5 Steps to Building a YouTube Funnel for Teachers Without Burnout

You're a teacher, so you're already good at delivering lessons and helping students.

But your paycheck doesn't reflect the effort you put in. And that is a valid concern!

So if you've been wondering how to supplement your salary, I've got some ideas.

To build a YouTube funnel for teachers, start with what you already know.

Then take care of (or ‘nurture') your followers.

And eventually you'll guide viewers toward a paid mini-course that helps them learn even more.

I'm doing this myself right now with my blog and digital products.

It's been a lot of fun and I've learned a lot!

This won't get you ‘rich quick.'

But it is a great way to start earning more money as you continue helping others.

TL;DR

TL;DR

Here's how to monetize educational YouTube videos without burning out:

Step 1: Pick one clear topic you already know well and could explain confidently.

Step 2: Design a simple mini-course around that topic focused on quick wins.

Step 3: Create a free resource (or ‘freebie') related to your YouTube video.

Offer it at the end to build your email list.

And further down the road, you can introduce your paid mini-course through email.

Step 4: Set a price you feel okay with (start lower if you're new, adjust later).

Step 5: Keep teaching and helping your students. Provide value above all else.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

What Is a Sales Funnel?

A sales funnel is what customers move through as they get to know you and your offers.

You're starting with a broad audience who learns about what you have to teach.

Eventually they might become paid customers, what they call ‘converting.'

The thing is, you don't want to directly sell to your audience until they've spent time in your world.

Think of it like teaching.

You don't assign the most complex task on day one.

You start with something manageable, help students feel capable, and then build from there.

With educational content, it might look like this:

Someone watches a YouTube video because they have a problem they need help with.

You offer a small, related free resource that helps them make progress.

They join your email list and you keep supporting them.

Over time, some of your audience may buy a paid mini-course if they want more in-depth tools.

This is something my blogging mentor, Sadie, talks about in Passive Income Pathways.

That's the program I've been working with during my journey outside of the classroom.

(Still an educator, though, it just looks different these days!)

Totally new to the idea of funnels or want to improve what you have?

Check out this free guide from Jess at Elevated Operations Online.

In it, she goes over common freebie funnel mistakes and how to avoid them.

Pick One Clear Topic You Could Teach Right Now

This is where if you're like me, you might get stuck overthinking.

Especially if every idea feels equally important.

But don't worry, because there isn't really a right or wrong place to start.

You just want to choose a topic you know a lot about, and could explain to someone else.

You're starting with a single problem you already know how to solve.

Ask yourself:

What do colleagues or parents ask you about repeatedly?

What's something that consistently works in your classroom?

What do you wish someone had explained to you earlier?

Then you should also consider what are a lot of teachers looking for?

Things like beginning-of-the-year routines.

Or, classroom centers that can run smoothly.

Ways to create a calmer start to the day.

When I was teaching elementary music, there were certain games my students requested year after year.

Those were reliable, tested, and joyful.

I loved them too, and I loved being able to step back and let the students lead the game.

So freeing and just a great feeling to witness what they have learned that way.

If I were monetizing that as YouTube content, that's where I'd start. (Depending on copyright, of course!)

Your idea will look different based on your role, interests, and experience.

Design Your Mini-Course Around Quick Wins

People go to YouTube looking for educational content because they need help.

Like, now.

They're not looking for an elaborate system that takes months to learn.

They need something that solves their problem quickly and effectively.

A simple structure can help you as you begin brainstorming mini-courses.

Start by naming what's commonly going wrong.

This helps people feel understood and reassured they're not failing.

It's just a challenge that a lot of others have faced.

Next, introduce a repeatable approach.

This might be a routine, a checklist, or a clear set of steps.

Giving instructions? Yes. You got that part nailed!

You already know how to break things down and encourage people to go through steps in order.

Finally, recap what they've learned.

Just like with teaching, that review piece is super important.

It helps solidify learning and also gives ideas about what might be coming up next.

Connect the YouTube Video to the Freebie

Your YouTube video teaches one useful piece of the topic.

At the end, you invite viewers to download a free resource that supports the same idea.

That resource gives them something tangible they can use right away.

In doing so, they join your email list.

From there, you keep the same conversation going by email.

Share clarification, examples, or encouragement related to the original lesson.

You will take time here to, like with teaching, build relationships.

You'll need to be consistent as you send helpful emails.

Eventually, you can introduce your paid mini-course as the next logical step for people who want more.

This lets you monetize educational videos without turning every video into a sales pitch.

The offer is natural because it builds on what you've already helped them start.

And you will keep delivering more and more detailed, valuable content as they continue to progress.

(In the program I'm in, the next step is a low-ticket membership. But for this post, we are stopping here.)

Set a Price You Feel Good About

Pricing anything to sell can make you feel crazy if you let it get out of hand.

Basically you want to choose a price you feel comfortable with.

This is not necessarily the highest price, especially if you care about financial accessibility.

This is a price that feels fair to you and lets you feel good, so you are more likely to actually promote it.

Not because you or your content isn't worth more, but because that will help you reach a wider audience.

You can always adjust later as you learn more, do more research, and get to know your audience better.

Keep Teaching (Your New ‘Students')

As you begin to build your content and audience, don't forget that you're still teaching.

You still are using your educator skills! Woohoo!

So whether or not that's in your day job or with your side hustle, you're still making a difference.

Why the Email List Matters

Your email list is incredibly important and valuable.

And, your freebie that you gave your audience doesn't just help them.

It also gives you a way to stay in touch with people who already want support with what you know.

From there, your job is mainly to be useful and consistent.

It means continuing the same friendly conversation your video started.

A short, thoughtful sequence of emails you send out can help you build community.

And let others know that they can trust you.

Tools That Help (But Don't Get Lost in This Part)

Here are some of the tools I use and recommend to others because of how effective they are.

Passive Income Pathways teaches, among other things, how to build income online is sustainable ways.

Subtrio is a white-label of Go High Level that me and my blogging group use extensively.

(For emails, hosting courses, building landing pages/funnels, you name it!)

If you're just starting out, though, don't rush into buying anything.

Your content quality matters more than the format or platform.

You can host a mini-course on a simple Google Drive folder and process payments another way.

I haven't done it like that, but my point is you can find work arounds as you gain experience.

And when you're ready, you can give your tools a ‘glow up!'

Start Smaller Than You Think You Need To

It's easy to look at all of this and feel like you have to have everything done at once. Perfectly!

You don't, though.

If you're tired of feeling broke and burned-out with your day job, this is a process.

Write down a topic you could explain easily because you've done it so many times.

Something you'd genuinely enjoy helping someone else to better understand.

Once you have that, you're heading in the right direction.

If You're Overwhelmed, Start Here

Listen, I totally get how completely overwhelming it is to even consider trying to make money outside of teaching.

You might, as I did, never have seriously considered it until it became a necessity.

(For either financial or mental/emotional reasons, or all of the above.)

So if you'd like some help thinking through a few options?

Download my Teacher Side Hustle Starter Map.

It's designed to help you make decisions when you're exhausted and burned-out.

Final Thoughts

You don't need a huge library to build a funnel for teachers and monetize it through YouTube.

You need a clear topic, a helpful free resource, and a way to stay connected with your audience.

The mini course can come along later, too.

Keep the structure simple enough that you can maintain it.

Price your work in a way that feels honest and also respectful.

You're already doing so much intensely hard work.

You're teaching, managing all the things, and helping your students learn.

Now your content can help you out a little bit more, too.

And you deserve that!

Let me know how this goes for you, and if any questions come up.

I'm happy to help.