Ep38: How To Turn Your Book Into An Online Course

[00:00:00] Creating an online course for your book, either a really powerful tool to share your knowledge and expertise. Now books are really awesome to share your knowledge and your expertise. But when you combine an online course through your book, that is where the magic can happen. That's where you can amplify not only the impact you make on others, but also the revenue inside your business, because it really is difficult these day and age to make money off your book. Now. Book provides the gateway, but that gateway is up to you. You can use that and transform that into many different things. And for this episode, I'm going to talk about how you can use the power of your book to create an online course. Because books and online courses are incredible tools, but combining them both together, that's where you can provide really comprehensive information for your audience and provide a really interactive and engaging experience that's going to allow people who are learning from you, apply what they've read in a structured way.

[00:01:04] Now creating your online course from your book, you can reach a broader audience with it. And you can also, like I said, generate additional revenue, provide more value to your clients or to your readers. Similarly as well, if you've created an online course, You can write a book based on the online course you've already got.

[00:01:23] That can also help again, establish your authority, reach more people who prefer learning through reading and it really provides a synergy between the two. And that's going to elevate your brand is going to elevate your business and solidify your position as that authority in your field.

[00:01:38] So let's now break down the steps of how you can turn your book into an engaging online course. First of all, you want to identify the core content? So after you've published your book, review your book and identify the core, the core concepts and key takeaways. And this will form the backbone of your course. Now side note as well.

[00:02:01] If you're writing a book, you want to take a reader through a journey of such and if your book is structured in that right way, it's going to be very easy to identify the core concepts and those takeaways that's going to form your course.

[00:02:14] So once you've identified the core concepts and those takeaways. You can break down that content into manageable modules or lessons. For example, each chapter or section of your book can potentially be a module in your course. With my book publisher impact, I have two main courses where. I have a mindset to manuscript. So that's all about getting yourself into the right frame of mind to actually go ahead and write your manuscript. And then validating your book idea as well. And then the other course I have is the actual publishing side.

[00:02:46] So if people were looking to actually publish their book and go out on their own and publish their book, I give a step-by-step breakdown of the actual publishing process. And how you can actually go ahead and publish your book. So that I talk about inside my book published impact, and I've broken down the content into manageable modules and lessons.

[00:03:06] So that's something you want to do. So you want to identify the core content in your book and break down that content into manageable lessons. So step two, after you've identified the core content step, step two is to define the learning objectives for each module that you've listed out. Define the clear learning of Jefferson. So what should your students be able to do or understand by the end of each lesson? And that's going to guide your structure for your costs, and you're going to make sure that that content is actionable.

[00:03:39] So, for example, with my mindset to manuscript course, I provide actionable steps at the end of each module for what the learner is going to do, whether that's going to come up with a writing schedule or whether that's going to validate their book idea, each key step and because I've taken them on that journey through the book, it's easier to define those learning objectives. And create action plans for the student inside the online course. So those learning objectives are going to be a guide for your core structure.

[00:04:12] After you've defined your learning objectives, you can create supporting materials. Now, if you've listened to other episodes on this podcast, you would have heard me talk about resources that I've included inside my book. The supporting materials are awesome for your online course. They could be worksheets, checklists, quizzes. It reinforces the learning and the value you're giving in that online course and those materials that you have, they will help your student apply what they've learned, and it will help them essentially track their progress to. You can also consider creating video content to compliment your book as well.

[00:04:50] Videos make their learning experience more engaging, and they also cater to different learning styles too. So if someone's also reading your book and then doing an online course, they're more than likely to take all that information in, in a much more effective way.

[00:05:04] Step number four is what platform are you going to use? So you can choose an online course platform that suits your needs. There's many options. I use Kajabi for my online course. But there's teachable, Thinkific. There's different kinds of platforms. It depends if you're already using a platform, use that one, but. Set your core structure on the platform, upload your materials and make sure the user experience is friendly. It's engaging and it's seamless as well.

[00:05:32] And then once you've uploaded all of your materials, once you've recorded, your course it's then marketing.

[00:05:37] So your step five is marketing that course that you have, so you can leverage the audience. You have to market your course,

[00:05:44] and as well, you can also include calls to action inside your book, where you can direct readers to your online course for further learning as well.

[00:05:52] It depends on what your strategy is when it comes down to your marketing. And you can also use your existing email lists social media. Channels. Any other platforms where you engage with your audience to start promoting your course as well? And this is also just another thing you can do as well is offer a special discount where people can only get it inside your book.

[00:06:12] So it kind of encourages them to actually raise your book as well. And then do the course after reading your book where they will get a special discount rate, because they've invested their time into actually reading your book.

[00:06:23] So they had it on how to turn your book into an online course. Step one was to identify the core content.

[00:06:31] So review your book and identify the concepts and key takeaways. Step two, define the learning objectives. So for each module, what do you want the learner to take away? What action steps do you want them to take? Always consider that step three is what supporting material is. Are you going to use, so develop materials you may already have inside your business, or you may have already written in your book, use those materials and compliment them inside the course.

[00:06:59] Number four is what platform are you going to use for your course? What suits your needs? You may already have a platform right now that you're using.

[00:07:07] If so, then just use that one. We also want to set up your core structure on the platform but you also want to make sure that the experience is really seamless and it makes a lot of sense for the person that they're getting so much value in that online course that you've already provided in the book as well. And step five was to market your course.

[00:07:25] So leverage your current audience and market. Your course include calls to action, and you can also set a special discount inside your book where the person reading your book only has access to that special discount. It could be a QR code inside your book that takes them to a landing page.

[00:07:42] That is of a really cool discount. And they, you can only get that by reading the book. That's a really cool way to actually have people Rachael book. So that's another idea you can do and leverage your email list, social media channels to market your course as well.

[00:07:57] So now let's talk about how you can turn your online course into a book. Let's say you don't have a book yet, but you have an online course and you really want to become an author. How can you turn your online course into our book? Let's flip the script. Again, it comes back to organizing your content. What course materials have you got in your online course and organize them into chapters? So each module or lesson from your course can become a chapter in your book. Again, remember that journey. Remember that journey in your online course? You take someone through that journey.

[00:08:34] They'll start off at a very certain point in module one. And as they gain confidence, as they go through the modules, they start to learn more and they start to get more advanced learnings. And then by the end of it, they should be at a certain point. Think of that online course as to how you're going to write your book.

[00:08:51] Think about that journey.

[00:08:52] So again, organize your content by reviewing your course materials.

[00:08:57] You then want to go ahead and actually write the damn book, which is always the biggest roadblock, but the fact that you've already gotten online course. Means that your structure is a lot more methodical and easy to come up with. So you're getting expand on the content from your course and add any new insights or updates that you might have inside that manuscript.

[00:09:18] So writing obviously is the hard part for most people, but you'll find with a really awesome structure, knowing exactly what to write out each point in time, it all just then comes down to consistency. So once you've read the book, you can then edit the manuscript, do a self edit. And then I'd always recommend hiring it out to a professional editor to Polish your work.

[00:09:39] Once that's returned or while it's out for editing, I would suggest again, investing in a professional cover designer and format to make your book really awesome. Visually appealing and easy to read. You also to make sure any graphics or images from your course that you want inside your book, or if you want to do up any. Graphics or images, make sure they're high quality and fit inside the books layout.

[00:10:03] And then step number four is to obviously publish it and promote it. So choose a platform is going to be Amazon. I'll always recommend Amazon because it's the biggest, and it just makes sense for almost every author,

[00:10:16] but once your book is published, then promote your book to your existing course.

[00:10:19] Students encourage them to leave reviews on your book, or if you want to create a a launch team where you have people supporting you throughout the journey of writing your book, if people are interested who at party or course they can help promote your book once it's out and be a really powerful advocate for your book as well.

[00:10:38] And then the same as well.

[00:10:39] Use your email list, your social media, any other channels,

[00:10:42] spread the word about your boot because you've done the hard yards. You've got it out there. If no one knows about it. No, one's going to rate it.

[00:10:48] So let's now just recap, turning your online course into a book. Again, it starts with organizing your content.

[00:10:56] You then want to write an, edit your book which is generally the hard part. Writing is the hard part for a lot of people, but it really comes down to that preparation, that content organization, and having a plan of attack when it comes to writing. Then you want to get your book edited professionally. A book cover designed professionally and also formatted professionally as well.

[00:11:18] And once that's all done, you can then go ahead and publish it, then promote it. So combining books and online courses is a really cool strategy to not only expand your reach, but really provide more value inside your business and establish yourself again as an authority in your field. But whether you're turning your online course into a book or your book into an online course,

[00:11:42] It's going to open up so much more value for your readers, for your listeners, for your. Clients for your potential clients. And it is such a rewarding feeling, knowing that you have a book published. So thanks again for joining me today.

[00:11:55] If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review and then share it with other people who, you know, want to write a book as well. But until next time Write that book.