Selling Online Courses And Earning Over $144K/Year As A Solopreneur [Update]
This is a follow up story for Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published over 2 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
Hello, I'm Jade Weatherington, the owner of Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. At my academy, I provide online writing courses and coaching services to aspiring writers ages 8-18.
With the success of my online school, I transitioned into teaching others how to develop online businesses. In my original started story, I shared details about both businesses: How I Went From Part-Time Tutor To Making $120K/Year Selling Online.
Our flagship product at Teacher Jade's Writing Academy is the comprehensive online writing course that covers various genres and writing techniques. Through interactive lessons, assignments, and personalized feedback, I guide my students in honing their writing abilities and unlocking their full potential. Additionally, I offer live consultations to adults wanting to develop online courses too.
I currently have eight teachers that offer courses through my Academy and I am earning $12-15,000 a month.
Since my last interview, I have experienced a significant pivot in my business, Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. Initially, I faced a decline in enrollments, which prompted me to examine the root cause.
I discovered that my courses were no longer appearing on the search engine of the platform where I was offering them. I was fortunate enough to have direct access to the team that worked on the backend of the website, so when I sent in my concerns, they scheduled a meeting with me.
In addition to the problem with their algorithm not showing certain classes, I was offered alternative ways for my classes to become visible via their marketing campaign; however, the process took several months and during that period I had to develop a new strategy to ensure that my business remained viable.
This setback served as a valuable lesson, highlighting the importance of focusing on growing my own platform.
Taking this realization to heart, I embarked on a planning phase to restructure and revitalize my business. During this period, I made strategic decisions to ensure the future success of Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. One crucial step was hiring three additional teachers as independent contractors. By expanding my team, I could offer a broader range of courses and provide a more comprehensive learning experience for my students.
As a solopreneur, it can be challenging to navigate the intricacies of business ownership alone. Having someone to provide guidance, share insights, and hold me accountable has been immensely helpful.
Simultaneously, I devoted considerable effort to developing online courses tailored specifically for adults that wanted to grow their online teaching businesses. I even created a free course to help them determine if online teaching was something they would thrive in.
To maintain visibility and reach my target audience, I remained active on social media platforms, consistently sharing valuable content and engaging with my followers. Additionally, I continued to communicate with my audience through regular email newsletters, fostering a sense of community and keeping them updated on the latest offerings and developments at Teacher Jade's Writing Academy.
My efforts to pivot and strengthen my business did not go unnoticed. Recently, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by CNBC Acorns, where I discussed the challenges I faced and the strategies I implemented to overcome them. This exposure allowed me to reach a wider audience and establish myself as an expert in the field of growing an online business.
To consolidate my presence and retain control over my business, I decided to remove the majority of my courses from other platforms. This move ensured that Teacher Jade's Writing Academy would remain primarily focused on my website. By directing traffic to my platform, I could build stronger relationships with my students and have more control over the learning experience they receive.
As a result of these efforts, Teacher Jade's Writing Academy is on a promising trajectory. While the pivot presented initial challenges, I embraced them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
By adapting my approach, expanding my team, and streamlining my course offerings, I am confident that Teacher Jade's Writing Academy will continue to thrive, empowering writers of all ages to unlock their creative potential and achieve their writing goals.
What have been your biggest challenges in the last year?
Over the past year, I have encountered several significant challenges in running Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. One of the most prominent hurdles was developing a new branding strategy without the support of a dedicated team.
As a solo entrepreneur, I had to assume multiple roles and responsibilities, which made it difficult to allocate enough time and energy to strategizing and implementing an effective branding approach. Learning how to navigate the intricacies of branding and marketing while simultaneously teaching classes demanded careful balancing and adaptability.
Another major challenge I faced was integrating all the different components of the business while still maintaining a high standard of teaching. Juggling the administrative tasks, marketing efforts, content creation, and customer engagement alongside delivering quality courses required exceptional time management and prioritization skills.
It was crucial to find ways to streamline processes, automate certain tasks, and seek assistance when necessary, allowing me to focus more fully on providing an exceptional learning experience to my students.
One of the components I added was setting up payroll processing through Gusto and connecting it directly to my accounts which allows me to easily track what’s coming in and what’s going out. I also utilize Slack to communicate with my team and keep all documentation for courses in Dropbox which makes it easily accessible to all my teachers.
Furthermore, staying up to date with technological advancements and shifts in the field of education proved to be an ongoing challenge. As online teaching and learning evolve rapidly, it was essential to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies, digital platforms, and pedagogical strategies. Keeping abreast of these changes ensured that Teacher Jade's Writing Academy remained relevant, competitive, and able to offer the best possible learning opportunities to students.
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
One of the biggest lessons I learned this year was to take my advice and not put all my eggs in one basket when it comes to teaching online. While there are various avenues available, such as teaching through platforms or content creation websites, relying solely on one platform can be risky.
I realized the importance of diversifying and leveraging multiple channels while prioritizing my website and platform. This approach has allowed me to maintain greater control over my business and reach a broader audience.
Another crucial lesson I learned was the value of having a mentor, guidance, or at least an accountability partner. As a solopreneur, it can be challenging to navigate the intricacies of business ownership alone. Having someone to provide guidance, share insights, and hold me accountable has been immensely helpful.
Whether it's through formal mentorship programs, networking with industry professionals, or even forming connections with fellow entrepreneurs, having a support system has provided valuable perspectives and helped me stay motivated and focused on my goals.
Overall, these lessons have reinforced the importance of strategic planning, diversification, and seeking guidance in entrepreneurship. By spreading out my teaching platforms and relying primarily on my website, I have built a more resilient business. Additionally, having a mentor or accountability partner has offered me valuable guidance and support, enabling me to navigate challenges more effectively and continue growing as an entrepreneur.
If you’re already an educator, consider other ways you can create income from education - you can create worksheets/workbooks, you can make content, and you can provide 1:1 tutoring.
What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?
My goal for the upcoming year is to take Teacher Jade's Writing Academy to new heights by expanding our course offerings. In addition to the existing writing courses, I plan to introduce reading courses, thereby creating a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum. This expansion will allow us to cater to a broader range of students and provide a well-rounded educational experience.
Looking ahead to the next five years, I envision further growth and transformation for Teacher Jade's Writing Academy. One of my aspirations is to enhance the virtual experience we offer to our students, making it more immersive and connected. I aim to create a dynamic online community where students can interact with one another, fostering collaboration, peer feedback, and a sense of belonging beyond the virtual classroom.
By leveraging innovative technologies, such as virtual reality or interactive platforms, we can bridge the gap between remote learning and in-person interactions, providing a richer and more engaging learning environment.
Expanding the reach of Teacher Jade's Writing Academy and improving the virtual experience aligns with my commitment to empowering writers and promoting lifelong learning. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and the positive impact we can make on students' lives by offering a comprehensive ELA curriculum and an immersive online learning community.
What’s the best thing you read in the last year?
One of the books I revisited this year was "Fascinate" by Sally Hogshead which explores the art of captivating and influencing others. Hogshead delves into the science of fascination, providing readers with tools to understand and leverage their strengths to make a lasting impact which is especially useful when trying to sell a product or service. I was able to implement several of her strategies during my pivot.
On the other hand, "Make it Stick" by Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel focuses on the science of effective learning and retention. The book explores the strategies and techniques that enhance long-term memory and improve learning outcomes. By challenging conventional study habits and emphasizing the importance of active learning, the authors provide readers with practical insights to optimize their learning process and make knowledge stick which is optimal for my Academy and in my homeschool.
Advice for other entrepreneurs struggling to grow their businesses.
If you are considering teaching online as a business, here are some starter tips:
- Create the course! You can teach anything online. You just have to go for it. Plus, the startup cost for teaching online is minimal (all you need to start is internet access)!
- Consider where you want to offer the courses (a platform, a content creation website, your website).
- Check out the competition, not to copy or to convince yourself that “the market is oversaturated” but to help you develop your strategic plan for your business. You have to study others to learn and the wheel has already been created.
- If you’re already an educator, consider other ways you can create income from education - you can create worksheets/workbooks, you can make content, and you can provide 1:1 tutoring.
- Get a mentor. This has probably been the most beneficial aspect in developing and growing my business.
Where can we go to learn more?
If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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