$10M Education Business & Building Creator Courses - with Olly Richards
Dec 21, 2023
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Olly Richards, a distinguished language teacher, author, and speaker, shares his journey and success in the language learning industry. He discusses the evolution of his language learning business, the effectiveness of story learning, and the importance of finding the right method for learners. The podcast also features insights on teaching music by ear, building a large audience through blogging, managing email lists, and selling courses to different audiences.
The power of storytelling as a unique selling point can resonate with language learners tired of traditional methods.
Understanding the desires and needs of a target audience is crucial for creating products and marketing strategies that resonate with them.
Deep dives
Building an Online Language Learning Business Through Storytelling
Oli Richards, the founder of storylearning.com, shared his journey of building a successful online language learning business. Initially starting as a blog on language learning, Oli eventually rebranded to storylearning.com, leveraging the power of storytelling as a unique selling point. By immersing learners in stories from day one, the approach resonated with language learners who were tired of traditional methods. Oli emphasized the importance of finding the right product-market fit and understanding the dynamics of different audiences, as not all audiences are open to buying courses. He also discussed the significance of building an engaged email list and providing valuable content to nurture customer relationships over the long term.
Navigating the Challenges of Scaling a Language Learning Business
Oli shared insights on the challenges and strategies for scaling a language learning business. He highlighted the importance of building a team to handle content creation, blog management, and other tasks, freeing up his time to focus on strategic growth. Oli also mentioned the impact of SEO and content marketing in driving consistent website traffic over time. He emphasized the need for a strong product ecosystem, offering multiple courses and upselling/cross-selling opportunities to maximize customer value. Oli discussed the balance between offering valuable content and making regular promotional offers to convert email subscribers into paying customers.
Understanding Product-Market Fit and the Dynamics of Different Audiences
Oli explored the concept of product-market fit, highlighting the importance of aligning the right product with the right audience. He shared examples of how certain audiences may have different buying behaviors and preferences. Oli emphasized the need to understand the desires and needs of a target audience in order to create products and marketing strategies that resonate with them. He also discussed the role of luck in entrepreneurship, acknowledging that luck can play a part in initial success but that ongoing growth requires continuous learning, adaptation, and a deep understanding of the wider marketplace.
The Opportunities and Challenges of Paid Advertising in Education Businesses
Oli talked about the opportunities and challenges of using paid advertising in education businesses. He highlighted how paid advertising can be a rude awakening for creators who have built an audience organically, as it requires a different approach to cater to a wider market. Oli acknowledged the need to understand the dynamics of paid advertising, target a broader audience, and adapt marketing strategies to reach and convert new customers. He emphasized the importance of serving the wider marketplace while also building a loyal fan base through content and relationship development.
Welcome to "The Art of Selling Online Courses" podcast! Today's guest is Olly Richards, a distinguished individual who wears multiple hats as a teacher, author, speaker, and passionate language learner.
Olly teaches languages through the power of storytelling which stemmed from a riveting near-death experience atop a mountain. Throughout his remarkable journey, Olly has left an indelible mark, having authored over 30 language books, forged collaborations with prestigious universities, and earned recognition through appearances in BBC documentaries.
Visitors to his platform are treated to a wealth of resources, including language tutorials, captivating videos documenting his language-learning endeavours, engaging podcasts, and exclusive access to his premium courses.
Beyond his educational pursuits, Olly is also the driving force behind a thriving $10 million education business where he helps content creators to build courses just like his!