September 4, 2006

Last week's newsletter on teaching elicited more comments on the blog and emails back to me than a single issue ever has. Good to know I have lots of teachers reading this thing. I like to think teachers bring good luck. If you didn't catch all the reasons why you might want to take up teaching art, find that issue here.

Today, I'll tackle ways to promote your classes and workshops. After all, you have to promote them just as you would anything else. Except for one major difference: When you teach, you are selling a service, not a product. It is marketed slightly differently. The sooner you recognize that, the easier time you'll have promoting your teaching.

Your challenge will be to focus your message to your students. Rather than spending a lot of ink or pixels talking about you and your impeccable credentials, spend it on your students.

They want to know, "If I take this class . . .

"What will I learn?"
"What will I bring home at the end of it?"
"Why should I spend my time this way?"
"How can I be guaranteed that the class is for me?"

Answer these questions for them at the beginning of any text you write. Prove that you're the right person to teach this subject at this time. Do it briefly and powerfully. Keep your words to a minimum and aim for impact. Provide student testimonials where appropriate.

Use your promotional message

. On your website
. On your blog (mention it often!)
. In emails -- special blasts as well as in your signature block
. In your newsletter
. On flyers, rack cards, or postcards
. In phone calls to your target market
. On your answering machine
. In a press release

We're talking about all kinds of promotion in "Promote Your Art with Confidence," the e-class that begins next week. Join us! You can now find a detailed syllabus at http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/promote.shtml