The development of an online course for business completely out of the gate

Read the case study, or listen to the complete conversation with Marlene... And should it motivate you to design your own online course (and we think it is!) start at RoadmapTo5k.com.

Marlene Hielema is also referred to by her nickname of the Image Maven

Marlene is a fantastic photographer, video educator and photographer. She is the brain behind the creation of ImageMaven.com and ImageMavenVideo.com. Check out both sites to get great videos and ways to enhance your video and photography quickly.

What are the reasons to begin teaching of online classes?

Flash from the beginning to 2004. Marlene was a teacher of photography within her class at the community college in her area. She enjoyed her work direct with the students however she felt exhausted.

It became more and more tiring for her. She was never able to go on a holiday in the way she would have liked: "I was just teaching every day."

Her goal? She's looking to be flexible and unconstrained when it comes to her work schedule.

Marlene declares, "I want to enjoy my life... my time is short. I'd like to go skating! I want to jump on my longboard towards the end of the day and not feel guilty about it."

A desire for freedom and flexibility inspired her to design the first of her online classes.

What was the process that led her to develop her ideas?

Marlene started taking some photography classes online and realized that the learning experience was "clunky." She told her instructor that "this needs to be changed to make it more user-friendly."

She started researching ideas for her own course. After that, in the fall of 2010 she began her first online course using ..

Marlene is now offering 8 courses online, some of which she has repeatedly taught to a variety of different students.

She's developed a mixture of inexpensive, short targeted courses in addition to longer, intensive courses (some with up to 8 weeks).

Marlene develops courses in response to specific queries she receives from people who email her: "I've had this question 10 times in the last three months. Perhaps I ought to create an instructional course to address this issue!"

She is attentive to questions people make regarding. For instance, if, she started getting questions regarding her videos. She would ask: Do you have any tips for me how to create an identical video to the one you have?

Overcoming challenges

Marlene states that one of her greatest challenges is to sell -- "I'm naturally not a salesperson."

In the course of time, she's discovered ways to interact and educate people prior to asking them to buy the software.

In the present, she's offering an opportunity to sign-up for free 10 photo lessons through the email. After 10 lessons for free, she offers the option of purchasing a program.

Though she found sales intimidating at first, Marlene now says "I sell courses every week -People take a look at a course and like it and buy the course."

A successful business model based on the courses

A key learning of Marlene was the fact that education and services (one-on-one consulting with private clients) go hand-in-hand.

These courses lead to leads that she can use for her 1:1 client-to-client service. After a class, "people just want a little bit of assistance, and they're ready to invest the money."

In particular, students taking classes in video require help with editing and producing. Photography students require private critiques and extra technical support.

According to her "My revenues have increased via my customers than it did through the course of instruction."

The courses are highly valuable by themselves and are better when they are combined with services.

Marlene is also able to enhance the services she provides through classes. She says "If you decide to hire me and I'm not just an accident.

Consulting If the customer requires assistance, I provide the course free of charge." The course is free and can make her consulting service attractive to potential customers.

Connecting with students

Marlene makes use of her classes to establish connections with her students, not just to deliver her content. Her research has shown that, in many instances "People tend to be less shy when they are online."

Her connections are made by her involvement and presence in her classes of teaching "I respond to every query, to every email."

Marlene states that this process is fun and rewarding for her "I enjoy teaching and enjoy helping people... The most favorite part is when I love watching people achieve their goals! I feel like as a proud parent when someone shows up on the screen with a short video or stunning white backgrounds I've assisted them in creating. It is my goal to assist the people who have been frustrated."

In the future

The future is bright for Marlene. Marlene hopes to build on the success of the courses she offers. Marlene plans on "relaunching the courses she has already developed and rejuvenating them in addition to creating better-looking websites for sales and elevating the overall quality of her courses."

In addition, she strives to develop 1 or 2 each year, different courses to meet the demands of her community. She says that "I've not created courses from beginning to finish." She often thinks of the question What are people interested in the future?, and builds courses around those requirements.

She is also looking for experts to partner with for the purpose of creating unique and innovative courses. As an example, she has worked with a counselor make a self-development course entitled Take a break - Photography to help you take care of yourself.

Marlene's top tips and takeaways for getting an online course start-up off on the right foot

1 - Just Do It!

Marlene says, "My first course only was attended by about 20 students and 10 friends It was extremely fulfilling!"

So put your procrastination in the past and start working. You can take a risk-free route to get started regardless of whether you need to invite a few of your acquaintances for free!

Be able to overcome the challenge You'll learn how much from the first lesson! Go for it.

Don't get hung up on being perfect the first time People will be understanding.

#2 - Connect

Make sure you are able to make a connection to your students. ensure that you make connections with them.

If they are sure that what they're learning from you will be useful you've taught them, they'll feel able ask questions and benefit of their experience.

If they trust you, you can help them.

Be active in discussion by responding to questions, as well as posting your own.

3. Express Yourself

Incorporate your unique personality into your lessons. Marlene declares, "I act a little funny in my videos." A personality that she shows in her instructional videos and lessons as she creates an emotional connection with her students she teaches.

It's easy to start today. Start with our FREE instruction course, and learn the steps to begin making and selling your course -- so you can start developing your online course right from scratch.

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