Create a Better Course

Hosted by Mara Kucirek

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Mar 2024

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About the show

Ready to learn what it takes to create a phenomenal and profitable online course? I'm Mara Kucirek - an online course and instructional designer for entrepreneurs and small business owners! Together we're going to unpack how to grow your passive income through online courses that have a lasting impact on your students too! On this podcast, you'll find solo episodes filled with actionable advice around launch strategy, marketing online courses and digital products. We'll also talk about what it takes to start and grow a six-figure business that gives you more freedom and JOY in life! Plus, you'll find the occasional guest expert interview to pull back the curtain on what it takes to create and run a thriving online course.

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41 recent

March 11, 202441 min

040. My First 3 Months Postpartum: The Highs, The Lows, and What I Was NOT Prepared For

Today, I'm sharing the joys and challenges of new motherhood, hoping it resonates with expecting or new moms. I'm spilling it all: from things I thought would be difficult, but were surprisingly easy, to the things I did not expect to be so hard (and that I wish I had prepared for). Episode Highlights: What recovery after an unmedicated birth was like for me My breastfeeding experience What I loved about being a new mom The exhausting reality of new parenthood (and tips for you!) Becoming the default parent Juggling motherhood and business Tips to help you navigate the postpartum phase Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/40 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek

March 4, 202427 min

039. I Grew My Affiliate Income by 200% by Following These 5 Simple Strategies

Want to know how I've tripled my affiliate income over the last year without being sleazy, spammy, or scammy? Today, I'm sharing all about how I've started sharing more about the products and tools I am using in my own business, what my affiliate income strategy is, and which programs I'm an affiliate for that make me the most money! Episode Highlights: What's affiliate marketing? Why I was initially resistant to making affiliate income and the mindset hurdle I overcame to start promoting other people's products How you can start building affiliate marketing income (even with a smaller audience) Five strategies that helped me TRIPLE my affiliate income this year (my affiliate income grew 200% last year) The top 5 affiliates that generate the most passive income for my business Links mentioned in this episode: Get the full show notes at: https://marakucirek.com/39 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://marakucirek.com/instagram My Riverside landing page: https://marakucirek.com/riverside-coupon-code Ubersuggest for keyword research: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/ Thrivecart: https://marakucirek.com/thrivecart Flodesk: https://marakucirek.com/flodesk

February 26, 20249 min

038. Want Your Students to See Better Results? This ONE Thing Can Make a Big Difference

Today, I'm sharing a really simple online course creation tip that will make your online course easier for students to take (and will also make people excited to buy your course). This course creation hack is so simple, but it's so effective if you want to help your students to see better results from your course! Episode Highlights: A quick online course creation tip 2 ways you can add THIS element to your online course to help your students see better results The one thing I always do as a student taking an online course! Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/38 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek

February 19, 202426 min

037. 5 Journaling Practices For People Who Hate Journaling

Today, we're talking about journaling practices, specifically how to build a practice of journaling when you don't really like journaling. I personally find traditional journaling overwhelming (and a little bit boring!), so if you're like me, I think you're going to love these alternatives! Episode Highlights: 5 Journaling practices I like MORE than writing perfect sentences in a fancy journal Why I continue to make journaling a priority, especially during a hard season What topics I write about most of the time How to keep yourself accountable to journaling, even during busy seasons Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/37 One example of an online journal to try: https://penzu.com/ The Day One App: https://dayoneapp.com/ Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek

January 31, 202436 min

036. I Had An Unmedicated Birth On Purpose (This is Why + What it Looked Like)

Today, I'm sharing something different, not about business or online courses, but the unmedicated birth story of my daughter, Hallie. She was exactly 3 months old at the time of recording! Episode Highlights: Why I chose my midwives (and to give birth at a birth center instead of a hospital) What made me decide to try for an unmedicated birth (and skip the epidural) How early labor went (it was not what I expected!) Having a water birth went at my birth center Recovering at home after baby Hallie joined the world! Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/36 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek

January 24, 202426 min

035. 5 Ways I'm Making More Money (Profit!) in 2024

I'm sharing EXACTLY how I plan to make more money this year (one of the questions that was MOST common on my end of year survey!). It's something I have spent a lot of time thinking about, especially while I'm in this season of new motherhood (so I don't have all the time in the world). Tune in now to hear the 5 ways I'm focusing on increasing my revenue (and profit) in 2024! Episode Highlights: What I've previously done with client work, and how I'm shifting The not-so-new new offer I'm promoting How I'm adding more passive income streams as a busy mom! What I'm doing to prioritize PROFIT this year What I started to prioritize last year (and how that's going!) Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/35 Tune into Episode #2 to hear Exactly How My Business Makes Money: https://marakucirek.com/2 Tune into Episode #12 for 5 Strategies That Tripled My Affiliate Marketing Income This Year: https://marakucirek.com/12 Tune into Episode #30 for a Complete 2023 Recap to Hear What Worked (and what sucked) Last Year: https://marakucirek.com/30 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek

January 17, 202425 min

034. 2024 Online Course Trends That Will Make You More Money This Year (My Top 5!)

In this episode, I'm sharing what I'm seeing emerge as the TOP 2024 online course trends that will make you more money this year (and offer a better experience for your students too!). Episode Highlights: One of the biggest trends I'm seeing (in ALL aspects of the course building and sales process) What my survey results showed me One online course trend that IS an investment... but something you may want to add to your course in the future My personal favorite online course trend (and easy ways to implement it) The biggest reason people are buying courses (and the ONE thing that stops them from adding to cart!) Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/34 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek Take my free quiz to discover the perfect online course software for you: https://marakucirek.com/quiz My favorite online course platforms: https://marakucirek.com/platform-for-online-course/ Tune into Episode 4 next about How to Choose the Best Online Course Creation Platform for Your Business (+ My Top Software Recommendations!): https://marakucirek.com/4

January 10, 20249 min

033. My #1 Productivity Hack: Eat the Teddy Bear, Not the Frog

Today, I'm sharing a SUPER simple productivity hack that has helped me stop procrastinating, get more work done, and also find a lot more joy in the work that I'm doing. While you may have heard the term "eat the frog" in the popular Brian Tracy book, the truth is that did NOT work for me (I will explain why), so in this episode, I'm sharing what DID work for me instead! Episode highlights: What it means to "eat the frog" and how it boosts productivity My experience practicing this "hack" and why it didn't work for me Why now I'm choosing to "eat the teddy bear" instead How I'm able to stop procrastinating and get more work done How I've implemented this outside of just my work "to do" list too! Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/33 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marakucirek Read Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy: https://amzn.to/47vokPY My favorite planner, The Full Focus Planner: https://marakucirek.com/fullfocus Tune into Episode #27 for 8 Simple Tricks to Overcome Procrastination and Boost Productivity: https://marakucirek.com/27 Tune Into Episode #29 for How to Plan Your Week to Maximize Productivity and Minimize Stress: https://marakucirek.com/29 Tune Into Episode #31 for 8 Steps to Set Effective Goals: https://marakucirek.com/31

January 3, 202429 min

032. Want to Know my 2024 Business Goals? Here's What I'm Working Toward in 2024

In this episode, I'm sharing my EXACT goals list for 2024. Curious what I'm planning and working on for the year? Listen to this episode to hear by 5 KEY goals for next year! Episode Highlights: My top goals for next year The WHY behind how I chose each one What I'm doing to keep my goals top of mind Action steps I'm taking next year to get closer to my goals Links Mentioned: Get the full show notes and listen to the blog post at https://marakucirek.com/32 Connect with Mara on Instagram: https://marakucirek.com/instagram Read my 2023 Year in Review: https://marakucirek.com/2023-year-in-review/ Learn how to make a 24 in 2024 list: https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/how-to-write-your-23-for-2023-list/ Read all of my Income Reports here: https://marakucirek.com/income

December 20, 202329 min

031. 8 Steps to Set Effective 2024 Goals

Who is ready to talk about goal setting? Because this episode is ALL about setting 2024 goals. I'm going to share the exact process I use to set my goals each year (and what I do to prepare for the next year ahead). I love goal setting and (and also consuming content on how others achieve their goals). That's exactly what I'm exploring today. Over the years, I've followed a similar approach, and that core process is what I'm going to share with you today! Episode Highlights: My favorite goal setting tools (planners, workbooks and more!) When I start planning my annual goals How I prioritize my goals and narrow down the options My KEY questions to help you reflect on the last year and plan for the next year How to create action items for your goals My biggest tip to actually achieving your goals Links Mentioned: Read the blog post and show notes for this episode: https://marakucirek.com/31 Listen to my 2023 Recap: https://marakucirek.com/30 Follow Mara on Instagram: https://marakucirek.com/instagram My favorite planner, The Full Focus Planner: https://marakucirek.com/fullfocus Your Best Year Workbook by Lisa Jacobs: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1329442699/your-best-year-by-lisa-jacobs-the-life Powersheets: https://marakucirek.com/powersheets