Building Your Brand One Day at a Time: FAQ

Questions about the Building Your Brand One Day at a Time e-course? Find answers here!

How much does the course cost?
$175 buys you five weeks of email support and critiques on your existing or new blog. The class site is located at WriteBlogLearn, a Moodle-based program with forums and other fun ways to interact with each other.

How do I sign up?
You can enroll with a click using this PayPal link—you don’t need a PayPal account and can use any major credit card. You may also pay with a money order or check drawn on a U.S. bank; email me directly for instructions and please make sure to allow at least a week for payment to clear before the class begins.

Do I need special software or programs to do the lessons?
No, all you need is a computer with a good internet connection. All the lessons are located at WriteBlogLearn, where you’ll be able to read and download class assignments, talk in the forums, and more.

Do I have to be in a certain place at a certain time?
No. I’ll post the new class lessons every Monday morning. You can read the notes and do the assignments at your pace throughout the week.

Where do I send my questions or assignments?
Email them to me at casey@goodfoodstories.com.

How much time should I set aside for class work?
While I don’t require you to make a full-time commitment to the class, you’ll likely find yourself devoting 4-8 hours a week to branding exercises and practice, depending on your level of comfort with social media. Believe me when I say that eventually, it will stop feeling like an assignment and become a natural extension of the work you do for the site!

What’s your teaching style?
Accessible, informal, and thorough. It’s not a surprise that I’m a bit wordy, given my field, but I try to provide concise and helpful explanations. And I’ll always inject my courses with a lot of humor!

What kinds of questions can I ask?
Anything related to blogging and the course material.

Do you cover technical questions related to site building?
I’ll answer basic questions related to site content and social media content. For technical questions that are beyond my professional scope, I’m happy to refer you to a number of friends and colleagues who are experts in graphic design, CSS, PHP, or any other specific areas of assistance.

What if I need to take time off during the course?
If you need to take some time off due to a crisis or (better yet!) vacation, I’m happy to extend access to the course so you can pick up the lessons upon your return and get the full five weeks of support. Just clear it with me first, to make sure I’m available beyond the scheduled class dates.

I’ll be away when the course starts; can I start a few days late?
Again, no problem. If you want to sign up after the course has started, I’ll set you up on WriteBlogLearn at your convenience, and as soon as I receive your payment, you’ll have access to the rest of the lessons on schedule.

Will there be any interaction with the other students in the course?
Yes! That’s the beautiful thing about WriteBlogLearn’s class forums. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to for discussion and interaction.

When will you answer my questions/critique my assignments?
You can post questions on the forums and send me assignments any time you like. Wednesday and Thursday are my dedicated days for responding to email, but I’ll try to get back to you in between those times, as well.

Do I have to turn in my assignments for critiquing?
No, you can do the assignments independently, although, frankly, you’ll get more out of the class by submitting classwork for feedback.

At the end of the course, what will I have?
You’ll have a well-defined, well-focused website. You’ll know exactly what you’re writing about, who you’re writing for, and how to explain what your site covers to potential readers, clients or employers. You’ll also have PDFs of each weekly lesson, should you need to return to any of the information we covered over the five-week period.

What are your credentials for teaching this course?
I’ve spent the past 10 years on both sides of the editorial fence, both as a writer/editor and as a public relations executive developing and managing press campaigns for arts institutions and lifestyle brands. These days, I’m the editor of Good. Food. Stories., an online magazine that focuses on food from a storyteller’s perspective, and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in ReadyMade, Time Out New York, Interiors, and the Chicago Daily Herald.

Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. You have two weeks from the start date of the course to drop out and get a full refund. After two weeks, refunds are on a case-by-case basis.