Tips for Marketing Training Course, Please!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Samuel Lurie on January 22, 2011 at 4:12am

I just completed a half-day workshop--it was held at our local airport and was on Fear of Flying. I paid for some advertising in our local (widely-read) newsweekly and did a FB ad run (and got 100 clicks on that run)--but when I surveyed people, they all came from flyers I put up in local health food stores/coffee shops or from word of mouth or my direct emails.

 

With my advertsing, space and food expenses, the whole endeavor literally just broke even. I wouldn't want to do it that way again, but would rather collaborate with a group who did all the marketing and had a name in the community and brought me in for my expertise as a trainer/therapist.

 

Who is your audience? People who are already hypnotherapists, or those who want to be? Do you have CEUs?

 

How much time do you have? Having an early bird rate and really pushing that to get some early registrations helps.

 

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Samuel

Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 22, 2011 at 4:28am

Hi Samuel,

 

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

I'm after people who are already hypnos (or in training if needs be). I have no CEUs, but it is acknowledged by the GHR (and goes out in their weekly e-bulletin) as valid CPD.

 

My unique selling point is that I am the only person doing this job in the UK in the NHS, and therefore, hypnos who are trying to get IBS patient referrals from GPs or gastros, or who want to work with people with IBS safely, can find out what is acceptable to, and what works really well in the NHS, and use these methods (oh by the way, Mr GP, the techniques I use were taught to me by an NHS practitioner...).

 

My course is the 19 & 20th March... I like the early bird idea- thanks. I'll do something with that. I've got a discounted rate for GHR members.

 

I would hate to have to cancel, but I can't afford (mentally!) to make a loss on this.

 

Many thanks. H x

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on January 22, 2011 at 6:26am

Hi Sunshine,

 

Contact Richard N and tell him Michael E. sent you. Ask him to review your workshop and offer members of his organization CEUs for attending your workshop.  Once that is in place you can approach hypnosis organizations in the UK asking them to offer CEUs for their members who attend your workshop and you have a better chance of getting them to agree.

And/or you can send me the details of your workshop - I will be happy to run it by some of the US hypnosis organizations that I belong to requesting they offer CEUs for their members who take your training--

 

Best of luck-

 

Michael E,

 

 

Permalink Reply by Samuel Lurie on January 22, 2011 at 6:36am

Henxy:

 

I'd also think that just by teaching others how to get in as a hypnoteraist with the NHS would be a huge draw! An hour or two of the training explaining that process.

 

I would jump on that as one of the take-aways.

 

Best,

S

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Bryan Gill on January 22, 2011 at 11:17am

Certainly the idea of being able to "access" the NHS appeals greatly, particularly in these new interesting times regarding  the future of the NHS.

 

How about offering a discounted rate for Hypnothoughts members, I believe Richard N and Michael E have done so in the past?

Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 22, 2011 at 11:28am

Hi Bryan,

 

Sometimes, I think people should be able to read my mind!

 

I had, of course, decided on a discounted rate for Hypnothoughts members, as I have already offered a 10% reduction (which is all I can afford due to hotel costs) to GHR members.

 

Indeed- with the NHS moving towards 'any willing provider', my work paves the way for others. It's always useful not to have to reinvent the wheel. It's especially useful to be able to cite and be trained in the approach which has been used in the NHS successfully.

Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 22, 2011 at 11:47am

Ta muchly.

Will get it into a condition whereby others can make head or tail of it, then do that! X

Michael Ellner said:

Hi Sunshine,

 

Contact Richard N and tell him Michael E. sent you. Ask him to review your workshop and offer members of his organization CEUs for attending your workshop.  Once that is in place you can approach hypnosis organizations in the UK asking them to offer CEUs for their members who attend your workshop and you have a better chance of getting them to agree.

And/or you can send me the details of your workshop - I will be happy to run it by some of the US hypnosis organizations that I belong to requesting they offer CEUs for their members who take your training--

 

Best of luck-

 

Michael E,

 

 

Permalink Reply by Kevin Cole-NLPTrainingQuest.com on January 26, 2011 at 6:13pm

Hi Henxy,

A few tips...

• Do your best to negotiate the best deal for the venue- You can get anywhere from free to considerably discounted rates on the training room depending on how many students you have staying at the same hotel. They'll never offer it though unless you ask.

• Offer a bonus such as a free audio recording of the course- people love free bonuses
• Focus on pointing out the value points. Don't just say "So and So Medical Hypnosis Workshop", really point out what attendees will be gaining from it, such as: Learn how to gain medical referrals, Learn how to explain the value of hypnosis to medical practitioners and not have them think you're a quack, etc...
• If there's a certificate involved mention it. I know, I know they are just pieces of paper and I encourage you to share that with your students (I do) but no matter what you say- they still crave that piece of paper- even if they already have many- don't ask me why...
• Offer a guarantee and make it clear
  
  
• Ask local hypnosis/nlp meetup groups if you can come in and share a free presentation for them. Offer 95% exceptional value and at the end, 5% sales pitch with special discounts and or bonuses for registering on the spot - and make sure to ask them... "Is it OK with you guys if I share a ton of valuable information and help you have some profound experiences- and at the very end do a little promotion about an event I have coming up in the future?". **Every time I've ever done a live presentation, I've always gained a minimum of one new client and or student.
• Hand out an interest sheet at the end of your free presentations that gives people the option of opting into your newsletter list and offer them a free gift (a free hypnosis CD or whatever you like) and stay in contact with them about the upcoming course. Just remember- 90-95% teaching and 5-10% marketing...

That's it for now- feel free to ask me if I can be of any other assistance, and hey send me a link to this thing (via PM of course). I still have a few connections in the U.K. that might be interested. Also happy to post it on my Facebook as well...

 

Best of luck- the training business can be a little tricky- but incredibly rewarding!

Kevin

 

Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 30, 2011 at 10:36am

Does that appeal enough to you to join us?! (HT discounts as part?!) ;-)

Bryan Gill said:

Certainly the idea of being able to "access" the NHS appeals greatly, particularly in these new interesting times regarding  the future of the NHS.

 

How about offering a discounted rate for Hypnothoughts members, I believe Richard N and Michael E have done so in the past?

Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 31, 2011 at 9:47am

Thanks, Kevin, for your wealth of ideas and generosity.

Kevin Cole-NLPTrainingQuest.com said:

Hi Henxy,

A few tips...

• Do your best to negotiate the best deal for the venue- You can get anywhere from free to considerably discounted rates on the training room depending on how many students you have staying at the same hotel. They'll never offer it though unless you ask.

• Offer a bonus such as a free audio recording of the course- people love free bonuses
• Focus on pointing out the value points. Don't just say "So and So Medical Hypnosis Workshop", really point out what attendees will be gaining from it, such as: Learn how to gain medical referrals, Learn how to explain the value of hypnosis to medical practitioners and not have them think you're a quack, etc...
• If there's a certificate involved mention it. I know, I know they are just pieces of paper and I encourage you to share that with your students (I do) but no matter what you say- they still crave that piece of paper- even if they already have many- don't ask me why...
• Offer a guarantee and make it clear
  
  
• Ask local hypnosis/nlp meetup groups if you can come in and share a free presentation for them. Offer 95% exceptional value and at the end, 5% sales pitch with special discounts and or bonuses for registering on the spot - and make sure to ask them... "Is it OK with you guys if I share a ton of valuable information and help you have some profound experiences- and at the very end do a little promotion about an event I have coming up in the future?". **Every time I've ever done a live presentation, I've always gained a minimum of one new client and or student.
• Hand out an interest sheet at the end of your free presentations that gives people the option of opting into your newsletter list and offer them a free gift (a free hypnosis CD or whatever you like) and stay in contact with them about the upcoming course. Just remember- 90-95% teaching and 5-10% marketing...

That's it for now- feel free to ask me if I can be of any other assistance, and hey send me a link to this thing (via PM of course). I still have a few connections in the U.K. that might be interested. Also happy to post it on my Facebook as well...

 

Best of luck- the training business can be a little tricky- but incredibly rewarding!

Kevin