Online Business Programs I Use and Recommend

There is no shortage of online business training. The difficult part is deciding which programs are worth your time and money — and, just as importantly, when you don't need another one.

Over the years I have invested considerable time and money in online business courses, coaching and membership programs. I have learned something useful from most of them, but learning and earning are not the same thing. So far, the financial return from those programs has not covered what I have spent.

That experience has changed my approach. Rather than continually adding new programs, I now want to concentrate on putting what I have learned into practice, keeping tighter control of ongoing costs and using a smaller number of programs that have a clear purpose.

The programs on this page are therefore not simply a list of products for which I may receive a commission. They are programs I know from personal experience, together with my view of what they offer, who they may suit and anything I think you should consider before joining.

Before You Join Another Program

A new training program can be very tempting, particularly when it promises to solve the problem you are currently facing. But every program requires more than its purchase price. It also requires time to learn and implement what it teaches.

Before joining, ask yourself what you actually need help with. Are you learning the basics, trying to build an affiliate business, developing your own product, looking for leads, or trying to improve something you already have?

Then consider the total commitment — not only the initial price, but any monthly subscriptions, additional software, advertising or other services that may be needed to put the training into practice.

Make Use of What You Already Have

One lesson I have learned is that buying more training doesn't necessarily move a business forward. Sometimes the answer is already sitting in a course you own, a tool you subscribe to or something you learned months ago but haven't yet implemented.

Before paying for another program, look at what you already have. Ask whether you genuinely need more information — or whether you need to spend more time putting existing knowledge into practice.

Choose the Program to Suit Your Goal

Different programs are designed to solve different problems. The right choice depends less on which program sounds most impressive and more on what you are actually trying to achieve.

You may want to learn how to create and sell your own product, build an affiliate business, generate leads and grow an email list, or develop your knowledge and skills. Each requires a different approach, and no single program is likely to be the best answer for everything.

Start with your immediate goal, then consider which program — if any — will help you reach it without taking you outside the time and financial limits you have set for your business.