No Time To Create Your Course? Here's What To Do
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of creating an online course because you're a busy business owner, coach, or service provider? If so, you're not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with time constraints when it comes to course creation. But here's the good news - even with limited time, it's still possible to create a successful online course. In this blog post, I'll share valuable tips to help you overcome time challenges and bring your course to life. Let's get started!
I've been a course creator and strategist for more than 3 years now and I've worked with women entrepreneurs across the world in creating their signature online courses so they can generate more income, get more time back, and make a bigger impact.
Among them is Alexis. She was a newlywed, first-time mom, student, and business owner at the time. She had a lot of things going on but really wanted to create a course so that she doesn’t need to do more 1:1 calls with her clients, which she doesn’t have time for. She also didn't know where to start and knows she won’t have the time to do everything by herself. So she reached out to me and we ended up working together and eventually got her course done in a matter of 6 weeks.
Here's what she said:
“Working with Myrra was very easy. That’s what I wanted! I did not want complicated, I did not want stress. Between being a newlywed, first-time mom, student and new business owner -- I was not interested in hiring someone who I’d have to babysit. During our initial interview, Myrra assured me that she would be able to take over and wouldn’t need much from me! She did not tell a fib! She was in the driver’s seat the entire time! Myrra’s professionalism and apparent knowledge made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Typically, I feel the need to micromanage the people I hire and I never once felt the need to step in with her. I was often behind or busy focusing on other things and she kept me on schedule.” - ALEXIS BLOUNT, Wedding Expert and Influencer
I know she's not alone in her struggles at that time because most of my clients who reached out to me are also busy coaches and entrepreneurs who had a lot going on in their personal and family lives and businesses. Because you clicked on this blog post, you can most likely relate too! Just know that if people like Alexis were able to successfully create and launch their online courses then YOU CAN, too!
Top 5 Tips to Create a Successful Online Course Even if You’re Short on Time and Super Busy
#1: Repurpose your existing content.
If you have been a coach or service provider for quite some time, chances are you have existing content already - such as blog posts, videos, social media posts, and so on. When you're outlining your course, consider using your existing content as your starting point and integrating them into your course outline. This will save you A LOT of time when creating your course curriculum.
#2: Simplify your course content.
You don't have to have so much information and modules inside your course. Actually, this wouldn't just save you time but also avoid information-stuffing that leads to students feeling info overloaded from a course. Instead, focus on the transformation that your students will get.
In this blog post, I mentioned that, in outlining your course, you must ask yourself what is your students' shortest path to success. Instead of the theoretical, focus on teaching practical, actionable information.
#3: Simplify your course creation process.
A lot of times, we get analysis paralysis from just thinking of all the things we have to do to create a course. This happens most especially if you have been following so many business gurus out there, reading countless blog posts, looking up how-to videos, and so on. Just when you think you have a strategy in place to create your course, one more thing pops up that would make you think - "Oh shoot, I should probably do that strategy instead because this expert says my course will fail if I don't." And then, months after, you still have no course to show for it.
You must simplify your course creation process. You don't need a complete set-up website, perfect logo and branding stuff, complicated sales funnels, and freakin' expensive Facebook ads to successfully create and sell your course.
All you need are:
A profitable & transformational course idea
A carefully crafted course messaging
A simplified course curriculum
A course tech setup to sell and host your course
A non-complicated course launch strategy that's aligned with you
Doesn't sound too complicated, right?
#4: Create a realistic schedule.
If you are a busy mom who's running your coaching business on the side, chances are you don't have so many hours in the week to put into course creation. So I recommend that you figure out how many hours in a week can you put into your course creation project. Be realistic about it! If, say, you believe you only have 3 hours - think about how you can divide that throughout the week. Maybe you can work on your course for 30 minutes/day when your toddler is sleeping or when your kids are out to school or in between 1-1 client calls?
And then the next step is to plan out what tasks you can do in each of those timeslots. Break down the course creation steps into smaller tasks so you won't feel too overwhelmed and then schedule them on your calendar. Show up and commit to it like it's an actual event or meeting you have to attend. I guarantee that you'll be able to create your course in just a short amount of time.
#5: Consider outsourcing.
Not everyone has the capacity to put skin in the game aka invest their money and delegate tasks to an expert so I definitely understand and if you're at that level, that's okay. With enough grit and determination, I'm sure no one can stand in your way to create a course.
However, for those of you who have been a coach, expert, consultant, or entrepreneur for quite some time and know you have the capacity to outsource, please do. THIS is the biggest and most important thing you can do SAVE TIME and create your course even if you are super busy and always short on time.
I know this because my clients have personally told me that, before working with me, they clearly couldn't see the end of the tunnel and thought they won't be able to finish their course at all. But after just a few weeks when we finally finished their course, they're always so happy to prove themselves wrong. That they were actually able to do it just by focusing on their zones of genius and partnering with experts like me who can take over the tasks that are our zones of genius ourselves.
For example, here's how I work with my clients:
They simply have to hop on VIP Strategy Session with me (usually 3 hours) where we map out everything for their course including their course foundations, course outline, and launch strategy. After that, we take over everything including course curriculum creation, designing their slides, setting up their course pages, creating their sales page, and so on. Basically, all they need to do is RECORD THE CONTENT and FOCUS ON THE INCOME-GENERATING PART - i.e. launching and promoting the course.
This is why I encourage you to delegate and outsource when you can, but clearly, you have to discern the right people to work with and if their values align with you. Check their testimonials and see for yourself the results the people you'll work with have helped other people achieve. Remember, you don't have to do this alone.
I hope this post has been helpful to you!
And if you haven't yet, go ahead and download my FREE case study and course guide that will teach you how you can make an additional $15K+ on your business by turning your God-given expertise & skills into a course (just like my client did!). Just click here to get your copy now.
