Create a Better Course - podcast cover

Create a Better Course

Mara Kucireksites.libsyn.com
Ready to learn what it takes to create a phenomenal and profitable online course? I’m Mara Kucirek - an online course and instructional designer for entrepreneurs and small business owners! Together we’re going to unpack how to grow your passive income through online courses that have a lasting impact on your students too! On this podcast, you’ll find solo episodes filled with actionable advice around launch strategy, marketing online courses and digital products. We’ll also talk about what it takes to start and grow a six-figure business that gives you more freedom and JOY in life! Plus, you’ll find the occasional guest expert interview to pull back the curtain on what it takes to create and run a thriving online course.
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Episodes

040. My First 3 Months Postpartum: The Highs, The Lows, and What I Was NOT Prepared For

Today, I'm sharing the joys and challenges of new motherhood, hoping it resonates with expecting or new moms. I'm spilling it all: from things I thought would be difficult, but were surprisingly easy, to the things I did not expect to be so hard (and that I wish I had prepared for). Episode Highlights: What recovery after an unmedicated birth was like for me My breastfeeding experience What I loved about being a new mom The exhausting reality of new parenthood (and tips for you!) Becoming the de...

Mar 11, 202441 min

039. I Grew My Affiliate Income by 200% by Following These 5 Simple Strategies

Want to know how I've tripled my affiliate income over the last year without being sleazy, spammy, or scammy? Today, I'm sharing all about how I've started sharing more about the products and tools I am using in my own business, what my affiliate income strategy is, and which programs I'm an affiliate for that make me the most money! Episode Highlights: What's affiliate marketing? Why I was initially resistant to making affiliate income and the mindset hurdle I overcame to start promoting other ...

Mar 04, 202427 min

038. Want Your Students to See Better Results? This ONE Thing Can Make a Big Difference

Today, I'm sharing a really simple online course creation tip that will make your online course easier for students to take (and will also make people excited to buy your course). This course creation hack is so simple, but it's so effective if you want to help your students to see better results from your course! Episode Highlights: A quick online course creation tip 2 ways you can add THIS element to your online course to help your students see better results The one thing I always do as a stu...

Feb 26, 20249 min

037. 5 Journaling Practices For People Who Hate Journaling

Today, we're talking about journaling practices, specifically how to build a practice of journaling when you don't really like journaling. I personally find traditional journaling overwhelming (and a little bit boring!), so if you're like me, I think you're going to love these alternatives! Episode Highlights: 5 Journaling practices I like MORE than writing perfect sentences in a fancy journal Why I continue to make journaling a priority, especially during a hard season What topics I write about...

Feb 19, 202427 min

036. I Had An Unmedicated Birth On Purpose (This is Why + What it Looked Like)

Today, I'm sharing something different, not about business or online courses, but the unmedicated birth story of my daughter, Hallie. She was exactly 3 months old at the time of recording! Episode Highlights: Why I chose my midwives (and to give birth at a birth center instead of a hospital) What made me decide to try for an unmedicated birth (and skip the epidural) How early labor went (it was not what I expected!) Having a water birth went at my birth center Recovering at home after baby Halli...

Jan 31, 202437 min

035. 5 Ways I'm Making More Money (Profit!) in 2024

I'm sharing EXACTLY how I plan to make more money this year (one of the questions that was MOST common on my end of year survey!). It's something I have spent a lot of time thinking about, especially while I'm in this season of new motherhood (so I don't have all the time in the world). Tune in now to hear the 5 ways I'm focusing on increasing my revenue (and profit) in 2024! Episode Highlights: What I've previously done with client work, and how I'm shifting The not-so-new new offer I'm promoti...

Jan 24, 202427 min

034. 2024 Online Course Trends That Will Make You More Money This Year (My Top 5!)

In this episode, I’m sharing what I'm seeing emerge as the TOP 2024 online course trends that will make you more money this year (and offer a better experience for your students too!). Episode Highlights: One of the biggest trends I'm seeing (in ALL aspects of the course building and sales process) What my survey results showed me One online course trend that IS an investment... but something you may want to add to your course in the future My personal favorite online course trend (and easy ways...

Jan 17, 202426 min

033. My #1 Productivity Hack: Eat the Teddy Bear, Not the Frog

Today, I’m sharing a SUPER simple productivity hack that has helped me stop procrastinating, get more work done, and also find a lot more joy in the work that I'm doing. While you may have heard the term "eat the frog" in the popular Brian Tracy book, the truth is that did NOT work for me (I will explain why), so in this episode, I'm sharing what DID work for me instead! Episode highlights: What it means to "eat the frog" and how it boosts productivity My experience practicing this "hack" and wh...

Jan 10, 202410 min

032. Want to Know my 2024 Business Goals? Here’s What I’m Working Toward in 2024

In this episode, I’m sharing my EXACT goals list for 2024. Curious what I'm planning and working on for the year? Listen to this episode to hear by 5 KEY goals for next year! Episode Highlights: My top goals for next year The WHY behind how I chose each one What I'm doing to keep my goals top of mind Action steps I'm taking next year to get closer to my goals Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/32 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https:/...

Jan 03, 202429 min

031. 8 Steps to Set Effective 2024 Goals

Who is ready to talk about goal setting? Because this episode is ALL about setting 2024 goals. I'm going to share the exact process I use to set my goals each year (and what I do to prepare for the next year ahead). I love goal setting and (and also consuming content on how others achieve their goals). That’s exactly what I’m exploring today. Over the years, I've followed a similar approach, and that core process is what I’m going to share with you today! Episode Highlights: My favorite goal set...

Dec 20, 202330 min

030. 2023 Recap: What Worked, What Sucked and My Plans for Next Year

Do you love an honest look behind the scenes? That’s exactly what this year in review is. I'm really excited about today's episode because I'm sharing the highs (and lows) of 2023. I’m sharing what worked well in my life and business, as well as things that did not work. I’m also going to be sharing how much money I made this year, the best investments I made this year, and the WORST investments I made this year. My goal was to have this episode be candid and unscripted, just like friends chatti...

Dec 13, 202332 min

029. How to Plan Your Week to Maximize Productivity and Minimize Stress

Who else loves productivity tips and weekly planning? In this week’s episode, I’m sharing all about how I plan my week (and how you can plan your week) to maximize productivity and efficiency while minimizing stress , because like you, I don't like feeling stressed out and overwhelmed every week! I'm going to walk you through my weekly planning routine (that I do every single week to make sure my week runs smoothly!) to make sure I accomplish as much as possible in the hours I have. Episode High...

Dec 06, 202334 min

028. 4 of My Most Controversial Opinions About Online Courses

Let’s get a little bit controversial. Over the last 5 years, I’ve worked on over 150 online courses and in that time I’ve learned a lot about what I think works and doesn’t work so today we’re exploring 4 of my most unpopular opinions about the online course world. Episode Highlights: My honest opinions on what makes a good teacher in an online course Why course software doesn't matter nearly as much as you think it does The #1 thing most course creators skip My least favorite way to record less...

Nov 15, 202322 min

027. 8 Simple Tricks to Overcome Procrastination and Boost Productivity

Confession time: I am a HUGE procrastinator. Most people don’t know this about me, since on the surface it can seem like I have everything figured out in my business, but I’ve battled procrastination for years and worked to find the right strategies that help me overcome procrastination. In this episode I share eight of my biggest hacks to overcome procrastination and be more productive. Episode Highlights Why I sometimes give into procrastination and how it can help How to use your friends as a...

Nov 08, 202331 min

026. How Much Money Can You Make Selling Online Courses?

Online courses and money - if you’re in the online or digital marketing world you may have wondered if it’s truly possible to make money from an online course. Today I’m breaking down how much money course creators earn, the different income levels, and the results you can expect to see when you launch an online course. Episode Highlights: The different types of money course creators make Why income varies and what you should focus on to make more Reasons people sometimes don't make any money wi...

Nov 01, 202324 min

025. Six Things That Helped Me Get to Six Figures in Online Business

Making six figures is one of THE big goals everyone wants to hit in online business, and getting there feels pretty dang incredible (though it’s not all sunshine and rainbows all the time)! Today I'm sharing the biggest things that helped me grow and sustain my business at the six-figure mark. Episode Highlights: A full recap of starting my business, how much money I make and how long it took to get to six figures How I got my very first clients Time management strategies that helped me grow my ...

Oct 25, 202337 min

024. How to Collect Powerful Customer Testimonials and Case Studies That Help You Sell with Brittany Herzberg

Looking to get more testimonials for your online course? Brittany Herzberg is here to make it easier to gather customer testimonials and turn them into case studies that people love to read. If you've ever wanted to get more testimonials for your products or you're feeling unsure of what to do with the current testimonials that you have this episode is for you! Episode Highlights The differences between testimonials and case studies Simple ways to gather testimonials from your clients Questions ...

Oct 18, 202354 min

023. Sales Down Right Now? 5 Reasons No One is Buying Your Online Course

The economy is super weird right now. I know personally I have been extra stressed out about money and it’s something a lot of business owners are feeling right now too. I’ve had a lot of people ask me if online courses aren’t worth selling right now and if people just aren’t buying right now. The answer is people are STILL buying, but their purchasing habits have changed. If you’re seeing a dip in sales it’s probably time to rethink your strategy and change up some of your offers. This episode ...

Oct 11, 202332 min

022. An Honest Conversation with My First Business Coach Meg Smidt: Finding Your Lifetime Vision, Getting Unstuck and Growing Your Business

In this episode, I sat down with one of the few people who was there alllll the way at the beginning of my business... Before there even really was a business! Meg Smidt of Your Coach Meg has worked with so many different business owners, moms, and creatives from every industry and niche, and she's here to share some of her wisdom and experience on achieving your goals and creating a strong lifetime vision. Episode Highlights: My coaching experience with Meg How we worked together to set my life...

Oct 04, 202355 min

021. Mastering the Art of Sales Page Copywriting: Tips and Tricks for Converting Visitors into Customers with Emily Conley

Sales page copy can be one of the most frustrating and overwhelming parts of online course creation. Today I'm chatting with Emily Conley, an incredible copywriter and business friend who knows the ins and outs of writing a sales page that leaves people clicking that "buy" button! Episode Highlights: The biggest mistakes business owners and course creators make on their sales pages Tips for DIY copy Finding your brand voice Brand voice vs. your personal voice Writing a sales page that converts W...

Sep 27, 202357 min

020. How I’m Planning a Profitable and Restful Self-employed Maternity Leave

I’m officially on maternity leave! Don’t worry, I recorded this episode before baby Kucirek officially arrived. Actually, as you read this, she might not be here yet…but I’m already winding things down and taking a step back in my business to make the most of the final weeks before baby arrives. This episode is all about my maternity leave plans and how to plan a maternity leave when you're self employed. Episode Highlights: How I've been prepping for maternity leave the last several months How ...

Sep 20, 202333 min

019. Money Making Black Friday Strategy Tips with Nicole Boucher

That’s right, it’s already time to start thinking about Black Friday strategy! For so many business owners Black Friday ends up being a last minute idea and super stressful to plan. This year I want to help you avoid all of the Black Friday stress which is why I asked Nicole Boucher to join us and talk about Black Friday marketing ideas! Nicole is an incredible operations and business manager who runs the behind-the-scenes strategy for multiple online businesses. She’s also an absolute genius wh...

Sep 13, 202354 min

018. Unveiling the Biggest Black Friday Trends of 2023: Steal These Ideas for Your Own Promotions!

Black Friday will be here before you know it, which is why NOW is the perfect time to start planning your Black Friday promotions. Today I’m sharing a roundup of the biggest Black Friday trends we’re seeing this year! Use these trends to plan your own promotions this year and get ahead of the curve. Episode Highlights: How to start planning your 2023 Black Friday sales 5 Black Friday trends to help you inspire your own sales Customer shopping habits this year and ideas to help boost your sales! ...

Sep 06, 202325 min

017. My Biggest Business Mistakes (All of My Regrets and Embarrassing Secrets)

Today I’m getting vulnerable and sharing all of my BIGGEST business mistakes and regrets. These are the things I would have done differently in business, ways I’ve wasted money and the behind-the-scenes details of my biggest self-sabotaging habits. Episode Highlights: The things that were a complete waste of money early on in my business How I self-sabotaged by charging really low prices and having a terrible money mindset My big regrets about growing an email list Passive income mistakes How I ...

Aug 30, 202325 min

016. 8 Secrets to a Powerful and Profitable Launch Strategy with Carolyn O'Brien

When it comes down to it, the biggest thing everyone wants to get out of a launch is for it to be successful. After all, you decided to put in all that work to create a course or product in the first place because you had something to share with people, and you knew there was an audience who would find it helpful. And, of course, whether you're launching something for the first time or the 20th time, it's pretty dang important that you actually make money during your launch. That's precisely why...

Aug 23, 202351 min

015. A Week in My Life: A Behind the Scenes Look at Business, Pregnancy, Health and More!

Want to take a peek behind the curtains to see what it’s like running a business full-time? This week I’m taking you along and walking you through day by day of exactly what a typical week looks like for me. I personally love listening to behind-the-scenes episodes like this. I think it’s so interesting to hear exactly how other people are spending their time. On this episode you’ll hear me talk about my morning routine, what my client work looks like, some of the goals I’m working on in my busi...

Aug 16, 20231 hr 5 min

014. Online Courses Vs Memberships: Which One is Right for You?

Online courses vs memberships - are you wondering which one is better? So many people get stuck on figuring out which one is the best option for their needs, so I made an episode to help with that decision! Today, I'm sharing the ins and outs of an online course vs membership site, the pros and cons, and who I think would be an ideal fit for each one. Plus, I talk about some strategies to help you to make the decision (and the first action steps to get you started, no matter which one you choose...

Aug 09, 202331 minEp. 14

013. Surprise! We’re Having a Baby! (How We Found Out, Symptoms, Maternity Leave Plans and More!)

It’s true! We’re expecting a baby girl in October and we’re over the moon with excitement and joy! This episode covers all the behind-the-scenes details of pregnancy so far! Episode Highlights: How we first found out we were expecting a baby (and how I told my husband) My BIGGEST fears around having kids and how I’m navigating them Creating a business over the last few years that has given me more space and freedom for family time How we told our friends and family Finding out the gender My symp...

Aug 02, 202343 min

012. 5 Strategies That Tripled My Affiliate Marketing Income This Year

Do you make income from affiliate marketing in your business? For the first four years of my business, I didn’t - and I regret it! I wish I’d started sooner. Anyone can get started with affiliate marketing income - no matter what stage you are at in your business! In this episode, I’m sharing how I finally got over my big hang-ups around affiliate marketing income and five simple strategies that helped me TRIPLE my affiliate marketing passive income. Episode Highlights: What affiliate marketing ...

Jul 26, 202328 min

011. How to Film Your Online Course Videos

So, you’re building an online course, and the time has come to film the videos (cue the dramatic music!) Obviously, if you’re launching an online course, the videos are a huge part of how you’ll connect with students and, well…actually teach them something. So, how do you do it? Episode Highlights: Your options for the recording process (and my top pick on how to get your videos done!) The best tools and software to make the recording process as smooth as possible How to prep for your videos and...

Jul 19, 202335 min
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