Launch Your Live Online Masterclass (The EASY Way!)

Welcome to the "Launch Your Masterclass" Implementation Blueprint!

I created this interactive tool to give you a step-by-step playbook for launching your very first live online masterclass -- the easy way...

❌ WITHOUT needing a fancy camera or equipment;

❌ WITHOUT having to worry about having to edit videos;

❌ WITHOUT needing a fancy website (in fact, if you don't have a website at all, you can still implement what's in this blueprint!); and,

❌ WITHOUT needing a million ga-jillion followers!

All you need is a #MOGULMINDSET and a willingness to take action on the super-valuable information that I'm going to share with you in this guide.

WHY LIVE VIRTUAL MASTERCLASSES...

So, before we hop into planning your live online masterclass, let's talk about WHY live online classes are the best solution when offering masterclasses to everyday women :

In short, offering a LIVE online masterclass is the best way to not only start selling tickets FASTER (because you're not saddled down by figuring out a bunch of tech "stuff"), but live online classes also give your students a better experience since you're able to help your students live, and in real-time! It's just like they're with you in-person!

So, now that you understand why I recommend teaching live, let's take a sneak peek into your virtual classroom :

In a later step, I'm going to share the 2 platforms that I recommend for hosting your class, but for now, I wanted to share a quick sneak peek of what the inside of your live masterclass will look like so you can begin to visualize what the experience will feel like for your attendees.

As you teach, you'll be featured in the center panel of the screen and your students will be featured in a window on the right-hand panel. 

Depending on which software you choose, the person who is speaking switches to the main part of the window, which comes in handy when you are providing 1-1 critiques to your students.

Alternatively, you can switch to "gallery view" during your class so that you can see all of your attendees at the same time (again, this depends on which software you choose -- more on that later!)

Now, that you understand the context, move forward to the next step where I share the 3 things you need to have in place to launch your live online masterclass.

My intention with this Implementation Blueprint is to show you how to launch your Live Online Masterclass with as little friction as possible. As such, you'll find that I emphasize SIMPLICITY + EASE.

Because truth is, teaching online doesn't have to be hard, nor should it be complicated! To get the ball rolling you only need these three things : 

1. A SIMPLE sign up page for people to enroll in your page + a SIMPLE thank you page that you'll send your customers to once they submit payment. You can built these two pages on the platform of your choice (i.e. Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, etc.) If you don't currently have a website, in a later step, I'll share the tool that you can use in Step 6.3!

2. A payment processor to accept payments. You'll preferably want to use a tool  that allows you to re-direct your customer to your Thank You page after they pay.

3. A video conference software to host your live masterclass. This will allow your students to see you, and you'll be able to see them, too, giving your class an "in-person" feel. More on this in a later step.

Now, it's time to begin planning the details of your masterclass!

Move forward to the next steps to get clarity about who your class is for, what to teach in your class, how to make your class resonate with your buyers, how to price your class and more!

There are 5 important principles that I want you to keep in mind as you begin planning your Live Online Masterclass. I'll walk you through each of them throughout this Implementation Blueprint.

Understanding these principles will not only make planning your Masterclass easier, but it will allow you to create a KILLER class that your customers actually want to buy.

The first step in your planning process is to decide WHAT TO TEACH.

Watch this video to learn how to nail down the topic of your class  :

As you begin to plan your Live Online Masterclass, it's of the utmost importance that you first understand is this:

So often, when offering a class, Beauty Pros make the mistake of believing that their customers are buying the class itself. This couldn't be further from the truth! 

Your customers do not care about the class.

What they're actually buying is the SOLUTION and TRANSFORMATION that your class helps them to experience!

As such, you shouldn't begin planning your class based upon what YOU want to teach (because your class isn't about what YOU want.)

Instead, begin your brainstorming process by thinking about what YOUR CUSTOMERS (or the customers you want to attract in the future) actually struggle with, and how you can create a class that can eliminate that struggle.

In other words, don't create the class topic first, then try to go out and find customers for the class. Allow real insight from your current clients and followers to dictate which topics you consider for your masterclass!

Why? Because your customers will enroll in your class only if/when they feel like it solves a REAL need or desire that they currently have! 

Not sure what your customers want and need?

Don't worry! In the next steps, you're going to begin getting that clarity!

One of my favorite business books is "The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding". In it, the author lays out 22 essential rules (or laws) for branding a business or product.

Law #2 "The Law of Contraction" says this :

"A BRAND BECOMES STRONGER WHEN YOU NARROW ITS FOCUS."

We can take that same principle and apply it to your live online masterclass : 

"A MASTERCLASS BECOMES STRONGER WHEN YOU NARROW ITS FOCUS."

In other words, if you want to create a KILLER masterclass that sells like crazy, you have to get super specific about exactly WHO your masterclass is for.

It's not enough to just say "it's for everyone".

Because your customers (the ones who will actually buy your class) want to feel seen... They want to feel like you're speaking directly to them and THEIR needs.

In order to do that, YOU have to first decide who your class is specifically for and then build the content of your class just for them!

Many Artists are afraid to "niche" their class for fear that they'll exclude potential buyers. And to that I say "GOOD!"

When creating a class, you want to exclude people by focusing on a niche! Because by being laser-focused on a particular sub-set of your customers, you're allowing yourself to create a class that FULLY serves them and truly creates a real transformation -- and that's what this is all about! (And remember...you can always create another class for a different group of clients later!)

Think about it this way... which option is more compelling : 

[Option 1] "The Online Glam Masterclass! Learn my top tips for creating a simple everyday glam makeup look"

or

[Option 2] "The Timeless Beauty Online Masterclass For Mature Women! Learn how to rewind time with makeup in 3 EASY steps -- even if you haven't picked up a makeup brush in YEARS!" 

While the first class is fine (and you may get some sales), Option 2 will really resonate with mature women because you've specifically called them out and told them exactly how you're going to solve their problems!

When you begin to really resonate with your target customers, you're on your way to making more sales.

Make sense? GREAT!

Now, watch this video lesson :

BRINGING YOUR TARGET CUSTOMER INTO FOCUS

Now that you understand the importance of deciding on a niche for your class, let's start to get clear about exactly who you want your first Live Online Masterclass to serve.

In your notebook, answer the following questions :

After watching the video above and completing the exercise, you should now how clarity about the specific type of client you want to serve with your first live online masterclass, and generally, what topic you want to cover.

If you're still unclear, or you're having a tough time narrowing down your topic, don't be afraid to ask your audience! 

I recommend using the Instagram Stories QUESTIONS and QUIZ features to survey your audience in a fun and engaging way! Here are a couple examples :

Whenever you teach a class, your goal should be to TEACH FOR TRANSFORMATION, not just for understanding. 

Because truth is, people can just watch free Youtube videos to "understand" how to do their makeup (or hair...or whatever topic you plan to teach).

But "understanding" something is completely different from experiencing a transformation that helps them truly integrate what they've been taught! 

As an Expert, you have an opportunity to truly transform your students by going deeper than a Youtube video ever could!

So, once you've made a solid decision about who your target customer is and the general topic (or skill) you're going to cover, the next step is to map out exactly what you're going to teach in your class.

Watch this video to get started :

The point of your class is to take your students on a journey from where they currently are (unable to do their makeup, hair, etc.) to where they want to be (able to confidently do their hair, makeup, etc.).

I call this their "transformational journey".

Your class should cover each skill that they need to master in order to have their desired transformation. In order to get clarity about each skill, you need to...

MAP YOUR PROCESS :

I want you to imagine that your customer sat in your chair and asked you to teach them exactly what that they need to know in order to be able to confidently [insert the topic of your class]....

What would be the very first thing that you'd teach her? What would be the second thing? Third? Fourth? Fifth?...

This is your signature process, and these are the exact steps that you'll teach in your Live Online Masterclass.

I like to visualize this process by completing the following brainstorm :

Click here to download a blank copy (pdf) of this worksheet.

Each step that you map out in this exercise will become a teaching point that you cover in your Live Online Masterclass!

These steps will also become the bullet points that you list on your class's enrollment page (more on that in a future step!)

Note : as you map out your process, try to limit your steps to no more than 7. Why? Because this is usually about how much information a person can retain. My personal "sweet spot" is usually between 3 - 5 teaching points.

For example, let's imagine that these were the steps that I mapped out for creating a "10 Minute Face" : 

• Step 1 - Skin Prep
  Step 2 - My favorite foundation + how to apply it
• Step 3 - Highlighting the center of the face
• Step 4 - Shaping + sculpting brows
• Step 5 - A simple 3-step eye routine
• Step 6 - The 5 must-have tools that they should have in their makeup bag

...But I wanted to reduce the number of steps that I taught in the live class in order to save time, but also to not overwhelm the students.

As an option, I could remove Step 6 from the curriculum that I'd teach during the live class, but instead, turn it into a separate pre-recorded video lesson that I'd give as a free bonus to each person who signed up for the class.

This way, they'd still get the additional content, but they wouldn't be overwhelmed by having to learn it during the live class. 

Your students will feel like you're going above and beyond to serve them -- I mean... who doesn't love a BONUS?!

When done right, bonuses can be a powerful selling tool and teaching aid!

Other bonuses that I like to include are : 

1. A replay of the masterclass

2. Downloadable shopping lists or recommended product lists

Now that you've mapped out your signature process (and thus, the steps you're going to teach in your Live Online Masterclass), the next step is to begin writing the description of your class. This will be placed on your class's enrollment page :

Watch this lesson for tips on how to write the description of your class :

Never assume your customer understands your teaching points or WHY you've included them in your class!

As the instructor, it's your job to connect the dots for her within the description of your class. 

Otherwise, you're leaving it up to chance that she understands the value of your class and how it will tangibly help her! (Spoiler alert : she likely doesn't truly understand!) 

COMPLETE THIS BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE TO BEGIN WRITING YOUR CLASS DESCRIPTION : 

Download this printable worksheet (PDF) or draw a horizontal line down the center of a blank sheet of paper. On the left side of the line, write a header that says "Teaching Point". On the right side, create a header that says "Why? (Customer Benefit)

In the left column, write your first teaching point. Then, in the right column, write the reason you are teaching this skill in the form of a BENEFIT to your customer.

Repeat this for each of your teaching points.

Here's an example :

Once you've completed the brainstorm, on a fresh sheet of paper, combine each teaching point with the corresponding benefit so that it creates a cohesive sentence :

• My absolute favorite foundation for every skin type (spoiler: this is one of my Pro secret weapons that’s super easy to apply and is long wearing!)

• How to bring your best features forward with my quick and easy highlighting technique

• How to sculpt your brows like a pro (this technique works for everyone, even if you have thin, non-existent brows)

• How to create my signature 3-step eye that you can transition from day to night. (I use this technique on almost all of my clients because it just WORKS)

• The 5 must-have tools that will make doing your makeup each morning a BREEZE!

COLOR KEY :

Yellow highlight = the teaching point

Red highlight = the benefit to the student

HELPFUL WRITING TIPS : 

- Write each statement as a FULL SENTENCE, and be mindful of spelling and grammar.

- Write each statement as though you are speaking directly to your customer in real life

- Feel free to vary your sentence structure so that your bullet points don't become redundant 

- **Remember to relate each teaching point to the reason WHY you're teaching it! 

The next step of your planning process is create a compelling "Transformational Promise" for your Live Online Masterclass.

A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROMISE is a 1-2 sentence statement that concisely communicates who your class is for and how your class will help them.

Nailing this statement is of the utmost importance because your class's Transformational Promise will become the HEADLINE on your enrollment page.

Your headline is one of the first things prospective buyers will see when they visit your page, and it's your HEADLINE that will help them to decide whether to keep reading or click away. So, this statement must be STRONG and CLEAR.

Watch this video to learn how to craft your Transformational Promise : 

Here's my favorite formula for creating Transformational Promises for my classes and courses :

So, let's take the "10 Minute Slay" Masterclass as an example.

My customer's desired result : To learn how to do a quick go-to makeup look that'll take just a few minutes in the morning

An example of something my customer doesn't want : Spending a long time doing their makeup in the morning

TRANSFORMATIONAL PROMISE EXAMPLES : 

1. LEARN HOW TO CREATE A FLAWLESS EVERYDAY MAKEUP LOOK IN 5 EASY STEPS SO YOU CAN GET POLISHED, PRETTY AND OUT THE DOOR EACH MORNING IN A FLASH!

- In this example, I started with the desired result, and I qualified it with the # of steps in my signature process.

2. LEARN HOW TO CREATE A FLAWLESS GO-TO MAKEUP LOOK SO YOU CAN GET POLISHED, PRETTY AND OUT THE DOOR EACH MORNING IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS! 

-In this example, I started with the desired result, and I qualified it with a time frame that they've be able to achieve their desired result after learning my signature process.

3. LEARN HOW TO CREATE A FLAWLESS GO-TO MAKEUP LOOK SO YOU CAN GET POLISHED, PRETTY AND OUT THE DOOR EACH MORNING (WITHOUT SPENDING A TON OF TIME DOING YOUR MAKEUP!

- In this example, I started with the desired result, and I qualified it by addressing something they DON'T want.)

4. LEARN HOW TO CREATE A FLAWLESS GO-TO MAKEUP LOOK SO YOU CAN GET POLISHED, PRETTY AND OUT THE DOOR IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS (EVEN IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH DOING YOUR MAKEUP!

- In this example, I started with the desired result, and I qualified it by addressing their  biggest perceived challenge.)

Now, it's your turn! Play around with different formats for your class's Transformational Promise until you land on one that feels just right!

And don't worry if this part takes some time! I typically scribble out 20-30 different versions of my promise and I continue to tweak and narrow them down until I land on "the one"!

When it comes to naming your class, I have one bit of advice :

KEEP IT SIMPLE!

You want a name that's simple, straight-forward, and communicates your offer's promise in 2 - 3 words.

If I'm ever stuck on creating a name for a class or offer, I use one of the following language devices :

• Rhyme - correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words

Examples - Flash Lash Masterclass

• Alliteration - the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Examples : Boss Beauty Masterclass, Makeup Mogul Method, Sip and Slay Masterclass

• Portmanteau - a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others

Examples : motel(from ‘motor’ and ‘hotel’), brunch (from ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’), podcast (from "iPod" and "broadcast")

Watch this video for my best tips for pricing your class : 

There's no "hard and fast" rules for how to price your masterclass. Truth is, you can charge whatever you want!

When thinking about the price of your masterclass, I invite you to complete the following steps : 

Once you've landed on a price for your class, check in with yourself :

Don't undercut yourself! Make sure the final investment for your Live Online Masterclass HONORS your time and expertise!

Now that your class is fully planned, it's time to begin creating your ENROLLMENT + THANK YOU pages.

Watch this video for an overview of the two simple pages you need to set up :

Then, proceed to Step 6.1 for additional instructions!

Regardless of the platform you use to build the enrollment page for your Live Online Masterclass, there are a few essential ingredients that must be present :

1)The TITLE of your class should be largest.

2)The DATE + TIME of your class should be a bit smaller than the class title.

3) Your HEADLINE (which is simply your Transformational Promise) should be a bit smaller than the date + time

These three elements MUST be clearly visible on your page without your customer having to scroll. This called the "above the fold" area.

Then, your customer should see the following :

These are the essential ingredients of a Thank You page : 

1. Title of your class

2. A Confirmation Message (i.e. "Congratulations! Your Seat Is Confirmed!"

3. Information about what you want your customer to do next. I typically like to instruct my students to do the following : 

• Bookmark the link to join the masterclass
• (Optional) A link to allow the student to add the class details to their Google calendar
• A reminder to check their inbox

As you design your page, make sure your include these elements, but feel to modify the verbiage so that it aligns with your brand "voice".

Note : We will insert the necessary links in a future step!

Step 1. Create your enrollment page :

Step 2. Create your Thank You Page :

Step 3. (Optional but recommended) Create the "mobile friendly" version of your pages :

Step 5 : Make your links pretty

Don't forget! You want to create FOUR bit.ly links : 

Before sharing your class to your audience, be sure to test your page to make sure it looks good on the desktop version as well as your mobile device.

This is important because a webpage can look drastically different depending on the size of the screen that it's being viewed on.

Once your Enrollment + Thank You pages are set up, you're ready to configure your checkout page. This is where you'll send your clients to pay for your class.

Feel free to use whichever payment processor you feel comfortable with (i.e. Paypal, Square, etc.)

I like Paypal because it has a few useful advanced features : 

1. You can set it up to automatically redirect your customer to your Thank You page after their payment has been processed

2. You can limit the number of tickets sold, and receive a notification when you're close to selling out

3. You can allow people to purchase multiple tickets

Here's how to set up your checkout page in Paypal :

Here's how to set up your Paypal button to automatically re-direct to your Thank You Page after payment: 

HOW TO SET UP YOUR CLASS IN ZOOM :

Here's a walkthrough of how to set up your Live Online Masterclass in Zoom

HOW TO HOST YOUR CLASS IN ZOOM : 

Watch this video to learn how to use Zoom to host your class.

Click here to learn how to switch to different "views" inside of Zoom :

SETTING UP + HOSTING YOUR CLASS IN GOOGLE HANGOUTS MEET : 

UPDATE : In order to record your class in Google Hangouts Meet, you will have to turn on the recording functionality in your GSuite Admin Console.

Follow the instructions found here : https://support.google.com/a/answer/7557052 (STEP 2)

If you'd like for your attendees to be able to add the details of your Live Online Masterclass to their Google Calendar after they sign up, here's how you set that up :

Now that your Enrollment + Thank You Pages are complete and you've pre-configured your Live Online Masterclass in the platform of your choice, I recommend that you set up the emails that you're going to send to your attendees ahead of time.

These are the emails that I recommend for you to send : 

1. Confirmation Email. Send this within 24 hours of your student signing up for your class.

2. Reminder Emails :

• The day before your class
• The morning of your class
• 1 hour before your class
• Right at your class start time

3. Thank You Email. Send this immediately following your class

4. Replay delivery. Send this email within 48 hours after your class ends to deliver the replay  + any bonuses you promised

Don't worry about drafting your emails from scratch! Your BONUS Email Templates can be found in the next step!

If you're a Gsuite user, you can set up your templates as CANNED RESPONSES. If you do not see this option, here's how you can activate that function : 

1. Click the GEAR ICON

2. Select SETTINGS

3. Select ADVANCED

4. Select ENABLE next to "Templates"

>>>CLICK HERE TO ACCESS YOUR BONUS EMAIL TEMPLATES<<<

>>>CLICK HERE TO ACCESS YOUR MASTERCLASS ENROLLMENT TRACKER<<<

Use this tool to track the names + email addresses of the customers who sign up for your class each day. You can also use this tool to ensure that you've scheduled their reminder emails!

Be sure to watch the video in Step 10.1 to understand how to best use this tool.

Watch this video to see me coach REAL ARTISTS through their masterclass ideas! 

While you CAN use a DSLR to stream to Zoom, you don't need to have a separate camera!

To get things going, you only need a computer or laptop that has a built-in camera and good lighting. If you use a makeup light for your clients, I recommend that you use that to film your class.

If you plan to teach "regular" women how to do makeup, you do not NEED to book a model if you feel comfortable doing makeup on yourself.

This is because real women will resonate with YOU -- a real person who they can relate to.

So, I encourage you to sit down and record your lesson straight to camera!

There's no limit to how long your class "should" be. Instead, focus on limiting the number of teaching points you share with your students. As mentioned in Step 2.2, I recommend that you limit your teaching points to 3-5 steps because this is typically as much as people can retain before feeling overwhelmed.

You can! However, with IG/FB live, your students will only be able to watch you.

The "magic" of hosting your Online Masterclass via Zoom or Google Hangouts Meet is that it's a 2-way class where your students will be able to see you, and you'll be able to see them as well. Teaching this way is the best way to mimic an in-person hands on lesson!

WOO-HOO! You did it!

It's time to celebrate! Be sure to let me know when you launch your class by posting in your Instagram stories and tagging me (@tiyanarobinsonbeauty) so I can repost you!

Also, share your results (how many tickets sold, how much revenue you generated, and how your class went) in The Makeup Mogul Collective, my free Facebook group for Aspiring and Pro Beautypreneurs.

I can't wait to hear all about your class!