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Good luck today Joe!!
- Thread starter monj
- Start date
Joe for marketing classes here's a few ideas...
Our local papers have "What's happening" calendars and I used to do marketing, etc. for a cooking school. Being on the "what's happening" calendar is free and it gives you some great exposure. Plus, since you're a new comer on the teaching scene, it gives you more credibility. At this point, we know you and know your food rocks, but the general public doesn't. A strong bio and blurb about you is also key.
The good news is a lot of those what's happening calendars are free, and they're tied well to search engines so if they search your name, those classes come up. It's more free press for you.
It's a win-win on a number of levels. Get in touch with me if you want more info. I'll be happy to help you create some buzz.
Our local papers have "What's happening" calendars and I used to do marketing, etc. for a cooking school. Being on the "what's happening" calendar is free and it gives you some great exposure. Plus, since you're a new comer on the teaching scene, it gives you more credibility. At this point, we know you and know your food rocks, but the general public doesn't. A strong bio and blurb about you is also key.
The good news is a lot of those what's happening calendars are free, and they're tied well to search engines so if they search your name, those classes come up. It's more free press for you.
It's a win-win on a number of levels. Get in touch with me if you want more info. I'll be happy to help you create some buzz.
Thanks Traca! That is/are an excellent suggestion. I will look into it. I was feeling dejected,
I assumed the store had its own following and people would just sign right up.
It's owned by a young couple. They had a once-thriving class scene that I guess sort of ran out of steam last year. They have an 8-month-old baby that would explain it. But also, people just aren't parting with their money right now.
I have had at least a dozen aquaintances tell me for certain that they were going to call and make a reservation, but none of them actually did it.
One friend suggested both a blog and a press release. I'm doing the blog for sure as I've been intending to do one for some time, but I'm skittish on a press release because I've never written one. I may have to run it by you!
I assumed the store had its own following and people would just sign right up.
It's owned by a young couple. They had a once-thriving class scene that I guess sort of ran out of steam last year. They have an 8-month-old baby that would explain it. But also, people just aren't parting with their money right now.
I have had at least a dozen aquaintances tell me for certain that they were going to call and make a reservation, but none of them actually did it.
One friend suggested both a blog and a press release. I'm doing the blog for sure as I've been intending to do one for some time, but I'm skittish on a press release because I've never written one. I may have to run it by you!
From personal experience, I've been told press releases are only somewhat effective...especially
if they come from an unknown source. My e-mail is flooded with announcements and stuff, most of which I delete. One woman just started sending me press releases and I'm thinking to myself, "Hello? An introduction would be nice." And she's a professional PR person!
I'd say the thing I wish more people had was a website. Blogs are okay but they are VERY time consuming. Get your website and if you want to add a blog feature later, no problem.
But here's where I'm going with this...often times if I write a piece about someone, I want to hyperlink back to a source, some place that has further reading about that person. No website, no bio, no additional web presence and it's really frustrating. The pros all have them, but I like to talk about some start up folks and well, they don't all have their act together. (Also note, a crappy website won't help either. A couple times the website was so horrible, I couldn't bear linking to it...)
The key thing I always told my clients when I did PR: they can't talk about you if they don't know who you are. And a website is a great intro (promo piece) by way of introduction and it adds credibility. You can have all the guts of a good press kit there -- bio, headshot, sample menus, etc.
When I see a name pop up that I don't know, I immediately google them. No website, no press, no web presence and I think to myself, "Who the heck is this?"
While it's nice that you want to promote your classes (as well you should), a large part of the burden should be coming from the cooking school themselves. But branding yourself is a whole other story and it's worth consideration.
I'd get in touch with Diane (you know who I mean) and see where she's teaching classes. You might have better luck there.
Also, bear in mind, I've had a number of cooking school instructor friends have their classes canceled. It's a mystery why. Even in good times, even with compelling titles, good credentials, and a knock out menu. It's the same when I worked at restaurants. You could be dead on a Saturday and make serious $$$ on a Tuesday night. You never really know why, just prepare yourself the best you can.
Okay, I'm off my soapbox now... smileys/smile.gif
if they come from an unknown source. My e-mail is flooded with announcements and stuff, most of which I delete. One woman just started sending me press releases and I'm thinking to myself, "Hello? An introduction would be nice." And she's a professional PR person!
I'd say the thing I wish more people had was a website. Blogs are okay but they are VERY time consuming. Get your website and if you want to add a blog feature later, no problem.
But here's where I'm going with this...often times if I write a piece about someone, I want to hyperlink back to a source, some place that has further reading about that person. No website, no bio, no additional web presence and it's really frustrating. The pros all have them, but I like to talk about some start up folks and well, they don't all have their act together. (Also note, a crappy website won't help either. A couple times the website was so horrible, I couldn't bear linking to it...)
The key thing I always told my clients when I did PR: they can't talk about you if they don't know who you are. And a website is a great intro (promo piece) by way of introduction and it adds credibility. You can have all the guts of a good press kit there -- bio, headshot, sample menus, etc.
When I see a name pop up that I don't know, I immediately google them. No website, no press, no web presence and I think to myself, "Who the heck is this?"
While it's nice that you want to promote your classes (as well you should), a large part of the burden should be coming from the cooking school themselves. But branding yourself is a whole other story and it's worth consideration.
I'd get in touch with Diane (you know who I mean) and see where she's teaching classes. You might have better luck there.
Also, bear in mind, I've had a number of cooking school instructor friends have their classes canceled. It's a mystery why. Even in good times, even with compelling titles, good credentials, and a knock out menu. It's the same when I worked at restaurants. You could be dead on a Saturday and make serious $$$ on a Tuesday night. You never really know why, just prepare yourself the best you can.
Okay, I'm off my soapbox now... smileys/smile.gif
I do alot of class-assisting, for the past 4 plus years at various cooking schools. A
significant amount of classes have cancelled in the past 4-6 months and quite a few of those were classes scheduled to be taught by cookbook authors and chefs who've made names for themselves. So don't be sad, Joe. I personally think it's the economy and I'm sure things will pick back up as the economy gets better. Hang in there.
significant amount of classes have cancelled in the past 4-6 months and quite a few of those were classes scheduled to be taught by cookbook authors and chefs who've made names for themselves. So don't be sad, Joe. I personally think it's the economy and I'm sure things will pick back up as the economy gets better. Hang in there.
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
Traca, I agree that websites are very important and I've created my own (not published yet) using
a very inexpensive do-it-yourself website software program. It's about 90% complete pending a commercial kitchen to start my business down here in Florida in lieu of Philly where I intended. I've spent hours and hours tweaking it "my way" (custom method) but they also have easy to use templates for the not so graphic or website savvy. Check out this link to see how inexpensive it is and there's a free 60-day trial download that I used before I bought it. There's also free technical support! I highly recommend it and so does PC Magazine.
http://www.mvd.com/webexpress/
a very inexpensive do-it-yourself website software program. It's about 90% complete pending a commercial kitchen to start my business down here in Florida in lieu of Philly where I intended. I've spent hours and hours tweaking it "my way" (custom method) but they also have easy to use templates for the not so graphic or website savvy. Check out this link to see how inexpensive it is and there's a free 60-day trial download that I used before I bought it. There's also free technical support! I highly recommend it and so does PC Magazine.
http://www.mvd.com/webexpress/
Hey, I got two, count 'em, TWO sign-ups for the fourth and final class in my series, and
I have a group of friends and aquaintances planning to sign up for the third, but they're each waiting for someone else to be first. What is this, high school? I may have to sign myself up under an assumed name, just to get the ball rolling.
Anyway, two is infinitely more than zero. Something to build on. I feel like the ice is broken.
I have a group of friends and aquaintances planning to sign up for the third, but they're each waiting for someone else to be first. What is this, high school? I may have to sign myself up under an assumed name, just to get the ball rolling.
Anyway, two is infinitely more than zero. Something to build on. I feel like the ice is broken.
luisa_calif
Well-known member
Maybe you could give a few friends a gift subscription to your class? Might get the ball rolling.
lana-in-fl
Well-known member
You can even use Word to make a web site. I used it for years
for our Girl Scout service unit web site and for my math class web page. It does not always look quite as professional as other software, but it gets you a presence online in a hurry. I have since bought Dreamweaver, and really love that!
for our Girl Scout service unit web site and for my math class web page. It does not always look quite as professional as other software, but it gets you a presence online in a hurry. I have since bought Dreamweaver, and really love that!
lana-in-fl
Well-known member
That's great, Joe! From little acorns.........