So you’ve realized that you’re pretty damn good at certain things & that maybe you should pass on that knowledge to the rest of world… but how to do that & who to turn to you’re kinda still working on.Well, I’m here to lend you a hand with an honest, non-affiliate review, of Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy…It’s the least I can do J
About Amy Porterfield?
Amy has been a name in the marketing world for years.
She has launched campaigns for the likes of Harley Davidson & worked alongside the legendary Tony Robbins
Through her best-selling marketing courses List Builders Society and Digital Course Academy
Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Amy Porterfield hosts the podcast Online Marketing Made Easy, and is a speaker and trainer who teach business owners, educators and entrepreneurs profitable strategies for building a highly engaged email list, creating online training courses, and using online marketing strategies to sell with ease.
Authored one of those big yellow “Dummies” books all about Facebook.
Named by Forbes as one of the Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers
Amy’s digital courses have generated over $15 million dollars to date. She’s been in the forefront of creating & launching digital courses, having launched 8 in the last few years. Many have been home runs - like the January 2019 launch of DCA that hit $3.5m in sales.
That’s impressive guys and gals...
How Amy Porterfield's "First Ten" Strategy Generated $40,000 Revenue For Her Students
How Amy Achieved $40K Revenue
- Amy taught her students the First Ten strategy through the Digital Course Academy.
- Her students implemented the "First Ten" strategy in their own courses and validated their ideas with their own "first ten".
- Collectively, Amy and her students generated over $40K revenue from signups on their "first ten" students. One of her students, Celie Cauley, made $16K solely from this launch strategy.
- The early adopters of these courses give valuable feedback that helped Amy refine and restructure the program before offering it to the public.
What is the "First Ten" Strategy?
The "First Ten" strategy is a method designed for entrepreneurs to validate their digital course ideas before fully launching them into new courses. Through this strategy, the course creator engages with a small group of students called the "first ten", by enrolling them at a discounted rate. In return, the course creator learns from the students and improves the course before its full launching.
This approach reduces risk and losses while allowing for course refinement based on the target customers' initial feedback.
What's not mentioned in the video: Launching an online course or a business is not easy. In fact, 18% of businesses fail in their first year and this number goes up to 50% by the fifth year. Although Amy's strategy is a good way to refine and improve courses before fully launching them, there's still no guarantee of profitability.
What to expect from the DCA
The Digital Course Academy (DCA) framework is rooted in Amy’s 12 years of creating courses, first for Tony Robbins and then for herself.
It is a 12 week online training program. It helps online business owners and entrepreneurs turn their knowledge and know-how into a digital course that will generate consistent revenue.
The program provides a step-by-step strategy for the entire course creation journey — from strategy, to planning, to creation, to launching.
The course includes 8 modules released on a weekly basis + 2 bonus modules. There are also multiple implementation weeks for students to take in the meatier topics and actually put them into ACTION.
There are also plenty of bonus materials.
The following is the main section of the course:
- The “Getting Started” Bonus – The Pre-Launch Runway – 1 video
- The Digital Course Academy Project Plan – 1 video
- Module 1: Planning Your Digital Course Launch – 5 videos
- Module 2: Validating Your Course Idea – 5 videos
- Module 3: The Art of Outlining Your Course – 7 videos
- Module 4: Recording Your Course Content – 6 videos
- Module 5: Creating Your Profitable Webinar Presentation – 14 videos
- Module 6: The Webinar Fill-Up Framework – 18 videos
- Module 7: How to Increase Webinar Sales – 4 videos
- Module 8: Live Webinar Success Secrets – 5 videos
- Celebrate! – 1 video
The course is split up into 7 main sections/parts, each with its own separate modules. Part 1 is the main course itself.
Module 1: Planning Your Digital Course Launch
The first module helps you get more organized and intentional about how you plan the different phases of the course creation and launch process.
You get access to a planning worksheet, which gives you a framework to make the key initial decisions.
The module has 4 lessons and encourages you to choose dates for the different phases in the process, including course creation, promotion, live webinar launch as well as the course launch period.
Highlight - you also get access to a course framework model which helps you plan the steps and processes for creating and launching your course.
Module 2: Validating Your Course Idea
Knowing who your ideal customers are and what they are looking for can genuinely make or break the success of your online course. At the same time, most creators don’t know how to approach this step in a systematic fashion.
This module gives you a step-by-step process packed with specific action items and practical exercises to help you become completely confident of your course idea.
So you get access to proven frameworks that help you define your ideal customer, your core offering, and decide the type of course you want to create.
Highlight - you get highly specific tactics on how to collect feedback from your target audience on social media and what questions you need to ask them.
Module 3: The Art of Outlining Your Course
Amy’s “Secret Sauce” for creating online course programs has been her ability to really focus on a complete outline before getting started.
In this module, Amy takes you through her process for converting ideas in your head into a structured outline. You’ll learn how to turn your expertize into actionable advice and practical exercises.
And you can be sure that course takes its own advice seriously here, as this module also comes packed with additional worksheets and supporting guides.
Highlight - you get insights on where to add supporting content and exercises, how much content to include in your course, how to price your course, and choosing a name for your course, etc.
Module 4: Recording Your Course Content
Amy distills her years of experience of recording online courses in this module to help you avoid these mistakes.
So, you learn about the type of recording strategy that is likely to work best for you. Plus, you get advice on what kind of equipment and software you should choose, how to use these tools, along with tips for recording videos.
The module even throws in customizable templates for creating training decks for webinars and training presentations.
Highlight - this course module gives you strategies for teaching in a way that delivers results and sticks with your students.
Module 5: Creating Your Profitable Webinar Presentation
With this module, the course moves to the next phase, where you learn how to launch your course through webinars.
What you get with this module is nothing less than an exact blueprint that covers every single aspect of creating a profitable webinar.
To begin with, you learn the exact sales funnel you could use to generate sales through a live webinar, plus you learn how to craft an irresistible marketing pitch for your course.
You also get access to in-depth training and tips for creating a compelling webinar, including its technical set up.
The module enlists the help of Ry Schwartz, an ace copywriter who teaches you how to write the copy for your course sales page.
Highlight - you get several additional resources like a walk-through of the exact webinar that Amy uses for her courses, and a downloadable success tracker to track your webinar results, etc.
Module 6: The Webinar Fill-Up Framework
If the previous module dealt with how to create a webinar, this module helps you learn how to have potential customers lining up to watch your webinar.
The module teaches you how to create a high converting webinar registration page. However, the most compelling element of this module is that it takes you through several different ways in which you can generate leads for your webinar.
So you learn how to use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to generate leads for your webinar.
Facebook ads expert, Rick Mulready, makes an appearance & focuses his teaching on using FB Live to generate traffic for your webinar is also part of this module.
Highlight - you learn how to create a persuasive email sequence, and set up a sales funnel for inviting potential customers to your webinar.
Module 7: How to Increase Webinar Sales
This module is where you learn how to take your webinar sales strategy to the next level by focusing on webinar replay views.
Most of your prospective customers are not going to progress with the webinar the very instant they sign up. It will need a nudge or two before you can convert them, and this module will show you the exact steps to achieve precisely that.
The module will help you craft the perfect post-webinar emails, which in turn should help boost your webinar replay views and course sales.
Additionally, the module will also cover customer onboarding email sequence to help ease your customers into the course material.
Highlight - you’ll learn how to set up the actual post-webinar sales funnel, including the webinar replay page.
Module 8: Live Webinar Success Secrets
In the final module, you are taken through the steps that will help you deliver a compelling live webinar.
A significant ingredient of success for a live webinar is going to be your ability to deliver a webinar that sticks with your audience and encourages them to engage with you.
So you get access to a live webinar checklist that helps you ensure that everything goes smoothly during the live event.
Finally, you will learn how to approach the Q&A session in your webinar to build engagement and generate additional sales.
Highlight - you learn how to leverage your VA’s time during the live webinar to make it even easier.
Bonus content includes a complete, step-by-step launch plan showing how to create and deliver a high-converting webinar presentation that ethically (and authentically) enrolls dozens, if not hundreds of students, every time they deliver it.
The Webinar Fill-Up Formula to make sure you never deliver to an empty room again, and instead get a packed house full of perfectly-targeted, “ready to buy” prospects.
Next-level email marketing, sales page, Facebook ad, and social media strategies to amplify your results and get up to 3x the enrollments.
Addtional Bonuses:
Bonus 1: 12 Weeks of Live Q&A Sessions with Amy (in a Private Facebook Group):
Amy will be LIVE in the private FB group Mon-Thur for 12 weeks answering questions and troubleshooting. This is more than she’s ever offered and it’s a big deal.
Bonus 2: How to Create a Pre-Launch Runway
The Ultimate Guide to Attract and Engage Your Audience Before Your Launch Kickoff. Re-awaken your current subscribers while adding dozens or even hundreds of fresh, perfectly “primed” prospects in anticipation of your course launch.
Bonus 3: How to Create and Promote a “Workshop Course” in 30 Days or Less
Step by step guidance on how to create a 2-hour workshop – from how to choose your topic and creating content that flows to creating your slides and how to promote and deliver your course.
Exclusive Bonus: “Pay in Full” Bonus, Amy is offering The DCA September 2019 Launch Debrief.
Go behind-the-scenes of Amy’s own launch and get an overview of all the big moving pieces and how to make them all work in sync to create a smooth launch experience that doesn’t burn you or your team out.
A Resources section that should be used as you go through the modules. It includes links and information, such as which email provider to use, which platform to use for your course, which webinar platform to use, email swipe files & templates, asset & document management, stock photography links and much more.
The Tech Library will come to your aid regarding all the techy stuff. The library comes packed with comprehensive tutorials for almost every technical task you can encounter while building a course. Highly useful.
Naturally, you're going to ask whether Digital Course Academy
Is Digital Course Academy worth it?
Look it’s pricey… Did I forget to mention that… My Bad…. It’s $1,997 or 3 payments of $737…yeah I know…
But honestly, if creating online courses is where your calling’s at – then this is the course for you…. Btw, registration for DCA opens in September 2020.
So I can hear you asking if it’s right for you. After all, you've probably started a few other courses with the best intentions – and now they're gathering dust on your virtual bookshelf, with no results to show for them.
Digital Course Academy is not one of those courses - that's if you want to create a course.
By the end of your 12 weeks you should conquer the following massive steps, (which usually holds everyone back):
Nail down your course topic… making a nice change from wasting another year just thinking about it.
Validate your program to make sure your audience is willing and excited to invest in your course.
Even if you’re a total technophobe, you would’ve recorded and published all your course content.
Develop a high-converting webinar presentation with an irresistible offer that authentically enrolls your best prospects into your course.
Leverage a mix of Facebook ads, email marketing, and Instagram to get those virtual seats filled with highly qualified prospects for your webinars.
Craft a compelling sales page and post-webinar email funnel to amplify your course sales and make sure your hard-earned prospects have the best possible chance to convert.
Implement a new student onboarding sequence to give your students the best possible chance at succeeding in your course while dramatically cutting down on refunds.
Review Conclusion
If you're someone who likes to collect courses but never takes action, this course isn't for you. Amy's teaching style is very actionable, meaning that you'll be creating a course as you progress through the program.
I’ve done plenty courses & in fact, I have my own course - I will tell you more about that in a bit… & this is the most comprehensive program for creating, launching and selling your digital course that I have come across.
Amy knows how to teach what works. She’s known for her patient, personable, step-by-step style that does not assume anything, and she delivers the necessities you need to know in order to achieve.
Digital Course Academy is the only implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create and deliver your online course like a pro, but also how to get it into the hands of hundreds (or dozens – for those of you not quite ready to take over the world with your starter course) of customers every month.
What I like about DCA:
- Amy is an amazing teacher with years of experience in the field.
- Course material is extensive & well researched, and also well laid out & easy to understand.
- Any experience level can benefit from course.
- Step-by-step: from idea to selling.
What I don't like about DCA:
- It’s pricey .
- You need loads of time for this course.
- Creating courses is NOT the best business model for 2020. Even if you are a RECOGNIZED PRO, it takes time to get students...
Selling digital courses is the latest fad for making money online. It's all the rage, but here's the skinny...
It's not all that profitable...
With the amount of time and effort you put in, it takes a LONG time before you make any money.
Especially in 2020 where budgets are tighter and people are getting smarter about their purchases. Being a lifelong learner and learning new skills is essential for entrepreneurs to be successful, but you also need to be smart.
Just as you should pick your battles, customers will also pick their courses.
Ask yourself why anyone would buy a course from you. Are you an industry leading expert? A well-known individual? A titan of commerce? If you're just starting out with no success, why would anyone buy your course?
Even when you have credibility, it's tough. I have been doing exceptionally well in Local Lead Generation since 2014 (I currently earn upwards of $52k per month from my lead gen sites), and I STILL find it difficult to get students for our lead gen training.
SO, what qualifies me to give you advice?
Personally, instead of going to all the trouble to launch products or worry about audiences to sell to, I prefer to get steady leads for local businesses by ranking websites on Google.
What’s Lead Generation? Well it’s making me $52k per month, hassle free, while I spend time doing other stuff… Like writing reviews for you 😉
But, seriously though...Lead generation has personally changed my life.
In 2013 I was living in a tiny apartment in Detroit MI, working a 9-5 at a car parts store & pulling in 2k a month.
Now, I live in a high rise apartment in San Francisco and make 52k each month via my lead generation properties.
That's my 6 year transformation.
Imagine where you can be in 6 years.
Times are tough these days, but local lead gen can change that for you in a blink of an eye.
Local lead gen is a perfect investment in 2020 and will not only give you the FINANCIAL FREEDOM you are craving, but it will also offer you the SUPPORT that you need.
If you have that curious spirit as an entrepreneur, and you always look at all the possible angles, then you should consider Local Lead Gen as an alternative business or second income.
Dan's Local Lead Gen coaching program changed my life and I am positive it will do the same for you. It will help you create a successful, sustainable business, that truly allows you a passive income.
Passive income is key to long-term success. It is exactly what you need to earn a sustainable & RECURRING online living.
For example, I still make $750 per month from my Lansing Limo site, 6 years later. Talk about a recurring passive income!
All I had to do was follow the advice of a man who "cracked the code" for Number One Google organic rankings.
He got his local lead gen sites to rank to number one on the organic searches and map packs, and he taught me exactly how to successfully repeat the process.
All I had to do was live by a three-word mantra:
The words from my mentor and biz partner, that changed my life.
So, instead of creating course upon course in the hopes of making some money, I prefer a steady monthly paycheck from my lead gen sites.
I mean seriously. Do you see me trying to sell courses by advertising on social media? No. That's not how I roll.
I make my money from my lead gen business, not by selling courses.
The course is there to help those who really want to get started on a new business.
This business model is by far my #1 pick for what I feel is the easiest way to make a reliable, recurring passive income on the internet today.
The reason I love it so much is that there is a crazy satisfaction I get from helping local business owners. They grow, I grow. It's as simple as that.
Plus, there really isn’t anything else you can make so much money online with (at least that I’ve yet discovered) as easily and reliably.
Let's look at the alternatives:
Amazon FBA
- hardly any control over your traffic, very difficult to dominate your competition.
Ecommerce Shopify
– completely relies on paid traffic, which means results vary from day to day.
Social Media Advertising
– Lots of maintenance and expensive/low ROI.
Creating and selling online courses
– All for nothing if you are not a well-known expert in your field...
You name it, after I built my 6-figure local lead generation business which runs on FREE traffic, (YES! I don't have a marketing budget...), I also tried all those other online business opportunities listed above.
Google is King!
It isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.
Unlike other platforms like Facebook Ads, Google doesn't undergo any major changes.
So, focusing on Google is a smart bet.
I think you’re getting the drift here.
Look at this tree service site I built to generate calls for a company that still pays me $2k per month every month. It's been giving me a guaranteed $2k per month since 2014…
If you are skeptical, you can always google it yourself to find out..
That’s $24,000 a year, and $120,000 from this little site’s lifetime over the last 5 years up to 2020. And it requires the minimum of maintenance, which makes lead gen an incredibly profitable business model with very high ROI.
The best part is, I own the site!
No one can take the site or the number away from me – EVER
The truth is, as long as the Internet is up and running, and as long as there are local businesses, I WILL ALWAYS BE IN BUSINESS.
The Internet and local businesses aren’t going anywhere.
Here are some added bonuses:
FREEDOM!
I am my own boss.
That means I say when & where I work…
I get to work WHERE I want, WHEN I want. And that is TRUE FREEDOM...
A Recurring Passive Income
Through lead gen, you get a recurring monthly income. I no longer have to trade my time for money...
Earning Potential
There's no ceiling to what you can earn.
You can increase your income every day!
Building something real
There's great job satisfaction with lead gen.
You are proud of what you do, because you make a difference in the lives of other business owners.
The beauty of this method is you don’t have to be any good at sales to land these deals because a business owner that wants more business would be happy to pay you based on performance because they don’t have to take on any risks that way.
Because you control & own 100% of the assets.
All the lead gen sites you build, you own, so if the business owner you land doesn’t do good, you can simply switch them out with another local business.
This means you’ll continue to get paid regardless of what might happen to the client.
Want to know more? Learn about lead generation by
clicking here or using the button below.
