The Art of Selling Online Courses 226 How I Went From 4K to 11K YouTube Subscribers in 1 Year
Jan 27, 2026
Aiko Hemingway, an English pronunciation coach who helps Japanese executives and singers, grew her YouTube from ~4K to 11K in a year after one viral video. She explains researching viral topics, why repeating hits can fail, niching to real clients, balancing broad-view content with high-converting lessons, mental blocks around selling, and how she earned a TEDx through persistent practice.
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From Broad Audience To Specific Clients
- Aiko began by saying “everyone is welcome” on YouTube and got no clients.
- She then targeted Japanese people in the U.S. and started getting clients, including people in Japan.
How Singing Opened Her Niche
- Aiko's very first client was a singer who needed precise pronunciation for English songs.
- Feedback after performances showed singing audiences correct specific vowels and sounds more than conversational listeners.
Turn Views Into Paid Students
- Funnel YouTube viewers into a free workshop video that ends with a paid offer.
- Use Deadline Funnel with a time-limited discount and follow up with an email sequence to convert leads.