Author Archives: Nic Lyons

About Nic Lyons

Nic is skilled in scaling start-up edtech and education organizations to growth-stage success through innovative marketing. A former journalist and copywriter, Nic holds a postgraduate certificate in digital and print publishing from Columbia University School of Journalism's publishing course.

1. A Simple Solution to Modernize Your Class Registration Process

   March 21, 2024 9:30 am Leave a Comment

   Tight budgets, understaffing, and privacy concerns are putting pressure on nonprofit organizations to modernize their class registration systems. These concerns become even more pressing as your organization grows. Students will no longer stand for time-consuming or cumbersome registration processes, and your instructors may not be able to manage attendance and student communications manually as enrollment increases.

   Don’t risk losing students or staff due to outdated registration systems. 

   Arts nonprofits need modern class registration software that includes a few essential conveniences that customers and administrators have come to expect in 2024:

   1. A smooth and accessible online checkout process that’s easy to use

   Complex course registration systems confuse potential students. And a confused customer is unlikely to take action. When organizations cobble together registration systems from multiple tools, or worse, ask students to call or drop in to register, they lose sign-ups. 

   Modern class management software streamlines the registration process with a seamless interface that guides registrants from the course catalog, to a registration form, to payment with the click of a button.
   

   

   2. Mobile-friendly interface that lets you and your students manage classes on the go

   Modern learners live in an on-demand culture. They can listen to their favorite song, order groceries, and manage their bank balance, all from their smartphone. They expect class registration to be just as convenient. 

   Modern class registration software must be mobile-friendly to meet learners and instructors where they are. They should be able to easily manage registrations from any device with internet access.
   

   

   3. Tools to easily manage registration changes and keep classes full

   In an unpredictable world, classes sometimes fill faster than you anticipated or have to be canceled due to weather or instructor illness. Old-fashioned registration tools force you to manage waiting lists manually or email individual students to let them know a class is being postponed.

   Modern class registration software allows you to automatically manage waiting lists and easily notify students of changes to their registration. You can issue a refund or transfer students between classes with just a click. 

   

   4. Seamless registration and payment on a secure platform for peace of mind

   Taking payments over the phone or on physical forms is an information security nightmare. One misplaced form could lead to theft of funds or identities. These are risks your organization and customers can’t afford to take. 

   Registrants want assurance that their credit card information and other personal details are stored securely. If they don’t trust your website, they won’t register.

   Modern class registration software processes payments using the latest encryption and security features so registrants feel confident sharing personal information.

   5. Automated and AI-powered marketing tools to keep customers engaged

   Are you sick of hearing, “I wish I’d known about that class”? In a marketing-saturated world, it can be hard to get your classes in front of people who’d love to take them. 

   Modern class registration software incorporates the right marketing to help you keep customers engaged, even if you can’t afford to hire a full-time marketing person. 

   To see modern course registration software in action, start your free trial of CourseStorm today.

   CourseStorm: The Modern Class Registration Software Solution

   CourseStorm’s class registration software is designed with nonprofits in mind. We help arts education programs and community ed programs modernize their class registration with simple, accessible tools that anyone can learn. 

   Welcome More Learners With Our Streamlined Registration and Checkout Process

   No more juggling multiple tools or chasing registrants for payments. CourseStorm’s streamlined registration and checkout process moves registrants smoothly from interest, to registration, to payment. Your instructors will never have to wonder if all students have paid or collect payments from those who haven’t. 

   CourseStorm even offers a simple group registration process, so friends or families can sign up to share the experience of a class together. That local Adventurers Club can sign up their whole group all at once. They might even manage to fill a class all by themselves.

   Manage Registrations Anywhere With Mobile-Friendly Software

   Empower students to register and manage registrations from anywhere with a mobile-friendly platform. Instructors and administrators also get mobile-friendly access so they can make the most of their time between classes.

   One of our customers, who happens to be located on an island, told us how their instructors check class details on their mobile phones while riding the ferry to and from work. 

   Change and Update Registrations to Keep Classes Full

   Throw out your phone tree and shred the manual waiting list. CourseStorm can automatically notify students if a class is changed or canceled. For popular classes, it can add students to the waiting list and notify them when a spot opens up. Then they can register with the click of a button. They can even opt in to SMS reminders about upcoming classes.

   CourseStorm’s automatic waiting list features eliminate the need to manually manage your waitlists.

   Maybe you’ve been in this situation: Your most popular class is always overbooked, but you can’t add more sessions, so you’re left managing an unwieldy waiting list. Last month you made three phone calls before someone picked up, and then the first person called back and was mad you didn’t wait to hear back from them. 

   Imagine deciding enough is enough. You get CourseStorm, automate the waitlist, and let it manage itself. Suddenly you have more time to spend on the creative work that only you can do, and customers aren’t mad at you anymore. That’s a win-win.

   Provide Peace of Mind With Secure Payment Processing

   Your learners are used to shopping online. They appreciate being in charge of where and how their information is used. With CourseStorm, you give them complete control over their own information.

   Forget messy paperwork and stop obsessing over who went home with the key to the filing cabinet. CourseStorm streamlines registration and payment processing into a single, secure process. With security features that are PCI compliant and meet industry best practices, we store data in state-of-the-art data centers with multi-tiered security systems. Nightly and weekly backups ensure your data is always up to date. 

   Engage Customers and Learners Through Automatic Email Marketing

   Simplify your marketing calendar with built-in automatic email marketing. CourseStorm can send customized automated emails to customers letting them know about classes they might be interested in. 

   Imagine the busy single dad with two daughters. One has taken your Fairy Tale Improv class. The other took Playwriting for Kids. When you add Graphic Novels on Stage to the class calendar, dad gets an email letting him know it’s time to sign up.

   See all of these modern registration features (and more) in action, start your free trial of CourseStorm today.

   Support and Integrations to Help You Modernize Class Registration

   We know change can be challenging, especially for bootstrapped nonprofits working with volunteers and small staffs. As part of our commitment to simplicity, we’ve built an easy-to-use software tool.

   One of our users recently told us: “If you can use email, you can use CourseStorm.” 

   Even though our software is impossibly simple, we still offer live group webinars to help you set up your program and get accustomed to the software. Our robust help site and responsive email support team are also there for you whenever a question pops up.

   CourseStorm software also integrates with many of the tools you’re already using, including Little Green Light and PatronManager. We have an easy-to-install WordPress plug-in, a calendar feed that works with all your favorite calendar programs, and tons of other integrations available through Zapier. 

   We believe an upgrade should make everything easier. 

   Claim All the Modern Conveniences Your Learners and Instructors Deserve With CourseStorm

   It’s time to claim all the time-creating, satisfaction building, peace-of-mind offering solutions of a modern class registration system. Your learners and instructors deserve them, and your nonprofit will run better with them in place. 

   Start your free trial of CourseStorm today and see what modern class registration software can do for your program.

2. How to Convince Your Nonprofit Board You Need Class Registration Software

   February 23, 2024 10:00 am Leave a Comment

   Your nonprofit arts education program has grown and your classes are in high demand. A small but dedicated team of staff and volunteers keeps things running, but they’re getting overwhelmed with administrative tasks. The process of registering students for classes using a cobbled-together system of free tools just isn’t efficient enough anymore. 

   Now, you want to convince the board of directors that your arts education program needs class registration software.

   Factors to Convince the Board You Need Class Registration Software

   When education directors at arts nonprofits start considering class registration software, many face the challenge of convincing the board of directors to make the investment. Our clients tell us there are four key factors they need to address to convince the board: 

   1. Budget and Return on Investment

   Nonprofit organizations often operate on tight budgets. At the same time, they have a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to them by donors and funders. Your board will want any class registration solution to maximize return on investment. 

   2. Transition Management

   Adopting a new system means training staff, volunteers, and participants on how to use the software. Nonprofit organizations need software that is easy to learn and accessible from the devices stakeholders already use. A board may hesitate to make a change in case the transition is too much to handle. You need a solution that minimizes disruption and improves the user experience.

   3. Benefit to Participants

   Nonprofit boards are often especially concerned with how new technologies will support or benefit participants. They want to invest in tools that help them better serve their target population. Often, they choose investments based on whether they can improve the participant experience or boost satisfaction.

   4. Reporting for Impact Tracking and Decision Making

   Clear and accurate reporting is a special concern of nonprofit boards, because their impact and investment numbers help them secure funding and grants. An easy reporting system provides the right information at the right time. 
   

   Getting the Board on Board

   Building and administering an easy-to-use registration software for nonprofits has given us an inside look at what they need most. We created CourseStorm’s simple class registration software to be the solution boards could get excited about. Let’s take a closer look at what our system can do for your arts education program and how you can communicate the benefits to your board. 

   CourseStorm Class Registration Software

   Benefit #1: Return on Investment

   When budgets are tight, many organizations keep struggling with cobbled-together free solutions because they’re concerned about the investment of a yearly or monthly fee. CourseStorm ensures you only pay for the students you actually get. Our per-registration fee structure means that seasonal or periodic programs never pay for software they’re not using. 

   Benefit #2: Transitions Made Simple

   Many registration tools require in-depth training and lots of technical guidance. We believe a new solution doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, we’ve designed and refined CourseStorm to be as simple and intuitive as possible. As one of our customers recently said, “If you can use email, you can use CourseStorm.” 

   Adopting new software should be as simple and intuitive as possible. One of our customers said, “If you can use email, you can use CourseStorm.” 

   Even though our software is amazingly easy to use, we will still offer all the support you expect from a quality software solution. Email support and live group webinar onboarding guide you every step of the way. 

   Benefit #3: Ease of Use for Participants

   Participants get frustrated when they have to use multiple systems just to register for a class. Programs that ask students to bring cash or call to register during set business hours may drive them to look for other options. CourseStorm combines course registration and payment in one easy tool. Learners can register for classes, make payments, and even manage their account from their computer or smartphone at any time of the day or night. 

   They also get automated reminders about upcoming classes, an easy way to register multiple people in a single checkout, and the ability to join a waiting list if a class is full.

   Benefit #4: Reporting Made Simple

   Tracking registrants with manually built spreadsheets or multiple software systems invites errors into your reporting process. CourseStorm offers easy reporting at the push of a button. Whether you’re wondering how many students attended a particular class or looking for how this year’s registration numbers compare to last year’s, you’ll find that information easily. 

   We have a new AI-powered reporting feature in the works that even helps you build the exact report you’re looking for. You don’t have to be an Excel expert or use complicated form fields to find the data you need. 

   Google Forms: An Imperfect Solution

   Many nonprofits rely on Google Forms or similar solutions to help them collect information for course registration. While Google Forms is free to nonprofits, it’s also not built to handle the full course registration process. 

   Course registration is more than a form. It involves marketing, student communication, and payment processing. Class registration software does all of this, alleviating administrative burden.

   Course registration is more than a form. It involves elements of marketing, communication with registrants, and payment processing. Google Forms is great at collecting information, but it can’t process payments, doesn’t provide an accessible student portal, and can’t customize your reporting. 

   It may seem like a budget-conscious solution, but the added administrative burden creates added costs. Participants may also get frustrated when they can’t find, change, or pay for their registration without calling your office.

   An integrated registration and payment solution saves everyone time and reduces frustration all around. 

   Drop-in or Call-to-Register Inconveniences Students

   Speaking of ways to frustrate participants, asking students to call or drop in to register demands time and resources they may not have. It forces them to register when you’re open and have a staff member available. This may mean they delay registration or don’t bother to sign up at all. 

   Some programs try to solve this by asking registrants to pay on the day of the class. This puts the burden on instructors to collect and manage money. They have to track who has paid and potentially turn away students who forget or don’t have the right payment method available. This uses up valuable class time and may alienate students. 

   A fully online registration and payment system ensures that every learner is fully registered and paid before class begins. Instructors can focus on teaching so learners get the best possible experience. 

   Convince the Board to Streamline Class Registration with CourseStorm

   Cobbled-together systems built out of free tools make registration inefficient and frustrating for both learners and nonprofit organizations. To remove these challenges, you first have to convince the board that class registration software is worth the investment. 

   CourseStorm offers a streamlined solution with flexible payment options and accurate reporting. It’s user-friendly for staff, volunteers, and participants who can access essential information from their desktop or mobile devices.

   Show your board how easy class registration can be. Sign up for your free trial of CourseStorm today.

3. Best Class Registration Software for Nonprofits

   February 9, 2024 9:00 am Leave a Comment

   Any nonprofit arts organization that offers classes or other educational programs to the public needs class registration software because it takes the burden off of administrative staff and streamlines the signup and payment process for students.

   The right class registration software for nonprofits addresses the challenges of many arts organizations, including:

   • Resource and staffing constraints. Whether your education program is a one-person show, run by volunteers, or requires part-time hires, the administrative burden of handling class registration is too much. You need software that will allow you to take a lunch break.
   • No streamlined financial system. You are wasting time collecting and organizing payments, have difficulty in issuing refunds, and your bookkeeping is complicated.
   • No integration with other systems. For class registration software that truly simplifies things for nonprofits, it needs to integrate with your existing donor management platform. No duplicating efforts or records, just a streamlined flow of data between the platforms.
   • No time to learn a complicated new registration system. The right class registration software for nonprofits is easy to use for administrative staff, instructors, and students alike. You want something that you can start using right away, with minimal training.

   Some arts education programs are still struggling to recover and grow enrollments again after the pandemic. Other programs may have more classes and students than they can manage. In either case, the right class registration software for nonprofits will help you streamline the registration process, automate as many tasks as possible like payments and waiting lists, and save you time and money.

   In this post, we’ll take a look at four key features to help you decide which class registration software is right for you.

   Streamlines and automates with online payments, customized registration forms, and more

   Streamlined financial system that simplifies payments and refunds for staff and students

   Integrations with other software to store and view customer data all in one place

   The support you need to get you and your staff up to speed quickly

   CourseStorm

   Impossibly Simple Class Registration Software

   Save time. Enroll more students. Perfect whether you offer classes in-person or online.

   

   CourseStorm was designed to provide online registration that’s impossibly simple for people to use to sign up for classes. It’s easy to use, just a few clicks from start to finish, to increase your enrollments with no additional work on your part. We also created a streamlined process for programs to handle payments, refunds, and transferring students between classes, even if they’re different prices.

   Create a sample course catalog in just a few clicks — no credit card needed.

   Key Feature 1 – Streamlines and automates with features like online payments, customized registration forms, and self-serve waiting lists

   The best class registration software provides a hands-off process that streamlines the registration experience for the student so that they are empowered to complete registration and payment online on their own without unnecessary calls to your staff.

   The ability to customize registration forms can help you gather information while making the experience more pleasant for students.

   

   Let’s say you’re offering a kids’ theatre class that includes a field trip to see a play. You will want to collect emergency contact information for each student. You can easily customize the registration form in CourseStorm to include this.

   Our waiting list feature allows programs to enable students to add themselves to the waiting list if a class is full. Then, if a spot opens up, they’ll be automatically emailed with a link to register.

   Key Feature 2 – Streamlined financial system that simplifies payments and refunds for staff and students

   Online registration and payment software simplifies payments, eliminating time spent collecting and organizing payments that come in by check or over the phone. Students pay online when they register, without any need for help from your staff. CourseStorm also makes it easy to transfer students between classes, even if there’s a difference in cost. And, because we know schedules and plans can change, we make it easy to issue refunds when necessary with just a couple of clicks. CourseStorm also makes it easy to give students discounts with promo codes, and reduce the barriers to registration by offering payment plans for big-ticket classes.

   

   Key Feature 3 – Integrations with donor management platforms and other software give you a complete view of customers’ activity all in one place

   In addition to everything listed above, your nonprofit could benefit from class registration software that integrates with the tools you’re already using. CourseStorm makes it easy to manage class registrations, donors, and campaigns with useful software integrations.

   PatronManager Integration

   PatronManager is a ticketing, fundraising, and marketing solution designed for arts programs. It’s used by theaters, music venues, festival organizers, and others who need to manage events. The PatronManager-CourseStorm integration gives nonprofits a more detailed picture of their patron, participant, and donor base.

   Little Green Light Integration

   Little Green Light (LGL) is a donor management software that helps nonprofits improve fundraising and donor relationships. The Little Green Light-CourseStorm integration lets CourseStorm class registration data appear automatically in LGL. Use it to include learners in appeal campaigns, manage communications, and send invitations for special events.

   Other Useful Integrations for Nonprofits

   Integrations with other software solutions can streamline data management so staff and volunteers can spend more time moving the mission forward. CourseStorm integrates with WordPress using a custom plugin, and with Mailchimp, Google Suite, and other essential tools through Zapier.

   

   Key Feature 4 – The support you need to get up to speed quickly and train your staff

   The right class registration for nonprofits is easy to use and requires minimal training. You want something that volunteers and staff members alike can quickly get comfortable with. That way you can spend less time training and more time serving participants.

   A good class registration software streamlines the training process to simplify the user experience. CourseStorm offers a comprehensive Help Site. Get answers to your questions 24/7/365 from our help articles and videos. We also offer email and phone support for certain plans. All customers have access to onboarding videos. Depending on your plan, this may be live or on-demand recorded webinars.

   

   Create a sample course catalog in just a few clicks — no credit card needed.

   Eliminate Up to 80% of Your Time Spent on Administrative Tasks

   By now, we hope you have all the details you need to make an informed decision. The right software can make a big difference for your nonprofit’s education program. It can simplify the work of staff and volunteers while creating positive experiences for participants.

   We designed CourseStorm as the streamlined and simple solution for community, arts, and nonprofit organizations. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Start your free trial of CourseStorm today and see for yourself why so many nonprofits have chosen CourseStorm.

4. How Much Should a Class Cost? A Simple Pricing Guide

   January 23, 2024 10:00 am Leave a Comment

   It can be difficult to put a price on a learning opportunity. You want your classes to be accessible to as many students as possible, but you also need to cover your costs. The price you set should acknowledge the value of the offering without giving students sticker shock. 

   Finding the balance can be tricky, which is why we’ve simplified things with this class pricing guide. While we can’t give you a one-size-fits-all answer for what to charge, we can walk you through what to consider when setting class prices. 

   3-Step Class Pricing Guide

   To make class pricing simpler, we’ve broken the process down into three steps. These steps apply to every type of class or organization. At the end of this pricing guide, you’ll find recommendations for classes offered by nonprofits, different class formats, and special strategies.

   Step 1:  Calculate Your Overhead Plus Profit Margin

   Start by figuring out how much it will cost to offer the class. This includes some obvious things like the cost of materials, but also some less obvious things like the cost of marketing the class. 

   You may have to make some informed estimates here. The good news is that once you’ve done this, you can use similar figures for every class you offer. 

   Add up your:

   • Class materials
   • Instructor remuneration

   Then include a percentage of your:

   • Facilities and utilities
   • Marketing
   • Administration
   • Registration and student communication

   Add all this up and divide by the number of learners you expect to register for the class. This number represents the absolute minimum you can charge in most cases. (We’ll cover the exception in the Special Circumstance section below.) If your organization is for-profit, add in the profit margin you would like to make on the class. Most organizations aim for between 5% and 20% of the cost.

   For example: If a class costs you $20 per student and you want to make a 10% profit, you’ll add $20 + (20 x .10) = $22

   To make it easy, here’s our customizable Class Pricing Guide Calculator you can modify for your own use. 

   

   Step 2: Review the Market

   We don’t recommend copying another organization’s pricing structure. You don’t know enough about their business operations to guess if their strategy will work for you. However, it’s still smart to look around at what others are doing. 

   If your price is much higher than others in your area, learners may not register. If it’s too much lower, they may worry that your class isn’t valuable. Check with others offering similar classes to see what they charge. 

   A perfect match would be:

   • In the same subject
   • Offered in your city or area
   • Serving the same population
   • Offered in the same format
   • With the same class size

   The reality is that you may not be able to find a perfect match. That’s probably a good thing, because it means that the need is not already filled by that other class.

   If you can’t find a perfect match comparison, look for classes:

   • At your local college or extension center
   • In related subjects
   • Offered in a city of similar size to yours
   • Serving different populations
   • In different formats
   • With different class sizes

   Note how the class differs from yours and how that might affect the price. For example, classes offered by colleges are often more expensive than those offered by community nonprofits.

   Step 3: Consider the Value Your Class Offers Learners

   Remember that people tend to see price as an indicator of value. In some cases, lowering the price can actually make your class seem less attractive. It may signal to learners that the class isn’t all that valuable. 

   Value can be hard to pin down, but in general, you want to consider:

   • What skills students will learn
   • Whether the class saves them time or money
   • If the class makes them more employable by giving them a certificate or credential
   • How the class can change their daily life
   • What might happen if they don’t take the class
   • Other ways they could learn this skill or gain this knowledge

   A few other factors can affect value, including the number of students per class. Bigger class sizes generally equal lower value. Instructor reputation can also play a role. For example, students may be willing to pay more to take a writing class from an award-winning author. 

   Adjusting the Pricing Guide for Special Circumstances

   If you’ve followed the three steps above, you should have a ballpark idea of what your pricing should be. If your organization is a nonprofit, offering online classes, or wants to attract more students, read on for extra guidance.

   Pricing Guide Considerations for Nonprofit Organizations

   When setting pricing, nonprofits should consider the purpose of their classes. If classes are core to your mission, you may want to make some classes free or charge a nominal fee. Some nonprofits offer classes that are an extension of their mission and can help to fund more essential functions. In that case, you’ll want to do more than just cover the cost of the class.

   In-Person Versus Online Classes

   Whether a class is online or in-person can impact the perceived value. Online classes may face more competition, since students have access to sites like Coursera, EdX and even YouTube. You may need to match these prices, or make an extra effort to prove why yours are more valuable than these large-scale offerings. 

   One way to show value is by marketing to students in your local area. Lean in to the idea that they’re supporting a community nonprofit or small business. If you have an office where they can call or walk in for support, that’s even better.

   Special Pricing to Attract More Students

   In some cases, low cost or even free classes can pay off for your program. They can encourage people to try your classes. Many dance, fitness, and yoga studios do this as a way to get more people to try out their offerings.

   If you choose to offer a loss leader class, pick it carefully. It should be an introductory level course that accurately represents what your program offers. You might even create a special survey or intro course for this purpose.

   Don’t Forget a Yearly Pricing Review!

   Remember that class pricing isn’t like a rotisserie oven, you can’t just set it and forget it. Do a pricing review every year or so to make sure your classes are still well-priced for the market and matched to the class value. 

   Review your prices every year to make sure your classes are still well-priced for the market and matched to the value they offer.

   If you think it might be time to raise your prices, don’t worry. We have a guide for that too. Learn how you can raise prices without upsetting students.

5. How to Collect and Use Student Feedback to Build Better Programs

   November 28, 2023 10:29 am Leave a Comment

   Requests for feedback show up on menus, in marketing emails, and even on the back of long-haul trucks. They pop up anywhere organizations interact with the general public. Your education program should be no exception. Collecting student feedback can help you improve your programs and better support your learners. 

   Most people recognize that feedback is important. What may be less clear is how to collect student feedback and what to do once you have it. Some people also worry about asking for feedback too often or how to handle negative feedback. Here is everything you need to know to create an effective feedback funnel for your education program. 

   Student Feedback: Your Most Valuable Resource

   Feedback can do three important things. First, it gives you information to make decisions about your program and class offerings. Feedback can help you measure progress toward student satisfaction goals. It can also show you where there’s room for improvement in your classes or registration process.

   Only about 4% of customers will tell you if they’re unhappy. Asking students for feedback helps you catch and fix issues early and increases loyalty.

   Second, asking for feedback helps you catch issues early. Many students won’t complain about small irritations, but they might decide to register somewhere else next time. In fact, only about 4% of dissatisfied customers will tell you they’re unhappy. Specifically requesting feedback can help increase that percentage so you can do something about it.

   Third, feedback helps strengthen relationships between programs and learners. A study by Harvard Business Review found that customers were more loyal after being asked for feedback. Just asking for their opinion shows students you care about them and what they have to say.

   

   Setting Feedback Goals

   Clearly defining your reason to get feedback will help you craft an approach that will provide you with the best information. Get clear on what you want to know and why you want to know it. Here are some questions that feedback can help answer:

   • Why are we not getting the repeat students that we expect?
   • How can we increase student referrals?
   • Why do we have higher class registrations on specific days?
   • Why are students enrolling in our program vs. other programs?
   • How do our tuition and fees compare to our students’ expectations?
   • How do we compare to other competing activities in our area?
   • Are we meeting our students’ needs?
   • What’s the overall satisfaction level with our current program?
   • Should we stop offering this specific class, or are there things we can do to improve it?

   Being clear about what you want to know can help you avoid overwhelming students with too many unrelated questions. 

   Two Broad Types of Student Feedback

   You can gather two broad types of feedback: Solicited and unsolicited. Both are useful in different ways and combining them will often lead to the most accurate insights. 

   Unsolicited feedback is the thoughts or feelings your students share without being asked. You get this feedback by:

   • Watching how students behave
   • Monitoring social media and third-party review sites
   • Tracking customer engagement and retention
   • Listening to student comments 

   Relying exclusively on spontaneous feedback can mean you only hear the extremes. Students are more likely to speak up when they’re either delighted or angry. For a more nuanced look, create opportunities for intentional sharing.

   Solicited feedback is information you collect in a structured way by asking customers for their insights. You get this feedback by: 

   • Adding feedback links to your emails
   • Using course evaluation forms
   • Interviewing students directly
   • Including feedback questions on your registration forms
   • Sending a yearly questionnaire

   How to Collect Student Feedback

   Students invited to give feedback should be told why they should participate, how long the process will take, and how their feedback will be used. Follow these best practices for optimum results: 

   1. Ask a mix of focused and broad questions

   A survey or feedback form should offer a real opportunity for students to share their experience and opinions. Asking a mix of focused and broad questions helps you find answers to specific questions, but also creates an opening for students to share what’s on their minds.

   Focused question: On a scale of 1 to 5, how easy was our registration process? 

   Broad question: What could we do better? 

   Broad questions help you collect feedback you might otherwise miss. For example, you may wonder about whether you’re offering the right classes, but students are more concerned about the timing of those classes.

   2. Request consent to share

   Feedback forms and surveys can sometimes deliver useful gems that could become testimonials. If you hope to use feedback in marketing materials, ask for consent. 

   Consent to share: Do you give us permission to use your survey responses in print and online  marketing materials for the purposes of promoting our courses and programs?

   While we’re talking about consent, make sure that respondents know who will see the information and how it will be used. Let them know who will have direct access to the results.

   3. Gather demographic data

   Demographic data can reveal whether you’re reaching your target audience. It may also help you flag diversity and inclusion issues. Ask some basic questions about the person giving feedback so you have context for their opinions.

   Basic demographics: age, race, income level, gender, employment, level of education

   Targeted demographics: disabilities, veteran status, location, family and dependents, housing situation, primary language

   You don’t need to ask all of these questions on every survey. Pick and choose the ones that align with your goals and information needs.

   Tools for Collecting Feedback 

   Course evaluations – Used to collect feedback about a specific course or class. Course evaluation questions ask about the class content, instructor, teaching methods, and assignments. You can use online tools like Google Forms or printed evaluations handed out in class.

   Customer feedback form – Used to collect feedback about the customer experience. These forms might ask about ease of registration, pricing, service, or other elements related to the transaction. You can use Google Forms, or build these questions directly into your registration forms.

   Social media polls – Used to collect information from the general public. These are useful for deciding whether to offer a class or getting to know your audience. Various social media platforms allow you to create polls. Using the built-in tools is usually more effective than a DIY solution.

   Interviews – Used to gather more in-depth information from specific students. Interviews can be labor-intensive, but may also reveal more nuanced details. Prepare questions in advance and make sure to take notes or record the conversation.

   What to Do With All That Feedback Data

   Start by organizing your data. Enter all of the responses into a spreadsheet. Many of the online survey forms will do this for you automatically. Make sure to clean up any duplicate or missing data. Then rank or otherwise organize data into logical groupings. You might split positive and negative data or group it by customer demographics.

   Next, look for patterns. Do you see themes coming up repeatedly? Are there some questions that people tend to skip? Look for trends in demographics as well as responses. You might also want to highlight answers that are particularly strong. 

   Then, create visualizations. Make charts, graphs, or highlight sheets to make this data useful for your whole team. Some online survey tools have templates that can help with data visualizations.  

   How to Use Student Feedback to Improve Programs

   If you gather feedback, but don’t use it, students will stop answering your questions. Student feedback is only valuable if you apply it. 

   Identify which feedback you plan to act on. Some problems can be easily solved with a new tool or messaging, others require a bigger investment. Discuss what’s possible, then identify strategies and timelines.

   Don’t forget to tell your students what you’re up to. Showing them how their feedback is used can build trust and make them more likely to respond in the future. That kind of transparency creates loyalty, the greatest gift an enrollment-based program can have. Here’s an example of how PrimeLife Arts Learning created a promotional video from student feedback they collected.

   Now that you know how to collect and use student feedback, use our customizable course evaluation template to get started gathering feedback that can improve your classes.

6. Creative Arts Classes in Theater, Music, and Art For Veterans

   November 8, 2023 4:30 pm Leave a Comment

   Honoring our veterans is about more than parades and bumper stickers. It’s not something that should happen just on Veteran’s Day or Military Appreciation Week. We honor our veterans when we offer them support all year round. Classes in theater, music, and art for veterans give them a point of connection, an opportunity to learn, and a chance to share their unique stories and viewpoints. 

   Arts organizations across the U.S. offer classes in theater, music, and art-making for veterans to foster connection and self-expression. 

   Organizations across the country have made a special effort to provide these valuable experiences for veterans and their families. Here is a closer look at how arts programs are supporting those who served and some thoughts about how your organization can start offering classes in art for veterans.

   Art as a Tool for Connection

   Anyone can benefit from art classes. Engaging with the arts provides stress relief, can improve social connection, and empowers self-expression. All of these have been linked to better mental and physical health. 

   These benefits might be especially valuable to veterans. Many veterans find that transitioning back to civilian life can be stressful. Service members who have benefited from the structure and camaraderie of military life may feel lonely and disconnected outside that system. The stresses of military service can also create unique mental and physical health challenges. 

   Dedicated programs in art for veterans can help ease the transition back to civilian life.

   When organizations offer dedicated programs in art for veterans, they help ease the transition. Even veterans who served years or decades ago carry stories and perspectives that can be expressed through art.

   Veterans in Our Communities

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 16.2 million veterans in the United States. That equates to about 6.2% of the adult population. Some states have a greater proportion of veterans than others. In Alaska, Wyoming, Virginia, and Maine veterans make up around 10% of the population. California, Utah, New Jersey, and Massachusetts hover around 4%. 

   While older males make up the majority of the veteran population, arts organizations might be interested to know that the number of female veterans is rising. By 2040, women will make up 17% of the veteran population. 

   Also, while many people associate military service with war, the second-largest cohort of living veterans served during a time of relative peace. So although all veterans make sacrifices to serve our country, these are not always combat related. Before you create a program for veterans, consider who you hope to serve.

   Meeting Multiple Needs With Art for Veterans

   Veterans may share the common experience of military service, but each is a unique person with unique needs. A diverse range of theater, music, and art for veterans programs help meet those needs in creative ways. 

   Community and Connection – Organizations like the War Memorial offer Veterans Artmaking classes as an opportunity for veterans to meet and connect with each other over art. While veterans are welcome to attend the full range of events, classes, and activities at the War Memorial, this artmaking class offers a special opportunity just for them. 

   Sharing Stories – The CreatiVets songwriting program partners veterans with musicians and songwriters who can help them tell their stories through song. Playing these songs for friends and family can enable veterans to tell stories they might not otherwise have shared. 

   Serving Multidimensional Needs – Veterans experiencing incarceration have found opportunities for self-expression and healing through theater performances organized by the Marin Shakespeare Company. In these programs, veterans incarcerated in California state prisons take part in theatrical performances led by a registered drama therapist. 

   Personal Fulfillment – VetRep’s Acting and Playwrighting Classes offer veterans a chance to express themselves and share their talents. In addition to classes, the program offers live theater events, script competitions, and a podcast featuring long-form conversations with veterans in the arts. 

   Career and Vocational Supports – Organizations like Nobel Desktop offer graphic design and mobile graphics bootcamps for veterans who want to quickly learn arts and design skills to support their transition to a new career. GI Bill-eligible veterans can use their benefits to help pay for programs like these. 

   How to Offer Classes in Art for Veterans

   Reaching veterans in your community might sound like a big challenge, but it might be easier than most organizations realize. Follow these best practices to develop an arts program that meets the needs of veterans. 

   1. Don’t Assume – The demographics of the veteran population are shifting. Don’t assume that all veterans are male, served in combat, or have service-related health conditions. You can certainly create programs to serve those specific populations, just know that many service members fall outside of those categories.

   2. Get Insight From a Veteran – The best way to create arts programs that serve veterans is to ask them what they need. If you don’t already have veterans in your organization, reach out to your community and ask for input. You can also contact a local veterans service organization or the local branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   3. Plan for Your Purpose – Decide how you hope to serve veterans with your arts programs. Are you supporting mental health, creating community, or offering career support? Clearly identify your purpose and include it in your marketing materials for the class. 

   In short, avoid making assumptions about veterans’ backgrounds and seek input from veterans themselves to tailor programs to their needs. By actively involving veterans in the planning process and recognizing their diverse needs, you can offer classes that make a meaningful and lasting impact on their lives.

   For more on how to develop classes with particular audiences in mind, learn about how to develop and use student personas.

7. Smart Student Retention Strategies to Keep Learners Coming Back to Your Classes

   October 10, 2023 9:00 am Leave a Comment

   Keeping the customers you have is easier than attracting new ones. People who have previously enrolled in your classes already know and trust you. Offering high-quality courses is a good start, but this alone is not enough to create student loyalty. You also need smart student retention strategies to keep learners — and their friends and families — coming back for more. 

   It all comes down to each person’s experience with your organization. The right student retention strategies can keep them engaged from registration through follow-up. You want to make it as easy as possible for someone to enroll in your program. Then, offer support and a sense of community to keep them coming back.

   We’re sharing some useful student retention strategies we’ve discovered over years of helping learning experience providers like you. 

   Through our years helping learning experience providers register and retain students, we’ve discovered some useful student retention strategies. Now we’re sharing them with you. 

   But first, we need to make an important point: every program needs to think about student loyalty, even if you offer courses learners are unlikely to repeat.

   Student Retention Strategies Matter, Even If You Offer One-Off Courses

   When you provide learning experiences, it’s not always obvious why student loyalty is important. You might be teaching professional development courses that students take only once in their career. Maybe you offer a retirement planning class, and people only plan for retirement once. This can make it feel like student retention strategies aren’t necessary for you. 

   Retention is about more than repeat business. It’s also about creating a community of people who will happily recommend you to others.

   However, even programs that offer one-off classes can benefit from thinking about student loyalty. Retention is about more than repeat business, it’s also about building a community of people who will happily recommend you to friends, family, and coworkers. 

   If you have done the work of creating a high-quality experience, students are more likely to recommend your program. Increase the odds even more by putting smart student retention strategies in place.

   

   6 Student Retention Strategies to Apply Today

   1. Set Clear Expectations

   Some surprises are good. Others, not so much. Offering a better learning experience than students expected is a good surprise. In general, though, students should know what to expect when they enroll in your classes. 

   Tell them upfront about any prerequisites, the expected time commitment, and what tools or materials they’ll need. If you don’t clearly communicate these details, some students might drop out part way through a class. Others might power through, but choose not to register for another class or recommend your program. 

   Well-designed course catalogs and registration forms can help you avoid unpleasant surprises. Make sure you include all the details that students need to succeed.

   2. Make Registration Easy

   People tend to avoid unpleasant tasks. The more time-consuming and difficult something is, the more likely you are to put it off until tomorrow. Even if you offer an exceptional class experience, students may not re-enroll if they know the registration process will be difficult. 

   Make class registration as easy as possible by simplifying registration forms, offering online registration, and integrating secure payment options. When you make registration simple, students are more likely to enroll again and again. 

   Features like mobile registration, online payments, and friends and family registration are more than conveniences, they’re student retention strategies. 

   3. Create Feelings of Belonging to Keep Student Retention High

   Your third grade teacher was right: People won’t remember what you say, only how you made them feel. Everyone wants to feel like they belong. You can improve student retention by building a learning community. This is especially important for online classes where students may not get the chance to socialize. 

   You can use social media or email to: 

   • Post instructor profiles
   • Share snapshots of classes in session
   • Show off the results of a session (artworks from an art class, food from a cooking class, shelters built during a survival class)
   • Ask students to share photos of themselves using their new skills in their community
   • Host Q&As or free information sessions
   • Publicly congratulate students on their successes

   Even online students tend to enroll in courses that are close to home. By claiming your place in the community, you invite students to engage more deeply with your programs. 

   4. Show Students What to Do Next

   Adult ed and enrichment classes are often designed to stand alone. A student could take just one course and learn the basics about cooking, accounting, or wilderness survival. But if you want to keep students coming back you need to show them how your classes fit together. 

   Highlight connections between courses by: 

   • Grouping classes together in your course catalog 
   • Emailing current students a list of related classes based on their interests
   • Asking students in feedback surveys if they’d like information about related classes
   • Asking instructors to mention upcoming classes to their current students

   To improve student retention, you need to let students know what other classes you offer.

   5. Keep the Conversation Going

   Asking someone for their feedback helps build trust, especially if you demonstrate a real willingness to change. At or near the end of each class, invite students to fill out an evaluation form. Not only does this show students that you care about their opinion, it also makes you aware of opportunities to improve your courses. 

   When the class is over, your student retention strategies kick into high gear. Ask students to opt-in to email marketing about upcoming courses. That way you can email them when your new course catalog comes out or when registration opens for classes that might interest them.

   More programs are also starting to interact with students via text message. They’re a powerful student retention strategy because they give you a direct line to your learners. 

   And remember that social media is more than a way to remind people about upcoming classes. You can use it to stay connected with learners and build community. 

   6. Remove Barriers to Student Retention

   Think about what might actively prevent learners from registering. An amazing learning experience might as well not exist if students can’t access it. So think about what might prevent them from finishing a course or re-enrolling. 

   Pro Tip: Money can be a barrier for many students. Help minimize this worry by offering payment plans for big-ticket courses. You might also show your appreciation to returning students by offering special discounts. Also, consider group discounts or family discounts to encourage referrals. 

   The Most Powerful Student Retention Strategy

   Ultimately, the most powerful way to improve student retention is to offer high-quality classes worth coming back for. Build an engaged community of learners, keep them informed about your other course offerings, and make it easy for students to register — and re-register, so they keep coming back class after class.

   Among CourseStorm customers, 33% of registrations come from returning students. Learn more insights like this in our free report. 

   Don’t let a focus on new students keep you from nurturing relationships with former and current students. Among CourseStorm customer programs, 33% of registrations come from returning students. Balance your marketing efforts between existing and prospective students. Read more surprising insights like this in our free State of Informal Learning Report.

8. Want More Students? How a Local Business Partner Can Help

   September 26, 2023 9:15 am Leave a Comment

   As an education provider that serves and cares about your community, you want to reach as many learners as possible. But you can’t do it alone. Working with a local business partner can expand your reach, help people discover your classes, and grow your registrations. Outdoor retailer REI, for example, offers classes on mountain biking and wilderness survival. A bookstore could host a cooking class based on a new cookbook. And a clothing boutique might be a great place to offer a jewelry-making class.

   All of this works because, in many ways, your goals overlap with those of local businesses. You both care about the community and you both want to grow. Working together toward those goals can create unique offerings that delight and educate both of your audiences. 

   Partnering with a local business whose goals overlap with yours can introduce a whole new group of people to your classes.

   Yet many organizations are missing this opportunity. Some haven’t really thought about what a partnership might look like. Others just aren’t sure how to approach a local business partner. Our goal is to help you see what opportunities are out there and make a plan for how to act on them. A whole new group of students is waiting for you. 

   3 Ways to Work With a Local Business Partner 

   There are actually several ways that you can partner with local businesses to expand your reach and register more students. Here are three ways you might structure partnerships. 

   1. Guest speakers or presenters. Representatives of a local business can speak or present to your students during a class. These local experts offer unique perspectives and build the credibility of both your organization and their businesses. 

   2. Community sponsorship. In traditional community sponsorship arrangements, A local business may donate food, supplies, or funding for your students. They might even cover the cost of holding a particular class or event in exchange for a mention in your advertising materials. 

   3. Venue partnership. This is the opportunity many programs miss. Imagine a paint and sip class at a local bar, a textile arts class at a downtown clothing boutique, or a parenting and child development class at your local toy store. 

   Keep in mind that a well-crafted partnership is more than an exchange of resources. It also expands the potential audience for your community classes. In return, the business gets more visibility. They also build a reputation as the go-to place for information or resources about a particular topic. In short, the best partnerships provide benefits to both your organization and their business. 

   

   Who Benefits From a Local Business Partnership?

   With a well-designed local business partnership, everyone benefits. You expand your audience by tapping into the business’ client base. The business gets greater visibility with your students. Meanwhile students and customers get a class or experience that neither organization could have provided alone. 

   By building relationships in your community, you create a more supportive environment for everyone.

   From a wider perspective, the local economy benefits because students spend their money with local organizations and businesses. By strengthening relationships in your community, you build a more supportive environment for everyone. These may sound like grand claims, but everyone benefits from a more-connected community. 

   How to Choose the Right Local Business Partner

   Your goal in choosing a local business partner is to find a business with customers who match your ideal student audience. Look around at small businesses in your area and think about what their customers might be interested in learning.

   For example, you might offer: 

   • Writing classes at a bookstore
   • Movie appreciation class at a local movie theater
   • Wilderness survival courses at a campground
   • Business classes hosted at a local business
   • Parenting or child development classes at a toy store
   • Textile arts classes at a local clothing boutique
   • Music lessons at a music store or record shop
   • Flower-arranging class at a home decor store

   The class you offer doesn’t have to overtly connect to the product or service the business provides. Instead, look for a match in mission. For example, your local vintage clothing store may be excited about the idea of sustainability. Maybe they’d be willing to host a class on recycling, sustainable living, or the environment.

   Your potential local business partner might also have some ideas. Ask them what they think might interest their customers and look for ways to help make those classes possible. 

   Sell the Idea to a Local Business Partner

   Some local businesses will immediately recognize the benefits of partnering with you. Others may need some convincing. You can help them make an informed decision by offering essential information in a useful way. Follow these guidelines to start building your partnership.

   Explain how the business could benefit: e.g., “If you hosted a class in your cafe, I’m sure students would buy coffee while they’re here.”

   • Be clear and specific in your request. Instead of: “Would you be willing to host a class for us?” Say: “Do you think your customers would be excited to take a music appreciation class right here in the music shop?”

   • Explain how the business could benefit from the partnership. For example, “If you hosted a class in the cafe, I’m sure students would buy coffee and snacks from you while they’re here. They might even come back at other times throughout the week.”

   • Give them time to think. It might seem easiest to just walk in and talk to someone during business hours, but that also puts that person on the spot. They might be busy serving customers, or the owner might not be there that day. If you visit in person, bring a written letter or follow-up with an email that outlines your idea. 

   Networking events are a great place to find local business partners. The people at these events are likely to be open to new business opportunities, and you can talk to them without interrupting their workday. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce or look for community business networking events on Facebook to find networking events in your area.

   Strategies to Make the Most of Your Partnership

   Whether you’ve set up a guest speaker arrangement, venue partnership, or community sponsorship you’ll need to work together to achieve the best results. Here are some strategies to help you make the most of your partnership:  

   1. Get aligned on goals. Talk about what each organization hopes to accomplish so you can help each other reach your goals.

   2. Clearly outline expectations for each partner. Have a meeting where you outline each group’s responsibilities and a timeline for achieving them. Who will handle course content, materials, setup and cleanup, marketing, etc.

   3. Cross-post on social media. Ideally, both organizations will post about the upcoming class on social media. If you create a Facebook event for the class, make sure your partner is set up as a co-host. Share the registration link and any other details they need.

   4. Mirror your marketing messages. Use the same course description and registration link across all of your marketing materials. If each organization creates its own marketing messages, you might end up confusing audiences.

   5. Reach both audiences. Both your organization and the partner business should market to their own audience through email, social media, signage, and their websites. Each of you should promote with the same energy you bring to your own programs and events.

   By now, we hope you’re ready to start looking for local business partners for your community classes. If you need some inspiration, maybe these unusual course offering ideas will help get your thoughts flowing in the right direction. 

9. 6 Easy SEO Tricks to Make Course Listings More Visible on Google

   September 14, 2023 10:36 am Leave a Comment

   The secret to search engine optimization is that there is no secret. But a few easy SEO tricks can make your course listings more visible on Google. Not only will they help students find your course pages, they’ll also make those pages more user friendly and attractive for learners. 

   You might be wondering why we’re focusing on Google specifically. The answer is pretty simple — Google searches account for more than 85% of the global search market share. Optimizing for Google search is a high-impact way to increase the visibility of your courses across the internet. 

   We’re not going to tell you to hire a pricey SEO firm or rebuild your entire website from scratch. Instead, we offer real changes you can make today to improve your SEO performance. Because when it comes to search engine optimization, small changes can make a big difference.

   What Is Search Engine Optimization?

   Let’s start by defining our terms. Search engine optimization is the content, formatting, programming, and hosting decisions that help you show up first in search engine results. 

   For the purposes of this guide, we’re going to talk mostly about on-page SEO. That is, the changes you can make to content on individual pages of your website to improve your ranking. We’re not going to get into programming and web development. Although, if you really want to up your SEO game, your web developer probably has some suggestions.

   

   Easy SEO Tricks to Quickly Make Course Listings More Visible

   These easy SEO tricks can apply to any page on your website, but we’re talking about how they can help with course listings because increased course page visibility often leads to more registrations for your program. 

   1. Digitize Your Entire Course Guide

   Printed course guides are still a powerful tool. Sending them directly to potential students can help interest them in your programs, but a print catalog can’t improve your SEO. Some programs try to get away with uploading their course catalog as a PDF on their website, but that won’t help either.

   Uploading your course catalog as a PDF does not help SEO since search engines can’t read the contents of PDF files.

   First, search engines can’t read the contents of PDF files. When your course catalog is a PDF, you miss multiple opportunities to rank in search for course types and individual classes. Second, it creates an accessibility barrier. Some people are anxious about downloading files that could potentially infect their computers. Others don’t have the bandwidth for big downloads. 

   Worse, if someone is visually impaired, their assistive tools may not be able to read all PDFs. 

   When people can’t read your content, they’ll spend less time on your site, which means Google will assume you were unable to meet the user’s needs. The search engine will be less likely to show your content in future searches.

   So, putting your course catalog online is good for potential students and for SEO. Without this step, none of our other easy SEO tricks really matter.

   2. Choose Keywords That Fit Each Course

   Keywords are a core element of search engine optimization. Search engines look for keywords to tell them what a page is about. If the keywords on your page match the ones a potential student typed into their search engine, you’re more likely to rank. Keep in mind that the most powerful keywords aren’t individual words at all. They’re keyphrases. For the blog post you’re reading now the phrase “easy SEO tricks” was one of our keywords.

   The most powerful keywords aren’t individual words, they’re keyphrases. Aim for at least 3 per page.

   For each page of your course guide, you should have a minimum of around three keywords. One, the primary keyword, should tell visitors the topic of your course. You can mix in a few secondary keywords to add context. 

   For example, if your keyword is “Beginners Acting Class for Kids,” you might include phrases like:  

   • Drama class
   • Acting training
   • After-school activities
   • Improve public speaking

   You can use Google Trends or other keyword research tools to find the right words. 

   3. Optimize Titles and Descriptions

   The most powerful place to include keywords is in your title. Let’s say you have a course that helps behavioral health professionals get certified. Your title should probably include phrases like Behavioral Health Professional Certification Training or Certification Training for Behavioral Health Professionals.

   Your secondary keywords can show up in your description. Don’t get carried away here. In the early days of SEO, the more you used a keyword, the better you ranked. Now, it’s all about context. 

   Your course description should be interesting and informative. Any keywords it uses should be grammatically correct and make sense in context. They should help the visitor understand what the class is about and whether it’s the right choice for them.

   4. Customize Your URL for Each Course Listing

   This is an easy SEO trick that many people miss. Every page in your course guide has a unique web address. It probably looks something like this:  https://coursestorm.yourprogram.org/course/name-of-course/

   Make sure that the slug, or URL, for each course page contains your keywords.

   The part we’re interested in for SEO purposes is the text between the last two backslashes. This is known as the slug, and it’s a unique identifier for your page. You want to make sure that the slug includes the keywords for your course. So, if you have a course on How to Draw Animals your slug should be something like /how-to-draw-animals/. 

   Here’s what to avoid when choosing a slug: 

   • Don’t use an internal course number. /290340u57/ might make sense to you, but it doesn’t tell Google anything about your course
   • Keep it short. /how-to-draw-cats-dogs-chickens-pigs-with-artist-sarah-smith/ is too much and misses the keyphrase
   • Use real words and recognizable phrases, i.e. don’t shorten how to draw animals to /hw-to-drw-anmls/

   Most website content management software includes an option to customize your slug. Take the extra moment to do this and you’ll instantly improve SEO.

   5. Organize Your Course Catalog in a Meaningful Way

   Google doesn’t just look at individual pages. It also considers how those pages fit together. This is another case where improving SEO also improves the user experience. When you organize your course content in logical ways, both Google and your potential learners can easily find what they’re looking for. 

   Organize your course guide into logical categories and subcategories. Categories might include broad topics like: 

   • Career Development
   • Personal Enrichment
   • Business and Skills Training
   • High School Completion
   • Technology
   • Summer Camps
   • Health and Fitness

   Subcategories are more focused but still encompass multiple classes. So under Personal Enrichment you may have subcategories like: 

   • Arts and Crafts
   • Cooking
   • Outdoor Experiences
   • Personal Finance

   Try to choose categories and subcategories that your average student (or their parent) might search for.

   6. Include Location Information

   Mentioning the city and state where your class is located can make your listing more likely to rank for “near me” searches. So if someone types in “personal finance classes near me” your course listing is more likely to pop up in their search. 

   Skip this step, and you could be left off the list. It’s probably not enough to include the location of your organization on the contact us page. Make sure it appears on every course listing. 

   Think Beyond Easy SEO Tricks to Keep Improving

   The easy SEO tricks we’ve shared here will get you started. They’re a quick way to improve user experience and get seen on Google. But they’re just the beginning. Keep in mind that SEO is always evolving. What works now may not be a best practice in three years. Watch the headlines to make sure you never miss an update. 

   CourseStorm can help you create a user-friendly, search engine optimized course catalog.

   Our simple course registration software helps you stay organized, lets you customize your URL, and features location information for every class. For more tips on reaching more students, read our post on course catalog examples that boost enrollment.

10. 9 Key Elements of a Course Catalog: Examples That Boost Enrollment

    September 12, 2023 12:25 pm Leave a Comment

    Building a quality course catalog can help you convince more students to register. The most effective course listings are more than a simple list. They combine all of the information students need to know to make an informed decision about your courses.

    We see a lot of course guides in our work with community and arts education programs. Among the hundreds we’ve seen, a few stand out as strong course catalog examples that other programs could emulate. You can use these examples as a model as you build your own course listings and to avoid common pitfalls. We’ll even break down each one so you can see what makes them effective.

    What Is a Course Catalog for?

    You may think that a course catalog is a list of classes offered by your program or organization. What people sometimes forget is that a quality course catalog is also a marketing tool. Students use it to decide which classes to take and whether those classes are worth their time and money.

    To be effective, your course catalog must capture the eye and the imagination of your potential students. It needs to convince them to register right now. 

    Potential students who browse a course catalog are looking for answers to two important questions:

    • What will this class teach me?
    • Is the value of this class worth my investment of time and money?

    Many programs struggle because they stop after answering question one. They tell students about subject matter and learning outcomes, but fail to explain why those outcomes matter. As a result, students know what the class is about, but may not see the true value in the experience.

    An effective course catalog convinces students of the value of each class. It uses every course title, description, and image to show students what they can get by taking the course.

    9 Parts of an Effective Course Catalog, With Examples

    An effective course catalog includes 9 parts. Each one helps the student gather information about the courses offered.

    1. Categories
    2. Subcategories
    3. Class names
    4. Class descriptions
    5. Images
    6. Instructor information
    7. Place and time
    8. Pricing
    9. Registration link

    Below, the course catalog example from San Juan College Community Enrichment shows all 9 parts in action.

    

    1. Categories: What Is This Course About?

    Categories help to group similar kinds of classes and make it easy for people to find the classes they’re looking for. Seek a balance between overly generic and too specific. The goal is to logically group clusters of related classes.

    Some categories that are broad, yet specific enough to be useful may include:

    • Kids classes
    • Workforce development
    • Fitness
    • Finance
    • Music and dance
    • Arts and crafts
    • Computer skills
    • Cooking

    For example, the category “Cooking” is precise. Someone can easily imagine the kinds of classes that might fit into that category. It’s also broad enough to include several different classes. Something like “French Cuisine” may be too specific, unless you run a cooking school.

    2. Subcategories Make Navigation Easier

    Subcategories can break down big topics into more specific focus areas. This helps students find the classes they are looking for by guiding them through your course catalog.

    For example, you may have 30 classes in workforce development that focus on 5 or 6 subtopics. Categories can help students find the courses that are most relevant to them.

    Some example subcategories for workforce development might be:

    • Computers & technology
    • Healthcare & medical
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Financial literacy
    • Skilled trades

    3. Class Names Tell Students What to Expect

    Effective class names tell students what the class is about. When writing class names, aim for clear description over cleverness. Here are a few examples of real class names that work:

    • Digital Photography: Capturing the Right Shot
    • Write From the Heart for Fun and Profit
    • Five Unexpected Books Every Classical Educator Should Read: Free Webinar
    • Websites That Work: Converting Web Visitors Into Customers

    These class names work because they’re clear and include keywords that search engines can find. Some also include extra details about format or cost.

    Of course, if you can be clear and clever, that’s even better. One CourseStorm customer put this idea into action for her “Learn to Crochet” class. Last year, the class was canceled due to lack of registrations. Instead of overhauling the class, she changed the name. This year, she quickly filled the class “Too Legit to Knit: Crochet Instead.”

    Pro Tip: If you run the same class every season, keep the name the same in each version of the catalog. (Unless you’re hoping to revitalize a lagging class!) This helps students recognize classes they’ve already taken and spot new ones on their preferred topics.

    4. Descriptions With Real Course Catalog Examples

    Course descriptions tell students what they’ll learn and why they should take a course. Focus on the real effect the course could have on their life. Writing a quality course description takes some effort, but the results are worth it.

    Here’s an example of a real course description from The Training Place:

    “If there’s one thing guaranteed in life, it is change. The way in which we navigate unanticipated change and stressful experiences will have a direct impact on our mind and body in subtle and not so subtle ways.

    You will be introduced to the Change RHYTHM model, explore the tone of your inner narrative, self-assess your relationship and mindset towards a recent change event, and define a set of unique resilience rituals that will enable you to adapt to and evolve through the change and maintain forward momentum in the new normal that follows.”

    This course description works because it:

    • Speaks to a real need the student has — dealing with change.
    • Explains exactly what students will learn.
    • Includes a clear outcome: “adapt to and evolve through the change and maintain forward momentum in the new normal that follows.”

    Pro Tip: If you realize you need to share more information than can comfortably fit in a course description, consider linking to a course fact sheet or FAQ attachment.

    Keywords: the Hidden Element of a Course Catalog

    Using key search terms in your course titles and descriptions makes them more discoverable to search engines. That helps your students find what they’re looking for. 

    You can do some basic keyword research using a tool like Semrush or Moz. Then, include those keywords in your course descriptions. Aim for a good mix of the two main types of keywords:

    • short-tail keywords are short and broad, such as “classes for adults” or “First Aid class”
    • long-tail keywords are longer and more specific, like “sustainable papermaking course for adults” or “Lego robot workshop for teens”

    Include both so search engines can see what your course is really about and who it’s for.

    5. Images Increase Engagement

    Images make your course listings seem more inviting. The best option is to use real photos from your courses. If that’s not possible, high-quality stock images or custom graphics can fill the gap.

    Look for images that are easy to understand at a glance. Smiling faces and bright colors tend to be most engaging. Remember to use images that include all the types of people who might take your classes.

    

     

    6. Instructor Information Boosts Student Confidence

    Information about the instructor can provide a compelling reason to take a class. Include a paragraph about the instructor and their background, or link to their bio elsewhere on your site.

    7. Place and Time Help Orient Students

    Include information about when and where the class will run, so students can tell if it fits their schedule. Remember to mention whether a class is online or in-person.

    8. Pricing Information Is Essential

    Include clear pricing information for every class. Make sure you’re accurately portraying the whole cost of the program. Some students may love to take an art class for $300, but when they find out they have to spend another $300 to buy their own supplies, the course no longer fits their budget. It will save both your time and theirs to be forthright about pricing. 

    For big-ticket courses, consider offering payment plans to make them more accessible. Being open about pricing helps build trust and gives students the information they need to make an informed decision.

    9. Registration Links Let Students Act Now

    Every class listing should include a button or link where students can register right away. This makes it easy for someone to act while interest is high.

    Using online registration software with payment processing streamlines enrollment for students and for you. After registering online, all they have left to do is show up for class! 

    Avoid This Major Course Catalog Mistake!

    Some programs can get all 9 parts right and still not see the number of registrations they were hoping for. Why? Because they’re requiring an account before letting someone view their course catalog. 

    We’ve all had the experience of trying to read an online article only to be informed that we need to create an account first. Not only does this interrupt the natural flow for the user, but it also makes them mistrustful. They wonder, “Do you even want me to read your content, or do you just want my contact information so you can bombard my inbox with sales emails?” 

    Your class offerings aren’t confidential information—in fact, the more people who know about them, the better! Making your course catalog accessible to all gives students the chance to discover a class that’s a perfect fit for them. 

    Quick fix: Share your course catalog openly and freely. Make sure the link routes visitors directly to the catalog without a login.

    Course Catalog Examples: How It All Fits Together

    A well-organized course catalog is inviting. Whatever organizational structure you choose to guide your layout should be consistent throughout. For example, you may choose to list your classes alphabetically, or you may choose to list them based on when they run, or you may choose to list them by type category. 

    However you organize, make sure the course catalog is searchable. Bonus points if you can allow students to adjust how courses are sorted so they can view them by date, price, or alphabetically by title. 

    CourseStorm offers everything you need to build your own course catalog like the examples shared here. To learn more, start your free trial or contact us today.