Selling the Couch

Today’s show takes on a very niched perspective, but the information and wisdom are useful in many aspects of our work as clinicians and business owners. We are specifically discussing how to move from an online course to a membership model. Maybe you’ve wondered about these components of your practice and how to make the transition. Join us for expert advice!Our Featured GuestJennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-SJennifer McGurk is a registered dietitian in NY whose specialty is helping clients with eating disorders. She made the transition from an online course to a membership model, so she is sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of such a move. I hope our discussion will be helpful to you if you’re considering a similar transition. WebsiteYou’ll Learn:●     How membership sites can help a clinician accomplish career goals●     Details of Jennifer’s journey in private practice from an online course to a membership model●     The benefits to therapist and client of a membership model over a one-time course model●     How imposter syndrome can crop up when creating a membership site●     How it’s helpful to see others reaching their goals in transitioning from an online course to a membership site●     Common mistakes in this transition●     What the business gurus DON’T tell you about your online course as a passive income stream●     The components of Jennifer’s membership site: Dietitian Business School●     Jennifer’s advice to a clinician either launching an online course or making the transition to a membership siteToday's Podcast Sponsor: Hushmail - Hushmail is a safe and secure way to email and send secure forms (e.g., intake packets and consent forms) to potential and current clients.Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/hushmail and please let them know Mel sent you =). TRANSCRIPT Melvin:Hi Jennifer,welcome back to Selling the Couch.Jennifer:Hi, Melvin; thankyou for having me. I'm so excited to talk to you.Melvin:I really enjoyedour last conversation. I'm so grateful that you reached out, you are doing justso many neat things in the world, so many out of the box things. And I'm justgrateful when you reached out and then two, just to hear about the journey andshare all the lessons and all those things that you've learned.Jennifer:Yeah, thank you somuch. I'm so grateful for your work, too. We were talking before we hit recordabout how mental health is so needed right now and therapists are doing such anawesome job. So anyone out there listening, thank you for your work too. It's atime where people really need mental health services.Melvin:Yeah, absolutely;I do feel so grateful to be part of this profession. I don't know who couldhave imagined something like this. But I think one of the things that's reallybeen on my mind, especially through this pandemic, I think it was there beforebut it's kind of accelerated it is this question of like, what do I want mycareer to look like? And where do I want to focus my energy?And one of thethings that I've kind of realized is, I actually want to eventually justcompletely pull back on one on one work or if I have to it's kind of morehigher-priced and it's very limited. And I think one of the ways that you cando that is through online courses and membership sites. I think there's like alot of information online about how to do these, all of that kind of stuff. ButI wanted to hear from you, because you had an online course, you transitionedinto a membership site, you're actually doing it and yeah, I'm just sograteful, I think for this conversation.Jennifer:Yeah, thank you so much for letting me to share my story. Yes, I did have a course and I was inthe same situation that you have just said, I was seeing clients and I had beenseeing clients at that point for probably seven years or so in private practiceand even more before that, before I started my private practice, and I did getto the point where- I was going to say burnout, but I just wanted to dosomething different because I specialize in eating disorders.I felt likeeveryone's story is very different in a way. But I was seeing the same thingover and over again and I just thought to myself; I really want to work with Dietitians,as well to teach them all of the knowledge that I've learned over the years, fromworking with clients and my own supervision and just everything that I'velearned about business.So that's when Istarted my second company pursuing private practice. And pursuing privatepractice really was for Dietitians to start and grow a business. So long storyshort, it started out as a book series, it turned into a DIY course, and thenit kind of morphed itself into a group program/business coaching, hot seat,stuff Facebook group, and it just got way too big for a one time purchase and Ifelt like I was coaching forever.So I turned itinto a membership and that membership Dietician Business School has really doneawesome in the past six months since it's been open, and I've been able tobring on team members and really help Dietitians in a way that feels so good,because I'm giving them so much support. And I'm not burnout, because it's amembership versus a one-time course payment. So I'm happy to talk and elaborateon that process, because it was a journey to transfer it from a course to anactual membership.Melvin:Yeah, I know. Itis quite a bit of a journey. So for those of you guys are listening, I had avery similar process, I guess back in like 2018, where I had my health casterspodcasting course and then it was a single payment. And then I got to thispoint where for me I hated doing these launches, and I hated the like you saidthe one off kind of payments. And then I just began to think about how I thinkthe question that you just or the statement that you said, of thinking about yourown personal health and how do you sort of scale this while preserving thataspect, right?Jennifer:Yes, definitely. Ithink courses are great, and for anyone out there interested in even doing acourse I think courses are really great for information, and really awesome tostart someone on a journey. But let's face it; a lot of times the businessgurus out there that are teaching people how to sell courses are basicallysaying, “Oh, it's passive income, create once and sit on the beach and watchyour money roll in.” Which I absolutely hate; I feel like it's diet culture in whatI do, I'm an eating disorders dietician.So I feel likeit's this false message of hope. But yet, the reality of it is that your peopleare going to have questions, they are going to need to process and theinformation, and they are going to want to bounce ideas off of somebody, and youcan provide more than just the information as a course. But if you do thatyou're probably creating a Facebook group or you're having people come to groupcalls. And that in my opinion, I have learned kind of the hard way like, that'sa membership, that's not a course.So I was doingthis one time course all the way up until I probably knew I needed to changeJanuary 2020, before the pandemic, but once March hit, what happened to me wasjust, “Oh my Gosh, my people need help.” So I added extra group calls to mycourse, I added more prompts in my Facebook group. I added so many differentworkshops and things like that. And I saw that my Dietitians were getting somany results from it, they were actually doing better.And this was whereCOVID was really starting to hit our at least in the United States, like inMarch was starting to hit our country and people with eating disorders werereally struggling. So the Dietitians are really struggling and no one reallyknew what was going on. So I felt like all the support that I gave my Dietitiansin my course, was so helpful and I could see the results happening I could seepeople making better connections and I almost created a little bit of a mockmembership in that Facebook group and group calls. And then I decided likeokay, this is working, but I need to really officially change my businessmodel.Melvin:Yeah, that's cool.So a lot of really great information, I want to like break it down here. Sopractical kind of tools; the group was on what? Was it on Facebook? Or was iton? Where was the group on?Jennifer:The course startedout as information in teachable. I use teachable and I really like teachablealthough you can use whatever platform you want. I did information in teachableand then we had a Facebook group and we had zoom group calls once a month justas a quick QA and it was great. It was awesome to connect with people.But I personallydon't feel like that's enough of a connection for a lot of people like peopleneed constant reminders, people need to feel supported, people need to process.So once COVID hit, I really stepped up to the plate and I said my people needme. And granted meanwhile, Melvin I know you know what it's like to havechildren at home. My two kids were home. We lost our babysitting for a couplemonths. But looking back, I don't even know how I did that. But I did it. Butyeah, we were meeting over zoom with a group call. So you would see in my oldcourse site, it was literally like 15 group calls just one after the other.That's not a course that's a membership.Melvin:Yeah, it's such agood way. So you notice, like you looked at the practical schedule, and youwere like, “Oh my Gosh, this isn't sustainable.” You said it so clearly,though. But like, this is not a course this is a membership; was it as clearcut in your mind? Or was this like, “Oh my Gosh, I'm going to betrayed mymembers, or like all of that?Jennifer:It was clear cutin my mind. But how do I say this, it was not clear cut in my heart, maybe inmy soul. My brain knew that I needed to switch. But my heart had a really hardtime with it. Because I felt like I was going betray the Dietitians that hadsigned up for my course and I had a little bit of imposter syndrome, like “Whoam I to run a membership program for Dietitians in business?” Because I feellike everyone has imposter syndrome when they start something new.I really just feltlike, “Oh my Gosh, what if people don't like it,” that scary type of feeling.But then I thought to myself, and there are so many parallels, in my opinionwith running a business and eating disorder recovery, which is what I focus onin my practice. My clients do hard things all the time, they really battleeating disorder thoughts, and behaviours and feelings every single day, likesometimes even every single hour, and to think about all the clients that I havehelped and I've said to them, “You can do hard things.”I kind of said tomyself, I can do hard things and I can make decisions from a place of where Iwant to be, and almost by making that decision, I hope to inspire other peopleand other business owners that they can make those hard decisions too. And noteveryone is going to like your decision and that just goes without saying evenif you were to stay in the same exact model, some people are not going to likethat decision. So you have to almost make a decision based on what's best foryou as an act of self-care.Melvin:How do you dealwith that part? Because that's the part I often struggle with, which is knowingthere's going to be a percentage of people that will be upset by this.Jennifer:Yes. Oh, my Goshyeah. And honestly, I don't know if I have a great answer with that, because Ifeel like some people are more sensitive than others. Some people are moreempathetic than others. Some people just feel other people's energy. But Ithink what I said to myself is, you are going to have some people that are not goingto like this decision, but you have to think about what's best for you becauseif you burn out, there's going to be no online business. And you really want todo this; this is your passion. This is your calling, I almost felt like I knowthat it's a little Woo but I love it. Like this is my calling and his is what Iwant to do. And I think also to seeing other people's memberships, and not inlike a comparison type of way. But seeing other people's memberships reallywork and being a part of other people's memberships. It helps casters includedbecause I was a part of health casters for a long time; I saw that people weredoing it and I saw that other people are turning their models into memberships too.So that was really helpful to see other people reaching goals that I wanted todo as well.Melvin:I think that's areally good point. And I would say for those of you guys are listening, onething that was really helpful for me, I don't know that I thought about it, andit but I feel like there's a common overlap between our two courses in that Ithink there's some wisdom, even if you want to start with an online course.Initially, I thinkthere's some wisdom in just thinking like, is the content of this onlinecourse? Is it possible to move it or scale it into a membership model? Like,can you add things like, I don't know, I can't think of a tangible example ofhim where that wouldn't be beneficial. But I don't know. Just asking thatsimple question, I think was really helpful for me.Jennifer:Yeah, definitely, Ithink it also depends on your content and your mission too. And for me, I teachDietitians, especially non-diet dietitians, which is like anti-diet, eatingdisorder recovery, intuitive eating, and weight inclusive dietitians like I'min a very special, specific niche.Jennifer:I teach dietitians how to run abusiness from that lens. Diet Culture is everywhere. There are mixed messageswith marketing everywhere my people need to process, they need to experiment,they need to try, they have questions on not just business stuff, but clinicalcases. We all need a lot of support, especially my dietitians; we need acommunity and a lot of support sometimes, because we're battling against dietculture, which is so normal, especially if we're recording in January,especially this time of year. So it's important for them to feelsupported. And I just felt like I couldn't give the amount of support that Iwanted to give in a onetime course. I almost needed to hold their hand withmore group calls and more accountability, more team members, more people otherthan me, which I couldn't really afford to do when it was a onetime thing. NowI can bring on a lot more people, which is really awesome.Melvin:That is really awesome. What are thecomponents now? What were the components when it was just a one off course?Like it was the course the community and then a monthly coaching? What is itnow?Jennifer:Okay, so I'll tell you my mistakewith the course, which for anyone listening, you can totally learn from mymistake. The mistake with the course was that it was just a course and peoplewere paying for a course. And then I added Facebook group, I added the groupcalls. So they didn't expect it almost at first. And again, my course startedin 2017. Once it grew, and I was launching over and over again, I would talk toyou about these things, but that was my mistake to kind of just do that just,here you go, which I love doing. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret anythingI've done. Now a Dietitian Business School is,well, first of all, when I decided to revamp the course, I should say this isimportant. I decided it was time for an update because that's another thingthat a lot of the business gurus don't tell you. They say make a course andrecord once, and then you're going to be making money in your sleep and you cango on vacation all the time, you don't have to work. And that's like totallynot true. So you have to really record your information in a course. I don'tknow what you would say, Melvin every two, three years, maybe like things aredifferent, things are updated.Melvin:Yeah, it's a great point. So for me,at least with health casters, and just being completely transparent, I don'tthink I have done as good of a job as I could. Partly was related to having thebaby and just having such limited time. But now what I've started to do isactually check in with the community twice a year, like January July ish,saying, “Hey guys, what things need updating?” I think the general parameter thatI've been following, if it's like a course that's related to something that'srapidly evolving, something like podcasting, you probably need to do it morefrequently. Whereas if it's like topics that have, I guess, some evergreenpotential, I think you can go through and tweak as needed.Jennifer:Yeah, it's a really good point thatthere's obviously no right answer. But thinking about your niche and who you'reserving and the updated information and things like that is such a good point.So I felt like it was time for an update from me for Dietitian Business School.So I re-recorded all of the lessons. So basically, there's three parts, it'sthe business education part. So it went from 10 to 20 lessons. I actuallyadded, I doubled the content there because there's just...

If the topic of building your personal brand on social media brings feelings of anxiety and insecurity, then today’s show is for you. As clinicians, we know it makes sense to have a digital footprint in the online world, but it’s difficult to know just how to establish yourself with authenticity and transparency. There are so many nuances to the intimidating world of social media! Today’s conversation will give you valuable insight and practical tips to help people get to know, like, and trust you. Join us to learn more. Our Featured Guest-Lisa Mustard, LMFTLisa Mustard is a personal brand coach, psychoeducator, therapist, podcaster, and self-described personal development junkie in South Carolina. This mom of two has created an awe-inspiring presence on social media around topics like fitness, health, mindset, and goals. Recording with her phone, Lisa proves that a high-quality, high-dollar studio is not a requirement for building your personal brand, and she does it in very unique and authentic ways. Lisa joins us to talk about what personal branding is, how much to share, and that all-important line between OK and TMI. We’ll wrap up with the most common mistake people make in personal branding and three tips that you can utilize today to start building your personal brand on social media. Lisa MustardYou’ll Learn●     What is a personal brand? Your reputation, what people say about you, and what you’re known for●     The best way to narrow your brand down to three specific things is to identify your top values and priorities●     Why you have to be clear and specific about how you want to move forward on social media●     How to decide how much to share online●     The most common mistake people make is----not taking the time to build a personal brand●     Three tips for a clinician who wants to build a personal brand:○     Identify your strengths, uniqueness, and how you help people○     Know your values and what you stand for○     Know where you want to go and what you want to accomplish●     Why you should realize that not everyone will resonate with your message---and that’s OK●     Why social media is the best place to build your personal brandToday’s Podcast Sponsor: HeadwayHeadway: Headway is building a new mental healthcaresystem by using cutting-edge software to connect clients with therapists whoaccept insurance, helping providers to expand their practices, and individualsto finally find a therapist they can afford.Solo and group practices in network through Headway can get betterrates, get paid automatically twice per month (no more rejected claims ordelayed payments), and get complimentary billing and admin support so you canfocus on serving your clients. And the best part...Headway is paid by insurancecompanies, so it’s free for us to use.Solo and group practices out of network through Headway also getfull admin support and access to the vast pool of potential clients who need touse their insurance to pay for care. And the best part...Headway is paid byinsurance companies, so it’s free for us to use.Learn More at https://sellingthecouch.com/headwayRESOURCES TO GUIDE YOUR BUSINESS JOURNEY Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.MY FREE ONLINE WORKSHOPS (These Can Be Watched At A Date/Time That Works For You):🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)MY FREE GUIDES:🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide 🖥️ The A To Z Online CourseMY COURSES:🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers): 💻 Online Course School (A course to create, sell, and grow a successful online course): COMING IN 2022 (please feel free to download the online guide course above and I can keep you updated as I'm trying to build this with ample input and care including a chance to work 1 on 1 with me!): MY FAVORITE SOFTWARE:🧳 My Podcast Hosting Platform (Captivate-Includes 7 Day Free Trial): 🚀 My All In One Online Business Platform (Kartra-Includes 14 Day Free Trial): 🤖 What I Use For Evergreen Webinars (Easy Webinar)🌐 My Website Host (SiteGround-Includes Discount)🎨 My WebSite Theme (Divi)MY FAVORITE GEAR:❤️ STC Home Office Tour! 📔 My Online Counseling + Coaching Gear🎥 My YouTube + Live Streaming Camera GearSUBSCRIBE TO THE STC PODCAST:Since 2015, I've hosted a weekly podcast where I interview successful therapists in private practice and other business owners to help us grow our impact + income in and beyond the therapy room. The podcast has been downloaded over 1.2 million times and is heard in over 140 countries.You can find also it by searching “Selling The Couch” on any podcast app (eg: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify etc) or simply saying "Alexa, listen to Selling The Couch" on your Amazon device. =Or simply click below for ease =). SUBSCRIBE HERELET'S BE FRIENDS:💌 Sign up to receive the free A To Z Online Course Guide + receive the weekly STC email newsletter (trusted by over 7k colleagues) 🌍 My website / blog📸 Instagram (I mainly post "behind the scenes" stuff about my life and business)WHO'S THIS GUY? Hi. I'm Melvin. I'm a psychologist (PhD), entrepreneur, and online creator living in Philadelphia, PA. In 2014, I began to think about how to use the therapy skills we learn in grad school, and in our clinical work into different realms (e.g., podcasting, consulting, online course creation, etc). This allows us to serve others on larger scales while diversifying our income beyond 1 to 1 work. I make podcasts and videos about business, tech, productivity, and lessons I'm learning from becoming the CEO of a lean, mean 5 person 100% remote team (we're not really mean..it just rhymed =P).Mentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Have you ever considered writing a children’s book? I’ll admit that I’ve thought about it, and it might be a new endeavor in my future. Writing a children’s book takes creativity and planning, and much perseverance is required to navigate the publishing process. Join me as I talk to a longtime friend who has been through the process and published two children’s books.Our Featured GuestAmy JivaniAmy is a childhood friend of mine who has become a children’s book author. Her latest book, Meera’s Flowers, tells the story of a young girl celebrating an Indian holiday while living in America. She also wrote More Than Words: A Book About Body Language, a story about body language and feelings. Amy is a former first-grade teacher who is inspired by her students and her cultural background to write children’s books with ethnically diverse characters. Amy shares with us where she gets ideas for books and how the creative process works. We also discuss the concept of self-publishing compared to the traditional publishing route. We wrap up with Amy’s insights into the hardest part about writing and releasing a book during a pandemic. www.amyjivani.com  You’ll Learn:● Where Amy’s inspiration came from for Meera’s Flowers● Amy’s advice for other aspiring writers:○ Write something you can champion.○ Storyboard your ideas as you begin. ● How the traditional publishing route requires resilience and seems like a “closed club”● Why Amy decided not to self-publish her first book● How Amy realized that creative stories could teach and reinforce important concepts to children in more memorable ways● How Amy gives herself creative space to think and produce rather than setting aside a disciplined time slot● The hardest part of what Amy has accomplished: getting publishers to see the quality of what she wrote and releasing a book during a pandemic when typical book promotion is a no-go● How Amy handles the newfound attention of being a published author with humilityRESOURCES TO GUIDE YOUR BUSINESS JOURNEY Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.MY FREE ONLINE WORKSHOPS (These Can Be Watched At A Date/Time That Works For You):🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)MY FREE GUIDES:🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide 🖥️ The A To Z Online CourseMY COURSES:🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers): 💻 Online Course School (A course to create, sell, and grow a successful online course): COMING IN 2022 (please feel free to download the online guide course above and I can keep you updated as I'm trying to build this with ample input and care including a chance to work 1 on 1 with me!): MY FAVORITE SOFTWARE:🧳 My Podcast Hosting Platform (Captivate-Includes 7 Day Free Trial): 🚀 My All In One Online Business Platform (Kartra-Includes 14 Day Free Trial): 🤖 What I Use For Evergreen Webinars (Easy Webinar)🌐 My Website Host (SiteGround-Includes Discount)🎨 My WebSite Theme (Divi)MY FAVORITE GEAR:❤️ STC Home Office Tour! 📔 My Online Counseling + Coaching Gear🎥 My YouTube + Live Streaming Camera GearSUBSCRIBE TO THE STC PODCAST:Since 2015, I've hosted a weekly podcast where I interview successful therapists in private practice and other business owners to help us grow our impact + income in and beyond the therapy room. The podcast has been downloaded over 1.2 million times and is heard in over 140 countries.You can find also it by searching “Selling The Couch” on any podcast app (eg: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify etc) or simply saying "Alexa, listen to Selling The Couch" on your Amazon device. =Or simply click below for ease =). SUBSCRIBE HERELET'S BE FRIENDS:💌 Sign up to receive the free A To Z Online Course Guide + receive the weekly STC email newsletter (trusted by over 7k colleagues) 🌍 My website / blog📸 Instagram (I mainly post "behind the scenes" stuff about my life and business)WHO'S THIS GUY? Hi. I'm Melvin. I'm a psychologist (PhD), entrepreneur, and online creator living in Philadelphia, PA. In 2014, I began to think about how to use the therapy skills we learn in grad school, and in our clinical work into different realms (e.g., podcasting, consulting, online course creation, etc). This allows us to serve others on larger scales while diversifying our income beyond 1 to 1 work. I make podcasts and videos about business, tech, productivity, and lessons I'm learning from becoming the CEO of a lean, mean 5 person 100% remote team (we're not really mean..it just rhymed =P).Mentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s solo episode is the last one before we take an extended summer break for August. We will return with new episodes in September and October before I plan a sabbatical of several months. Today’s focus is on cohort-based courses, which are becoming very popular in the world of online education. It’s a very powerful model that I truly love. Join me for a closer look as I share what I’ve learned so far!5 lessons I’ve learned about CBCs:It truly gets easier the second time around, but the first time is a lot of work.There are tweaks you may have to make in real-time. Guest workshops are very high leverage. Use the “I-do, we-do, you-do” framework.Realize that a CBC is a lot of work, so beware of having multiple endeavors go on at the same time.  Check out our Online Course Guide for more information!Mentioned in this episode:Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Before I started this podcast in 2015, I had rolled the idea around in my head over and over again. The problem was that I was full of fears and apprehension, and I just wasn’t sure that I could make it work like I wanted. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to help almost 300 of my colleagues build their online businesses through podcasting, and I’ve learned what to do and what not to do. I’m sharing helpful tips today to help you transform your podcast into a money-making machine. Join me to learn more!You’ll Learn:9 Ways to Turn Your Podcast into a Money-Making MachineRecord coaching calls.This is a way to use interactions with current clients/students to drive future sales, share your expertise, and genuinely connect with someone.Introduce solo episodes. This is a powerful way to build authority on topics that highlight your expertise while promoting your product or service.Show your humanity.This is a way to show your personality and connect with others authentically.Use private podcast episodes.These are targeted, independent episodes on very specific topics. (Example: Build a Second Brain by Tiago Forte)Use dynamic ads.These are dynamic ads used across all your podcast episodes, which translates to higher sales and higher relevance. (Check out www.sellingthecouch.com/captivate)Demonstrate value elsewhere.You can point your audience to a free guide, webinar, course, ebook to create more value and make you more valuable to your audience.Use strategic invitations. Try to find strategic partnerships in your niche and promote high-value speakers for your audience.Collect emails early.An email list is your online business’ secret weapon to create an audience you own and collect customer research through surveys.Create a consistent schedule.A schedule creates routines that your audience can count on.I hope these tips are helpful for you! If you want to know more, sign up for my podcasting workshop:  www.sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop.Mentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide

Today’s topic is relevant to many different types of businesses and entrepreneurs, and it’s something I have pondered along my own journey. We are taking a look at owning an audience compared to “renting” an audience through social media platforms. Social media can be overwhelming with many challenges, and the number of followers is not always a reflection of the success of a business. Join us to learn strategies to help you own your audience!Our Featured GuestCraig MorrisCraig Morris works with creators to monetize their knowledge. He has worked at Google for the past seven years, and we connected through our mutual friend Kevin Shen, a previous STC guest. Craig has learned a lot about the power of social media, email lists, and more, and he’s sharing his tips and strategies with us. If you’ve debated the merits of creating an email list and wondered if it’s worthwhile, you will find today’s conversation helpful and informative. As a reminder, please note that Craig is sharing his opinions and insights and not necessarily those of his employer. LinkedInYou’ll Learn:Why focusing on the numbers of your social media following may not be best because of the risksWhy relying too heavily on your social media following means you are “renting” your audienceCraig’s recommended strategies for owning the audience you have created via social media: “If they are only a social media follower, they are one extra step away from being converted to a customer.”Ideas about creating an email list or opt-in, while understanding you typically need to give something away in exchange for that informationCraig’s thoughts on platforms for email automation, lead generation, landing pages, etc. (Apollo, Sendinblue, and Hubspot are a few options.)Practical tips for top converting strategies to use, both proactive and more passive formatsHow to find contentment and satisfaction in knowing how much is “enough”Mentioned in this episode:Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is atypical and very specific, but I think it’s a relevant and timely focus. The topic of supporting incarcerated men has been something I’ve thought about for a long time because the need is great, and I have a heart for those clinicians who do this difficult work. I want to learn and understand more about this field, so I hope you’ll join me for today’s conversation. Our Featured GuestRobert Fields, LPARobert Fields is a Licensed Psychological Associate in Durham, NC. His 15-year career has included a variety of clients, including veterans, adjudicated youth in the juvenile justice system, and individuals with developmental disabilities. His current focus is on incarcerated men within the prison system. Ever active in his community with youth and adults, he works to educate and reduce the stigma by making mental health a more relatable, useful, and transparent topic. Robert and I recently connected on Twitter, and I’m excited to learn more about his work in this field. Twitter and InstagramYou’ll Learn:Why Robert chose to work with incarcerated men, despite his initial hesitancyHow Robert figured out that being present is the most important element in his work, whether working with juveniles or adultsHow Robert depends on his personal experience to understand how people make poor choicesRobert’s advice to those who want to work with incarcerated individuals:Don’t lose sight of their humanity.Be consistent, respectful, and fair above all else. Have well-defined boundaries.How Robert maintains optimism in this challenging environmentMentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide

Today’s session is all about building a breathwork app. It’s an interesting and nuanced process that most of us don’t understand. Breathwork can be a vital part of any therapy practice, and it is a tool that we should better understand. Join us to learn more!Our Featured GuestBrian Von AnckenBrian Von Ancken is Head of Partnerships at Othership.us. Brian and I met on Twitter, which has been a great place for me to connect and engage with many amazing people. Brian’s app is one of the top products on Product Hunt, and I’m curious about why he created an app like this that focuses on health and wellness. We will also talk about the technical aspects of creating a breathwork app. WebsiteGet a discounted price on Othership by using the link:  www.sellingthecouch.com/othership. You’ll Learn:Brian’s personal journey, finding wellness after difficulties, that led him to OthershipHow Brian’s law degree benefits him in the entrepreneurial worldThe biggest mental roadblocks that were in Brian’s wayLessons learned in putting yourself “out there” on social mediaHow Brian connected with the Othership founder and ended up partnering togetherHow Brian’s breathwork app gained popularity through Product Hunt, a website that features new and useful products How Othership is trying to fuel a movement toward peak experiences and elevated wellnessHow the app material is recorded by breathwork facilitators in a high-quality production processHow Brian has struggled to remain authentic along the journeyMentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide

Even with seven years or so of course-building under my belt, I certainly do not claim to be an expert with all the answers. Always the student, I’m constantly learning and tweaking the process, and I’m always happy to share my tips and valuable lessons with you. There are so many tools, equipment, formats, etc.--- and it can all be very intimidating! In today’s solo session, I’m sharing tips about my favorite recording tool, Loom. Join me now!You’ll Learn:Why Loom is my favorite recording tool for online courses and the STC podcastMy tips for using Loom to record your online course videos:Alter the sharing style. You can record your screen, your voice, or both. I recommend a combination of all three for variety. Don't be afraid to show your fce on camera!Stick with one big idea per video. The “Show Recording Time” feature in Loom helps you avoid overwhelming your audience with long sessions. I try to stick to 4-7 minutes.Decide beforehand your format for each video. My advice is to start with what problem you’ll solve, give three tips, and share a common mistake from your personal experience. Create a custom thumbnail. Loom helps do this beautifully.Create folders in Loom before recording. It’s 100x better to organize them from the beginning.Invest in a mic to boost the sound quality. “Small improvements in quality lead to a big impact.”Record with a digital DSLR. The quality will be 100x better than what a webcam will give. You have to buy a USB Capture Card to allow the DSLR to shoot video.Have a very, very clear call to action. Whether the next step is to watch the next video or complete a workbook or exercise, be clear about it for your audience.Resources:See my gear recommendations!  www.kit.co/mvarghese  Check out the Mastermind! www.sellingthecouch.com/mastermind   Mentioned in this episode:Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is very relevant to the season of life that I’m currently navigating. How far do we keep going as entrepreneurs as we reach our goals? How far is enough that our lives and responsibilities are balanced by the work we do and not pushed aside by work? How big do we want our business and our revenue goals to be? Join us for a closer look at “enough” in today’s podcast!Our Featured GuestKeri NolaKeri Nola is a good friend and a repeat guest on the podcast, even though it’s been far too long since she has joined us here. After more than a decade of growing a prosperous practice as a licensed psychotherapist, Keri expanded her work into other avenues. She’s a best-selling author, podcaster, and founder of the Abundance Activator for Healing Entrepreneurs. Her global practice allows her to mentor healers as they conquer fear and doubt so they can step into their power and serve abundantly. Keri helps us dive into what “enough” is and why so many clinicians tell their clients that having more stuff doesn’t equal happiness—but they fall short in following their own advice as small business owners. Keri shares her internal thought process about building new products and services and her decision-making process. WebsiteUse coupon code “sellingthecouch” at www.theabundanceactivator.com to lock in current rates on Keri’s Abundance Activator for the remainder of 2022. You’ll Learn:Why it’s tempting and seductive to build bigger and have moreHow your “more” should be aligned with your season of life, personality, and energyHow to evaluate your desire to grow–Where is it coming from?The difference in feeling the slow simmer of a divine pull vs. the frantic need to compare and compete with othersWhy it’s important to look for alignment, both in ourselves and in others we might followWhy you have to welcome abundance as a resource to help you (and your team) relax and take care of yourselvesWhy it’s OK to want to create something new in a way that serves others and helps youHow care, attunement, and mindfulness are involved in deciding who should work with us (It’s OK to say NO to working to some people–for their own good.)How Keri has learned to figure out her “enough” by deciding what is true and checking in with herself for peace and alignmentWhy you need to ask, “Am I living what is true for me?”An overview of Keri’s Abundance Activator, her membership community for healing entrepreneursMentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today! Online Course Guide