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Update | December 2020
With a new year around the corner, it seems like a good time to share my perspective on what’s going to be most important for success as an edupreneur – along with some resources to help support your success. So, here are some of my thoughts:
Engagement will rule
We often hear that content is king, but that’s not quite right. Engaging content is really king, and engaging learning experiences are the ones that will be successful in the increasingly crowded course market of 2021.
Now, that doesn’t mean your course has to be full of bells and whistles to make it “interactive.” As Tom Kuhlman points out, the most successful content channel out there is not all that interactive. So, take the time to understand the fundamental keys to engagement, and then master a range of approaches, like those covered here and here and here. Your learners will thank you for it, and your business will thrive as a result.
Community is the key
If content is king, context is the kingdom, and community is the key to that kingdom. (I’m just brimming over with metaphors today 😉 You need to establish a meaningful, long term relationship with and among your learners if you want an education business that is sustainable and doesn’t depend on you continually grinding our new content. You can charge for that kind of connection, but as Richard Millington points out, that definitely means thinking beyond content. Before jumping in, ask these questions, and spend some time studying how the folks at Smart Passive Income did it.
SEO is the “secret” sauce
In the world of cooking, a “secret sauce” is the thing that makes one chef’s dish stand out from another. I describe SEO as a “secret sauce” in the education business because it is clear to me that most course creators aren’t bothering with it. Those who do, gain an automatic edge. So, if SEO hasn’t been your thing up until now, definitely make it part of your 2021 plans. To get started, check out the aptly titled The Complete Guide to SEO for Course Creators. For additional guidance, look here and here. And, of course, don’t forget social media SEO.
E-mail matters more
I feel like we’re always hearing that e-mail matters less than it used to, but that’s just not true. As this Fast Company article suggests, e-mail needs to evolve, but it is still critical to business. And for selling courses, nothing beats permission to show up in your prospects’ e-mail boxes. It’s no accident that we have written about e-mail marketing extensively on Learning Revolution. And, you can get some valuable additional tips here and here.
Tools for the road
To wrap up, here are a few tools you might find useful for growing your business in 2021:
- A free e-learning storyboard template
- A very cool video-editing tool
- AI-supported help with writing effective copy
- An easy way to sell Zoom webinars
That’s all for now. As always, just hit “Reply” if I can be of help in any way.
Jeff
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