6 Reasons Online Teaching is For You

Jun 28

While it may initially seem unconventional, translating personal expertise into an online format offers limitless possibilities.

Whether you're a wellness coach, an artist, or an expert in foraging (OMG!! Imagine guiding eager learners through virtual forests, teaching them how to identify and harvest edible plants and mushrooms 😀🍄), online classrooms hold immense untapped potential.

Despite the initial roadblocks and potential awkwardness, there are ways to overcome these challenges and make a positive impact on people’s lives for the better, through laptop and iPhone screens across the globe.

Now, let’s explore six compelling reasons why you—yes, YOU!—should embrace the opportunity to spread your knowledge through online classes.

01 Online learning is a booming business.

You may have noticed that webinars and online classes are popping up everywhere and across various sectors. The prevalence of online learning is undeniable and there’s a compelling reason behind this trend. One reason is that higher education is getting more and more expensive and financial aid resources aren’t keeping pace.

People actively seek opportunities to acquire knowledge and advance themselves, but a behemoth of a paywall hides much of that valuable information.

While solopreneurs, marketing geniuses, and wellness experts may lack the qualifications to confer bachelor’s degrees, you have a treasure trove of valuable, applicable, and real-world knowledge to share. And people are increasingly willing to put in the effort needed to learn on their own with the aid of videos and guided exercises. There’s a huge demand for such classes because of their flexibility, allowing students to absorb the material at their own pace, and afford to do so without shouldering a crushing debt-load.

02 Webinars and online classes can earn big bucks.

The online learning market is booming, and that means that YOUR unique and meticulously crafted online wellness classes can become quite lucrative. Since your potential student body is basically anyone with a laptop and WiFi, your seminar or class can reach people all across the globe. And, of course, a bigger pool of potential students means bigger earning potential.

Naturally, you need to be strategic about what you teach and how you showcase your skills. Thousands of YouTube channels offer free scores on yoga basics, and some teachers even give away multi-class packages to students without any cost. Before you spend your time and energy building a class, make sure what you’re offering is unique … or puts your unique twist on a popular topic.

If you can hit all the right notes and employ savvy marketing strategies, your online wellness course has the potential to rake in thousands of dollars in monthly revenue. A pretty decent side hustle, right?

03 Big initial investment, limited upkeep.

You might be thinking, “That all sounds great ... but won’t I have to spend months building the content, editing it, and polishing my online class before it’s ready to sell?”

Short answer: Yes. If you want to be successful at online teaching, you can’t just half-ass it. A sizable investment of your time, energy, and money will be crucial at the outset to ensure your class appears professional while covering sufficient topical ground.

(Need help getting started? Check out this post: How to Teach Online: The Toolkit You Need to Launch Your Offering.)

But once you have done that and packaged your class for sale, the amount of necessary and ongoing work required drops significantly. You will still need to tweak the content based on student’s feedback, respond to questions, engage in near-constant low-level marketing, and schedule the occasional major promotional pushes, but you won’t be spending every waking hour of every day tending to the needs of the class and its students.

Consider this: a class that takes two months to build may only require five hours per week to keep going. And if that class brings in $2,000 or $3,000 every month, those will be five hours well-spent!

04 The “Gig Economy” creates flexibility

Want to know why so many wellness practitioners flock to Hey Marvelous? Because they’re exhausted. Running a studio or coaching business is a full-time-plus endeavor that can be incredibly draining. Teaching, marketing, meeting with clients, networking, keeping your space in order, scheduling classes, ironing out employee issues … it all gets pretty overwhelming.

But online classes are a far less taxing alternative. Whether you’re teaching yoga or kettlebells, Reiki, or Ayurveda, you’ll have limited interaction with students and pre-programmed curricula. More and more entrepreneurs are gravitating towards the booming “gig economy,” which gives them the chance to build flexible schedules and be selective about the work they do.

By building profitable online classes, wellness experts can make these classes one of their primary gigs. This strategic shift allows them to cut back on the client load, draining tasks, and overwhelming classes. Instead, they can focus on work that energizes them.

05 You deserve a healthy balance between work and life.

Gone are the days of rigid schedules and fixed locations. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you have the power to craft your own timetable and choose the hours that suit you best.

Imagine being able to attend your child’s school events without worrying about missing work or taking a much-needed break to recharge your batteries. You can finally fulfill your personal commitments and engage in self-care activities, guilt-free. You finally have time to explore that new hobby, exercise regularly, or simply relax and rejuvenate. The choice is yours and is endless.

But the allure of online classes lies in more than just flexibility; it’s about reclaiming control over your professional life. By teaching online, you have the opportunity to align your work with your true passions and interests. Whether you’re a wellness practitioner, a language instructor, or an expert in any field, you can design a teaching experience that resonates with your skills and expertise, and by pursuing meaningful work that aligns with your passions, you nourish your overall well-being and experience a profound sense of purpose.

So, take a leap into the world of online teaching and unlock the door to a healthier work-life balance. Embrace the freedom to design your professional life, choose fulfilling work, and prioritize your personal well-being.

With online teaching, you can achieve the harmony you deserve. After all, as a wellness influencer, no one deserves a healthy balance between work and life more than you.

06 You should be global.

The work you do is important and life-changing. You possess the ability to help people heal, you teach them to live healthier lives, and you build their courage, strength, and confidence.

Why should your expertise only be accessible to the people who live in your hometown? Why should you only share your know-how with folks who can drive to your studio? And why shouldn’t you have an affordable, self-directed offering for clients who can’t afford ongoing, one-on-one sessions?

You don’t need to limit the potential of your impact. Embrace the digital era and leverage technology to connect you to students, clients, and fans all over the world. By packaging your unique gifts into an online class and sharing your expertise with a global audience, you can cultivate positive change on a much larger scale, leaving a lasting legacy that transcends physical boundaries.

FAQs

Q: What is online teaching?

Online teaching refers to delivering educational content and instruction to students through digital and internet platforms. It allows teachers to conduct classes remotely and students to access learning materials and engage in interactive activities through online platforms. Online teaching enables flexibility in terms of scheduling and location, removes geographical barriers, and utilizes various tools and technologies to facilitate effective learning experiences.

Q: What are the benefits of teaching online?

Teaching online offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it provides flexibility for both online teachers and students, allowing them to choose their own time and location for learning. Secondly, online teaching breaks down geographical limitations, enabling educators to reach a wider audience and students to access quality education regardless of location. Thirdly, it provides enhanced resources such as digital materials, multimedia content, and interactive tools, enriching the learning experience. Moreover, online teaching often allows for personalized instruction, adapting to individual student needs and learning styles. It also fosters student collaboration and interaction through various communication channels, promoting engagement and active participation.

Q: What tools and technologies do people commonly use for online teaching?

Online teaching utilizes a range of tools and technologies. Learning management systems (LMS) like Marvelous are commonly used for on-demand libraries, memberships + subscriptions, course management, content delivery, and assessments. Video conferencing tools like Zoom, integrate seamlessly with Marvelous for real-time communication between teachers and students. As well as communication tools like Marvelous Mail, email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit, Community Groups, direct messaging, and chat rooms. Plus, with a Solo plan and up, you can add quizzes to our course curriculum and allow students to submit assessment materials.

Q: What skills are important for teaching online effectively?

Effective online teaching requires several skills. While many believe that technological proficiency is crucial to navigating digital tools and platforms, with online teaching platforms like Marvelous, we've created it so that the tech is easy for anyone to pick up – if you can send an email, you can use Marvelous. Strong communication skills are essential for clear and concise instructions, explanations, and feedback. Organizational and time management skills help in managing course materials and deadlines effectively. Adaptability and flexibility are necessary to adjust teaching strategies to meet student needs. Engaging and interactive teaching methods keep students motivated and involved. Digital literacy and knowledge of online safety practices ensure a safe and secure learning environment for students.

Q: What are some tips for engaging students in online learning?

To engage students in online learning, it is important to use multimedia elements like videos, images, and audio clips to make the content more diverse and engaging. Encouraging active participation through interactive activities such as quizzes, livestream group discussions, and community group discussions promotes a sense of community and active learning. Creating a supportive and inclusive online learning environment where students can interact with each other and the instructor establishes a sense of belonging and engagement.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, online learning is a thriving industry, offering accessibility, affordability, and flexibility. The demand for e-learning continues to rise as traditional education costs increase. As a wellness expert, marketer, or solopreneur, sharing your expertise through online courses presents a lucrative opportunity. While the initial investment is required, the ongoing maintenance is manageable.

Online teaching allows for a healthy work-life balance and the ability to reach a global audience, making a broader impact. Embrace online learning to monetize your knowledge, prioritize well-being, and leave a lasting legacy in the digital era.