Casual Learning

Re: Casual Learning

A couple of thoughts:

1. Because you do not have a problem getting instructors. I would make sure that they know that this is a new effort and you will commit to them if they commit to you. The most important way to get additional business is word of mouth. I would still go ahead and do the class even if you have a handful of people and explain to the instructor this is partnership and part of the partnership is to help build class enrollment.

2. Consider a promotion that enroll in one class get the second class for 50% off.

3. Consider alternate (less expensive) venues to keep down rental expenses.

I hope this helps.

Re: Casual Learning

We attended the Boston Center for Adult Education a few times and were very impressed with their organization. Because they do not compete in your market and vice versa, I think you will find that they maybe amenable to having a discussion about the industry and maybe able to help you. I think it is worth a try

Re: Casual Learning

Thanks so much for your reply. As to the instructors, I've done most of that, but think I need to stress it again. Your response prompted another idea. I think I will take the time to create a flier for each instructor's class in a file format that they can then print and post anywhere they want...enlist them in the marketing process. I may also create a banner for them to post anywhere they can on the internet. This won't take me much time, since I can just cut and paste their class info into a template I made already.

re: class space, we get *very* creative with that! We use the atrium of a small business/retail complex for our Salsa classes (free with the owner's blessings...everyone loves to watch!) and a bakery for many lecture classes, again, free...the owner gets to sell some pastry.

We do offer promotions, but again, your reply inspired me. I'm going to contact the major employers here and see about getting a promotion for their employees listed in their internal newsletter/website...something like a 25% discount. The software I use allows for a promotion code, so I can create one for each company.

The thing about the promotions that I find disturbing is that at one point, in order to evaluate the makeup of my catalog of classes, I asked visitors to take a very short survey and receive a credit of $60 toward a class. I had very few people take advantage of it. Then recently, I offered the first class in a 15 week Jazz Lecture series for free, and not one person took advantage of it.

I've also decided to give my instructors the opportunity to have their class video taped, then put on DVD's. We could offer the DVD on our site...another possible revenue stream for us as well as the instructors. While not all classes will lend themselves to this, most will.

So thanks a lot for the inspiration!
Cheers.

Re: Casual Learning

Along with your poster idea for promotion I am sure you could get a free ebook on PR and you could give it to the instructors you could write your portion of the PR and give them examples of what there portion would look like. This is often done with artist for example who have a show at a gallery

-its free.

Another idea:

You may want to have a written ad that has a teaser: Find out more how to win a free class at www....... and have a contest which they have to subscribe to for free class

Another idea:

If instructors are any good they probably have done this type of thing before they may have their own list of email contacts which you could use