More Clients. Better Outcomes. No Burn Out.

THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM

GETTING STARTED GUIDE

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

Stephanie Clairmont, MHSc, RD

Overview

If your live programs are going well, you're burnt out from client work or you’re just lookingto work differently, this guide is for you. Using this guide you’ll learn the first steps you cantake to work towards creating an online program for your practice. You’ll also get clarity onthe right idea to start with, how to develop a program people want to enrol in and simpletechnology to save you time and money. Prepared by founder and lead facilitator Stephanie Clairmont, MHSc, RD of The LeveragedPractice. Stephanie shares her years of experience developing 10 online programs,launching over 70 times and helping 100 clients & colleagues developing online programs.Stephanie has created this guide as a concise, to-the-point guide to save you time, energyand money straight away. You can find Stephanie at TheLeveragedPractice.com

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Why are you building this? Is now the right time? Where does an online program fit into your practice?How can you develop a program people will enrol in? What is the right idea for your first program? How do I run my online program? What are the next steps?

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.

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Outline

How to Use This Guide

There are seven sections that walk you through the 7 questions outlined above. Spend a fewminutes on each section and then complete the exercise or make some notes. By the end ofthese seven exercises you will have much more clarity on your program and know where togo next. Join Stephanie and the team for a live group workshop or in consultation to getmore support in making your online program idea a reality.

Step 1: Why are you building this?

Why an online program? There are other ways to grow your practice, reach more clients,make more money - why focus on this? An online health program is an effective way to make a bigger impact and increase thenumber of clients you serve. Research on online learning shows that in many instances itcan actually produce better outcomes than in-person learning on its own. There are manyreasons this is a great use of your time and energy.  But an online program needs to fit into your big vision for your career, for your future, yourlife, and your business or practice. You’ll be learning new things, investing time, energyand money on this. So make sure you’re clear on why. Take a few minutes to think about your long-term vision for your practice, your business,your life. Is it money? Is it impact? Is it working less? Write down below why you want todevelop and offer an online program to your clients.

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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Step 2: Is now the right time?

You’re probably wondering if you should focus on developing your online program right nowin your career or if you should wait another 6 to 12 months. Use these three questionsbelow to reflect, and take into your reflection the considerations for each question. 1.What kind of experience do I have? Consider if you have experience working with clients,professional training or education, a unique story or perspective.

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

2. How much time do I have to commit? Consider your schedule over the next 3-4 months andif you can fit in time each week to work on program development.

3. What are my goals for the next 6 months? Consider when you want to start teaching groupprograms online. If it’s in the next 6 months - now’s the time.

Step 3: Where does an online program fit into your practice?

There are many different ways online education can fit into the way you support clients.Here are the five different styles of online programs for you to consider. Note this is not aninclusive list and there are many ways to build online education in.

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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1. Stand-alone class or workshop

2. Series of classes or workshops

3. Online Program

This is a one-time class or workshop that can be provided online with either live or recordedvideo. Participants may get access to the recording for a limited time and any additionalresources to support the teaching. This style works well for basic or foundationalinformation or one topic around a certain issue. Below are some examples.

Similar to the stand-alone class, this is a series of classes around a certain topic. This isbest for when you have a lot to teach on a topic and can break it into several parts. You canhave clients register for just one or the whole series. Below are some examples.

This is a cohesive program made up of modules and lessons. The online program caninclude a variety of components including emails, community, support and an online portalwith all the information (videos, PDFs, quizzes, etc.). Below are some examples.

How to Eat for IBSSimple Yoga During PregnancyA Simple Professional Skills Workshop

Class series on how to cook and meal plan for busy familiesManagement of Diabetes Workshop series on improving your communication with your partner

The Clairity Digestive Program for Relief of IBSThe 131 Method: A 12 week Metabolism Body Transforming ProgramWeight Watchers monthly membership plan to lose weight

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

4. Membership (Subscription-Style)

5. Combined model of online education with individual counselling

A membership is a different style of online program where clients or participants pay amonthly fee for access to resources. It can be made up of all kinds of components andstyles of teaching. This works best for clients who need ongoing support with theirparticular health concern. Below are some examples.

Online education does not need to exist on its own. It can be used in combination with in-person health care. It’s best used to increase accessibility, convenience and results ofclients who need more information than can be provided individually. Reflect on the above examples and draft what style of online education would go well withyour vision for your practice.

Meal planning membership: Each month get weekly recipes, meal plans and shoppinglists to accomplish your eating goalsThe Busy Woman’s Workout: 5 minute exercises videos straight into your inbox 5 days aweekTone It Up App: Access to video exercises

Step 4: How can you develop a program people want to enrol in?

The people are the most important part. They are the ones who will agree to sign up foryour program and will decide whether they participate, engage and complete it. You may have a great idea for a program and think you know your potential clients, butdoing some extra work to make sure you’re crystal clear on what they need will help youensure you spend energy and time on building a program they want. Think about the people who you want to serve with your online education program.Consider answering questions like do they have kids, what are their schedules like, howmuch time each week do they have, what tools do they use? You may decide to ask your potential clients these questions, come up with morequestions or prepare your own market research. Focus on creating a program for thepeople and you’ll have more people say YES to join. Notes:

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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Step 5: What is the right idea for my program?

This tricky question may be sending you into a spiral. Do not let it. You may actually haveseveral great ideas for programs that your clients will love OR you might not be quite sureof the best idea to start with. That's okay. Focus on your clients. The right idea, or the best idea for you to start with, has to do with what your clients needmost. This also has to do with the "gap". Where is there a gap in health care? If you canidentify where people need the most information and where something is missing, that isa great place to start. Make sure you create your first program on a topic that is trulyneeded by your current clients in the area you specialize in. Notes:

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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Do you have a wait list for people wanting to work with you?If so, what's the number one concern they have?If no wait list, what is the number one concern your clients come to you for?What do you get the most referrals for?What questions or topics do clients or colleagues ask you the most?What are your ideal clients searching for online?

Step 6: How do I run my online program?

Once you complete market research and get clear on your idea, it’s time to dig in and mapout your program content. Once you map out your content, you’ll need to plan how you willdeliver your online program. There are lots of options.  Think about focusing your energy on product development. When any company developsa product, it takes time, energy and requires testing and tweaking. Your first onlineprogram can act as a “beta”. Have realistic expectations on the clients you will serve andthe money you will make. The first run of the program is part of the product developmentphase.  You can use very simple tools to get started. Don’t spend hours and hours researching thebest platform or software. You’re just getting started, so do just that - START. Here are recommendations for basic tools to start:

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THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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Zoom for live video - $15/monthMailchimp for email - Free/monthThinkific for program platform - Free/month

By using basic tools, you can start on a budget. If you have a larger budget, it’srecommended to use the paid version of Thinkific (more useful features) and Convertkit,ActiveCampaign or another CRM for email and customer management. This reallydepends on your budget and your needs, there is room here for flexibility. If you need morehelp to figure out how to get started quickly and effectively, contact us atTheLeveragedPractice.com to chat. Notes:

Step 7: What are the next steps?

Now that you have some insight on how to figure out if now is the right time and what yourideal program topic is, you can decide what to do next. Do you want to do this on your own? Googling for information, spending hours looking forinformation and learning about tools?  Or do you want to save hundreds of hours of time and thousands of dollars with a step-by-step framework that's been used to develop and launch online health programs for thepast 5 years? The Leveraged Practice Workshop will give you:

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

THE ONLINE HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING STARTED GUIDE

T H E L E V E R A G E D P R A C T I C E . C O M

A step-by-step framework to develop, deliver and optimize enrolment for your onlineprogramFeedback from a mentor and guide who’s done this over and overStrategy on how to market your program and reach your audienceAccountability to take the leap and go full steam aheadCommunity to learn with and from as you implement togetherConfidence in what you’re doing and how you’re teaching online

If you’re ready to see more clients and increase your impact, without adding on moreworking hours to your schedule long-term, it’s time to create an online program. Cut yourlearning by years by following this framework. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have an online program ready to deliver, a community ofhealth professionals paving the way, and a plan to open enrolment. If you have any questions, you can book a call with our founderand lead facilitator, Stephanie Clairmont, MHSc, RD Contact us at: TheLeveragedPractice.com