How to Become a Freelance Instructional Designer
Freelancing is challenging. Invest in yourself and give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.
I got sooo much out of this course
Sarah Cook
I got so much out of Belvista Studio's course 'How to Become a Freelance Instructional Designer'. I'd been working as a freelance ID for a few years, and wanted to take on new clients and increase my earnings, but I lacked confidence. I came away ...
Read MoreI got so much out of Belvista Studio's course 'How to Become a Freelance Instructional Designer'. I'd been working as a freelance ID for a few years, and wanted to take on new clients and increase my earnings, but I lacked confidence. I came away from the course feeling more confident about what my services were worth, the types of clients I wanted to attract, how to attract them and how to manage the projects I do win. By far the most valuable aspect was the weekly coaching session with Kim - she is very generous with sharing her knowledge and energy. I also learnt a lot from my fellow participants. If you're looking for guidance on how to make your freelance career as an ID a success, I'd highly recommend this course.
Read LessThis course will provide you with everything that you need to know as a freelancer in the instructional design and eLearning world.
We will guide you through each step from getting started and goal setting, to quoting, creating a portfolio, meeting client deadlines and everything in between.
What makes our secrets so special?
Well, we are glad you asked.
At Belvista Studios we have grown from just 1 freelancer to a team of 4 in the space of 3 years! We have award winning solutions under our belt and a large number of happy clients who keep coming back for more.
We love what we do (and so do our clients) so we want to share our knowledge with anyone out there who may be facing the same struggles that we had when we first started out as a studio.
For this reason we have developed a step-by-step course to get you from zero to instructional design business hero. All you need to do is take action!
We know that everyone's journey will be different and there is no right or wrong but we feel that what we have learnt on our journey is incredibly valuable. We only wish that we were offered a course just like this one when we first started out in the industry as freelancers. Experience is everything when it comes to freelancing and through investing in this course, our experience becomes yours.
Maybe this sounds like you?
When the founder of Belvista Studios, Kim, first entered the freelancing world, she was confident in her skills as an instructional designer and eLearning developer. She knew that she could add value and wanted to add this value on her own terms. She wanted to choose her lifestyle and work for clients that she connected with.
What Kim realised was that she had a lot to learn when it came to running a business. She now was not solely an instructional designer or eLearning developer. She took on all of the roles required to run a successful business—whether it was marketing, finance or business strategy.
Kim had always had the dream to run her own business so she naturally researched and learnt as much as she could to be successful. What became evident was that whilst researching was useful, the real magic happened when she learnt through experience. Over the years Kim has experienced the highs and lows of the freelancing world and is now in a space where she is confidently and happily running a thriving studio. Kim’s success has inspired her to create this opportunity for you—to learn from her experience and accelerate your success as a freelancer in the instructional design and eLearning world.
Our team knows that this course will add value to you as freelance instructional designers and eLearning developers.
The results we receive as a studio prove it.
What challenges will it help you overcome?
- Get paid what you are worth and for the full scope of work you are engaged for.
- Avoid making costly business mistakes and put measures in place to protect yourself.
- Find clients and attract them to you.
- Learn from our mistakes before you make your own.
Who is it for?
Aspiring or new freelancers and consultants who:
- Require support with a step-by-step process to follow.
- Find themselves passionate about what they do but feel overwhelmed by the business management aspect of being a freelancer or consultant.
Course Curriculum:
1. What is instructional design and what do instructional designers do?
What is instructional design?
Why is instructional design important?
What do instructional designers do?
What do people that hire instructional designers look for?
2. Is freelancing and entrepreneurship for you?
Why become a freelancer or entrepreneur?
The characteristics of successful freelancers or entrepreneurs.
The reality of being a freelancer or entrepreneur.
Leveraging others and using your strengths to make it work.
Start with why and define your values.
Do you have what it takes?
3. Setting goals.
What goals are you trying to achieve?
Tracking and achieving goals.
4. What business structure should you set up?
How to decide on a business structure.
Creating a business plan.
How to create a marketing plan.
Tax and GST.
5. How to create a personal brand.
Do you need a website?
How should you use social media?
What name should I choose?
How can I get my personal brand out there?
6. How do I build credibility?
What should I put on my resume?
Speak your truth.
Do I need a degree?
Transferable skills.
How do I create a portfolio?
7. How do I find clients?
How should I position myself?
Where can I find clients?
8. How do I sell my services?
How to change your mindset and not fear selling.
How to prepare for sales calls and meetings.
How to prepare for an interview.
Teach, don’t sell.
How to talk about price.
How to overcome objections.
How to close the sale.
9. How to quote projects.
How do I know what to include in my quote?
How do I work out what to charge?
10. Contracts.
Why should I have a contract?
What should I include in a contract?
What if I don’t get paid?
How should I structure my payment milestones?
11. Project management.
How many rounds of feedback should I include and what parameters should I put in place?
How do I scope a project?
How do I create a schedule?
What do I do if the client wants more than was quoted for?
What do I do if the client misses their deadlines and this impacts the schedule?
Should I do project updates?
12. What are the core skills you need as an instructional designer?
13. Professional and personal development.
14. Conclusion.
What's included?
The course will include a variety of resources including recordings of group coaching (10 sessions), templates, role plays and links to resources that have helped us. Every piece of content we include will be aimed at supporting you on your way to become a freelance instructional designer.
You will also receive the following resources, which are the exact templates we use:
- Proposal Template
- Quoting and Project Management Template
- Contract Template
- Email Templates
The above 4 resources will be available to you as soon as your purchase this course.
I want to invest in myself! Sign me up!
The main value of this course is the live group coaching (in progress until 8 May 2020). Details:
- Occurring weekly for 1.5 hours duration approximately
- Sessions will be recorded if you miss them or do not wish to participate in them live.
If you join between now and 8 May 2020, the course will be progressively released each week. The full curriculum is not available yet until the live group coaching completes.
If you want to invest in a new way of working and living, invest in yourself first.
About the Author
Kim Tuohy
[email protected]
A down-to-earth chick with a passion for creating learning that inspires, and a passion for supporting and developing others.
This course will be designed and hosted by the founder of Belvista Studios, Kim Tuohy.
Belvista Studios is an award-winning instructional design and eLearning studio. Kim has significant experience in the industry, being involved in not only the hands-on aspects of the instructional designer role but also the business building and marketing aspect of the industry. Her passion for instructional design and eLearning, along with her relentless efforts to gain a strong handle on how to market what we do at Belvista Studios, has led her to create helpful resources to support others in the industry.
Thank you, our amazing community, for all of the messages, DMs and support you have shown us.
We hope this course helps you rethink what you are capable of as you pursue your personal and professional goals.
FAQ
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What if I miss a live group coaching session?
These will be recorded and shared afterwards for you to rewatch as much as you like.
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What access to the Belvista Studios team will I have?
There will also be discussion functions throughout. You may want to take advantage of the many other ways you can interact with us, such as Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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Do I have lifetime access to the content of this course?
Yep. As long as the internet and we exist, you will have access.
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How does this course differ from other freelance courses?
The principles of business are the same no matter the size or industry of the business (we believe). The language, scenarios and role plays within this course are specific to our industry.
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What if the live group coaching sessions do not suit my time zone?
Sessions are recorded and you can watch them at a time convenient to you.