• Who: Christine Gomolka
• Website: paidcopywriter.com and christinegomolka.com
• Course Topic: Copywriting Training
• Interesting Stats: $5K months

Who are you and what course have you created?

I’m a full-time freelance copywriter. When I realized copywriters around me were struggling to get clients and make a full-time income freelancing, I created paidcopywriter.com to share free resources about client acquisition and freelance business tips.

I eventually created my digital course, 30 Days to Paid, which teaches freelancers how to land higher-paying clients with cold pitching and other outreach methods.

30 Days to Paid is for anyone who wants to break free from the 9-5, ditch the boss, and work on their own schedule as a freelancer!

What market does your online course serve?

Students who enroll in 30 Days to Paid are from every ethnicity, age and gender. From college students to retirees, what we all have in common is wanting to pursue copywriting as a career and get paid well to do it!

What’s the biggest benefit of taking your course?

Freelancers who enroll in 30 Days to Paid can finally ditch low-paying freelance work and saturated sites like Upwork. Many writers struggle to get paid what they deserve, which is what I solve with my 5 step client acquisition framework!

By the end of my course, freelancers can confidently land their first high-paying freelance copywriting client in 30 days or less!

How did you get into the market?

In 2019, I quit my job in sales (after years of building a career) with no backup plan. I was burnt out and terrified of making a career switch. Writing for a living seemed unrealistic until I discovered freelance content and copywriting.

Following the exact steps I teach in my course, I landed my first client in less than 30 days despite having no experience. 30 Days to Paid was built based on tried and true sales principles I learned during my sales career, tailored to new freelancers.

Why did you decide to create an online course in the first place?

My success as a freelance writer came down to understanding cold pitching and how to talk to clients. I always say, you don’t have a freelance business without clients, so that’s the most important part (besides the actual writing!) yet many freelancers don’t understand how to pitch or are afraid to “put themselves out there.”

I realized if I could teach the sales principles I had spent so many years honing, other aspiring writers could leave their toxic jobs the way I did and finally find freedom through self-employment. - Christine Gomolka Click To Tweet

Did you have any moments of doubt before you created/launched it?

The road to building and marketing an online course is filled with doubt and insecurity! Especially if you’re building an audience from scratch. Learning the technology took time and effort but pushing myself to market the course and become “public” was the most challenging part of the process.

If so what made you turn it around and do it anyway?

I was really motivated to build something of my own. As a freelance ghostwriter, my words are all over the internet, but none are attributed to me! My platform (especially my email list and YouTube channel) allows me to create something of my own. I felt like God was calling me to step into this role and use my past experiences to help others on their freelance journey, and I followed His voice.

What’s your online course like?

My course is comprised of video modules with additional support PDFs. I recorded all of my modules using my iPhone and a tripod. I recorded with Descript and used Canva for the screen share slides.

How long did it take you to create your course?

I got my start by taking Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy. In her program, she teaches how to build and market online courses using Kajabi, and it took me about a month to get through. My course was live about one month after completing the course.

Tell us a little about the process of launching your course and getting your first sale(s).

I followed Amy Porterfield’s formula for live launching with webinars. I began posting on social media and shared my lead magnet in Facebook groups. With my work, I got five students to enroll in my first launch. I suggest new course creators start with live launching before switching to Evergreen.

Do you have a lead magnet?

I have a few different lead magnets. One is a PDF that shares cold pitch templates for freelance writers and a guide to LinkedIn for freelancers. I also have a free workshop. All of these lead magnets route people to my weekly newsletter and my sales funnel.

What’s the traffic strategy that works best for you?

YouTube is my main traffic source. I got started on YouTube by accident. I initially began creating videos for my blog on my website and was using YouTube to house the videos. After a few videos, people began finding my videos way more easily than having them come to my site.

I began posting on YouTube consistently and eventually hired a video editor to help me with make higher-quality videos. It’s amazing to see my email list grow via YouTube! - Christine Gomolka Click To Tweet

What online course platform are you using?

Kajabi hosts my email list, course modules, podcast, and sales funnels.

Do you like it?

I love Kajabi. It not only provides a high-quality learning experience for students, but they have excellent customer service.

Are there any features you wish it had?

I wish they had better email features. While it does the job, segmenting and other personalizations are limited compared to ConvertKit and other email providers.

What made you decide to use your chosen platform over others?

Kajabi is one of the only true “all-in-one” platforms. I had taken other courses in the past by instructors who used Kajabi and it’s one of the best user experiences around. I didn’t want to string together many tools that would cost more time and money. Their reputation for customer service was also key because I was a course creation newbie!

What other tools do you use to run your online course business?

• Asana for project management, staying organized
• I run my community support group via Slack
• All of my demos and YouTube videos are recorded with Descript
• I use Canva for all graphics
• Google surveys, docs, and sheets for sharing documents with students
• Jasper, Contentedge, and Wordtune are my AI writing tools
• Zoom for my live support calls and podcast/YouTube interviews

What books or training programs have you found useful on your journey to a successful business owner that others might find valuable too?

Book: Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller helped me with my messaging.

Course: Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy

Course: UpLevel with Asana by Louise Henry

Do you have any big mistakes you’ve made along the way that you’d be willing to share?

Getting shiny-object syndrome and listening to many opinions within the online business community. I wish I stayed off of Instagram because I had so many opinions flying at me and many people to compare myself to.

Staying in your lane, especially when first starting, is the best way to focus. - Christine Gomolka Click To Tweet

Please share some idea of revenue.

I am making, on average, ~5K months.

Please tell us a little about what the money you’ve earned from your course has done for you.

My main income comes from being a copywriter in the software industry, and things have been really rocky in tech the past few years. Tech has faced several rounds of massive layoffs, a shaky economy, and the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Many of my tech clients are slashing budgets and laying off their entire marketing departments, so business has temporarily slowed for me. I’m grateful for the additional monthly income my course has provided me.

What has creating your course done for you personally?

As a ghostwriter, I have hundreds of articles and web pages online that aren’t attributed to me. Creating and marketing my course has allowed me to finally start a solid personal brand and put my work out in the world under my name.

Do you have a story of a transformation from any of your clients?

One of my favorite testimonials on my site is from a student who landed their first client using my method. They shared that the monthly retainer from this client covers her mortgage. This is a huge win because once aspiring writers land their first high-paying client, they just need to repeat the process until they’re making a full-time income!

What advice do you have for people just starting out?

I would advise to tune others out, stop consuming content from similar creators, and focus on your experience and unique message.

Learn more about Christine Gomolka of paidcopywriter.com:

• Website: paidcopywriter.com and christinegomolka.com
• Instagram
• Podcast
• LinkedIn Guide for Freelancers