How to Create a Training Class

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By coachniquenya
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A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Brooks Adams

Did you know that you could turn your knowledge into a cash-making machine? People pay well for the convenience of having information readily available. By teaching other people what you know you could rake in hundreds or even thousands of dollars extra each month. There are many ways to do this. You could start a blog, write articles or even a book. One of the most lucrative methods; however, is through public speaking. Create a training class and watch the money roll in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Passion for your topic
Creativity
Research skills
Internet access or a library card

Step 1

Choose a topic. First, you must pick a topic that you are really interested in and passionate about. If you find the topic boring then you will fail before you begin. Your passion of the subject is what will sell the training class to your audience. Think about things that you know a lot about or that you really love to do. Ask yourself what is one thing that you could talk about forever.
Step 2

Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

Know your topic. Secondly, you will need to thoroughly research your chosen topic. This will be a continual process but you have to lay the groundwork first. Even if you think you already know a lot about the topic, you should still learn about what others are saying, if there is any current buzz and whether there are any important changes. For more information, check out my article on how to become a subject matter expert.
Step 3

Identify your target audience. This asks the question "who will this training class benefit?" Think about what types of people or groups would be most interested in your topic. These could be children, mothers, working men, doctors or any other group. Try to be as specific as possible when identifying the target audience.
Step 4

Choose a topic your target audience wants to learn more about.

Decide on a subtopic for the class and identify the objectives. Now that you have selected your target audience, ask yourself why this particular group would want to know more about this topic. To do this you can join discussion groups or use other social media to observe what people are talking about that is relevant to your topic. Choose the most popular subtopics and start listing the benefits the group will receive by attending your class. The benefits are the same things as the learning objectives. Essentially you are answering the question "what will I learn when I attend your training class?"
Step 5

Build your content. If you have properly listed out the learning objectives for the class, this step will be easy. Arrange the learning objectives in a logical order. This new list will serve as your outline of the training class. Now write out three to five paragraphs or subtopic areas under each of the objectives. Next create an introduction and a conclusion for the material.
Step 6

Choose supporting materials. You may want to use props or other visual aids to assist in the delivery of your training class. You may want to include handouts or create a PowerPoint presentation. Whatever you choose, make sure that it is highly relevant to your chosen topic.
Step 7

Practice delivery of your training class. This step is important not only to polish your delivery but also to determine the length of the class. Practice in front of a mirror or, better yet, ask friends and family to participate so you can get the feel of being in front of a live audience. Practice several times until you have a good feel for the material and can figure the length of the class. Make sure that you include time to conduct a question and answer (Q & A) session.
Step 8

Choose a location and date for the class. This can be tricky and expensive if you are not careful. First you will need to determine your space requirements and technological needs. Do you need a microphone? An overhead projector? How many people do you hope to seat? Many libraries, banks and community centers have public rooms or conference centers that are free or low-cost. You could also rent a hotel conference room or other commercial meeting place. Alternatively, you may choose to deliver your course online (as a webinar) or via telephone (teleseminar). Choose a date and time that doesn't interfere with any major holidays or events that would prevent good attendance.
Step 9

Advertise your training class on social media like Facebook.

Set your price and advertise your class. Research what others are charging for similar topics in your area. Your pricing structure should fall within the average range. You can charge a higher or lower cost depending on your target audience or your experience level. Create a website or blog to advertise the class. Post it to free community event calendars, your social media profiles and similar mediums. Design a flyer and distribute it to organizations, apartment complexes, grocery stores and other locations your target audience might be found. You can also send an email blast to friends and family announcing the event but don't spam. Send out a press release too.
Step 10

Develop a feedback mechanism. After you conduct your training session, it will be important to know how well it went. Determine a way to find out what worked well and what areas could be improved. This means that you will need to survey your attendees. You can do this by distributing a written feedback form and/or during the Q & A portion of your training class. You can use the feedback to continue to develop your workshop and to add testimonials to your promotional material.