| One way to build your business is to create interest | | | | creating the space to allow someone special into your |
| and interaction with potential customers or clients. | | | | life, learn the 7 techniques to becoming irresistibly |
| Offering a workshop or a seminar is a great way to | | | | attractive. (actual workshop taught by Tara |
| get started. You can offer a workshop anywhere, | | | | Kachaturoff) |
| but the best place to get started is by contacting | | | | 5. Pricing. |
| your local adult education or community center. | | | | You need to price your workshop for the market. |
| These organizations often offer classes, workshops, | | | | Some adult education or community programs have |
| and seminars and advertise them to the local | | | | guidelines for setting class prices. Classes are usually |
| community both through printed catalogs and on their | | | | priced within a narrow range, usually on the less |
| websites. You always have the option to rent your | | | | expensive side. Include the price of your class in your |
| own meeting room and do your own advertising, but | | | | proposal. Indicate whether or not there will be a |
| if you want an easy, no cost entry point and want | | | | separate materials fee to cover books, workbooks, |
| the added benefit of having someone else promote | | | | handouts or other materials. It’s important to |
| you and your workshop, try going through an | | | | understand an organization’s fee structure or |
| established community program first. Here are some | | | | expectations before you price your workshop. For |
| helpful hints to get you started. | | | | example, some programs might pay you 50% of |
| 1. Research thoroughly. | | | | your class fee, yet allow you to keep 100% of the |
| If you don’t want to supply your own | | | | materials fee. If you need to reduce your price from |
| meeting venue and you want someone to help with | | | | what you usually charge, you always have the option |
| advertising, then you need to find a place to present | | | | of reducing the amount of information that you |
| your workshop or seminar. Contact various | | | | offer. |
| community organizations, adult education and other | | | | 6. Logistics and other details. |
| programs in your local area. Ask for a copy of their | | | | Make sure that you include details about when the |
| most recent brochure or check their website. | | | | class will meet, both the day of the week and the |
| Familiarize yourself with the classes that are offered, | | | | proposed date(s). Also, include minimum and |
| the pricing conventions, class lengths, times and other | | | | maximum class counts. As a rule of thumb, a class |
| pertinent information. Also inquire as to when | | | | minimum should not be less than 7 people. If less |
| proposals are due. Often you must submit a proposal | | | | seven sign up, sometimes there isn’t enough |
| 4 to 6 months in advance of the course catalog issue | | | | group energy to make the class feel |
| date. Adult education programs usually have strict | | | | comfortable. You can always obtain class counts in |
| guidelines around submitting proposals, signing | | | | advance and change your class minimum if you really |
| contracts, and prohibitions on advertising your | | | | want to go ahead with the class. The only caveat is |
| business or giving out business cards. Also, find out | | | | that the people who do come might not enjoy you |
| about their fee splitting policies. Programs hold back | | | | or the class if there just isn’t enough energy |
| some of your fee to pay for printing and advertising | | | | or interaction. |
| costs as well as for the costs of providing a room | | | | 7. Workshop environment. |
| and equipment. Usually, you will receive only a portion | | | | Find out about the room accommodations in advance. |
| of the class fee (perhaps a 50%-50%, 60%-40% or | | | | What types of furniture and equipment will be |
| some other split arrangement) in payment, but will be | | | | supplied and what, if anything, do you need to |
| allowed to retain 100% of the materials fee. | | | | supply? Will they have tables and chairs, overhead |
| 2. Getting Started. | | | | projectors, white boards, chalkboards or flip charts |
| Most likely you will be competing with many other | | | | available for use? Will there be facility coordinators on |
| prospective presenters. There usually isn’t | | | | site who can set up your room the way that you |
| enough space, either in terms of the published | | | | need? If not, you’ll need to make plans to find |
| catalog that many organizations distribute, or with | | | | resources to create the environment the way you |
| regard to room accommodations, such that | | | | will need it. |
| everyone’s proposals will be accepted. To | | | | 8. Prepare your material. |
| increase your chances, make sure you thoroughly | | | | Make sure that you are well-prepared before your |
| understand the proposal requirements and guidelines. | | | | workshop is scheduled to begin. Your materials should |
| Find out if you need to submit a resume, professional | | | | be completed and organized for easy presentation, |
| references or even a copy of the course materials, in | | | | and should accurately reflect the course title and |
| addition to your proposal. If this is your first | | | | objectives. Make sure you have extra books, |
| application, most likely you will be required to attend | | | | workbooks, handouts or other materials to distribute |
| an in-person interview. Remember, you only get one | | | | to people who enroll at the last minute. |
| opportunity to make a good first impression. | | | | 9. Check the details. |
| 3. One sheet wonder. | | | | As soon as your proposal is accepted, you will |
| Take the time to design a one page proposal | | | | probably receive some sort of confirmation that |
| template which will include all the pertinent information | | | | includes the final class details. If not, ask for a proof |
| relating to your proposed seminar or workshop. Your | | | | sheet. Read it over carefully, making sure that the |
| class has a better chance of being accepted when | | | | class title, description, class fee, materials fee, and |
| reviewers can easily read, find, and understand the | | | | course dates and times are all correct. Also, make |
| information. Sometimes less can be more. | | | | sure your biographical information is correct. Confirm |
| 4. Describe your workshop. | | | | this information, again, once the catalogs are |
| Create a captivating title for your class which refers | | | | published and distributed. If you find an error at this |
| to your target audience and features some benefit | | | | point, it can be corrected, at the least, on their |
| they can expect from your class. One example of a | | | | website. |
| class title is, Parents: 10 Techniques to Raise Your | | | | 10. Last minute details. |
| Child’s Grades in 30 Days! This tells the | | | | Contact the adult education or other venue one |
| reader who the class is for — parents, that it | | | | week in advance, as well as the day before your |
| has content — 10 techniques, and what they | | | | class or workshop is scheduled to take place. |
| can do with that information — raise their | | | | You’ll be able to obtain preliminary class counts |
| child’s grades. Write a short description of the | | | | to determine the quantities of materials to bring. |
| class, using plenty of action words and adjectives | | | | Always bring extras to accommodate last minute |
| that can be printed in the organization’s | | | | enrollees. Also, if the class counts are below the |
| course catalog. For example: | | | | desired minimum, you can think about whether you |
| Discover the underlying factors that draw people to | | | | want go ahead with your plans to present. |
| one another in business and personal relationships. | | | | Copyright 2004 by Tara Kachaturoff. |
| From having strong boundaries and standards, to | | | | |