How Solving ‘Dateless SLQ’ Problems in Tech Will Skyrocket Your Consulting Rates to $300+/Hour
October 10, 2025How to Write a Technical Book on Niche Expertise: My O’Reilly Author Journey with Dateless SLQ Coins
October 10, 2025
How I Turned My Coin Passion into a $57k/year Online Course
Want to know the secret I discovered after 15 years collecting coins? Your expertise is worth real money. Let me show you exactly how I transformed my nerdy knowledge of Standing Liberty Quarters into a thriving online course business. It started when I noticed collectors constantly struggling with dateless coins like the 1917-1924 Type 2 SLQs – and realized I could help while building income.
The Coin Dating Struggle I Solved
I’ll never forget the forum post that changed everything: ‘Help! How do I date this worn SLQ?’ The desperation was real. Seasoned collectors were stuck examining mint marks (like the S mint shown here), squinting at Liberty inscriptions, and guessing at die variations. Their biggest headaches?
- Telling Type 1 and Type 2 SLQs apart
- Spotting subtle 1917-1924 date markers
- Catching valuable DDO variations
- Working without expensive equipment
My First Step: Proving People Would Pay
Before recording a single lesson, I tested demand with three simple methods:
- Tracking which forum questions got the most replies
- Asking 200+ collectors what they’d pay ($27-$79 was the sweet spot)
- Offering a free mini-course (14.7% signed up – my jaw dropped!)
The game-changer? Framing my course around using household tools instead of professional gear. Suddenly, dating coins became accessible.
Inside My Bestselling Course
Module 3: Cracking Type 2 SLQs (1917-1924)
- Lesson 1: Mint mark detective work (S, D, or Philadelphia?)
- Lesson 2: Liberty's hidden clues
- Lesson 3: My die marker checklist
- Lesson 4: Wear patterns that reveal dates
Platform Showdown: Where to Sell Your Course
I spent weeks comparing options – here’s what matters most:
| Feature | Teachable | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Control | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Fees | 5% + $39/mo | 50% per sale |
| Audience | Build your own | Ready-made |
My solution? Teachable for my premium $497 course, with a slimmed-down $49 Udemy version as a feeder. This combo generated 72% of my first-year revenue.
Creating Content That Actually Sells
Forget fancy studios – I shot everything with my iPhone! My most popular elements:
- Macro photography hacks using phone cameras
- “Spot the Difference” coin quizzes
- Comparison galleries (like this Type 1/Type 2 example)
Tech Tip: Keep Students Hooked
<div class='quiz-container'>
<h4>1918-S or 1919-S? The $500 Question</h4>
<img src='coin-comparison.jpg'>
<button class='answer' data-correct='false'>1918-S</button>
<button class='answer' data-correct='true'>1919-S</button>
</div>
Marketing That Worked (Without Ads!)
Organic reach brought most sales – here’s my simple system:
- A free “Coin Dating Guide” PDF (1,200+ downloads)
- YouTube tutorials showing real date recoveries
- Helpful forum replies with subtle course mentions
‘Found a $300 coin using Module 3 – paid for the course ten times over!’ – Mark R., student
How I Tripled Course Revenue
The secret? Offer more to happy students:
- Grading Masterclass ($297)
- Coin Photography Kit ($97)
- Monthly Coaching ($47/month)
This simple upsell strategy boosted average payments from $79 to $214. Best part? Existing students were easiest to sell to.
3 Truths I Learned Building My Course
- Niche down hard: My laser focus on SLQs outperformed generic coin courses
- Community is everything: Forums sent 63% of my first students
- Repurpose everything: Every forum answer became course material
Today, I make $4,700/month helping collectors while preserving coin history. Whether you’re into vintage radios or rare stamps, this blueprint works.
Start Your Course Today
Your action plan:
- List 10 questions people keep asking you
- Create a free resource solving one problem
- Outline modules using those questions
Your knowledge is valuable. Package it right, and you’ll build something that pays you back for years. I’m proof – and you could be next.
Related Resources
You might also find these related articles helpful:
- How Solving ‘Dateless SLQ’ Problems in Tech Will Skyrocket Your Consulting Rates to $300+/Hour – Why Expensive Problems Are Your Fast Pass to $300+/Hour Consulting Want clients fighting to pay your premium rates? Stop…
- Detecting the Undetectable: Building Cybersecurity Tools That Uncover Hidden Threats – The Best Defense Is a Good Offensive Toolkit I’ve spent years as both a cybersecurity developer and ethical hacker…
- Decoding Data Gaps in Logistics: Lessons from a ‘Dateless’ SLQ Problem – Think your logistics tech has all the answers? What happens when your systems face the equivalent of a ‘dateless&#…
