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| Internet |
 Website Advantages
for Trainers and CoachesBy Chris Hooymans Companies and organizations that specialize in training and business coaching can capture some very real advantages while simultaneously providing their clients with enhanced services by establishing a website. A well-designed website can become your best salesman by promoting your services to prospective customers. It can also effectively provide follow-up support and ongoing contact with existing clients. As you probably already know, old clients can be your best source of clientele for your new or supplemental courses. The following techniques can be utilized easily whether you are a one person consultancy or a large organization that offers many different courses under one roof. To succeed online you must carefully consider what your clients information requirements are and deliver it clearly and consistently. 1) Company Credentials - Introducing your company profile and accomplishments will strengthen your credibility to both new and existing clients. 2) Course Overviews - Fully explaining what is covered in each course makes it easier for a prospective student or client to decide on the right course or workshop for them. Detail all the features and benefits and whether a course has any credit that can be used in a future diploma or certificate. 3) Schedules and Registration Forms - Put your class schedules and information or any prerequisites that you require on your website so that those who are interested in signing up for a course can predetermine their suitability. This will also give them the opportunity to take direct action in preparing for the course as well as arranging their affairs to make time to attend. Providing an online registration form will help you fill classes early and help eliminate paper shuffle. 4) Class Materials - Make class workbooks and background materials available online and then recommend that registrants print them out in advance. This will help reduce your usual copying and printing costs, plus it will accelerate the pace of the class by prepping the participants in advance with some of the basic concepts and ideas to be presented. 5) Extra Resources - Presenting a selection of links to websites that offer more information about the topic will strengthen your site as an online resource. 6) Career Information - Explain how taking the courses that you provide will enhance their earning potential or otherwise enrich their lives. If you offer any practicums or job placement services explain how these programs work as well. 7) Ongoing Support - Offer an easy way for clients to pose questions after they have completed the course - it often takes a while to absorb the course information and they may not have understood everything that was covered. Some clients may also feel intimidated or are too shy to ask all their questions in a classroom environment. Offering support by email allows these individuals to feel that their needs are being met. 8) Financing - If you offer any kind of financial assistance to participants in your course or have access to grants, etc. provide information on applying for it on your website. 9) Solicit Feedback & Testimonials - One of the strongest sales tools is positive testimonials from people that have taken your course. Gather these from your clients after the course has been completed and include them in your site. You can also provide a form directly on your website where comments can be provided. 10) Acknowledge Your Client Base - Offering a client directory with reciprocal links to their businesses will strengthen your relationship with them. In turn ask that your site be linked from theirs as well. How you create your website and present the information is dependent primarily on the needs of your clients. However, it should reflect the style of all your other marketing and presentation materials. A website is a large commitment that will require continuous and persistent effort for it to produce real results. |