Linkedin & Wordpress Training Courses, Market?

[FlexF]

In my current job I work with small companies daily. Part of my success in a sales role has been using Linkedin as a tool to generate leads and a solid network. To the point where my 'cold call' levels are the lowest in the business but my performance is the highest...

I have also developed a number of Wordpress sites, both for myself and others that have come to me through word of mouth. These cover a range of sectors and trades.

Basically I want to turn these expertise into a business

What would the appetite be for the following:
Half day linkedin training course - profile optimisation, strategy's, tools etc
Full day Wordpress training course for small business/sole traders - installing, building, posting, design etc inc 12 months hosting. Aimed at people who want a DIY approach to their business website.

Max 10 people in each class and tonnes of resources to take away with them.

Linkedin course would be <£60 and the Wordpress one <£100. I have access to a venue in London that is perfect.

My question is; what is the appetite for this in my target market?

There seem to be a few similar courses out there but its hard to get a sense of how successful they are. Some of them are more expensive than getting someone to develop a site from scratch....

I know the reality is many small business owners are reluctant to take time away from their business or invest in training so am I trying to fish in a very shallow pool?

 

[MASSEY]

Could you teach a newbie how to use wordpress in a day?

I doubt there will be much market as generally the people taking the DIY approach are doing so because they don't want to spend money on uncertainty.

And i would imagine locating these people, the marketing, would take a chunk out of your 100 quid per person.

I think you said it, fish in very shallow pool. A puddle even...

 

[FlexF]

Could you teach a newbie how to use wordpress in a day?

To a basic level yes. I would provide a level of support after the course as well.

I doubt there will be much market as generally the people taking the DIY approach are doing so because they don't want to spend money on uncertainty.

And i would imagine locating these people, the marketing, would take a chunk out of your 100 quid per person.

I think you said it, fish in very shallow pool. A puddle even...

I am more sceptical about the Wordpress course than the linkedin one for the reason you state.

 

[webgeek]

If the Wordpress course started them off with a complete site, then you gave them a day of training on how to maintain, add posts, etc, IMHO you would have a much better proposition.

You can't teach someone how to build a gorgeous wordpress site in a day, much less how to post, integrate with social networks, plugins, SEO, and everything else to any meaningful level of skills.

If the goal is to show them enough so that they realize they can't do it, then buy your ongoing services, then you've got a great proposition

 

[FlexF]

If the Wordpress course started them off with a complete site, then you gave them a day of training on how to maintain, add posts, etc, IMHO you would have a much better proposition.

I can do that. It would be more than £99.

If the goal is to show them enough so that they realize they can't do it, then buy your ongoing services, then you've got a great proposition

I would build as much value in the course and materials as possible. If they saw value in further services I would oblige but I dont have a desire to be a developer of low cost websites as a primary business.

 

[FlexF]

Nice site by the way webgeek.

Refreshing to see a clear proposition on price and services in the SEO/social media service sector!

 

[fisicx]

I can't see the legs in the wordpress course unless the business attending don't have a website. And if they do need wordpress installing then they aren't going to wait for a course - it only takes 5 minutes using cpanel.

And if they do have wordpress up and running I think you have missed the boat - there are hundreds of online tutorials on how to write and publish.

What they might be interested in is how to install a facebook plugin or post to twitter or set up a contact form or use nextgen gallery or configure an image slider. That's where many people come unstuck.

 

[FlexF]

I can't see the legs in the wordpress course unless the business attending don't have a website. And if they do need wordpress installing then they aren't going to wait for a course - it only takes 5 minutes using cpanel.

And if they do have wordpress up and running I think you have missed the boat - there are hundreds of online tutorials on how to write and publish.

What they might be interested in is how to install a facebook plugin or post to twitter or set up a contact form or use nextgen gallery or configure an image slider. That's where many people come unstuck.

Thanks for the feedback.

In your line of work do you come across a lot of people who even know what cpanel is?

To a large number of the business owners I meet getting a website up is seen as voodoo magic

 

[fisicx]

Thanks for the feedback.

In your line of work do you come across a lot of people who even know what cpanel is?

To a large number of the business owners I meet getting a website up is seen as voodoo magic

Most haven't got a clue. They don't want to know either,they just want me to set it up for them.

The training I do is really just how to upload media, add links to menus and so on. Most work out how to write and publish stuff within a minute or two.

So your course needs to focus on all the non-obvious stuff - mostly plugins and configuration rather than actually how to install wordpress. Still not sure you are even going to get 10 people to spend a day learning stuff you could cover in an hour or two.

 

[KerryCovan]

I'm still not using LinkedIn, is it really just a CV stock, or is it more similar to facebook or G+ where people interact in various ways?

 

[FlexF]

I'm still not using LinkedIn, is it really just a CV stock, or is it more similar to facebook or G+ where people interact in various ways?

Much more than an online CV. If you're selling or looking for a job then you can go straight to a decision maker and engage with them. I regularly get hold of people who others have called and emailed dozens of times.

Its more about quality interactions than quantity like the other social networks.

Great 'social proof' as well by seeing who others are connected to. 'Hi.... I see you are connected to.... We should discuss...'

PM me if you want a hand with your profile (free of course!).