UPDATED MARCH 2023

I have been thinking a lot about the best way to help my clients transition, pivot, and adjust during the Pandemic.

Many of the people I help had businesses based on in-person services such as retreats, yoga classes, and other wellness programs.

In the matter of a few weeks that all came to a halt. I heard someone in a podcast episode call it THE GREAT PAUSE. Brilliant! That's exactly what it feels like.

I had clients and community members asking me:

How do I bring my teaching online?
How do I create an online program?
What tools do I need? Can I host retreats online?

The truth is, I have mixed feelings about this.

I know all about creating an online business, the good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, I've been an online business owner for over 6 years now.

So I wanted to be cautious about the advice I give you.

Don't get me wrong.

I love having an online business more than anything… the freedom, flexibility, the ability to work with clients from all over the world. It's wonderful and liberating in so many ways.

But I’m tired of seeing all the false promises of "quick and easy money online" on my feed (I’m sure you get those ads too).

If you are thinking about taking your business online in some shape or form, here is some good advice I want to give you as an experienced online business owner and business mentor to others:

#1 Build A Community, Not Just A “Following”

This might be the most important of all the advice I'll share here.

There are so many brands and businesses online, and those who focus on their customers and serving them well, getting to know them as much as possible, are the ones who stand out.

Building a relationship with a new client online may not be as easy as in-person, but it’s absolutely possible.

I have met less than ¼ of my clients in person, and they are all part of my fam. I love them.

When you prioritize building relationships, you LISTEN to your community and focus on serving them with online offerings they want and need. There is no guessing game in figuring out what virtual programs you should create - it's all about listening and asking your people the right questions.

You need to build the "know, like, and trust" factor with them - they are not just another number or heart on your posts; they are the community you are here to help.

#2 Create A Virtual Hub vs. A One-off Program

This is a big one for me and I will talk more about the benefits of doing this in my next blog post, but I want you to think about this for now.

Building a one-off program may not add the revenue you may think or serve your students the best way possible online.

Instead of a one-off course or program, think about creating a space, a hub, or a virtual studio that allows you to put several types of online offerings out into the world. You can think of this sort of like a memberships site or a home for your virtual community.

It’s something you can grow over time, not over night, but set the intention and have the vision from the get-go.

There are endless possibilities and variations of this concept that really can fit any yoga teacher or wellness professional trying to create revenue online.

What I like the most about creating a virtual hub is that it is a long-term strategy vs. just a short-term bandaid solution.

The truth is that the digital world is here to stay, and wellness businesses will benefit from creating a solid online strategy to complement their in-person services. It builds resilience and sustainability in your business long term.

#3 Focus on Building your email list

Instead of being at the behest of the Facebook and IG "algorithms Gods," think about building and growing your own potential client database.

Using email marketing is a key aspect of building a business online and selling your online programs, classes, retreats, workshops, etc.

👉🏼 The best way to do this is to use a comprehensive email marketing service such as ConvertKit or MailChimp (not just your Gmail).

It takes a bit of time to learn these tools and set up an email marketing strategy that works - but it's crucial and worth your time.

You can use social media to build awareness around your services, tell your brand story and easily stay in touch with your people, but all roads lead to Rome - social media needs to lead to building your email list.

I'll say one more thing here in case you are not convinced. If one of the social platforms completely changes or closes down, you'll instantly lose all of your followers.

In fact, all social media platforms change their terms and conditions, algorithms, and privacy policy OFTEN, affecting the way we can reach our students and clients on social media.

That will never happen with your email community because you are in charge.

I use Flodesk for my business and love it. Click here for my link to get 50% off your subscription for life.

#4 Yes, You'll Need to Learn Some New Tech Tools

Many yoga teachers and wellness professionals who are used to serving their clients in person are usually a bit apprehensive about the tech part of creating online offerings.

There is definitely a learning curve to many of the tech tools you need to have a good set up for your online business.

With that tech comes not only time investment but some financial investment as well.

The good news is that most types of software you'll need will have a free trial or a low-cost option.

And they just keep getting more intuitive and easier to use (trust me, I've been around the online tech world for a while now 😜).

When it comes to online software, my best advice is to get it as you need it.

Don't pay for anything that you don't need at the moment; instead, get it as you need it to keep it simple in your online business.

You'll save a lot of money by just focusing on the essential tech you need and then eventually adding the bells and whistles you hear everyone raving about.

Also, squeeze the juice of all of the free plans as you learn the ropes of the software you are using - that way, you'll know if it's a good fit for your business.

The tools you'll need to create a good strategy for your business online will depend on what type of business you have and what you plan to offer (i.e., live classes, recorded videos, e-books, audio courses, 1:1 coaching, or consulting)