After much work and not much sleep, the Teaching Sells training program is open for business. Hopefully the combination of the free report and the site copy will stand on its own, but I thought I’d take a moment to address some of the questions I got in comments and emails.
First of all, thanks to everyone who emailed to thank me for the report and to say how excited they were to see what the training was all about. The response was more enthusiastic than even I had hoped for, and I can hope for quite a bit. 
What is Teaching Sells?
The Teaching Sells training program is a comprehensive and detailed step-by-step guide to creating successful multimedia membership sites. It’s a complete methodology for choosing profitable topics, developing dazzling content, attracting paid members and building air-tight websites.
Charter members will get a 12-week education across 5 comprehensive and integrated courses, plus forum access to instructors. Here are the course titles:
- How to Create Content That Sells
- How to Effectively Market Interactive Learning Environments
- How to Create Killer Multimedia Content with Quick and Easy Tools
- Seven Profitable Business Models for Interactive Content Developers
- Your Blueprint for Building Membership Sites with Open Source and Low-Cost Software
Visit the site to read about the five courses in more detail.
What’s the Price?
This is the question that gets asked the most, and the answer is…
Less than you’re likely thinking, but only for the first week.
There’s actually a sound educational principle behind this, so let me explain.
When you take an interactive approach to paid content development, your initial members help shape the course and the overall learning experience. In other words, they help you make your content better by providing feedback and by revealing sticking points in the curriculum, while also becoming the foundational members of the community of learning that benefits everyone who takes the course in the future.
This is true anytime a new course or training program is taught, but you rarely see the learners getting a price break for the value they bring. To the contrary, we feel charter members should be rewarded.
So, the initial price will be very pleasing to those who are ready to get started. But that price is only good through midnight, October 31, 2007 (I’ve always wanted a midnight deadline on Halloween).
Go see what it is if you can’t wait.
How do I Join the Affiliate Program?
Bad news on this one. There is no public affiliate program.
I don’t really believe in general affiliate programs.
Hand-picked joint ventures, yes.
Actual members promoting the program? Sure.
But unless I can take the time to personally walk you through what it’s all about, or unless you have personally experienced the training and can whole-heartedly recommend it, I don’t think it’s appropriate to have a bunch of people trying to sell something they know nothing about.
That scenario often leads to things that can hurt a business down the line. And make no mistake, Teaching Sells isn’t a product launch, it’s a long-term business.
If you really want to promote the program, join the program. The charter member enrollment fee is so affordable you’ll earn it back in no time.
That’s it for now. It’s back to regularly-scheduled Copyblogger content (see, that wasn’t so bad). But first, go check out the Teaching Sells website for yourself.
Bookmark and Promote!
Related Articles
Thesis Theme for WordPress
Thesis is the search engine optimized WordPress theme of choice for serious online publishers. The stunning design and innovative options panel make Thesis perfect for beginners and professionals alike. Find out more below:
37 comments... add one
#1 Nick → 10.24.07 at 4:02 pm
Only got the email an hour ago and signed up already. Looks like great content and know I’ll learn lots from the programme.
#2 Hyder → 10.24.07 at 4:27 pm
Congratulations on Google helping you with backing your reasoning to start this program.
One question: You’re spreading it out over 3 months right, so is the course material individually distributed or does it start for everybody at the same time and end at the same time?
Holy Crap, I just realized who Tony Clark is, I linked him in a great little contest I did back in May. He won too! Now I know why he refused the lame $100 PayPerPost credit prize!
Ha, small world huh!
#3 Travis → 10.24.07 at 6:14 pm
Brian, I’m interested in signing up, but I have concerns about ongoing membership costs. I.e. after the initial 3-month program, will it be significantly more expensive to continue?
This is a pretty big concern for a newly married college student such as myself!
I noticed you’re in Dallas - my wife is from there and I worked there last summer. I probably drove by your office and didn’t even know it!
#4 Bonnie → 10.24.07 at 6:21 pm
Ditto on Hyder’s question about the 3 month schedule, as I have a (much-needed) vacation coming up soon that will take me away from my online biz…
BTW, Brian — the fact that you are NOT doing a typical affiliate-overloaded launch is a big plus in my book. I totally agree with your point of view on that…and so many other things… no wonder I’ll be signing up to your long-term business-building system as soon as I get home!
#5 Brian Clark → 10.24.07 at 6:28 pm Copyblogger
Hyder, Travis and Bonnie, the idea is to present you with a comprehensive picture in 3 months, one that you can use to build and market a membership site.
The charter member price will never go up, meaning if you stay on board for 3 more months of advanced training and new courses, you’ll never pay more than $97 per 3 month period.
After this first week, that will change, and the price will continue to go up as more content is available the instant someone joins. The price down the line may end up at $97 a month… it just depends on a lot of factors.
#6 Chris Marshall → 10.24.07 at 6:53 pm
Brian, other than the Copyblogger website, what work can you show illustrating you’ve mastered the skills you intend to teach through this course?
I know you’ve done consulting jobs–who were your partners and where are the results?
#7 Brian Clark → 10.24.07 at 8:54 pm Copyblogger
Chris, I’m too exhausted to give you the answer your questions deserves, but I promise I will return tomorrow and respond. Deal?
#8 costa → 10.24.07 at 9:09 pm
Like what I posted in my blog the day I downloaded the free report, I got sold on this one.
Signed up and parted with $97 of my hard earned money immediately when I received the email saying the program is up and running!
Am all exited about it because this is the first time I succumbed to my skepticism about programs like this!
I browsed through the first course and it looks promising. Good Job, Brian!
#9 Dan Schawbel → 10.24.07 at 9:14 pm
Congrats on this. Sounds like an interesting training program.
#10 lawton chiles → 10.24.07 at 9:51 pm
Happily shelling out my cash for your program tomorrow. Why?
That’s simple.
Because you have earned my trust.
#11 Jeremy → 10.24.07 at 9:57 pm
Yup, Brian and Tony have both earned my trust - I would have signed up earlier if it weren’t the middle of the night here when the program came out =)
REALLY looking forward to this, it’s just what a lot of us need at this (for some) critical juncture in time. Nice work so far on Teaching Sells.
Also very happy to hear that the charter price will remain the same for those who sign up now! Forever is a long time to commit to though…
#12 My First Online Course - Teaching Sells. | Blog Gigs → 10.24.07 at 10:21 pm
[...] Brian Clark, one of the founder of this program described the program as thus: It’s a complete methodology for choosing profitable topics, developing dazzling content, attracting paid members and building air-tight websites. [...]
#13 Kamo → 10.25.07 at 1:20 am
I’m in! Thanks for the great offer. Looking forward to bringing some viral action to the table.
#14 Gordon Lee → 10.25.07 at 1:27 am
Like many of those commenting here, I jumped in after reading the report.
Brian has always delivered quality information that has been worth much more than lots of $97 products out there.
And I believe that I can learn a lot from this … and yep, Brian has earned my trust too!
#15 Peter Dickson → 10.25.07 at 5:32 am
Good job!
I went to signup yesterday and had a bit o’ bother with PayPal! When I login with “petedickson”, I see…
You have no active membership
Please use Add/Renew Membership form
to order or renew your membership.
on the left-hand side, though there doesn’t seem to be an Add/Renew Membership form anywhere.
Can you help?
Is there a support forum/system?
Looking forward to the journey!
cheers
Pete
#16 ming | artmakr.com → 10.25.07 at 6:07 am
I signed up at 1am and poked around till 2something ish
I can guess a couple of projects thet Brian’s Worked on…
#17 Jeremy → 10.25.07 at 7:04 am
I can’t access the Teaching Sells site at all. There is a possibility it got blocked by the stupid Great Firewall of China… been trying to access it for five minutes with no success. (can’t even load the homepage, nonetheless the members only site).
Yeah… after I use a proxy there is no problem in accessing the homepage. Then when I switch back to no proxy I can’t access it. (something in China is blocking it) How to solve this problem?
#18 Valeria Maltoni → 10.25.07 at 8:41 am
More than a training program this sounds like a well thought out business plan. Which goes to make the argument and conclusion to my Fast Company post that links your blog even more complete — the proof is right here.
#19 Paul M. → 10.25.07 at 9:46 am
1. Brian - great thing about internet buiness without Google. It is such a smart thing. I have a lot of friends with big Adsense content sites. Their families relly on Google. That is bad. You need diversify your revenue streams.
2. Good you want to encourage people to build real value! It is a great thing to bring more meaning to the Internet as there is just too much low quality content focused on earning money (again!).
3. I like the price. It is fair. I can easily cover it from my online income. 97$ / 3 months sounds better for me than £33 a month.
4. Another great point - you encourage people to be more creative and use technologies that make content more attrative and learning easier.
#20 Bob → 10.25.07 at 11:03 am
One question I still can’t find answered is how much time is required to adopt the knowledge in these first 3 months? I am sure many of us are pretty busy and this is important for them.
Other than that - I believe this is one of the few programs really worth paying. I loved the fact that there is no ugly long sales page!
#21 Thirteen Reasons To Enroll in Teaching Sells | iPentimento → 10.25.07 at 5:47 pm
[...] Here are 13 reasons why you should sign up for the Teaching Sells course (Report: Teaching Sells): The Teaching Sells training program is a comprehensive and detailed step-by-step guide to creating successful multimedia membership sites. It’s a complete methodology for choosing profitable topics, developing dazzling content, attracting paid members and building air-tight websites. - Copyblogger. [...]
#22 Oriana Green → 10.25.07 at 6:03 pm
I cannot find anywhere an explanation of the logisitcs of this..are the 5 courses delivered over the course of 3 months, or do we have access to it all right away? It’s #3 I need, and I need it right now, so if it’s a long wait to get that info, then I’m less excited. Also, what is the delivery method of the course? Do we have to show up at certain times for webinars or something?
Thanks!
#23 Allan Moult → 10.25.07 at 7:20 pm
Tried to pay and got similar response at Paypal as Pete did above.
Basically it took me to a deadend.
#24 Brian Clark → 10.25.07 at 7:37 pm Copyblogger
Bob, the content itself won’t take you more than an hour or two a week. The actions we want you to take to build a site are up to you as far as how much time you invest.
Oriana, the lessons are delivered throughout the 12 weeks and the study is self-paced. I’ll update the FAQ to include those questions and answers.
Allan, that problem has happened to about 3 other people. I fixed Pete’s issue by email, I’m sending you one now.
Anyone who has issues signing up should contact me by email.
#25 Mark → 10.25.07 at 8:08 pm
Can I pay for this fine program with a credit card? Is PayPal the only way to pay for it?
#26 Digg Favorites Slapped By Google | Andy Beard - Niche Marketing → 10.25.07 at 8:09 pm
[...] Brian at Copyblogger after thanking Google (very funny) has now launched Teaching Sells. [...]
#27 Brian Clark → 10.25.07 at 8:18 pm Copyblogger
Mark, you can pay with a credit card. No PayPal account is required.
#28 John → 10.25.07 at 10:48 pm
Brian, I stumbled upon your site the other day and downloaded the report on Teaching Sells. I’m fascinated with the concept. It makes complete sense to me. I’ve even listened to the mp3 at least 5 times already.
However, my question is…as an internet newbie, will your course be too advanced, and overwhelm me (I don’t even have a blog yet)? Please be honest…
#29 markus → 10.26.07 at 1:33 am
Sounds like an interesting training program.
#30 Jeremy → 10.26.07 at 8:35 am
Hi John,
The content so far won’t confuse you at all.
However, implementing all of the open source and paid for solutions into your own teaching site might be a little tougher.
They haven’t gone into how to set up your site and actually develop your content yet, but I’m guessing they will simplify and streamline the process as much as possible.
#31 Sonia Simone → 10.26.07 at 9:01 am
I won’t even go into how much I’d agreed with myself that I would pay when Teaching Sells went live, but it was, um, more.
Signed up within an hour of seeing the email, and working my way through the lessons. I’m really excited about this project–thanks for creating it, Brian & Tony.
And yes, a model of how to build trust with free content to create very willing customers for paid content.
#32 ses5909 → 10.28.07 at 2:32 pm
I signed up and am looking forward to checking things out.
#33 2007-10-28 Sunday Links Folder : Freelance Folder → 10.28.07 at 3:06 pm
[...] you go and read those posts, did you know that “Teaching Sells” is now live? This was created by Brian Clark and Tony D. Clark (they’re not related). [...]
#34 Teaching Sells: I’ve Signed Up — eXtra For Every Publisher → 10.31.07 at 5:54 pm
[...] I am sure by now everyone has heard of Brian Clark’s new program, Teaching Sells. It is a course that will help people learn to create successful [...]
#35 Writing Great Content for Your Blog | Ivy Online → 11.01.07 at 3:00 am
[...] from Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger as an introduction to his introductory course on “Learn How to Create Premium Content That Sells With These Five Step-by-Step Training Courses”. The common problem areas that tell you when you are looking at poor content are: · [...]
#36 Economics of Attention - 7 Ways To Snag An A-List Blogger — The Internet Infopreneur → 11.14.07 at 12:19 am
[...] Become a Customer. Buy their stuff. Preferably niche products related to your interest in them. Then establish contact personally. Your cost - $10 to $200, depending on the product or [...]
#37 Beacon Bloggers - October 2007 → 11.21.07 at 1:36 am
[...] with a message that every teacher, trainer, mentor and coach should tattoo onto their desktop. “Teaching Sells”, my friends. In a time when academic careers barely allow you to pay the rent, Brian and his team [...]
Leave a Comment