BabelTEQ Podcast

In this episode we talk about one of the most crucial components of any online business – your website. You may be thinking, "Why do I need a website when I can just use my social media profile page?" While social media can be a great way to validate your niche and get a "proof of concept", having a website is essential if you want to grow your online language teaching business at SCALE. In this episode, we'll break down the benefits of having a website, including increased credibility, control over your brand and online presence, and the ability to track and analyze your audience's behavior. So, if you're ready to take your online language teaching business to the next level, sit back, relax, and get ready to learn why a website is a non-negotiable for your business's success.

The first BabelTEQ podcast episode for the New Year. Learn about: The new business trend that is going to drive opportunities for Business English instructorsChanges in the China ESL marketNew B2B and IELTS coaching opportunities as we move out of the pandemicHow AI is going to revolutionize ESL (in a good way) in the new year and beyondHow you can create marketing content that still cuts through in an information saturated world

Anyone who has been teaching online for a while will understand that “success” doesn’t come from just from FINDING new students. It comes from KEEPING them. So, what are the secrets to reducing “client churn”? How do you consistently deliver a service experience that keeps your students coming back month after month AND referring their friends as well? Today we are going to learn The 7 Secrets of ESL Customer Service Success that will delight your clients and increase your student retention rate. My guest is Crystal Weber. She is the founder and MD of Crystal Clear ESL and Crystal Clear Academy. Crystal now supports thousands of ESL freelancers in launching and building their own online businesses.

If you are familiar with online teaching or coaching, you would know that one of the most important choices you need to make, is the platform that you will use for teaching. Zoom is a popular choice, but it is primarily just a communication tool, not a virtual classroom environment. What advantages does switching to a dedicated online classroom tool bring to you as coach or language trainer? How does a virtual classroom streamline your business and add value for your clients? Today I am joined by Wilim Abrook, Head of Education and Community Development at LearnCube. He is an online ESL teacher himself, and regularly speaks with teachers and schools at all levels, to understand how LearnCube can meet their online education needs.

You’ve probably heard countless business coaches tell you that in order to succeed online, you need to have a niche. And it’s true. The online market is flooded with generalists. You need to stand out. But how do you know that your niche idea “has legs”? How do you know that there is even a market of people who would hire you to help them? How do you know that you aren’t going to waste time and resources building a brand that nobody cares about? Today we are going to meet Kirsten Smith whom I think has a great story to tell about how she chose her coaching niche and the steps she took to validate her idea before going on to success.

If you are trying to build a brand and reputation as an expert in your teaching or coaching niche, one of the most important things you can do is create content. By writing, videoing, or recording your thoughts for the world, you are positioning yourself as an authority who your ideal clients will turn to for help. But producing content isn’t easy. How do you generate ideas for new content? How do you overcome “writers block”. How do you create original material that engages your readers and doesn’t put them to sleep? In this podcast, we hear from professional content writer, Cheri Gipson. She gives advice on how to tackle those challenges and more.

"By my second year, I wanted to scale by multiplication." - Jeff Johnson Today, we are going to hear from a BabelTEQ client who has achieved amazing success with growing his teaching business in a relatively short time. Jeff Johnson (a.k.a. "ESL Jeff") has been helping ESL students for more than 10 years and more recently has been helping clients prepare for the IELTS exam in Canada. In our interview he explains the strategies that he has used to SCALE his online teaching business beyond its initial success.

If you are like the majority of independent teachers, I’m going to guess that you feel uncomfortable about the prospect of “sales calls” with clients. Maybe you believe that as a teacher, trainer or coach, “selling” is something completely outside your wheelhouse, something you’d prefer NOT to do at all, if that were possible. And yet, anyone who is engaged in selling a personal service needs to recognize that there IS a requirement to convert “interested prospects” into “paying clients” in order to have a sustainable business. So, is there a way to approach sales that doesn’t make us feel “salesy” when interacting with clients? Is there a way to discuss what we charge with clients in manner that doesn’t create a feeling of awkwardness? Today, we are going to learn about how to tackle “selling” with a whole different mindset. We’ll discuss how to interact with clients using an approach that achieves our business objectives but doesn’t compromise our values or integrity. My guest today has a personal mission to help teachers make MORE money, work FEWER hours, and enjoy freedom. He is Robbie Kane, Chief Marketing Officer of Bowie Strategy, working with James Liu.

You’ve all probably heard of Twitter and Reddit, two popular social media platforms. But what if I told you there was another platform which has more active monthly users than either of those platforms? I’m talking about Pinterest. Pinterest’s user demographics make it an especially attractive marketing opportunity for independent ESL tutors who are focused on the young learner market. It's the platform of choice for Tiger Moms. Pinterest user demographics skews toward women (and higher income brackets than average). So today we are going to learn a lot more about “Marketing Your ESL Service on Pinterest”. My guest, Melanie Boyd, helps entrepreneurs design a career and lifestyle, with purpose and passion through Pinterest management and strategy. Her educational background is in Communication Disorders and in E-Learning. She has almost 5 years’ experience working with young language learners through VIPKID. She is currently the owner of Melanie Boyd Creative where she offers support as a Pinterest Account Specialist.

As a solo Teacher Entrepreneur, you no doubt have plenty of dreams, goals and plans for the future. But do you sometimes feel stuck? Do you feel like you aren’t making progress? Do you feel like your “to-do list” is overwhelming? Of course, what you would LIKE to see is visible, steady progress toward your goal of career freedom and financial success. In today’s podcast we are going to discuss “Dealing with The Overwhelm Factor”. My guest is productivity expert and Asana CRM ninja, Rachel Baker. She is the CEO and Director of Merciful Mornings. She helps other small business owners, entrepreneurs, and teachers to bring chaos and overwhelm under control so they can get more done in less time.