How to Start an Instructional Design Business (Mastermind Group)
Running a business is challenging. Invest in yourself and give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.
“...probably the most worthwhile online coaching/training courses I've taken. Kim is a forward-thinking, savvy businesswoman who genuinely cares about helping others achieve success... this course gave me exactly what I needed to take my instructional design consulting business to the next level. Thanks, Kim and Belvista Studios!!”
Emily May“Kim helped me to explore my untapped potential, challenge my limiting beliefs, and discover my intent. Her guidance has enabled me to rebuild my confidence, value my knowledge, set goals and take action.”
A Belvista Studios' Freelance Mastermind member“I got so much out of Belvista Studio's course... 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. ”
Sarah Cook“Before participating in the Instructional Design Business (Mastermind Group) experience, I felt stuck in my own head and unsure of what specific actions I needed to take to start making my freelancing dreams a reality. Enter, Kim and Belvista Studios. Through Kim’s coaching and the many valuable resources provided, I secured two contracts within a week (and at my starting engagement rate), have built business building activities into my daily routine, and have had SMEs complete their tasks on time... Kim gives you tailored guidance and all of the tools you need to succeed. If you stay accountable and apply it, you will see results just like I have and continue to do so. Investing in myself with Belvista Studios is the best thing I could have ever done for myself and my business.”
A Belvista Studios' Freelance Mastermind member“It was all so helpful! I am just getting started and trying to figure out so much... Thank you so much! I'm so inspired to make the leap now.”
A Belvista Studios' Freelance Mastermind member“Being part of the Belvista Studios' freelance mastermind group really helped me to check my thinking... Before I was very reactive. Thank you, you totally motivate me. ”
A Belvista Studios' Freelance Mastermind memberWe will guide you through each step from getting started and goal setting, to quoting, creating a portfolio, meeting client deadlines and everything in between.
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.
Aspiring or new freelancers and consultants who:
*Approximately US$113/month, €94/month, or £82/month. This will vary with exchange rates.
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 this mastermind group 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 something like this when we first started out in the industry as freelancers. Experience is everything when it comes to freelancing and by investing in yourself through this mastermind group, our experience becomes yours.
The results we receive as a studio prove it.
Coaching details:
We will have guests from time to time who are crushing it in their businesses so we can learn from them too.
This entire mastermind group is aimed at supporting you on your way to become an effective business person in our industry.
It is a flexible subscription that you can cancel at any time.
What will the mastermind group cover?
We encourage you to come to each session with your own intent and questions so that you can get the most value out of the session. However, we imagine some of the following questions and topics will come up!
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.
If you want to start your own business in instructional design, do yourself a favor and hop on a business coaching call with Kim. The resources in the bundle were excellent. But the real value here is having Kim listen to exactly where you are in ...
Read MoreIf you want to start your own business in instructional design, do yourself a favor and hop on a business coaching call with Kim. The resources in the bundle were excellent. But the real value here is having Kim listen to exactly where you are in the business process and offer custom solutions to help navigate the challenges you are facing. She's a bright light in this industry and just an all around fabulous human. :)
Read LessThis has been designed by and will be 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.
These will be recorded and shared afterwards for you to rewatch as much as you like until you cancel your subscription. The coaching sessions occur on the first and third Friday of each month. If you miss a session within your subscription you will not receive a replacement session.
You will have access to the recordings for as long as you are a paid subscriber of the mastermind. Once you cancel your subscription you will lose access to the mastermind and its contents (recordings). We recommend you watch all recordings prior to cancelling your subscription.
The principles of business are the same no matter the size or industry of the business (we believe). The language used and the scenarios/topics we discuss in this mastermind group are specific to our industry.
Sessions are recorded and you can watch them at a time convenient to you for as long as you have a paid subscription.
This is a flexible subscription with no minimum term or lock-in plan. You can cancel at any time. However, if you cancel you will automatically lose access to the associated subscription content at the end of your billing period. If you cancel, we suggest that you watch available recordings prior to the end of your billing period.
People come and go all the time from the mastermind so it may happen that at times you are the only member. Great news! The coaching time will be one-on-one coaching. Keep this in mind if you intend to watch the recordings only (and not attend the live sessions) as there may be no recordings if you are the only member. If you want to find out how many active enrolments we have at any given time, contact Kim ([email protected]) prior to signing up.
*Approximately US$113/month, €94/month, or £82/month. This will vary with exchange rates.