The Think Media Podcast: Episode 416
Title: How She Replaced Her 9-5 Using YouTube (After 30!)
Host: Sean Cannell
Guest: Lauren Bateman
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Introduction: Lauren Bateman’s Success Story
In this insightful episode, Sean Cannell welcomes Lauren Bateman, a remarkable entrepreneur who transformed her passion for guitar teaching into a thriving online education business. With over $3 million in online course sales, Lauren shares her journey of replacing a traditional 9-5 job after the age of 30 by leveraging YouTube and strategic course development.
Starting the Journey: From Brick-and-Mortar to Online
Lauren recounts her initial steps into the online world, emphasizing the importance of transitioning from in-person teaching to creating scalable digital products.
“I knew right from the get-go that I wanted to have some kind of product to offer people.” [01:34]
She launched her first YouTube video in March 2017 and began developing her initial course in July, releasing it in November of the same year. Although she only made two sales initially, this marked the beginning of her online venture.
Validating Course Ideas: Research is Key
Lauren highlights the critical importance of validating course ideas to ensure market demand. She advises creators to engage with targeted Facebook groups to understand common pain points and questions.
“Go find a Facebook group... see the questions people are asking.” [04:01]
By identifying recurring themes, creators can tailor their courses to address specific problems, ensuring their offerings resonate with potential students.
Course Development: Structured and Time-Based Approach
Lauren shares her methodology for course development, focusing on providing tangible transformations within a set timeframe.
“If someone can go from not being able to play guitar at all to being able to feel comfortable playing even some simple songs on the guitar after 90 days, that's a transformation.” [06:59]
She emphasizes starting with a manageable scope, such as a 90-day program, and expanding based on feedback and demand.
Pricing Strategies: Balancing Value and Perception
Determining the right price point is crucial. Lauren experimented with various pricing models, ultimately finding success with a $297 price tag for her flagship course. She explains that higher pricing can convey greater value and attract more committed students.
“We charge 297, which is a really nice sweet spot for a do-it-yourself course.” [16:12]
Additionally, Lauren introduced a community component for an annual fee, offering enhanced support and direct interaction.
Choosing the Right Hosting Platform: Kajabi Over Teachable
Lauren discusses her experience with different course hosting platforms, ultimately preferring Kajabi for its comprehensive features and seamless integration.
“Kajabi is for SEO reasons and I'm big on SEO. I think WordPress is a much better platform for hosting a website.” [27:35]
She highlights Kajabi’s ability to automate payments, manage subscriptions, and streamline email marketing, making it an ideal choice for scaling her business.
Scaling the Business: Hiring and Outsourcing
As Lauren’s business grew, she recognized the need to delegate tasks to focus on core activities. She hired an editor to handle video production and customer service, allowing her to reinvest her time into creating more content and courses.
“When you reinvest in your business, it frees up your time as a creator to do the things that help you make more money.” [37:38]
Lauren emphasizes the importance of outsourcing early to maintain business momentum and manage increasing demands efficiently.
Marketing and Selling the Course: Leveraging YouTube
YouTube serves as the primary marketing engine for Lauren’s courses. She utilizes her channel to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and subtly promote her offerings.
“Almost 100% of [my clients] watched you on YouTube and I really liked what you were doing on YouTube. And it speaks to what we were talking about earlier.” [41:40]
Lauren advises creators to use YouTube content as educational touchpoints that lead viewers to her courses, effectively shortening the sales funnel through sustained engagement.
Final Advice: Taking Action and Building an Email List
Lauren concludes with actionable steps for aspiring course creators. She urges listeners to conduct thorough research, start with a mini-course, and prioritize building an email list from the outset.
“Start collecting those emails because there is so much money, there is so much value in an email list, start building it from the get-go. Do not wait.” [32:59]
Her emphasis on time-saving through structured courses and the critical role of email marketing underscores the foundational elements necessary for successful online education businesses.
Conclusion: Empowering Aspiring Educators
Lauren Bateman’s journey from traditional teaching to a multimillion-dollar online business offers valuable lessons in course creation, pricing, platform selection, and strategic marketing. Her insights provide a roadmap for educators and entrepreneurs looking to harness the power of YouTube and digital courses to achieve financial independence and professional fulfillment.
For more information and to connect with Lauren, visit her Instagram.
This summary encapsulates the key discussions and strategies shared by Lauren Bateman on Episode 416 of The Think Media Podcast, providing a comprehensive guide for those aspiring to build and scale their own online education businesses.