5 tips for an effective course season
Whether you’re planning a health course or a photography workshop, your goal is the same: to spend less time on administration and more time focusing on the subject you’re passionate about.
By investing time upfront to find a system that meets your needs, you can save significant time and resources in the long run; vital time that you can instead direct towards improving your course offering.
As registration geeks, LetsReg has been developing solutions for course organisers since all the way back in 2000. Over the years, we’ve worked with countless organisers, listening closely to your successes and supporting you through your challenges. Drawing on this experience, we’ve gathered our—and your—top five tips for starting the new season efficiently. Discover how to become a course pro!
1. Identify your needs
Before choosing a system, take the time to map out your requirements. Ask yourself:
- Are you setting up a single course or a series of courses?
- Which payment options will you offer and how should the income be accounted for?
- Do you need attendance information or communication tools for your participants?
- Should you be able to process refunds with just a few keystrokes?
By defining your needs in advance, you’ll save time and ensure you find a solution that fits your courses perfectly.
2. Make it easy to sign up
A good registration page is more than just a form. It’s your first impression, and your most powerful marketing tool. Remember:
- Clear information: Ensure participants know exactly what to expect. Clearly display your course dates, times and meeting places. Also provide clear terms of sale.
- Capacity control: Avoid overbooking by setting participant limits. Also, consider providing waiting lists to fill spaces if cancellations occur.
- Collect essential details: Ask for necessary information within the form, such as prior experience or special needs, to better tailor the course to your participants.
Feel free to read our post on how to get more participants, which gives you some more handy tips.
3. Offer flexible payment options
Pricing can be a challenge, especially for courses spanning multiple sessions. Setting a competitive price and using flexible payment options can increase the number of registrations. Consider these strategies:
- Fixed pricing: Offer a clear cost for the entire course, simplifying pricing for participants and reducing administrative complexity.
- Pro-rata pricing for late sign-ups: Allow participants to join mid-course by offering reduced rates. The system calculates a reduced price for participants who enter later, so that you can fill the remaining spaces.
- Partial payment: Lower the financial barrier by letting participants pay in smaller instalments over time.
- Invoice: For corporate clients or higher-cost courses, offering payment by invoice can attract more registrations.
4. Plan and automate communication
Sending manual messages to each individual participant can quickly become time-consuming, especially if you are running a large number of course sessions. Use a system that lets you schedule reminders and updates to be sent automatically.
For a large number of sessions, you can segment attendees by their registered sessions. Sending tailored messages and follow-ups ensures your communication is both relevant and impactful.
- Read more about how to invite and communicate with your participants.
5. Evaluate and improve
Once the course season is over, set aside time to reflect and refine your approach:
- Gather feedback: Ask participants what worked well and where improvements could be made. Review which courses and time slots were most popular to shape your future offerings.
- Optimise your processes: Identify small changes that can save time and improve efficiency. Consider adding features like waiting lists, participant transfers, or course certificates to streamline administration.
With these five tips, you can enter the next course season with better control and more time to deliver inspiring course experiences. Become a course pro!