Being a good Coach, Mentor, and Online Course creator means you don’t treat your customers to a merry-go-round ride.
3 Ways to Find A Mentor, Coach and Online Course
In this post, we are discussing 3 Ways to Find Mentor, Coach, Online Course. How many times a day do you receive an email or see on any of the social media platforms an ad for a new mentor, coach or online course?
How do you know good vs. bad vs. scammer vs. clueless?
For instance, years ago a ‘Faith-based’ female coach boasted her 6-Figure income and stated she was all that and a bag of chips. Said ‘Coach’ had a $97.00 course. A good friend stated it was a great deal and would be of great value if I was interested in joining. Having been in the space, I decided to do my research before enrolling.
Step 1: Investigate site and coach thoroughly.
Step 2: Check out ‘sample’ content to see if current.
Step 3: Ask questions if the pit of your stomach doesn’t feel correct.
Photo Credit: Susan R Kiley
Investigate Online Course and Coach
Firstly, due diligence, CHECK! Smacked my credit card for $97, and the very first “WELCOME” video had comments embedded below – from over two years ago. I thought it was a mistake. Said coach stated her online course was new.
Secondly, I did my due diligence. I watched the ad, dissected her FB page – everything screamed NEW course.
Logging into the course platform, I quickly realized the information had not been updated in over two years! Information was irrelevant – outdated garbage.
Thirdly, there was a NO REFUND policy because ‘of the nature of the product.’
"The worst thing about being lied to is knowing you're not worth the truth."
Why do mentors and coaches advocate for evergreen online courses?
Autopilot for coaches, mentors and online courses isn’t an issue if the information presented to consumers is relevant. And, in my opinion, forthcoming from the beginning.
So, your ads should NOT scream NEW if the content is not.
Your welcome message shouldn’t welcome new clients to NEW material.
Respect consumers time and money, you were in their shoes once.
Consequently, XY coach had placed her site and content on autopilot and hadn’t updated any of the information. Because at that time (and even more through the years) believe the ‘Evergreen’ way is the PASSIVE INCOME STRATEGY for continual wealth without doing anything.
The problem with this thinking… new clients aren’t worth the truth or the time. And yes, I understand in the every changing digital world we live in, time is money. No one wants to keep websites, courses, and offerings up to date.
In the event that you are an expert online course creator and are shouting from your money tower – you can afford paying someone to update your courses.
Autopilot is good for business, bad for consumers
most of the time. After researching hundreds of courses over several years, the results showed 80% were outdated garbage!
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Mentor, Coach, Online Course Best Practice
Most importantly, coaches, mentors and online course creators have an OBLIGATION to consumers to remain up-to-date and current. Period. I realize this is difficult. If said coach or mentor or creator is a true 6-Figure or 7-Figure business owner, than said person best hire someone to update. Period. How I see it, if you don’t and are aware of your outdated online courses, you are committing a crime. Yes?
There are, however, some creators who will disagree. Perfectly okay to agree, to disagree. We all have opinions – doesn’t mean you are correct or vice versa.
Upon seeing the outdated course material I submitted a ticket to ‘support’ to request a REFUND based on the false information presented to obtain me as a customer. Felt like ‘switch and bait.’
Online Coach Accountability
However, here’s what happened without the eight back and forth nonsense emails. After hitting ‘send’ I received a message almost immediately and was told “Sorry, our policy is there is no refunds due to the product being digital.”
Why is it the best coaches, mentors and online course creators in the business offers FULL REFUNDS within 30 days, but this supposed expert wasn’t willing to honor a refund within 24 hours? Hmmm {insert question face}.
It’s 2015, with this in mind, understand the digital world hadn’t exploded like 2020. Not all online creators offer refunds, and that’s their business policy. Coach XY did not have such a policy for a false advertised course.
Under the circumstances I wasn’t accepting NO for an answer. I wanted accountability. I kept the email communication going between this ‘customer service gal’ until finally, the XY expert chimed in and most likely, she was the same person as the ‘customer service gal,’ but neither here nor there…
As a result of several heated back and forth emails with XY course content owner, she finally REFUNDED $97 and said, “God Bless you and Good Luck.”
Keeping Online Courses Accountable
Step 1: Have all your evidence/proof organized.
Step 2: Contact customer support. BE NICE.
Step 3: Continue positive and open communication until you get a refund.
*Please don’t just ask for a refund because you don’t want to pay, but want the online course for free.
For the purpose of my experience with this “coach” about her ‘new’ course, I learned a valuable lesson: DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE!
Online Course and Coach No-No's
And so, four years later, I receive this message:
Apparently, despite removing myself from her subscription, I receive a message asking about the course from four years ago?! I hadn’t thought once about the XY coach or XYZ program over the years. Moving beyond dishonesty, I told myself.
Then, five months later, while purging my promotions folders again, a message popped up from said XY coach… and my head immediately shook.
Suddenly, I thought about the last message attempt from the XY mentor and how her message had inspired me. I want coaches… and all online course creators… to have a positive and honest business mentor.
3 Attributes to Look for in a Coach, Mentor and Online Course
1. Are they relevant? Is content, programs, and courses dated (have not been updated in over a year+). You want to dig into the potential program – and be cautious if the material is older than a year with no updates. There are hundreds of coaches who update their material frequently, I’d pick them over anyone who hasn’t updated in a year plus.
2. Do you feel icky inside when you read their emails? Intuition. The saying goes, “If it smells like a rat, acts like a rat…it must be a rat.” Maybe that’s not the correct way to say it, you get the point. Listen to the small voice in your head or the uneasy feeling inside before handing money over to a ‘coach’ or ‘mentor.’
3. Social proof. I don’t mind social proof as long as it is legitimate proof. Any time someone is starting out or has a new program a coach needs social proof to encourage others to buy, correct? The problem becomes the authenticity of the proof. And, a coach, mentor or online course creator does not need to have thousands of followers either. There is a balance – you’ll know (see Do you feel icky inside…).
Here’s what to look for in social proof
In what follows, the social proof is not always the deciding factor but rather the effect on customers, and sometimes on both.
1. Dates. If the last WOOT! WOOT! came 2 yrs ago…proceed with caution.
2. Circles. Social circles or inner club friends. Do a quick research on the person if you can. Friends, family, roommates do not count (in my opinion) for social proof. I’ve seen how members within an inner circle leaves glowing reviews without ever having taken the course or program…all for social proof.
3. Guru testimonials. Let’s call a spade a spade. Receiving a WOOT! WOOT! from Tony Robbins is great (if it weren’t paid for). What I mean…I’ve heard stories of people spending $25K+ to hand with gurus like Mr. Robbins. During these hang sessions they are allowed to get pictures, ask questions, etc. That’s amazing and congrats for that…the way they market said photo and interview, etc. is the shady part.
4. Inner circle friends. A little secret… many testimonials of EXPERTS on pages are from inner circle friends who haven’t actually went through the course, used the product or was an actual client of said mentor or coach. I didn’t believe it until I saw it firsthand. And, if you are not as ‘big’ as someone else, though you are in the same inner circle, they will not reciprocate.
Unfortunately, the characteristics of a dishonest mentor, coach or online course do not appear on social media. Disheartening, yes, very much so. Being a coach, mentor and online course creator for two decades (as of this post) I’ve seen it all.
Anyhow, I’ve written different posts about the bulls**! that happens in the entrepreneur world – maybe that’s why I’m not a millionaire or billionaire, I won’t play the games (often times unethical).
Not all mentors, coaches, and online courses are shady
In sum, do your due diligence and research coaches, mentors and online courses before you smack your credit card, and even when you do, you may find you were swindled.
Ask others what they have thought, if you can find a person via testimonial or social media.
Inquire about their refund policy if it is not displayed. Understand that digital products can (and often) come with a NO REFUND policy, however, if the information is grossly misrepresented, you can fight for your money.
Scour the internet for multiple mentors, they are a dime a dozen. Do your due diligence when it comes to smacking the credit card for an online course; they are easy to find on any topic you want to learn about in life and business.
Takeaways: Ways to Find Mentor, Coach, and Online Course
The online presence of mentors, coaches, and online courses is beyond its infancy, and so it has become increasingly easy to find a mentor, coach or online course.
Evergreen online courses are not all bad, just as not all mentors and coaches are shady. Creators should focus on creating an online presence based on authenticity and value driven strategies. Creating an online course and updating (at the minimum) yearly cab be a huge confidence booster for consumers, and your timeless content ideal for years to come.
Three basic steps to follow to potentially avoid the swindlers online.
Step 1: Investigate site, mentor and course thoroughly.
Step 2: Check out content to see if current.
Step 3: Ask questions if the pit of your stomach doesn’t feel correct.
Personally, all HSL MEDIA and SuccessYOU courses are updated yearly and have a limited refund policy, limiting hackers from coming to my site, spending, and then requesting an immediate refund.
If you want to participate in any of my programs…do the work before requesting a refund. I want to see you put the effort in before I give you my work for free.
What kind of coaches, mentors or online courses do you find yourself always coming back to? I’d love to hear your success stories, your pitfalls, and your thoughts!