As a retired engineer, I’ve spent decades solving complex problems and bringing innovative ideas to life. But now, as I embark on my next adventure – starting an online business – I find myself in unfamiliar territory. The digital landscape is vast and ever-changing, and I quickly realized I needed guidance from those who’ve already navigated these waters successfully.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the 11 best online business coaches. Each of these experts brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the table, from mastering sales funnels to dominating social media marketing. Whether you’re a fellow retiree looking for a new challenge or a young entrepreneur eager to make your mark, these coaches offer invaluable insights to help you succeed in the online business world.
1. Russell Brunson
Russell Brunson is a prominent figure in the world of online marketing and sales funnels. As the co-founder and CEO of ClickFunnels, a leading software platform for building sales funnels and marketing automation, Brunson has revolutionized the way entrepreneurs approach online business. With over 19 years of experience, he has built a following of more than a million entrepreneurs and sold hundreds of thousands of copies of his books, earning him the title of New York Times Bestselling Author.
Brunson’s expertise lies in his innovative approach to marketing funnels, which has proven highly effective in today’s digital landscape. His strategy focuses on providing value to customers at every stage of the funnel, utilizing data-driven decisions and a customer-centric approach. This method has helped countless entrepreneurs maximize their conversions and drive results. Brunson is also known for his emphasis on storytelling and brand-building within the funnel, creating emotional connections with audiences and fostering increased engagement and loyalty.
2. Affiliate Marketing Coaching by Jack Davis
Jack Davis is a prominent figure in the affiliate marketing industry, known for his expertise in building successful authority sites and generating substantial income through affiliate marketing. With over a decade of experience since 2010, Davis has established himself as a trusted mentor and coach in the field. He is the founder of Affiliate Marketing Masterclass, a comprehensive platform that offers both free and paid resources to aspiring affiliate marketers.
Davis’s teaching approach is characterized by its practicality and actionable insights. His free masterclass covers essential topics such as finding profitable niches, leveraging AI for content creation, discovering easy-to-rank keywords, building white-hat links at scale, and growing an email list. What sets Davis apart is his emphasis on personalized coaching. He offers one-on-one consulting services ranging from $500 to $2,500, tailored to meet the specific needs of his clients. These coaching packages include in-depth SEO guidance, content optimization strategies, and techniques for maximizing ad revenue and affiliate income.
Students of Jack Davis’s programs consistently report significant improvements in their affiliate marketing efforts. Many have seen substantial increases in their affiliate sales and commissions, with some reporting a 200% increase in earnings within just two months of implementing his strategies. Davis’s coaching is particularly praised for its clarity, step-by-step approach, and the personalized advice that helps students refine their strategies and avoid common pitfalls in the affiliate marketing industry.
3. Dropshipping Coaching by James Johnson
James Johnson is a seasoned entrepreneur and educator in the dropshipping industry. Since 2008, Johnson has built multiple six-figure dropshipping stores and generated millions in sales. He is the founder of DropshippingCourse.org, a platform dedicated to teaching aspiring entrepreneurs how to succeed in the dropshipping business model. Johnson’s expertise extends beyond dropshipping, as he also founded a marketing agency focused on building eCommerce brands.
Johnson’s teaching methodology is comprehensive and practical, covering crucial aspects of dropshipping such as choosing profitable niches, finding reliable suppliers, building online stores, optimizing for SEO, developing marketing strategies, automating operations, and focusing on customer service. His free dropshipping course is highly regarded for its structured and thorough curriculum, making complex concepts accessible to beginners.
Similar to Jack Davis, Johnson offers personalized coaching services that have received glowing reviews from his students. Many of his coaching clients report significant success, with some achieving consistent sales and reaching milestones such as $10,000 in monthly revenue within just a few months of starting their dropshipping businesses. Johnson’s coaching is particularly praised for its hands-on approach, helping students navigate challenges from niche selection to marketing campaign optimization.
4. Online Business Coaching by Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith is the founder of High Income Source, a platform dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build successful online businesses. With over 15 years of experience in internet marketing, Smith has established himself as an expert in various online business models, including affiliate marketing, digital product creation, and e-commerce.
Smith’s journey began in 2005 when he started his first online business. Since then, he has generated millions of dollars in online sales and has helped thousands of students achieve success in their own online ventures. His expertise spans across multiple areas, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.
The Online Business Coaching Program offered by High Income Source is designed to provide comprehensive guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs. This program covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Niche selection and market research
- Website creation and optimization
- Content marketing strategies
- Traffic generation techniques
- Monetization methods
- Scaling and automation strategies
Smith’s coaching approach emphasizes practical, actionable advice tailored to each student’s unique goals and circumstances. The program includes one-on-one coaching sessions, group coaching calls, and access to a private community of like-minded entrepreneurs.
One of the key features of Smith’s coaching is his focus on sustainable business practices. He encourages students to build businesses that not only generate income but also provide value to their customers and have the potential for long-term growth.
High Income Source also offers a variety of free resources, including blog posts, videos, and webinars, to help entrepreneurs get started with their online business journey. These resources cover topics such as affiliate marketing strategies, email list building, and effective product creation.
5. Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk is a dynamic entrepreneur and digital marketing expert who has made a significant impact in the realms of social media marketing and personal branding. Known widely as @garyvee, Vaynerchuk gained prominence by transforming his family’s local liquor store into the multi-million dollar Wine Library. His success, however, extends far beyond this initial venture. Vaynerchuk’s distinct personal brand has established him as a thought leader in business, marketing, and motivation.
At the core of Vaynerchuk’s approach is an unwavering commitment to authenticity. He shares unfiltered moments from his daily life, including behind-the-scenes looks at business meetings and personal reflections, which resonate strongly with his audience. His strategy involves maintaining a multi-platform presence, tailoring content to suit the audience of each platform, including Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and his podcast.
Vaynerchuk’s philosophy revolves around “documenting, not creating,” emphasizing the importance of sharing one’s journey rather than spending excessive time on polished content. He consistently delivers actionable insights to his audience, fostering engagement and loyalty. His approach to personal branding includes active engagement with his audience through comments, direct messages, and even phone calls, creating a strong sense of community.
As the co-founder and CEO of VaynerMedia, a full-service advertising agency, Vaynerchuk has expanded his influence in the digital marketing space. He has built a team that reflects his brand values, with VaynerMedia operating under a similar ethos. Vaynerchuk’s ability to adapt to changes in technology and social media trends, such as his early adoption of TikTok, showcases his forward-thinking approach to digital marketing.
6. Neil Patel
Neil Patel is a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry, renowned for his expertise in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and content marketing. As the co-founder of several successful companies including Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and Kissmetrics, Patel has established himself as an entrepreneur with a knack for developing tools that help businesses improve their web traffic and conversion rates.
Patel’s influence in the digital marketing world is far-reaching. He runs NeilPatel.com, a popular blog where he shares insights and strategies related to SEO and digital marketing. Through his digital marketing agency, NP Digital, founded in 2017, he has worked with major brands such as Adobe, CNN, and ConnectWise. Patel’s expertise has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of the top 10 marketers by Forbes magazine.
What sets Patel apart is his commitment to making digital marketing more accessible to businesses of all sizes. He offers various educational resources like webinars, courses, and e-books designed to assist marketers at all levels of expertise. His content attracts individuals and businesses interested in digital marketing, covering topics such as SEO, content marketing, and online advertising.
Patel’s approach to digital marketing emphasizes ethical practices and best strategies. He has been instrumental in popularizing many prevailing digital marketing strategies, including content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. His educational efforts have reached millions of businesses, enlightening them about the immense potential of digital marketing and elevating industry standards.
7. Sarah Chrisp
Sarah Chrisp is a prominent figure in the dropshipping and e-commerce industry, known for her YouTube channel and online education platform, Wholesale Ted. Born in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand, Chrisp developed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship, which led her to pursue a degree in business and e-commerce from the University of Auckland. After gaining valuable experience in digital marketing, SEO, and PPC advertising, she founded her first e-commerce store in 2012, selling niche products.
In 2015, Chrisp launched Wholesale Ted, a comprehensive resource for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their e-commerce businesses. Her YouTube channel, which has amassed over 1.23 million subscribers, offers a wealth of information on dropshipping, product research, and online business strategies. Chrisp’s teaching style is characterized by its straightforward approach and accessibility, making complex concepts easy to understand for beginners and experienced entrepreneurs alike.
One of Chrisp’s notable contributions to the dropshipping community is her course “6 Steps That 6 Figures,” which outlines a step-by-step process for creating a profitable e-commerce business. The course covers essential topics such as finding profitable niches, conducting market research, and creating a unique brand identity. Chrisp’s emphasis on practical, actionable advice and her use of real-world case studies have made her a respected authority in the field.
8. Anton Kraly
Anton Kraly is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Drop Ship Lifestyle, a highly regarded online training program and community for e-commerce entrepreneurs. With over 15 years of experience in building online businesses, Kraly has established himself as an expert in high-ticket dropshipping and e-commerce strategies. His program, Drop Ship Lifestyle, was voted the “Best eCommerce Course” by Shopify and has helped over 15,000 entrepreneurs worldwide start, build, and grow their dropshipping businesses.
Kraly’s approach to dropshipping focuses on high-ticket items, typically with a minimum price point of $200 and an average order value exceeding $1,000. This strategy allows for higher profit margins, which is crucial in the dropshipping model where margins can be thinner compared to traditional retail. He emphasizes the importance of building direct relationships with manufacturers and brands rather than relying on distributors, which helps ensure better pricing, inventory control, and overall business stability.
One of the key aspects of Kraly’s teaching is his emphasis on creating niche-specific stores rather than general marketplaces. For example, he advocates for dedicated stores selling products like stand-up desks or surfboards, allowing entrepreneurs to become specialists in their chosen niche. This approach enables more focused marketing efforts and the ability to build stronger relationships with suppliers.
9. Ezra Firestone
Ezra Firestone is a renowned e-commerce entrepreneur and thought leader who has made significant contributions to the field of online business growth and brand building. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Firestone has established himself as a go-to expert for those looking to scale their e-commerce ventures. He is best known for his success with BOOM! by Cindy Joseph, a cosmetics brand he grew from $0 to over $40 million in annual revenue.
Firestone’s approach to e-commerce emphasizes the importance of building a brand rather than just focusing on individual product sales. He advocates for a long-term strategy that involves creating deep, meaningful customer relationships. One of his key principles is reinvesting 10%-30% of top-line revenue into paid media for brand amplification. Firestone also stresses the significance of email marketing, which he credits for generating 25-40% of his business revenue since 2005.
In addition to his practical experience, Firestone shares his knowledge through Smart Marketing, an online school for e-commerce education. He emphasizes the importance of diversifying beyond Amazon, suggesting that sellers should consider platforms like Shopify to strengthen their brand’s digital footprint. Firestone’s teachings often highlight the value of creating content that resonates with the target audience, such as pre-sell articles and gated content to grow email lists.
10. Jeanine Blackwell
Jeanine Blackwell is a marketing strategist and expert in creating expert-based businesses and online courses. With a background in brain-based instructional design and delivery, Blackwell has established herself as a leading figure in the field of online education and course creation. She is the author of “ENGAGE: The Trainer’s Guide to Learning Styles” and has co-authored “Hold On, You Lost Me!” with 4MAT creator Dr. Bernice McCarthy.
Blackwell’s expertise lies in helping coaches, consultants, authors, and other experts create and launch profitable online courses. Her approach, known as the Expert Experience Method, has been featured in prominent publications such as Inc, SUCCESS, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur. She offers a range of programs and services, including the Create 6-Figure Courses Virtual Bootcamp and the Virtual Inner Circle Incubator Retreat, designed to guide entrepreneurs through every aspect of creating and promoting online courses.
As the founder of Simple Seven Digital, Blackwell has developed a comprehensive system for course creation that covers everything from identifying ideal clients to scripting powerful webinars and creating high-converting sales pages. Her methods are particularly focused on helping experts package their knowledge into courses that not only generate revenue but also lead to higher-level coaching or consulting offers.
11. Franklin Hatchett
Franklin Hatchett is a digital entrepreneur and expert in dropshipping and various online business models. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Hatchett has gained worldwide recognition for his expertise in affiliate marketing, dropshipping, Facebook advertising, and search engine optimization. He is the creator of the popular eCom Elites course, which is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and affordable dropshipping courses available.
Hatchett’s approach to teaching dropshipping is both practical and innovative. His eCom Elites course covers a wide range of topics, including setting up an online store, sourcing products, leveraging various traffic sources like Facebook and Instagram, email marketing, and even chatbot marketing. What sets Hatchett apart is his focus on real-world examples and his willingness to share strategies that have worked for him personally. He has reportedly generated over 7-figures in revenue through dropshipping and has also found success in other online ventures, such as affiliate marketing and software development.
