If you're still handing out DVDs as a “goodie” or even as a transfer offer after the seminar in 2019, you're not doing anyone any favors. Sustainable further education can only be achieved through long-term and targeted support. Frame your training DVD as a reminder now and distribute the Goodies 4.0: access to your online course.
Already a bad idea in 2010: The Training DVD
Be honest: Do you still have DVDs or even CDs from your training or speaking engagements lying around at home? Or are you still actively using them as a transfer offer?
A few years ago, it was common for trainers to give their participants a DVD after the seminar – in a way, as a “goodie.” The primary goal was often unclear: Should the participant actually watch the content at home and practice with it? And if so: When and how often? My guess: Many recorded their speeches and training to sell an additional product.
It's become clear by now that the DVD is no longer a unique selling proposition (USP). Even as a means of transfer, it was already completely unsuitable in 2010:
Even if your name is on the cover: The personal connection to you breaks when the participant leaves the seminar.
Many people today no longer have a drive to play DVDs or CDs.
Even with a drive, the barrier to entry is far too high: When should I insert the DVD and how much time should I plan for it? There is a lack of clear instruction and support. Anyone still using a DVD as a learning transfer after the seminar is simply deceiving themselves.
DVDs and CDs only hold sentimental value in 2019. Or how often do you still watch DVDs yourself?
Speaking of sustainability: DVDs and DVD cases are made of plastic. Most learning DVDs are probably only watched once and then become uninteresting or scratched – and end up in the trash. Another good reason to stay away from DVDs as “goodies.”
"The Further Education Lie"
About 80% of all seminars and training fail today due to the transfer into practice.
This is what Dr. Richard Gris, trainer and author of the book “The Further Education Lie,” means. Without application, even the highest quality seminar day is just a single day after a few weeks or months. Anyone who wants to bring about real change must practice – repeatedly and over an extended period.
The term “further education lie” is absolutely applicable to seminars without any transfer services, no matter how harsh it sounds. One thing is clear: DVDs are no help anymore, especially in Training 4.0.
The Effective Solution for Learning Transfer: An Online Course
If you want to provide support to your participants even after the seminar, an online course is the simplest and most effective method. You can upload your own content, create new content, and easily swap it out as needed. This gives you flexibility – unlike a DVD, which becomes useless when the content is outdated.
Do you actually still have DVDs with current content from you? Great, because you can continue to use that content, even if the cover is outdated! For example, incorporate the content into an online course and create a new, contemporary product with little effort.
The clear advantage of an online course over a DVD: Participants can access it much more easily – for instance, on a tablet or smartphone while on the go, when they are driving home after the seminar day. The barrier to entry is thus completely eliminated.
If you keep a few small details in mind, you can create a transfer offer as a goodie with very little effort AND maintain personal contact with the participant.
5 Tips for Creating Online Courses as a Transfer Offer:
Point out the online offer to your participants while still in the seminar and explain how they should use it.
Start your online course with a personal greeting – ideally via video message – and also explain when and how your participants should work with the online course.
Motivate your participants with an exclusive additional offer when they complete the course or pass a small test. A personal coaching call with you, about eight weeks after the seminar, works well for this. You can discuss the costs with your client in advance.
Structure your online course so that the participant receives frequent short reminders and stays motivated in the long term.
Keep individual content as brief as possible and always include a clear call to action: What exactly should the participant implement for their own actions afterward?
Via smartphone, tablet, or laptop: Your participant can easily access an online course from almost anywhere these days.
Why Online Courses are the Training Goodies 4.0
With an online course, you create an additional product without having to change your current training. Naturally, you need to invest a few hours or even days at the beginning to create a course that fits your offering.
Tip: Start small and keep your first course really compact. This way, you can test the new offer at your leisure.
If you have ever made video or audio recordings of yourself or your training for DVDs or even CDs: Perfect! Use the material in your online course, as long as the content is still current. Otherwise, you can easily create a new video concept.
A new product also means new sales arguments for your clients. With an online course, you clearly offer an additional service that you can charge for. And rightly so: With just one course, you have at least seven arguments for why your training is better in the future.
An online course is essentially the goodie 4.0 for trainers, consultants, and speakers:
You get an additional sales product.
You don't lose contact with the participant and can easily reach them even months later.
Once created, you can distribute it as often as you like – without needing to reproduce like with DVDs.
The distribution itself is also simple and can be done from anywhere: For example, you could collect email addresses directly at the trade fair and invite participants to a sample course!
You can even show the online course during the sales conversation, for example, on a tablet.
Once your first course is ready for follow-up, you can gradually add more courses: For instance, to prepare for the seminar or to cover specific topics.
If you’d like to try out how your content could look in an online course, no problem! Simply make an informal appointment with one of our experts and get started with your first online course in 15 minutes under guidance. Have fun with it!
