Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi all,

I spent fifteen years working as a part time training instructor for various companies.  Now I am striking out on my own.  But, I am not sure how to affectively market my product or start.  I have the training guides for various topics and even developed a two day course for a local college. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.



-------------------------

The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

What specific skills are you training people to have? After going off on your own, who are you targeting to train? Small, medium or large businesses? Do you have a specific subject matter in mind that you prefer to train in or that is your specialty?


-------------------------

Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Entre-Propel.com

I am focusing on safety, security officer and warehouse (shipping, receiving, customer returns, forklift) training.  I am also putting together a new hire orientation program where I will plug in the clients specific information.


-------------------------

The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

Hmm, okay it sounds like you train in a lot of different areas. Since you are just starting out, it might be easier to market if you niche down a little bit more and target a narrower need. Would you consider starting out only training in one of these areas?

Having a narrower focus might make it easier to target a specific type of business and you will most likely become more adept at deciding what advertising mediums are most effective with that kind of target customer. If your marketing is too broad, your initial advertising attempts might be ineffective. Narrowing down, however, will establish you more as an expert in that area, and your target will feel more personally targeted by your ads.

Any thoughts?



-------------------------

Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Entre-Propel.com

As a retired Facilities manager / plant engineer I spent a long portion of my weeks complying with osha safety training standards, including fork truck training.
In one position I worked for a nationwide manufacturing corporation, with a corporate base program distributed to the plants, the corporate plan came from outsiders (consultants) rarely from the same one any given year. so I say target some manufacturing companies with a corporate structure and contact the corporate safety person. while this is fickle business it is big.
The last place I worked for was a small manufacturing company three facilities close to each other only a 30 million dollar a year operation. one of the goals I was given was to establish a safety committee and become osha compliant. now on the surface that sounds pretty easy, now consider all the other non-compliant issues the company had. I went outside for a train the trainer program, and trained in house trainers. that outside company is now tied into the company. much less fickle business but much smaller profits. the third place to look is the insurance companies, every insurance company that writes worker comp. has a staff of consultants, those consultants are charged with getting small businesses safe. the insurance companies pay the consultant, very stable business and as I understand pays fairly well.

In your shoes, I would pour the effort into safety training, worker comp is a huge expense to any business, and when they get to a size of say 70-100 employees they don`t have a active safety program but an increased risk, hence increased premiums.It is an easier sell government compliance, and insurance premium offsets.

Anywhere I ever worked security was outsourced, with their own specialized training.
warehouse usually comes with the lean system people, OEM handling suppliers, or recruiting.
new hire is usually handled by HR and can be incorporated into your safety program.

all that, to say, start a program to startup a safety commitee in any given facility, considering the culture change that brings Vs. the culture change the company wants. include fork truck training, offer a train the trainer course for some of the variable requirements.

just a thought.
 

Thanks Guys.  Appreciate the input.


-------------------------

The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

This is a costly mistake of getting lost in the false theory that more money equals happy employees. If you will train your employee then they will work in more effective in way for you business.

-------------------------

Generic Competency Profiles for all Core Business Functions.

The skills you want depends on the kind of business you are planning to build. I also agree with MattThomas gwhat specific skills you want. I think this is really awesome.

weight loss programs 

-------------------------

hello everyone. This is Angie Gemaling and I think I am here because I want to make new friends, meet new people and to give some health advises especially with it comes to the weight loss programs that really works for you.

Marketing a business is difficult only when you have no experience in the field, according to your situation as you have ample experience then only a little help from a marketing agency would help in successfully run your business.

 

-------------------------

Personalized Drinkware | KooziesOnline.com