There is not any scarcity after all internet hosting and group administration platforms in the marketplace proper now. So once I heard all of the hype a couple of new program referred to as Skool, I initially ignored it.
Nonetheless, I had just a few trusted pals inform me that it was totally different and price testing. I’ve all the time been a fan of the creator Sam Ovens and belief that he would not launch a half-assed program.
So, as I typically do for the sake of this weblog, I signed up and created a group in Skool so I might share with my readers whether or not or not it is value switching from one other platform or not.
The take a look at was nicely value it, and also you REALLY have to study this program.
I ended up launching a take a look at program on Skool referred to as AIP Insiders and the outcomes blew me away. The engagement has been via the roof and it seems like an evening and day distinction in comparison with working my group via a Fb group or one other instrument like Circle.
It could possibly be a gamechanger for you when you’re planning on launching a course/group or wish to stage up an current one.
Let me preface by saying this… No software program will make a nasty group nice. The true X issue is you, your moderators, and the worth you present to your members.
So, let’s get into my fast little Skool overview so you possibly can determine if it is a good match for you or not.
After we overview it, I am going to share with you the 15 ideas I’ve realized up to now that can assist your group thrive and drive actual income for you.
Half #1 Skool Evaluate
What Is Skool?
Skool’s schtick is that they carry your programs collectively along with your group in a single place. That is value efficient but in addition hyper handy and simpler to handle.
This system is extraordinarily minimalistic and focuses on engagement reasonably than having each potential function.
The distinguishing perform of Skool is its deal with gamification to drive engagement. It does this via a leaderboard function that lets members earn bragging rights and the flexibility to unlock programs by participating and finishing varied actions inside the group.
Skool Is an Various To…
There are various alternate options to Skool. The largest names embody Circle.So, Thinkific, Kajabi, Socialglow, Discord (managed via Whop), Mighty Networks, HiveBright, Socialglow. Many individuals choose to make use of a very free answer like Fb as nicely. I’ve written at size about internet hosting your programs and communities on Fb right here when you’re curious.
Who Is the Finest Match for Skool?
Skool is nice if you wish to rapidly construct a group on a platform you personal that’s free from the distractions of a spot like Fb.
Inexperienced creators may not even discover the dearth of promoting instruments, however if you would like a totally optimized gross sales funnel, you will want to look elsewhere OR be ready to place in somewhat elbow grease and pay for further instruments like internet hosting, ThriveCart or ClickFunnels.
Skool Evaluate: How Skool Works
The actual differentiator for Skool is how course content material is unlocked via engagement and finishing varied duties all through the group. This group facet is primarily targeted on posts and feedback, the place customers can work together, like, and touch upon one another’s posts.
You may set it up in order that members cannot entry sure trainings till they’ve reached sure ranges of engagement.
Admins can ALSO award ‘gems’ to posts or feedback they discover notably useful, making these contributions stand out and inspiring extra interplay.
This technique is extremely distinctive however clearly works.
When you do not wish to supply “programs” for ranges, you are able to do issues like Skool does the place they provide a visit to their headquarters for anybody who will get to tier 7.
You may have full management over what content material is unlocked, how a lot is required to unlock it, and who can unlock it.
While you create a gaggle in Skool, there is a classroom part for internet hosting programs. These will be single or a number of programs, that includes modules with titles, descriptions, transcripts, and progress monitoring. Sources will be connected, and discussions are inspired beneath every module.
The Skool Calendar
Skool’s calendar perform helps schedule occasions like Q&A calls, that are robotically transformed to every member’s native timezone. This function ensures that each one members can simply maintain observe of occasions.
Skool Evaluate: What I Liked About It
1. The interface.
It is merely attractive. Lean and aesthetic like a freaking olympic swimmer.
In a world the place each software program appears to be attempting to do as a lot as humanly potential, Skool is conserving it lean and simple to navigate.
They’ve targeted on making the instrument extraordinarily simple to make use of for group members and simple sufficient to make use of for us group builders.
2. The leaderboard.
The gamification of this system is what brings every little thing collectively. So many on-line programs lack any resemblance of group. Skool is totally totally different, and the leaderboard and tiers make it that method.
3. The simplicity.
It is a professional for some and a con for others. A part of what makes it easy additionally makes it restricted in some performance you may want.
One factor I’ve realized although over my years of shopping for, utilizing, and reviewing software program is that the majority options go fully unused and having extra options can, sarcastically, result in a poor person expertise. Generally doing “simply sufficient,” is ideal.
4. Broadcast to members.
Not like locations like Fb which might be flooded with notifications from teams, pages, and pals vying for consideration, Skool admins can electronic mail their members with put up updates. They will additionally notify them through the Skool app. That is a tremendous option to attain your group with a a lot larger charge of consideration.
Skool limits the flexibility to broadcast to your listing through electronic mail to 1x each 72 hours, however that’s a lot, and it would not value you the rest. You need not combine one other electronic mail advertising software program to ship broadcasts.
5. The cellular expertise.
Skool has apps on each iOS and Android app shops, and they’re implausible. The expertise is nice not only for the scholars both; it is also nice for managing this system.
The opposite day I wanted to take away a module that had some very deceptive data on it. I used to be in a position to do it rapidly straight from my iPhone. I could not ever do this with different apps.
Skool Evaluate: What I Did not Love About It
1. It is one other username and password members have to create.
It is simply laborious to speak folks into one more membership space. I want Skool supported a Fb, Discord, or Google log-in system. That might make it a bit simpler to persuade clients to return over.
In equity, that is the case for nearly all of some of these applications.
2. No front-end advertising instruments.
You’ll not discover a funnel builder, autoresponder, or any of the capabilities you’d see from a instrument that’s extra targeted on the gross sales course of. For instance, Kartra, Clickfunnels or ThriveCart all present sturdy gross sales funnels, bump affords, and extra, however you possibly can’t do this in Skool.
You are able to do this, after all, however you may have to do it off of Skool. I am going to proceed utilizing ThriveCart for my funnels and Skool on the backend.
It feels very a lot held collectively by Zapier integrations, which is okay when you’re the kind of one who is aware of easy methods to handle that and the third social gathering instruments you employ are supported.
Lots of the greatest applications on Skool have their very own entrance finish gross sales pages and funnels. It is merely irresponsible for a contemporary marketer to promote one thing with out these kinds of programs in place. It is newbie to simply say “that is the value, pay right here, and this is entry.” The sum of money left on the desk there’s staggering.
3. No group chat performance.
It could possibly be argued that the dialogue boards have the identical impact, however when you needed to do a chat of only a few folks (say 5 pals) you possibly can’t at the moment do this. I might be shocked although if that is not added.
4. No video internet hosting or reside streaming.
You have to to spend somewhat on a webinar software program. This is not an enormous deal both. We use WebinarJam and many individuals choose Zoom anyway. Instruments like Circle supply included reside streaming, however they cap it at very low numbers like 100 earlier than you must pay so as to add extra. If in case you have over 100 members, it turns into much less economical rapidly.
5. No associates program for communities.
The worth of phrase of mouth promoting cannot be overstated. I drive about 40% of all gross sales to my applications via associates. You may nonetheless use affiliate applications in your Skool circulate, however you may be paying for them elsewhere and integrating them your self.
6. No (inbuilt) one time cost choices. [SOLVED]
It is month-to-month recurring or bust with Skool. If you wish to do a one time cost, you may want to make use of a program like ThriveCart. There may be additionally no possibility for charging annual charges (that are confirmed persistently to boost common buyer lifetime worth).
As of June twentieth, now you can promote programs for one time funds inside Skool!
Forms of Skool Communities
Skool helps free and paid communities and you may settle for cost via Skool’s system or via a third social gathering instrument like ThriveCart utilizing a Zapier integration.
There are at the moment 18 totally different classes of communities on Skool. I’ve highlighted those that appear to be the preferred and profitable.
Skool Evaluate: Examples of Folks Incomes with Skool
One of many coolest options about Skool is that they’ve their very own group (constructed with Skool after all) for customers. Individuals are sharing loopy success tales in there, and Sam Oven’s ran a contest not too long ago that confirmed the behind-the-scenes earnings of a few of the Skool communities.
The largest winner for brand spanking new MRR was the Avacado HealthPro group. They cost members $100/month and at the moment listing
Professional Tip
The greatest option to actually get a really feel for whether or not or not you wish to use it along with your group can be by becoming a member of one of many current ones. This offers you a really feel for the way every little thing works, and you may see the person aspect expertise. I discovered this to be wildly useful once I began trying into Skool. Go to their communities web page right here and discover a big group (free or paid) to hitch.
Skool Pricing
Selecting a plan with Skool may be very simple. There’s just one possibility and it is $99/month. It comes with every little thing, and no person will get kind of.
A lot of the alternate options supply a plan on this vary, BUT they hardly ever are capped at it. You get much less options than you’ll on Skool except you improve or purchase add-ons.
When you run a paid group and cost via Skool, you’ll pay a cost processing charge (it is unattainable to not) of two.9% + $0.30 per transaction. That is cheaper than Stripe as a result of Stripe expenses a further 1.5% for worldwide playing cards and 0.5% for subscriptions
Half #2 15 Skool Suggestions
Skool will not do all of the be just right for you although. There are some belongings you’ll wish to do to be sure to’re getting probably the most out of your group. Let’s dive in.
Not But a Skool Person?
Superior! Meaning your group is probably going not dwelling as much as its full potential (or you have not launched one but and also you’re leaving cash on the desk).
Skool is value each penny of the $99/month it prices, however I wish to make the supply even sweeter for you. When you buy Skool via my affiliate hyperlink right here, I am going to do a free 1-on-1 name with you that will help you get arrange and strategized for fulfillment.
As soon as you buy, simply message me on Skool right here to let me know. You can too shoot me an electronic mail to [email protected].
When you aren’t positive if Skool is best for you, go learn my full Skool overview (it consists of an in depth video overview that breaks down Skool’s professionals and cons).
#1 Have Unlocks at Each Degree (However Particularly Degree 6)
When you do not plan on having unlocks, you actually do not get many of the advantages of Skool. Critically, the unlocks are the center of this system. The gamification is what drives engagement.
Extra engagement results in a greater group.
Engaged members see higher outcomes, which results in phrase of mouth advertising for you which implies, you guessed it, extra gross sales and fewer churn!
I point out stage 6 particularly right here as a result of that’s the stage that requires above common, constant engagement. Nonetheless, it is also realistically obtainable.
The most effective factor you are able to do is have unlocks at every stage finally. I might begin at stage 6 although and make it one thing that’s genuinely superior after which do the others after.
#2 Unlocks Do not Have to Be Programs
Do not let the phrases “Classroom” or “course” idiot you. Unlocks do not should be programs. They simply should be delivered in the identical model as a course.
They’ll all the time seem within the classroom space, however they are often issues like entry to occasions (in-person or cyber) or downloadables (PDFs, eBooks, Worksheets, and so on).
For my unlocks, I’ve programs, bonus movies and helpful spreadsheets.
They embody a coaching video and a hyperlink to open and duplicate the spreadsheet. That is what that appears like on the within.
Get artistic right here, you can additionally supply issues like free software program or reductions on different belongings you supply. That is huge “win-win” because it might drive further gross sales off Skool.
If you wish to ship a digital obtain like an e-book or cheat sheet, you may simply have to host it someplace. If in case you have a wordpress web site, it is very simple. You may study easy methods to host your information and make them downloadable without spending a dime right here.
#3 Encourage Members to Obtain the Cell App
I haven’t got the info, however we are able to safely assume that having a cellular model of Skool helpful will dramatically enhance the engagement charges for members.
Every time I wish to use Fb much less, the very first thing I do is delete the cellular app so I am pressured to apply it to desktop.
Do not go away this to probability, in your welcome message to members, remind them to put in the app.
I like to recommend that you just do two issues.
First, add it to your welcome message.
Subsequent, make an motion put up for it.
You may also wish to add do a “Ship electronic mail to all members,” notification whenever you make the motion put up after which a few times in a while as new members be part of.
#4 Make Positive Your Group Title Is Descriptive and Clear
The uncover function in Skool is barely going to get extra well-liked over time. In case your group is public and also you wish to drive gross sales organically via Skool (why would not you?), make the title apparent.
As an alternative of one thing imprecise like “Born for This,” that might apply to any variety of niches, be extra descriptive within the title and the outline under it.
This one is ideal. It makes it painfully apparent what the group is and what to anticipate.
Ask your self, “what phrases would somebody sort in to seek out my group?” Then just remember to embody these phrases in your title and outline.
#5 Use a Video + Max Photos
Skool would not give us a ton of actual property to advertise our teams. So it is vital that we use each little bit of it that they offer us.
The easiest way to get as a lot bang on your buck as potential is thru video. You may embed movies that seem in your group description web page.
This group really used 5 separate movies.
You can too add pictures that are a good way to rapidly clarify extra about your group than you possibly can match within the 1,000 character restrict they offer you.
#6 Leverage the “On-line” Characteristic to Message Members Whereas They’re on Skool
In case your group is sufficiently small for it to be possible, attain out to your members who’re on-line.
It is a nice option to make folks really feel seen and valued. Each of that are conducive to elevated retention and a extra thriving group.
#7 Stoke the Flames of Competitors
I usually prefer to put up and congratulate members who’ve reached new ranges in addition to give props to the highest weekly contributors.
This is rather like gasoline for engagement.
#8 Manage with Classes
Classes give construction to your group. New members will reap the advantage of a deep pool of current posts and engagements. Classes make it simple to skip between them and discover precisely what you are in search of.
Including emojis in entrance of your classes is a pleasant contact.
#9 Pin a Welcome Message with Guidelines
Bonus: Make a brief welcome video that explains the group and the way Skool works.
#10 Add Vital Hyperlinks
Bonus: Make a brief welcome video that explains the group and the way Skool works.
You may discover the place so as to add hyperlinks inside your admin space. You may add the arrows like I did with the reminder within the group description.
#11 Format Textual content with YayText
You is likely to be shocked to see that Skool would not enable you the flexibility to format textual content in your dialogue posts. No daring or italics choices can be found.
This is not a missed function, it was really a function that was eliminated. Sam Ovens mentioned that folks could not management themselves and had been making all daring posts, so that they killed it.
Nonetheless, you possibly can bypass this utilizing YayText.com.
I used this for my welcome put up and that was about it.
#12 Have an “Motion” Class
Motion gadgets are a good way to drive engagement. Including an “Motion” class makes it simple for members to see all the obtainable motion gadgets to allow them to go stage up most rapidly.
I name mine ⚡️ Motion Posts (Degree Up). I really feel prefer it’s higher than simply “Motion” since that is not tremendous clear.
Simply ensure that the motion factors are related and vital.
#13 Ship an Auto-DM
Skool allows you to ship a message to all new members of your group. That is an superior probability to remind them of vital first steps or motion gadgets.
Simply be ready to reply replies. Do not flip this on if you do not have the bandwidth to answer to messages again.
#14 Use Zapier Integration to Automate E-mail Assortment
When you aren’t conversant in Zapier, this half could be a little difficult, however it’s value doing.
With out this integration, you may have so as to add the emails of latest members manually into your
The method shall be totally different based mostly on which of the lots of of electronic mail advertising software program you employ however I take advantage of ConvertKit.
This is a tutorial exhibiting easy methods to arrange this integration. Take into accout, the steps shall be practically the identical with whichever electronic mail software program you employ.
#15 No Query Goes Unanswered!
The easiest way to get folks to cease participating in your group is by letting their questions go unanswered. Make a behavior of checking your group day by day and answering questions.
If that is not one thing you can also make occur, take into account hiring an admin or moderator to do it. Folks will do it without spending a dime, however it’s best to pay them when you’re making a living on the group. Simply my 2 cents.
Bonus Tip: Construct a Entrance Finish Gross sales Funnel
I really use WordPress and ThriveCart on the entrance finish of my Skool group. I do that for the next perks.
- Associates program. Skool has confirmed they’ve their very own associates program coming quickly, however within the meantime, this labored wonders for my preliminary launch.
- One time funds. Skool is targeted on the recurring cost mannequin. I really like that mannequin too, however on my gross sales funnels, I love to do one time funds. ThriveCart made that doable.
- Upsells, downsells and bump affords. What’s a suggestion with out a funnel anyway?
- Paying out my co-creators robotically via JV contracts. That is a tremendous function nobody appears to know or speak about. 50% of my earnings went to my companions Liz and Toni and ThriveCart allowed me to pay them robotically on every sale.
- Extra room for promoting of us on the supply. Skool would not provide you with true gross sales pages. With WordPress and ThriveCart, I used to be in a position to create an extended kind gross sales web page that I might actively break up take a look at.
I included this as a bonus tip as a result of it’s miles from mandatory and for many individuals, it’d simply gradual them down from taking any motion. You may all the time come again later and make a full-blown gross sales funnel.
