How educators are growing real businesses on Teachable

Dan George was a professional pilot and flight instructor who hit a wall.

He taught ground school theory to aspiring aviators one-on-one and in small classroom settings. 

His work covered regulations, weather theory, aircraft systems, and more. Everything pilots need on the ground to be able to fly planes safely.

There was just one problem. The aviation industry was starved for more quality training, but Dan could only reach local students who showed up in person.

At any given time, he had maybe a few dozen students. Dan needed a more scalable model to be able to reach and impact the aviation industry with his expertise.

That's not a business model you can use to serve an entire industry.

Related: How to make money selling courses right now

Dan’s Teachable journey at a glance

The turning point

Dan created his first course on Teachable in 2019, but he didn't push it seriously for almost two years. It existed more as a side project than a real business.

The pandemic changed everything. With commercial flying disrupted and more time on his hands, Dan decided to get serious about online education in 2021.

"You could almost argue that that's when the business started was 2021, even though the relationship with Teachable has gone back to 2019." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

Dan chose Teachable because he needed something simple that would let him focus on teaching rather than technology. He'd seen other successful creators on the platform and noticed they all followed a similar playbook: build your audience first, then convert that trust into course sales.

"The first thing that I learned about Teachable creators who have had success is that we all kind of have the same model. You build up your following and then you leverage that to start bringing people into a course." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

Dan's secret sauce to success on Teachable

Dan didn't reinvent online education. He just did the fundamentals really well. His approach was methodical: Build trust first, deliver real value, and never stop showing up. 

While other creators chased quick wins, Dan played the long game. Here's how he turned consistent effort into a business that serves thousands of pilots worldwide.

Strategy 1: Build your audience before selling anything

Dan spent six months in 2021 creating valuable YouTube content without promoting his courses at all. He established a rigid publishing schedule that he's maintained for four straight years.

Twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, without fail.

"It's been the same cadence for four years now. Twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

His content strategy was simple: teach what pilots actually need to know. He covered instrument approaches, aircraft setup procedures, and regulatory updates. Real instructional content that people were already searching for.

The secret was consistency over mass appeal. Dan didn't try to go viral or chase trending topics. He focused on being genuinely useful to his specific audience before asking them to buy anything.

"It was just a matter of just doing it, right? Just commit to two videos a week, make it very formulaic, get good at what you do and sort of stay in that box." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

Take action: Pick a content schedule you can maintain for years, not months. Dan's success came from showing up consistently with valuable content before asking for anything in return.

Strategy 2: Use your teaching expertise to create standout content

Dan had a big advantage: he knew exactly what pilots needed to learn because aviation training requirements are standardized by the FAA. But he put his own spin on the material to make it actually stick.

He developed two main content approaches that set him apart from existing training materials. First was what he calls "advanced whiteboard" - taking dry regulatory charts and bringing them to life with animations.

"We'll take like a figure on a publication like a chart and we'll impose it onto either another chart or onto something that's situational in an aircraft to say okay this is where this is coming from so that the user can track where a principle comes from point to point to point." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

His second approach used flight simulator footage to create controlled learning environments. Instead of filming in actual aircraft with all the distractions, he could control every variable in the simulator.

"Rather than actually showing people what it looks like in an aircraft and having to film in an aircraft and deal with all the distractions that that does, we control the environment by being in the simulator. You can control the weather, you can control the position, everything about the aircraft." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

Take action: If you're teaching standardized material, find ways to make it more visual and connected. Show how different concepts link together rather than teaching them in isolation.

Strategy 3: Go deeper than your competition

Dan's biggest frustration with existing aviation training materials became his competitive advantage: they didn't go deep enough.

"It just didn't go in depth enough." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

His paid courses go significantly deeper than his free content, providing comprehensive training that prepares students for real-world flying situations, not just passing tests.

When he launched his third course, something important happened that validated his approach: massive repeat business.

"One of the first sort of great little pieces of data that we got when we launched our third course was that we got so much repeat business. There are ways you can optimize that with lifetime value by giving people upgrade offers to get all our courses and things like that." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

Students who completed one course immediately enrolled in the next level, creating a natural progression path through different aviation ratings.

Take action: Don't just create courses that check boxes. Go deeper than your competitors to create genuine expertise and transformation in your students.

Strategy 4: Choose courses over coaching for real scale

Dan considered offering one-on-one coaching but made a deliberate choice to focus on self-paced courses instead.

"I've toyed with doing coaching. I just don't know that it scales like a course scales." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

His courses work around the clock without him being present. Students from different time zones can learn whenever they want. Adding more students doesn't automatically mean more work for Dan.

The key is to create course content enriching and in-depth enough to empower students to learn on their own, rather than requiring back and forth with an instructor for needed information.

This decision freed him from the time-for-money trap that had limited his in-person instruction business.

Take action: If you want true scale, design your courses to work without your constant involvement. Include everything students need to succeed independently.

Strategy 5: Let organic content do your marketing

Dan tested paid advertising but quickly discovered it didn’t compare to the value his organic reach was providing.

"We turn on ads and they kind of run, maybe they break even, maybe they're a little bit profitable, but you realize that organic is your main bread." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

This makes perfect sense for aviation. Pilots research thoroughly before investing in training. They trust instructors they've followed over time much more than random advertisements.

Dan's organic approach had an unexpected bonus: it attracted flight schools who wanted to partner with him. His social media presence became a powerful business development tool.

Take action: In specialized markets, consistent valuable content often beats paid advertising. Focus on building genuine trust and authority in your field.

Dan's results on Teachable

Dan's transformation shows what happens when you combine deep subject matter expertise with the right online education platform and consistent execution.

Starting with just a few dozen local students, he now serves over 10,000 pilots worldwide through eight Teachable courses. His four main ground school courses cover private, instrument, commercial, and flight instructor ratings, each priced at $229 for lifetime access.

"We have eight courses. There are four what is called ground schools. So that would be private, instrument, commercial and flight instructor. Those are $229 each for lifetime access." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

The smaller ancillary courses cover specific skills like radio communications, landing techniques, and advanced avionics, ranging from $129 to $197.

His growth is particularly impressive considering aviation's limited market size. With only 400,000 pilots in the United States, Dan's school now serves a significant portion of the entire industry.

Expert corner: How Dan thinks as an educator

Dan's systematic teaching approach helps pilots understand not just the "what" but the "why" behind aviation procedures. His visual methods make complex concepts finally click for students who struggled with traditional textbook-based instruction.

The ripple effect extends throughout the aviation industry. Better-prepared pilots mean safer flights, more efficient training programs, and higher success rates on official FAA examinations.

His courses particularly help international students who struggle with American aviation procedures and FAA regulations, providing clear explanations that bridge language and cultural gaps.

Looking ahead

Dan's main focus is what he calls growing his "funnel" - continuing to build his audience and convert that trust into course enrollments.

"That's basically what my job is now is to just kind of try to make that funnel bigger." -Dan George, Founder and CEO at FlightInsight

As the aviation industry evolves, Dan sees opportunities to create courses on emerging topics while maintaining the depth and quality that built his reputation.

What to do next

Check out FlightInsight's aviation ground school courses on Teachable. Dan's systematic approach is helping create safer, more competent pilots worldwide.

Try Teachable yourself: Ready to scale your expertise like Dan? Start your free Teachable trial today and join the creators who use Teachable to build successful online education businesses.

Mark Pentleton was a high school languages teacher in Scotland with a side project that wouldn't stay small.

In 2006, he launched Coffee Break Spanish from his spare bedroom. The concept was simple: teach Spanish in relaxed, 20-minute episodes that fit into a coffee break. No intimidating textbooks. No pressure to cram for hours.

The podcast hit #1 on iTunes Education charts in both the UK and US within weeks. At one point, it bumped Oprah Winfrey from the overall top spot in America.

Mark kept his teaching job for two more years while the audience grew. By summer 2008, the numbers made the decision obvious. He gave up his day job to run Coffee Break Languages full-time.

19 years later, Coffee Break Languages delivers over 2 million free lessons every month. The podcasts have been downloaded more than 400 million times. And the Coffee Break Academy on Teachable hosts over 300 courses across 10 languages, reaching learners in 196 countries.

"Teachable makes it possible to scale globally without losing that personal coffee break touch that defines everything we do." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Mark's Teachable journey at a glance

The turning point

Coffee Break started as a podcast experiment. Mark saw an opportunity in the early days of iTunes to create something different from the dry language tapes that dominated the market.

"Most people think that fluency comes from hours of study every day memorizing endless lists of words and grammar rules. But it's not about how much time you spend. It's about how you use it." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

The format worked because it respected how busy people actually learn. Twenty minutes during a commute. A lesson while walking the dog. Language practice that fits around life instead of demanding life rearrange around it.

As the podcast audience grew into the millions, Mark needed somewhere to host structured courses for learners who wanted to go deeper. Teachable gave him a platform that could handle payments from over 100 countries while he focused on what he does best: teaching languages in a way that actually sticks.

"Because we have learners in over 100 countries, managing payments and international taxes could have been a nightmare. But Teachable takes care of all that from VAT and sales tax compliance to secure payments." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Mark's strategies for building a global language education business

Mark didn't chase viral moments or quick wins. He built Coffee Break Languages the same way he teaches languages: consistent practice, compounding progress, and genuine human connection.

Here's how he turned a bedroom podcast into a company reaching learners on every continent.

Strategy 1: Give away massive value to build unshakeable trust

Most creators worry about giving away too much for free. Mark took the opposite approach. Coffee Break delivers over 2 million free podcast lessons every single month.

"It's no longer a case of having to go out to a conversation class on a cold Tuesday evening in November: you can learn a language where and when it suits you." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

The free content builds trust at scale. Learners spend weeks or months with Coffee Break before ever considering a paid course. By then, they know Mark's teaching style works for them. The paid courses aren't a hard sell; they're the natural next step for students who want structured progression.

Every minute of every day, over 50 new learners start a Coffee Break episode somewhere in the world. That's 50 potential course students entering the top of the funnel, without a dollar spent on advertising.

Take action: Calculate how much free value you're genuinely providing to potential students. If your free content isn't good enough to build real trust, your paid courses will always feel like a harder sell than they need to be.

Strategy 2: Double down on human connection as AI changes everything

AI language tools are everywhere now. Chatbots can correct your grammar. Apps can generate practice conversations. Mark's response? Lean harder into what technology can't replicate.

"We're finding that learners are craving authentic human connection. They don't just want content. They want to feel like they're learning from someone who understands them, someone who brings empathy, encouragement, and experience to the table." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Coffee Break courses deliberately include elements that AI wouldn't think to add. Cultural context that comes from living in a French or Spanish-speaking country. Encouragement that lands differently when it comes from a real teacher who remembers struggling with the subjunctive. The "coffee break with a friend" feeling that makes learning feel less like work.

"AI can generate content, but educators can bring the experience. It's a little bit like a coffee without a cake." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Take action: Identify what makes your teaching genuinely human. What do you bring that a chatbot never could? Build your courses around those irreplaceable elements.

Strategy 3: Let Teachable handle global complexity so you can focus on teaching

With learners in 196 countries, Coffee Break faces payment and tax complications that would bury most small businesses. Mark's solution: let Teachable's BackOffice handle all of it.

"My favorite Teachable feature is perhaps not the most exciting one. It is taxes because Teachable deals with all of our taxes. Paying international taxes can be a real challenge. But we know that Teachable with the BackOffice feature are doing all of that so we can know that we're doing the right thing." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

The BackOffice feature handles VAT compliance, sales tax calculations, and payment processing across currencies. Instead of hiring accountants who specialize in international tax law, Mark's team creates more courses.

This matters more than most creators realize. Global reach sounds exciting until you're drowning in compliance paperwork. The right platform makes worldwide scale actually possible.

Take action: If you're spending more than a few hours per month on payment and tax administration, you're probably leaving courses uncreated. Audit where your time actually goes.

Strategy 4: Build your team gradually (and learn when to let go)

Mark's biggest early mistake was thinking he could do everything himself. He loved every aspect of course creation: filming, recording, writing notes, editing. The problem was that loving the work and having time to do all of it are different things.

"Something I did early on was think I could do everything myself. And part of the reason for that was because I loved doing each of the individual aspects of course creation. But it quickly became something that I really needed some help with. Building a team, very gradually, was really important for us." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Today, Coffee Break has 19 employees including native speakers and teachers from around the world. The company has been recognized as a Great Place to Work, with 95% of employees saying it's a great workplace. They even implemented a four-day work week that won a national award for flexible working.

The key word is "gradually." Mark didn't hire a full team overnight. He added help strategically as revenue grew, keeping the company sustainable while expanding capacity.

Take action: Write down every task you do in a typical week. Circle the ones that only you can do. Everything else is a candidate for delegation when the time is right.

Strategy 5: Create an ecosystem, not just a course

Coffee Break isn't a single product. It's an interconnected system of podcasts, courses, books, and video content that meets learners wherever they are.

Podcasts attract new learners who've never heard of Coffee Break. YouTube videos reach visual learners searching for grammar explanations. Books (Amazon bestsellers) serve people who prefer reading. The Coffee Break Academy on Teachable provides structured progression for serious students. And Coffee Break TV offers an on-demand video library for ongoing practice.

Each piece feeds the others. A podcast listener becomes a YouTube subscriber becomes a course student becomes a book buyer. The ecosystem creates multiple entry points and multiple revenue streams from the same core expertise.

Take action: Map out how learners currently discover you and what happens next. Where are the gaps? What format might reach people you're currently missing?

Mark's results on Teachable

The numbers tell a story of compound growth over 19 years of consistent effort.

Coffee Break podcasts have been downloaded over 400 million times, with 2+ million new downloads happening every month. The Coffee Break Academy hosts over 300 courses across 10 languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Swedish, Portuguese, Gaelic, Japanese, and English.

Learners span 196 countries, with the largest audiences in the United States (41%) and United Kingdom (12%). The team has grown from Mark working solo in his spare bedroom to 19 full-time employees operating from purpose-built studios in Ayr, Scotland.

Student testimonials show the method works. One learner reported going from absolute beginner to B2 level (upper intermediate) in under a year using Coffee Break Spanish. Another wrote to Mark during a trip to Italy, sharing how he helped an Italian grandmother who didn't speak English find her way through the city. He used Italian he'd learned from Coffee Break. After returning home, he enrolled in the intermediate course.

"Stories like that are what it's all about for us. Real people using their language skills to connect with others and feel part of a culture." —Mark Pentleton, Founder of Coffee Break Languages

Expert corner: How Mark thinks about language education

Mark's teaching philosophy challenges the assumption that language learning requires suffering. The "coffee break" concept isn't just branding. It's a pedagogical choice.

Twenty minutes of focused, consistent practice beats hours of sporadic cramming. When learning becomes a pleasant daily ritual instead of a chore, students actually stick with it. And consistency over months matters more than intensity over weeks.

The ripple effect extends beyond individual learners. Coffee Break has helped older adults connect with grandchildren who speak other languages. It's prepared travelers to engage with cultures instead of just observing them. And it's given millions of people confidence that yes, they actually can learn a language, even without living abroad or returning to school.

Looking ahead

Coffee Break continues expanding its language offerings while deepening the courses in its core languages. New seasons of podcasts release regularly. The Coffee Break TV video library grows weekly.

Mark sees the rise of AI as an opportunity rather than a threat. As automated tools handle more of the mechanical aspects of language practice, human teachers become more valuable for what they uniquely provide: cultural insight, emotional encouragement, and the feeling that someone is genuinely invested in your success.

The team recently launched Coffee Break Japanese and continues adding languages based on learner demand. Each new language follows the same proven model: free podcasts to build audience, paid courses for structured progression, and that distinctive Coffee Break warmth throughout.

What to do next

Explore Coffee Break Languages: Visit the Coffee Break Academy to see how Mark structures courses across 10 languages. Whether you're interested in Spanish, French, Italian, German, or something else entirely, there's a coffee-break-sized lesson waiting for you.

Try Teachable yourself: Ready to build your own global education business? Start your free Teachable trial today. Mark's story shows what's possible when you combine real expertise with a platform built to handle scale.

Every Tuesday since May 2017, iOS developers around the world have known they could count on one thing: a new article from SwiftLee, Antoine van der Lee's technical blog about Swift and iOS development.

This is the story of how Antoine went from frustrated conference reject to thriving independent creator. And how Teachable became the platform that let him monetize years of expertise without giving up control of his audience.

Antoine’s Teachable journey at a glance

The turning point

The moment that changed everything for Antoine happened in 2023, during an ordinary performance review at WeTransfer.

After six years with the company, Antoine received feedback that made his future path suddenly clear: his growth trajectory had flatlined.

Most people would have accepted it. Found comfort in the stability of a paycheck from a well-known tech company. Antoine did something different.

He negotiated an unusual arrangement: work four days a week at WeTransfer, and dedicate one full day to his side business.

"The impact of that single day was insane. I could see such a lift up in conversions. I could develop larger features for my Mac app because I had more dedicated time for development." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Since 2017, Antoine had been writing one article every Tuesday. Building an audience while working full-time meant squeezing deep work into scattered evenings and weekends. Half an hour here. An hour there. Never enough time to tackle substantial projects.

One dedicated day changed the equation entirely.

He could finally build features for RocketSim that required sustained focus. Content strategies could span weeks instead of days. He could respond to his growing audience with the attention they deserved.

The business metrics reflected the shift immediately. Conversions increased. Product development accelerated. Revenue grew. Most importantly, Antoine saw proof that his constraint had been time, not market demand.

By early 2024, the math became undeniable. He'd originally planned to go independent in 2026—a cautious timeline that gave him margin for error. The results from that single day per week proved he was already prepared to make the leap.

In March 2024, the same month his second son was born, Antoine left WeTransfer entirely.

Why Antoine chose Teachable

When Antoine went independent, he had already validated three revenue streams through years of consistent work. 

1. Blog sponsorships provided steady income. 
2. Newsletter ads added another layer of revenue. 
3. RocketSim subscriptions rounded out his product offerings. 

Courses represented a fourth opportunity, but only with the right platform.

The decision came down to control and ownership.

Many platforms position themselves as audience builders with promises to bring you students, handle your marketing, and manage your distribution channels. In exchange, they take 50-60% of your revenue as their fee.

Antoine had spent seven years building his audience with dedication and consistency. He needed infrastructure and delivery capabilities, not acquisition services.

"Teachable ticked all those boxes for me. It's flexible, it integrates with all the tools I already use, and they're super respectful to creators. They offer a fixed fee." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Three factors made the choice clear for him:

Factor 1: Creator-friendly economics. 

A fixed platform fee instead of percentage-based revenue shares that would eat into his margins. After years of audience building through consistent Tuesday posts and genuine relationship cultivation, giving away half his earnings to a platform made absolutely no sense.

Factor 2: Direct relationships with students. 

Complete control over student data and communications meant he could export his entire student list, connect it seamlessly to ConvertKit for email nurturing, and maintain the relationships he'd cultivated over years of consistent content creation.

Factor 3: Technical integration across his stack. 

His entire tech ecosystem worked together without friction or complicated workarounds. ConvertKit handled email sequences and automation. Teachable handled course delivery and student progress tracking. RocketSim served the same audience with complementary tools. Everything connected smoothly without requiring technical expertise or custom development.

Teachable aligned with how Antoine thinks about business: build trust first through consistent value delivery, monetize second when that trust is established. Own the relationship with your audience. Control the experience they have with your content.

When he launched his first course in 2024, the audience was already there waiting for him. Teachable provided the delivery mechanism that let him finally monetize years of expertise.

$40,000 in his first launch proved the strategy worked.

Antoine’s secret sauce to success on Teachable

Antoine developed five strategies that turn consistent content into predictable course revenue. Each one challenges conventional wisdom about course creation.

Strategy 1: Build your personal knowledge base in public

Most creators agonize over whether their content measures up. Someone else already covered the topic, they think. Publishing gets delayed until everything feels perfect.

Antoine reframed the premise entirely.

"I'm building my personal knowledge base, but I decide to make it public so everybody can read it. If they don't like it or don't find it good enough, that's their problem. It's my personal knowledge base." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

This mindset shift eliminated friction. He publishes articles within an hour of finishing them. 

The approach extends to his courses. He creates content on topics he wants to master. His Swift Concurrency course is highly technical—a Swift UI course would probably sell better to a broader audience. But he loves building it because he genuinely cares about the topic.

"If you don't have that intrinsic motivation, it becomes really hard to finish that course in the first place. Try to stick to something that you can do every day, and that will make it much easier to create a course that people will love." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Students feel that authentic interest radiating through every lesson. A teacher passionate about the material guides them through challenges.

Take action:

• Pick a topic you're genuinely excited to master deeply, even if it seems less commercially viable
• Set a one-hour publishing deadline from draft completion to hitting publish
• Stop asking "is this good enough?" and start asking "does this help me document what I'm learning?"

Strategy 2: Measure everything to fuel your motivation

Antoine calls himself "addicted to measuring." Data drives a continuous loop: measurement reveals results, results create achievement, achievement generates momentum.

When he started weekly blogging in 2017, Google Analytics showed him the hockey stick growth curve. That visible progress kept him consistent when individual articles felt insignificant.

What he tracks:

• Blog visitors and traffic sources
• Newsletter subscriber growth
• Course completion rates
• Sales conversions and revenue

Vanity metrics hold no interest for him. Tracking happens for leverage, finding the points where small changes create outsized returns.

"I'm constantly seeking improvements. I want to quit the day at 3:00 PM and enjoy the day with my kids. So whatever works for me to still have that most impactful growth while having time with the family, that's something that will resonate with me." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Three weeks before our interview, he launched a free 5-day email course—his "playbook" lead magnet. It produced the strongest growth he'd seen in six years of serious creator work.

The data proved it worked.

Doubling down happened immediately. LinkedIn profile optimization came first. Twitter bio updates followed close behind. YouTube content creation rounded out the strategy. Everything directed traffic to that playbook landing page.

Take action:

• Set up a simple dashboard tracking your top 4 metrics: audience growth, email subscribers, course completions, and revenue
• Review these numbers every Friday to identify which activities produced the best results that week
• When something works (like Antoine's playbook did), immediately redirect 80% of your effort toward scaling that one winning approach

Strategy 3: Design flywheels, not one-off tactics

Antoine obsesses over compound systems where one action creates accelerating returns. His most powerful flywheel sits built directly into Teachable's certificate feature.

The certificate flywheel works in six steps:

1. Student completes the course and receives a certificate
2. Certificate gets added to their LinkedIn profile
3. LinkedIn prompts them to write a public post celebrating the achievement
4. That post promotes the course organically to their network
5. New students discover the course through that authentic social proof
6. Those students complete the course, get certified, and the cycle repeats

Each cycle multiplies the previous one.

"If a certificate multiplies to two students, the growth goes even faster. That is a flywheel effect that I actually see working great for Teachable. If you're using Teachable, you want to implement this for sure." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Beyond certificates, every piece of content serves multiple objectives across his business. Blog posts attract iOS developers searching for solutions. That same audience needs his newsletter for ongoing tips and updates. Those readers use his RocketSim tool to work more efficiently on their projects. Many of them eventually enroll in his courses for deeper learning and skill development.

A single piece of content compounds across four distinct revenue streams.

Unlike creators splitting attention across different audiences in different niches, Antoine ensures every hour of work resonates with his entire business ecosystem. Each effort reinforces the others naturally.

Take action:

• Add instructions on your Teachable certificate page showing students exactly how to add it to LinkedIn and what to write in their post
• Map out your content ecosystem—every blog post should naturally lead to your newsletter, which leads to your product, which leads to your course
• Audit your last five pieces of content and identify which ones could be repurposed to serve multiple parts of your business simultaneously

Strategy 4: Use forced deadlines and public accountability

Creating comprehensive courses while working full-time demands consistent momentum. Antoine maintains it through "purposeful deadlines" that create external pressure.

When building his Swift Concurrency course, hard constraints threatened to derail progress. Recording all lessons required 2-3 months of focused work. Kids in the background limited him to two days per week for recording sessions. Deep technical content added layers of complexity to every session.

His solution changed the game entirely.

Releasing while building replaced waiting for completion. Students could enroll before all modules existed in finished form. New lessons arrived on a specific public schedule that created accountability.

"I made a really strict planning. Every week I would release new episodes, and I even told my students—because they could already join the course while it was being developed—new modules are coming. So I had that public deadline, which is super important. It pushes you to push things out. People are expecting it." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

This created three distinct benefits:

1. Public commitment forced consistent momentum even when motivation flagged
2. Early students provided detailed feedback that improved later modules significantly
3. Revenue during development validated the concept before full time investment

The same principle applies to his blog publishing schedule. Every Tuesday for years without exception. Audience expectation creates internal accountability that keeps him shipping quality content.

Take action:

• Launch your course on Teachable with just the first 3 modules complete and a public release schedule for the rest
• Email your waitlist or audience with specific dates when new modules will be released—make the commitment public and visible
• Pick one day of the week (like Antoine's Tuesday) and commit to publishing something every single week on that day for the next 6 months

Strategy 5: Embrace AI as your team, not your replacement

Solo creators face a persistent challenge: producing quality content at scale without complete burnout.

Antoine treats AI as team members with specific capabilities. Enthusiasm runs high for AI agents—systems he sets running on assigned tasks and checks later for completed results.

"The 20-person company now looks at me and realizes like, 'Whoa, Antoine is doing it all alone. I need to get rid of my 20 people.' Whereas I'm with AI thinking like, 'Hey, I'm alone, but I now have a team of 20 people because I can just leverage AI.'" –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

The critical nuance separates success from failure: he never blindly accepts AI output without careful review. As an experienced developer with years of debugging expertise, evaluating and validating everything AI produces against his quality standards happens automatically.

How he uses AI for course creation:

• Outline lessons based on specific learning objectives
• Generate code examples that demonstrate concepts (then reviews and refines them)
• Create quiz questions that test understanding
• Draft supporting materials and explanations (then edits for accuracy)

During our interview, an AI agent was running in the background completing an assigned coding task.

"After this interview, I'll probably have something done. That is just insane." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

But fundamentals still matter in an AI-assisted world. His Swift Concurrency course teaches deep technical knowledge because students need to verify AI output themselves in their own work. Letting AI write code is easy enough. Understanding the underlying concepts well enough to evaluate whether that code works correctly under production conditions requires real expertise that can't be automated.

Take action:

• Ask AI to create a complete lesson outline for your next course module, then spend your time refining and adding your unique expertise
• Have AI generate 10 quiz questions for each lesson, then review and rewrite the ones that miss the mark or test the wrong concepts
• Set up one AI agent to draft your weekly newsletter while you're recording course content—edit it later with your voice and perspective

Expert corner: How Antoine thinks about education

Antoine approaches education differently than most course creators who optimize primarily for revenue. Building his personal knowledge base systematically and choosing to make it public for others to learn from drives his entire approach.

This perspective changes everything about how he creates and what he creates.

Teaching what you're learning

Most course creators ask themselves: "What does the market want from me right now?" Antoine asks a completely different question: "What am I genuinely excited to master deeply?"

His Swift Concurrency course is more technical than commercially optimal for maximum revenue. That authentic interest shows clearly in every lesson, code example, and explanation.

"The course that I create might not be the best course in terms of return of investment. But the point being is that I work on a course that I love building. I create lessons that I actually love diving into." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Students feel this authenticity immediately when they start learning. A teacher genuinely passionate about the topic guides them through the material. Someone who struggled with the same concepts and remembers that frustration helps them navigate those difficulties. Someone building understanding lesson by lesson alongside them rather than lecturing from a distant place of complete mastery shares the journey.

The seven-year foundation

Antoine spent seven years building his audience before monetizing with courses on Teachable. Every Tuesday since 2017 without missing a single week. One article each week without exception or excuse.

That consistency created compound trust that money can't buy. When he finally launched a course to his audience, they already knew his teaching style intimately. His depth of expertise was proven through hundreds of articles. His reliability was demonstrated through years of consistent show-up.

The $40,000 first launch came from seven years of earned trust converting to sales in a single concentrated moment.

Certificates as learning validation

Antoine structures his courses with intentional difficulty that forces real learning. His Swift Concurrency course requires passing rigorous assessments to progress to the next module. Initially, failed attempts locked students out for 24 hours to create reflection time. Forcing them to truly learn before continuing rather than rushing through became the design principle.

"In the beginning, I made it so that the assessment would fail right away and you got like 24 hours wait time, which forced students to go back to the lessons and learn again, which I personally liked the best because I want people to not just skip through the course." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Students complained about the restriction feeling too harsh. Adjustments came based on feedback while maintaining high standards. The principle remained solid: certificates should mean something tangible and valuable. When students share completion on LinkedIn, it should represent genuine achievement and mastery. That authentic credential makes the entire flywheel work effectively.

Optimizing for life quality

Most creators optimize relentlessly for maximum revenue at any cost. Antoine optimizes deliberately for maximum life quality while maintaining strong revenue growth.

"I want to quit the day at 3:00 PM and enjoy the day with my kids. This isn't just a lifestyle preference—it's a forcing function that drives innovation in my content systems." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

His annual revenue goal serves as a measurement of effectiveness rather than pure ambition. A scoreboard that tracks progress objectively. The real goal is building a sustainable creator business that gives him freedom with his family.

Looking ahead

Antoine sees himself at the beginning of something transformative, not the culmination of his journey.

Moving deliberately from written content toward conversational video formats shapes his production evolution. One recording session becomes blog posts through transcription, course lessons through editing, and social media clips through strategic cutting.

"I'm preparing a webinar that I'll reuse for lessons for my course, that I will reuse for clips. I feel like that is a win-win-win for me as a company as well." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

This shift represents a major production evolution in his business model. Natural conversation generates raw material efficiently without time-consuming writing. Strategic editing transforms that material into multiple formats and distribution channels.

Upcoming initiatives

Course expansion: Additional Swift Concurrency modules covering emerging patterns and advanced techniques as the Swift language evolves continuously

Video-first content: YouTube channel development with repurposed webinar and course material creating multiple touchpoints with his audience across platforms

Community building: Exploring practical ways to connect course students for deeper learning, networking opportunities, and peer support

AI experimentation: Continuing to test boundaries of AI-assisted content creation while maintaining the quality standards his audience expects consistently

Long-term vision

Building a sustainable creator business model that others can learn from drives Antoine forward. One that prioritizes life quality alongside revenue growth rather than sacrificing one for the other becomes the blueprint.

"It's not that I need more money. It's not that I want more money. I just want to be as successful as possible. So I'm constantly seeking improvements and I'm just looking forward to see where I can go next." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

Creator education is entering a fundamentally new era with AI capabilities democratizing production. Authentic expertise, consistent presence, and earned trust become the true differentiators in a crowded market where anyone can produce content quickly.

"I feel like I'm just getting started in a way because things are really, really changing now. We're living a revolution in a way. It just becomes easier. So much easier." –Antoine van der Lee, Founder of SwiftLee

What to do next

Explore Antoine’s Teachable courses:

Going Indie - The complete system for transitioning from full-time developer to independent creator successfully. Learn Antoine's strategies for audience building, time management, product pricing, and using platforms like Teachable effectively.

Swift Concurrency - Master concurrent programming in Swift with step-by-step lessons, challenging assessments, and more.

Follow SwiftLee's weekly content:

• Read new iOS development articles every Tuesday at avanderlee.com
• Subscribe to the SwiftLee Newsletter for exclusive insights and practical tips
• Download RocketSim to accelerate your iOS development workflow significantly
• Connect with Antoine on Twitter/X and LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes creator insights

Build your own success on Teachable

Ready to turn your expertise into a thriving education business like Antoine has built?

Whether you're a developer, designer, consultant, or expert in any field, Teachable provides the platform to build, market, and sell your courses effectively.

Start your free Teachable trial today and discover why creators like Antoine choose Teachable to:

• Keep more revenue with creator-friendly pricing structures
• Own your audience and maintain direct relationships with students
• Integrate seamlessly with email platforms, analytics tools, and your existing tech stack
• Build viral growth systems with certificate features that drive organic discovery
• Focus on teaching instead of managing complex technology infrastructure

Join thousands of creators building sustainable education businesses on Teachable.

Your expertise is valuable and deserves to be shared. Your time is limited and should be protected. Your audience deserves quality education that transforms their skills.

Teachable helps you deliver all three without compromise.

Abagail Pumphrey didn’t plan to build one of the most durable creator businesses on the internet. After a layoff in March 2015, she gave herself 90 days to replace her income. It took just 30 days. 

“I made my first 100,000 in 8 months and then I doubled it 4 months later.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

A year later, a five-car collision and a traumatic brain injury forced hard choices. Client work no longer fit a life with unpredictable energy. She pivoted to products that could sell while she recovered.

That shift became Boss Project’s edge. She went all-in on Teachable, built a deep catalog of courses and digital products, and bundled her best work into a membership that now drives roughly half of revenue.

“Teachable is the easiest, most streamlined online course platform out there.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Abagail’s Teachable journey at a glance

The turning point

January 2016, she stopped taking clients to build the education side. In November 2016, the accident and TBI diagnosis confirmed the move away from services. 

She needed a business that was less about her personal bandwidth and more about systems, assets, and delivery that keep working when life is messy.

The early wins were small. A $500 co-launch here, a $2,000 webinar there. 

The first offer that truly clicked was Trello for Business, priced at $29. It cleared $8,000 in the first month and kept selling. 

Now, that very same course has crossed 10,000+ student enrollments and roughly $288,000 in sales. That one product taught a lesson that still guides Abagail’s approach. Small, installable wins beat sprawling curricula. Buyers want an outcome they can use today.

Why Abagail chose Teachable

Before Teachable, Abagail sold behind passworded pages and a brittle paywall that was easy to bypass. Checkout anxiety was real. 

She moved to Teachable for secure logins, clean checkout, access controls when refunds or payments fail, and simple ways to increase average order value without bolt-ons.

“You can go from idea to selling the same day.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

She stayed because it kept working while her team focused on offers and customer success.

“It was one of the few systems that did not break during launches. Back then the fear was your checkout going down in the middle of a live push.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Related: Honest Teachable Review - Why I’m Loyal After 8 Years

Abagail’s secret sauce to success on Teachable

Abagail’s success did not come from complex funnels or a massive ad budget. It came from a handful of repeatable moves: ship one small product that solves a narrow problem, give buyers a path into an all-access membership, keep the tech simple so you can publish more, and let owned media do the heavy lifting over time. 

When paid traffic gets expensive, she pauses. When life gets complicated, the business still runs because the systems are simple and the offers are clear.

Strategy 1: Launch an installable product under $100

Abagail’s breakout was a $29 system that delivers a same-day result. The promise is specific, the setup is fast, and the win is visible. That first month’s $8,000 did more than cover costs. It proved a pattern that Abagail would reuse across the catalog.

New buyers get a clear outcome in hours, then feel ready for deeper work.

“Smaller, faster wins beat 200 hours of content every time.” — Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Take action

• Pick one outcome your buyer can achieve in under an hour
• Ship a sub-$100 product with one focused page and a five-email welcome
• Add a short walkthrough and a checklist so the win happens today

Strategy 2: Compile your best products into a membership

Abagail’s Co-op membership bundles top courses, templates, and tools into one all-access subscription.

That single packaging decision stopped the month-to-month reset. Members get a home base. The team gets a clear rhythm to add value on schedule. 

When members asked for more depth, Abagail overhauled scope and moved many best-selling courses inside the Co-op. Join value rose. Retention improved. Revenue became more predictable. 

Today the membership carries a major share of company revenue, while sponsorships, courses, and affiliates round out the rest.

“We handle churn by staying close to what members ask for. We poll, we survey, and we ship.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Take action

• Audit your three most requested assets and put them behind one membership
• Announce one meaningful addition every month with a short demo or mini lesson
• Track join rate, 90-day retention, and refund rate before and after scope changes

Strategy 3: Make your checkout page and process work in your favor

Abagail uses Teachable to handle the parts of the sale most creators push to add-ons. The goal is simple. Lift average order value and reduce failure points. 

Every checkout includes a tightly matched order bump. Order bumps in Abagail’s business have ranged from $11 to $77 and can attach at strong rates when the fit is right. 

A one-click upsell sits on the thank-you page so buyers can add a related resource without re-entering payment details. 

Teachable’s teachable:pay unlocks Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Link out of the box, which helps on mobile. 

Payment plans and subscriptions remove friction for buyers who need flexibility. 

BackOffice takes care of collaborator and affiliate payouts and unlocks Buy Now, Pay Later when it fits the offer. 

Automated tax handling covers sales tax and VAT so the team does not need extra tools to stay compliant. The net result is a simpler stack, calmer launches, and more revenue per order.

“Most tweaks move numbers by one percent. A clean checkout and more traffic move everything.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Take action

• Add an order bump to every checkout, priced at half the main offer or less
• Place a one-click upsell on the thank-you page with a 60-second explainer
• Turn on abandoned cart and review recovered revenue after each campaign
• Use payment plans on mid-ticket offers so more buyers can start today

Strategy 4: Let owned media be the heartbeat of your funnel

The Strategy Hour podcast is the core of Boss Project’s marketing. 

Millions of downloads and a steady listener base give every launch a head start. Episodes teach ideas, share results, and send warm traffic to sales pages. 

Abagail pairs episodes with simple lead magnets and pulls the best clips into course lessons so students hear and then apply. The loop works even when ads are off. Trust builds in public, then converts inside Teachable.

“We publish at a steady clip. The podcast builds trust while the funnel does the work.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Take action

• Pick one channel Abagail can show up on weekly and block time for it
• Attach a downloadable from a top episode and deliver it through the Teachable school
• Nurture new subscribers with seven short emails that teach one result and point to a clear offer

Strategy 5: Press pause on paid ads when CAC climbs

When acquisition costs rose, Abagail turned off Facebook and Instagram ads for the Co-op. Email, partner placements, and the podcast kept demand steady. 

When Abagail re-entered paid, budgets were capped, creatives taught a small win inside the ad, and every test had written targets for CPL and CPA. Paid is now a lever, not a lifeline. The business holds steady even when platforms change.

“We do not need to spend just to spend. We spend when the numbers make sense.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Take action

• If CPMs spike, pause for two weeks and fix your first-impression assets
• Restart with capped daily spend and a teaching-first creative concept
• Hold each test to a target CPL and CPA and turn off what misses

Expert corner: How Abagail Pumphrey thinks about education

Abagail measures everything against one simple promise: fast, visible wins for real people with real constraints. The product can be small if the outcome lands big.

“Most creators overbuild. The tech simply needs to work so you can focus on serving your clients and customers.” -Abagail Pumphrey, Founder & CEO of Boss Project

Abagail is vocal about choosing reach over fiddly optimizations. Her stance is practical, not theoretical. Platform stability matters to Abagail because launch weeks are fragile. She has tested alternatives, taken the calls, and still stayed put. Abagail’s bias is toward tools that protect the student experience and reduce creator anxiety.

“I craved a place that would securely store my course and give students one login to access everything.” -Abagail Pumphrey

Under all of this is Abagail’s operating principle: keep the stack simple, keep promises small and clear, and keep shipping. The wins compound for students, and the revenue compounds for the business.

Looking ahead

Abagail plans to keep The Co-op at the center of Boss Project. 

The membership will continue to bundle the most requested courses with fresh templates and tools on a predictable cadence. Abagail will keep publishing The Strategy Hour to grow owned reach and will bring listeners into the school with practical lead magnets tied to each launch. 

On the sales side, Abagail will keep checkout simple and high converting with native bumps, upsells, and flexible payments, and will only re-test paid ads when acquisition costs line up with clear CPL and CPA targets. Most importantly, Abagail will keep shipping useful assets that help students get fast, visible wins. 

The plan is steady and specific. More small outcomes that stack into lasting results, all delivered through a Teachable school that stays reliable while the team focuses on students.

What to do next

Ready to get results like Abagail Pumphrey? Start small, ship fast, and keep your stack simple. You do not need a giant funnel to begin. You need one installable product, a clean checkout, and a weekly publishing habit. If you want to see how that looks in practice, follow Abagail’s work at Boss Project and listen to The Strategy Hour for real examples you can copy. Then put your first offer inside Teachable so the sale, the delivery, and the student experience live in one place.

Try Teachable yourself: ready to build your first offer and sell it the same day? Start your 7-day free trial and see how teachable:pay, order bumps, one-click upsells, and built-in reporting help you earn while you keep creating.

Birgit O’Connor has spent more than 30 years honing her skills as a watercolor artist. For 20 of those years, she was traveling and teaching live, in-person workshops. She even expanded her reach by bringing the art of watercolor to DVD-recorded lessons.

Although she already had in-person classes and workshop experience, she was looking for a way to take her product online. Her goal was to be able to better serve her audience and spend more time in her studio and with her family. It took finding Teachable for her to have the tools to do it though. “A lot of people told me when I stopped teaching and traveling that I was going to lose my audience base,” she said. “I also know that a lot of people underestimate me.”

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Bringing her courses online

Online courses have given Birgit more freedom, both creatively and in her life outside of watercolor. “I’m able to explore more, be a lot more productive and experimental, and cover so much more information than I ever was when I was traveling,” she said. Plus, she can be home more to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

When she found Teachable she knew it was the platform for her. She loved the way Teachable allowed her to lay out the content for herself and for her students. Whether that be videos or PDFs, she explained. “Everything that you need, it’s all there,” she said.

She set up her online courses years ago and has seen success with both self-paced and cohort-based courses. So when we released our digital downloads functionality, she wasn’t initially interested—why would she need another product when what she had worked so well?

Hear from Birgit herself:

Experimenting with digital downloads

Birgit first dipped her brush into digital downloads by offering a free download as a lead magnet to bring more students into her sales funnel.

Once she did that though, she found she really liked how the product looked. “It looks really clean, really slick,” she said “And I like how it looks different than the course. I think the course option can be a little overwhelming for people.”

After seeing success with her free lead magnet, she took her downloads to the next level. This involved pricing them and offering an exclusive link to a live painting session right in the PDF download she was selling. Essentially, students were purchasing access to an exclusive, one-time event and all the information necessary to access and enjoy that event all through clicking buy on one single PDF download.  

Now when users go to her sales page, they see courses as well as her digital download offers, which unlock access to an upcoming live paint-along lesson.

Finding the right use for downloads

But Birgit’s downloads offer more than a link to a paint-along session. In her PDF download, she provides an introduction to who she is and provides a workbook to help her students prep for the session too. She includes a materials list for students to prepare, photos of what students can expect to paint, practice exercises they can do beforehand, screenshots of instructional videos, and more.

“I’m finding it pretty sweet doing those little digital downloads,” she said. Her students love it too, as it offers them an entry point into her products at a lower price. For example, those who might be unsure about committing to a multi-week course can instead try out a single-day session for less than $50 before they take the plunge.

Her course offerings traditionally consisted of self-paced courses that students could take on their own time and live courses. Those cohort-based live courses consist of weekly live sessions that take place over six weeks. They’re great for students looking for a slower-paced more in-depth course. But running those courses is time-consuming and takes a lot of work on Birgit’s end. With the cohort-based course set-up, her earning potential was capped by how much time she was willing to spend running live courses.

“But you’ve got to work smarter, not harder, we all know that,” she said. This is where the digital download lessons come into play. “I still put a lot of energy into developing it [the digital download] and then being there, but it’s one and done. And that’s great, and I can recycle it,” she said.

Looking to the future of her business

Offering these downloads has changed how she’s thinking of her business on Teachable going forward. “I get excited about everything that I do,” Birgit said. “I loved doing what I was doing before, but I realized whatever I’m doing, if it’s just not bringing in the success that it was originally, or if I’m getting burnt out, then it’s time to transform it,” she said.

While she would be happy to only offer her paint-alongs through her digital downloads, she recognized she would lose customers who like a slower pace. Multi-week courses offer her students who prefer a different learning pace the opportunity to dive into deeper projects and take more time. So, she’s using her downloads as a way to balance serving her audience in multiple ways.

Embracing downloads

When it comes down to it, Birgit has one piece of advice for other creators considering digital downloads: Overcome the fear.

While it may sound easy to just put a new product out there, it can feel like a daunting step. She’s found that having an idea, running with it, and getting it out there has been the most successful strategy for her. “If I need to tune it up later, I’ll tune it up as I go,” she said. But she doesn’t let fear keep her from taking the first step and trying something new.

Building a six-figure course business might seem like a stretch for many creators, and at first, Brian Kouhi at TOAnimate felt the exact same way.

Recently, we had the opportunity to interview Brian Kouhi, the co-founder of TOAnimate, who shared his nine strategies for building a successful, six-figure course business with us.

If you're curious about how to share what you know and build a full-time income with it, you’re in the right place.

In this blog post, we'll explore how Brian started, validated, and grew his business with Teachable.

Whether you're a seasoned creator or just starting out, you’ll have primed, actionable takeaways after seeing how Brian launched and grew his online education business.

Nine strategies for hitting six figures as a creator

Brian Kouhi, co-founder of TOAnimate Academy, transformed his passion for animation into a six-figure business. From working with over 400 artists on a Netflix top 10 animation, he identified a gap in Blender education and turned it into a thriving venture. Here are nine strategies he used to hit six figures, packed with actionable steps to help you turn your skills into a successful online course business.

Strategy 1: Identify an obstacle you’ve overcome and build a business around it

Identifying a gap in the market allows you to provide a unique solution that meets an unmet need and positions you as a leader in your niche.

Brian Kouhi's journey started with a deep love for animation, working with software like Blender and Maya. His work on productions such as "Maya and the Three" showcased his ability to adapt to different animation software. 

Despite initial challenges, he found Blender surprisingly powerful and user-friendly compared to its paid counterpart, Maya. The idea for TOAnimate Academy emerged from a clear market gap: A lack of quality educational content around Blender.

Brian’s frustration with his formal education, which left him $40,000 in debt and without industry-ready skills, fueled his desire to create a better solution for aspiring animators. 

“There wasn't a lot of educational content on Blender... so we decided to put our knowledge into a laser-focused curriculum for aspiring animators.” -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Identify a unique challenge you've overcome and create a course to help others overcome the same obstacles and achieve a similar transformation as you already have.

2. Validate your business idea with crowdfunding

Crowdfunding can provide the necessary funds to start your business and help you validate your ideas by showing that there is a demand for your product. Pre-sales are also a great way to do this.

Brian and his team used a Kickstarter campaign to validate TOAnimate Academy. It helped them test the market and gather initial funds, achieving their funding goal within minutes. This approach allowed Brian and his team to gauge interest and validate their business idea before fully committing to its development. 

“We reached 1400% funded on Kickstarter... 100% funded in two minutes of launching.” –Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Use crowdfunding platforms to gauge interest and secure funds for your course idea. Integrate Teachable’s payment system to transition from funding to enrollment seamlessly.

3. Create a laser-focused outline for your digital product

A well-structured and focused curriculum will help you serve your students at the highest level.

TOAnimate Academy’s curriculum blends industry experience with solid educational principles. It offers practical, hands-on learning with Blender, providing a strong animation foundation while encouraging creativity. 

Beyond the initial course offerings, TOAnimate Academy continuously sought to add value based on student feedback. This commitment to ongoing improvement led to introducing new lessons and assets. Developing specialized courses, such as rigging and character creation, further enriched the academy’s educational offerings.

“We try to give a very strong animation foundation and let the students use their creativity throughout the lessons.” -Brian Kouhi

Beyond the initial course offerings, TOAnimate Academy continuously sought to add value based on student feedback. 

Action Step: Use Teachable’s AI curriculum generator to create a highly effective course curriculum in a matter of minutes.

4. Use channels like YouTube and email to build an audience

Building an audience through platforms like YouTube and email marketing helps establish credibility and bring in top-of-funnel traffic for your offers.

Brian started sharing his animation knowledge through early YouTube videos, offering tutorials and industry insights. His approach was straightforward, providing value and building trust with his audience. 

Over time, his channel grew from 20,000 subscribers to becoming a significant marketing asset for TOAnimate Academy. 

Brian effectively used email marketing to build and nurture his audience. He attracted a steady flow of new subscribers by offering a free rig and animation lectures. He then used email sequences to nurture these leads with valuable content and gradual sales pitches. 

"We get emails through YouTube, social media, and ads... nurturing leads with valuable content and gradual sales pitches" -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Take the leap and start—or continue—to consistently publish content on YouTube. Keep your email list fresh by sending a weekly newsletter promoting your published YouTube videos.

5. Use affiliate programs to drive sales

An affiliate program expands your reach and leverages the networks of others to drive sales, providing a powerful boost to your marketing efforts.

Brian capitalized on Teachable’s affiliate system to boost sales. Affiliates played a significant role in total sales. By creating custom links and effectively tracking sales, Brian made sure that affiliates were rewarded for their efforts.

"The affiliate system is a huge part of our sales... around 30% of our sales come through affiliates." -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Set up an affiliate program on Teachable to boost your sales and bring in a wave of raving fans.

6. Start and grow a supportive community

A strong community enhances the learning experience, provides ongoing support, and fosters a sense of belonging among students.

At TOAnimate Academy, building a supportive community is a priority. Active forums ensure that no question goes unanswered, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Partnerships with other companies provide students with discounts and additional resources, enhancing their learning experience.

"Our motto is no question goes unanswered... join the community where no question goes unanswered." -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Create a community space using Teachable’s community features to enhance student engagement and support.

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7. Maximize impact and income with Teachable

Using an all-in-one digital product platform like Teachable streamlines operations, allowing you to focus on creating quality content and engaging with your students.

Teachable has been a crucial tool for Brian, handling everything from the curriculum and payments to community engagement. Teachable helps Brian simplify many aspects of running an online academy, allowing Brian to focus on content creation and student interaction. Feedback is continuously used to improve and adapt the platform experience.

"Teachable handles 70% of the stuff we need... from curriculum to payments to community engagement." -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Start earning more with a free Teachable plan today!

8. Balance earnings and expenses with Teachable’s earning dashboards

Monitoring earnings and expenses is key to allowing your business to grow sustainably while creating opportunities for higher leverage in your business.

Brian and his team have achieved multiple-six-figures in sales in just two years.

This revenue generation has been balanced with careful reinvestment in content development for continuous growth and improvement. 

By using Teachable’s payment dashboards Brian and his team were able to easily track income, payouts, and taxes.

Looking ahead, TOAnimate Academy plans to introduce a digital asset marketplace and expand course offerings. Brian's plans to enhance marketing efforts will also help to reach a broader audience and increase revenue.

"We've achieved nearly $300,000 in sales... it's about balancing growth and expenses." -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Use Teachable’s earning dashboards to monitor your revenue and expenses, ensuring sustainable growth.

9. Face challenges head on

Building TOAnimate Academy was no walk in the park. Brian Kouhi tackled piracy and content protection, keeping their educational material exclusive to paying students.

Piracy threatened their digital business, so they developed robust security measures and vigilant monitoring to combat unauthorized distribution. The aim was to create a secure learning environment for students.

Balancing personal and professional life as a business owner also posed challenges. Growing TOAnimate while maintaining personal relationships required clear boundaries, task prioritization, and delegation.

"The biggest challenge is balancing personal and professional life... but the freedom is worth it." -Brian Kouhi

Action Step: Use Teachable's secure platform to protect your course content from piracy. Focus on time management and set boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance as you scale your business.

Conclusion

Brian's journey is a powerful inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. His key advice: don’t wait for the perfect moment—start now and refine as you go. The challenges are real, but the freedom and flexibility definitely pay off.

Brian’s success with TOAnimate Academy was powered by Teachable. Teachable handles everything from course curriculum building to payment processing and community engagement, letting creators focus on teaching and creating valuable content.

If you want to build a six-figure online business, you can take the first step by starting a free plan with Teachable. Whether you're an expert in animation, cooking, marketing, or any other field, Teachable provides the tools to turn your knowledge into a thriving online business.

Start your free plan with Teachable and begin building your six-figure business today.