepreneurs how to take ownership of their online presence through step-by-step tutorials, templates, and high-touch tech support.  Tune in to hear Louise and I talk about the digital nomad life, how she empowers business owners to build the website of their dreams, and some sales tips that drives results. Let’s do it!  Episode Quotes"Having a professional website, and being clear about what you could offer, is an advantage.""As an entrepreneur, I realized that mindset comes first.""Sales is an exchange,

What’s up everyone! Today I am joined by Alisha Robertson, founder of Living Over Existing and author of a book by the same title. She’s also the creator of Brand with Purpose, a ten-week mentorship program for women entrepreneurs.  Know what it is you want to do - passion, skills, and interest - then build your brand on that.After all the pivots she made, Alisha finally said yes to her calling to write. For over 6 years, she has worked with women entrepreneurs teaching them how to gain clarity in their business. Her group program, Brand with Purpose, guides creatives to build their brand, create better content, and define their signature product.    Listen as Alisha talks about how she handled those big life decisions, how she committed to her mission to write, and how she helps creative women build their life and business on purpose. Let’s get into it!   Episode Quotes"Some days are really bad, but you have to keep going because the next day could be the day that changes your entire life.""People want accou

What’s up, family? In this episode, we have David Charrier, multi-instrumentalist, handpan enthusiast, and founder of the online school, Master the Handpan. I love watching my students blossom in their musical journeyAs a musician, David has always been passionate about rhythms and melodies. In 2004, he discovered a unique-looking percussion instrument called the handpan. After traveling to host handpan masterclasses, David created Master the Handpan to bring the joys of the handpan right into students’ homes. He’s now taught more than 3,000 people with his online program. With easy-to-watch, easy-to-follow video lessons, students can now learn how to play the handpan in a simple and fun way. Tune in to hear how David created Master the Handpan, what he’s learned since its launch, and courses to check out to begin our own musical journey.  Episode Quotes"The problem for learners is frustration.""Having course levels give learners something to aspire to. It motivates them to keep going.""Put yourself in your s