How Specializing in Niche Technical Expertise Like Clash ID Can Command $500+/Hour Consulting Rates
October 21, 2025How I Authored a Technical Book on Coin Clash Identification: From Obscure Discovery to O’Reilly Publication
October 21, 2025
How I Turned My Coin Collection Habit Into $50k/year Teaching Online
Three years ago, I was just another collector squinting at two-cent pieces. Today, I make more from my online coin clash course than my day job. Let me show you how I transformed weekend hobby time into $50,000/year in mostly passive income – and how you can do the same with what you know.
Step 1: Spotting Your Winning Course Idea
How I Spotted a Problem Every Collector Faces
Remember missing that 1865 Fancy 5 clash because the guidebook showed terrible photos? I lost $1,200 on that auction. That’s when I realized: collectors needed better training on:
- Catching valuable clashes (like FS-101 varieties)
- Knowing PCGS vs NGC grading quirks
- Spotting the difference between “rare” and “truly rare”
Testing If People Would Actually Pay
Before recording a single lesson, I checked demand with:
- Forum Lurking: Counted how often “clash ID help” posts appeared weekly
- Straight-Up Asking: Messaged 200+ collectors “What makes you walk away from a potential clash coin?”
- Search Spy: Found 1,200+ monthly searches for “coin die clash tutorial” – with zero complete courses
Step 2: Building Your Course People Can’t Scroll Past
The Modules That Keep Students Glued
My “Coin Clash Mastery” course works because of Module 3:
The “Clash ID Decoder” system – My exact 5-step method for matching any clash to its FS number (the same process that helped me snag that 1865 Fancy 5 for $800 last year)
Making Technical Stuff Actually Fun
I turned dusty numismatic terms into binge-worthy lessons using:
- Side-by-side die clash comparisons (stealing MaddieClashes.com’s overlay trick)
- Slow-mo animations showing dies smashing like bumper cars
- Real auction slips proving how much attributed coins sell for
Step 3: Picking Where to Host Your Goldmine
Teachable vs Udemy: What Worked for Coin Nerds
After six months testing both, here’s the real deal:
| What Matters | Teachable | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
| Setting Prices | I charge $397 | They decide |
| Who Gets Paid | Me (minus 5%) | Me (minus 50%!) |
| Student Emails | All mine | Zero access |
Teachable became my main hub, while Udemy acts as a $29 “try me” version.
Step 4: Marketing That Feels Like Helping
The Launch Plan That Filled 100 Spots in 72 Hours
- Free Guides: Wrote “The Clash Collector’s Field Manual” (ranked #1 on Google in 4 months)
- Forum Helping: Answered every “Is this a clash?” post for 90 days – no sales pitches
- Live Workshop: Did a free “Clash or Crash” webinar with a $100 off coupon blinking in the corner
The Lead Magnet That Converted Like Crazy
This one-pager outperformed fancy videos and quizzes:
“The 60-Second Clash Cheat Sheet: Match Any Coin to Its FS Number Before The Auctioneer Says ‘Sold!'”
Step 5: Turning $2k Months Into $5k Months
Beyond the Course – My Profit Boosters
When sales plateaued, I added:
- Quick Grade Checks ($97 for a 5-minute video review)
- Auction House Partnerships (they send me coins; I write $297 reports)
- A Physical “Clash Hunter Kit” (magnifier + LED light + my top 10 reference cards)
My “Work 2 Hours Weekly” Tech Stack
Current setup keeping everything running:
Teachable (course home)
ConvertKit (emails that sell while I sleep)
Zapier (auto-adds buyers to my Coin Clash Club)
Canva (updating PDFs in 10 minutes)
What I Wish I Knew Before Creating My Online Course
My three biggest lessons from hitting $50k:
- Go Narrower: “Coin Collecting” is too broad – “Clash IDs” made me the obvious expert
- Build With Buyers: Created Module 4 entirely from student questions
- Start Where They Gather: Reddit threads and club meetings beat Facebook ads
Your turn now. What collector problem do you solve effortlessly? That’s your course idea. Validate it fast, build it lean, and teach what you love. I’m just a guy who got tired of missing rare coins – if I can create a profitable online course, you absolutely can too.
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