Before I launched my successful training business for nonprofit communicators at Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com, I had a lot to learn. I was a writer and communications consultant who also did training workshops. I knew lots about my topics, but zip about how to turn that knowledge and in-person training experience into an online training business.

Luckily for me, at about the same time I was setting up Nonprofit Marketing Guide, Brian Clark of Copyblogger fame was launching Teaching Sells. I was in one of the first groups of students, and I learned an incredible amount from Brian and the other instructors. The program became so popular that Brian eventually closed registration so he could revamp the program to accommodate all the new interest.

Well, starting today, Teaching Sells is now taking on new students again. If you are interested in teaching online, take the course. If you are interested in selling your own content online, take the course. Even though the materials are focused on small businesses, I think nonprofits who want earn revenue through selling reports and training (especially associations) could also learn a great deal from the course. I’ve certainly made back what I spent on the tuition fees many times over, simply because Teaching Sells prevented me from making so many rookie mistakes and saved me hours of time trying to figure out how to do this on my own. Even though I’ve been at this for almost two years now, I still login to Teaching Sells every now and then to get some pointers.

I don’t recommend a lot of products, but Teaching Sells is one that I’m behind all the way.

I’ve got three online courses beginning Monday, June 5. Since each week’s materials take one-two hours to complete, you can safely enroll anytime next week and not get behind. All of the courses are four weeks long.

How to Write a Nonprofit Annual Report — This course teaches participants the basic steps for creating an annual report, including in-depth discussions on all of the major sections. The class covers annual report organization and themes, presenting financial information, writing a strong executive message, and the special extras that can make a report stand out. Cost-saving tips for production and distribution are also shared. Fee: $119.

Making Your Writing Correct — This course reviews some of the most common grammar and punctuation errors, such as using the wrong word (e.g., its versus it’s, that versus which) and subject-verb agreement. It also reviews how to fix misplaced modifiers, run-ons, and incomplete sentences. Fee: $99.

Making Your Writing Clear & Concise — This course focuses on finding and repairing the weak spots in your writing. You’ll learn how to build better sentences and paragraphs and how to get to the point more quickly by cutting deadwood phrases, redundancies, and clichés. It also reviews a handful of writing tricks that will make your writing easier to read. Fee: $99.

All of these courses are now being offered monthly, starting the first Monday of the month. You can register up to three months in advance, so if you can’t take a course this month, you can hold your spot now for next month.

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