Seminars, workshops, boot camps and other educational programming is very popular, with the public and with savvy entrepreneurs. We're in an age where information is the ultimate commodity: our value is largely determined by how much we know and what we can do with that knowledge.
Anything a consumer can do to add to their knowledge base has real value and appeal. At the same time, an opportunity to showcase your specialized knowledge can enhance your Expert Identity and make your services more attractive to the buying public.
Here's a five step process to developing seminars that will appeal to your target audience:
Step One: Define Your Target Audience
Nichepreneurs™ have a range of potential audiences for educational material. Classes could be directed toward colleagues and peers, with an eye toward enriching the industry as a whole and generating referral business. Or you may wish to focus on educating the general public, creating a more educated consumer and enjoying higher sales.
Realize the two groups have different needs and require different information. You need a clear vision of who you're talking to before you worry about what you're talking about!
Step Two: Identify Critical Information
Now that you know who your target audience is, you want to determine what is important to them. What crucial areas are your customers the most eager to learn about? Bear in mind that there is always a hunger for basic, introductory information.
Never assume you know what is of interest to your clientele. Ask them -- either anecdotally, during the course of business, or as part of an outreach campaign. The topics you might think are can't miss might leave them snoring, while something that you considered insignificant could have great appeal. Do your research!
Step Three: Select a Topic
Use the results of the research you conducted in step number two to select a topic. What are the most important points to cover? Create a presentation focusing on those points. Remember, you want to appeal to the wants and needs of your target audience.
Step Four: Select a Format
Consider the type of material you'll be teaching and your own personal style. This is one time when you'll really need to be brutally honest with yourself: if you're an outgoing, dynamic person who thrives in a crowded room yet hates technology with a purple passion, why try to host a web-based event? Select a seminar instead, and let your people skills sell you! The reverse is even more true: Nichepreneurs™ who might be brilliant but pedantic will lose far more customers than they gain by boring a room full of people to tears.
Consider your material. Some information is better presented visually -- financial or scientific data, for example. Other information, such as massage techniques, cry out for live demonstrations.
Step Five: Market Your Classes
Once you've designed your educational offerings, you need to market them. There are a number of ways to do this. If you're trying to reach a purely local audience, then saturating local media with press releases and announcements, as well as fliers and direct mailings is the route to go. For larger events, or web-based classes, you'll want to adopt a broader strategy, taking in e-mail, web site and blog postings, and more.
The key to success of any seminar, boot camp, or educational offering is through marketing and promotion. Yet this is the area where more Nichepreneurs™ drop the ball. Don't short-change yourself. Devote as much time and energy to promoting your classes as you did developing them!
Super Seminars: Enhance Your Expert Identity By Teaching the Classes Everyone Wants to Take! - To learn more about this author, visit Susan Friedmann's Website.
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Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors |
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Leanne Hoagland Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales success or one of the many who have failed to change? So what are you doing to change those results? Let’s be honest, with companies moving globally and at lightening speeds, the traditional business solutions are outdated and dead. My approach moves your business out of its comfort zone and secures your competitive advantage now. If you are seeking to increase sales, build customer loyalty, create a culture of great attitudes or just achieve some sleep filled nights, then we should talk because my clients have experienced exactly those types of results. Learn more about customer loyalty at http://www.processspecialist.com/customer-loyalty.htm Give me a call at 219.759.5601 for a free strategy session. P.S. If you are seeking a motivational speaker, sales trainer or small business expert that will leave your audience smiling and remembering, please feel free to contact me at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland Smith's Website |
The Evan Elite Authors program is currently in beta phase. For details please contact us.
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Susan Friedmann
(Visit Susan's Website)
Susan Friedmann, CSP is an internationally
recognized expert and "how to" coach who
has traveled the world helping companies
put their best foot forward at tradeshows
and events. Susan offers programs to
increase results and focus on building
better relationships with customers,
prospects and advocates in the
marketplace.
She is the author of numerous books
including “Meeting & Event Planning for
Dummies,” and “Riches in Niches: How to
Make it BIG in a small Market.” To claim
your free copy of the special report, “The
NichePreneneur™ Mindset” go to http:
//www.richesinniches.com
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