How Mignon Fogarty launched a massively successful series of online courses
Sep 5, 2024
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Mignon Fogarty, a trailblazing media entrepreneur and one of the world’s top podcasters, chats about her remarkable journey with the Grammar Girl podcast and her successful transition into online courses. She shares insights on the importance of partnerships, such as her collaboration with LinkedIn Learning. Mignon discusses the evolution from casual content to structured courses and how evergreen topics keep audiences engaged. Her innovative approach has garnered thousands of students, proving the power of effective communication in today's world.
Mignon Fogarty's successful launch of online courses emerged from her understanding of audience needs and strategic partnerships with industry leaders.
Her transition to LinkedIn Learning allowed for the creation of professional-quality courses, enhancing the learning experience through polished content and distribution.
Deep dives
Innovative Media Entrepreneur
Mignon Fogarty has established herself as a prominent media entrepreneur, launching the Grammar Girl podcast 18 years ago, which garnered significant success and led to a New York Times bestseller. She subsequently founded the Quick and Dirty Tips network, expanding her influence through a variety of podcasts that deliver concise, actionable advice on diverse topics. This approach not only attracted a broad audience but also positioned her as a pioneer in the podcasting world, with a focus on creating evergreen content that remains relevant over time. By collaborating with Macmillan Publishers, she effectively scaled her business, demonstrating her understanding of the media landscape and the value of strategic partnerships.
Expansion into Online Courses
Fogarty's venture into online courses was initially prompted by requests from industry partners who recognized the potential for expanded offerings based on her existing content. Her first courses were developed in collaboration with Reagan Communications, where she delivered general writing advice and specialized AP style courses, providing structured learning experiences for participants. This format resonated with learners who appreciated the clear structure and engagement that a comprehensive course could offer, differentiating it from her podcast and written materials. By embracing the online learning model, she tapped into a new revenue stream while meeting the needs of a growing audience eager for in-depth learning opportunities.
Work with LinkedIn Learning
Fogarty transitioned to producing content for LinkedIn Learning, where she found a highly professional team that approached online education with meticulous attention to detail. This experience involved creating polished video courses with extensive scripting and editing support, showcasing the level of professionalism that LinkedIn brings to the online education space. The courses released under LinkedIn Learning benefit from its subscription model, allowing users access to a wide range of content, enhancing the learning experience for many. Fogarty's ability to adapt to different formats and partners highlights her versatility and ambition as a content creator in an evolving digital landscape.
Mignon Fogarty isn’t just one of the world’s most popular podcasters, she’s also an incredibly innovative media entrepreneur. She launched her Grammar Girl podcast 18 years ago, and the success of that propelled her book onto the New York Times bestseller list. She also founded Quick & Dirty Tips, a media network she now runs in partnership with Macmillan Publishers.
To round out her media business even more, she’s launched around seven courses, all geared toward being a better communicator and writer. Thousands of customers have taken them, and they’ve opened her up to an entirely new customer base for her content.
In a recent interview, Mignon explained how she entered the courses market, what goes into putting together a course, and why she decided to partner with powerful distributors like LinkedIn Learning rather than create the courses by herself.
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