Author: Franz Malten Buemann

  • Startup Failure: 5 Hard-Earned Lessons From The Online Course Industry

    In April 2021, my co-founder and I launched a live online course platform for professionals. We ran courses we called “sprints”. Live, actionable, short courses ran by cohort. A sprint lasted 3 to 5 days. Think of them as cheap mini-bootcamps. In December 2021, we decided to call it off. We realized a lot of things about the online education space. I wanted to share with you some of these findings 👇 —#1: CAREER ROI— It’s not a secret, professionals are busy. So if you are pulling them away from their duties to teach them something – it needs to advance their career significantly. Professionals willing to spend time/money training expect a direct career ROI (return-on-investment). The training needs to give them immediate leverage on the job market. It should allow them to access higher management positions, higher pay, or change jobs more easily. They should be more valuable to their employer. Another important factor not to disregard: how good it looks on the resume. Professionals who invest time and money in education want to be able to take pride in it and display it to their peers: “look I have done this course”. They need to be proud to show that label. If you think they’d be proud to put your course on their LinkedIn profile – you are probably on the right path. By the way guys, I’m an experienced WordPress developer who has been working with people from various industries. I’m looking for 5 more volunteers who are willing to let me design a free website for them to expand my portfolio. The website would be completely free; the only requirement is that you have a real, running business and cover the basic costs like domain and hosting which is inexpensive. Please PM me if you’re interested and I’ll share more details. ​ —#2: PRICING CONSIDERATIONS— The learning industry is large. There are many actors and the competition is fierce. We noticed a pattern about pricing that should be taken into account when designing your course. Basically, there are 2 pricing trends: Expensive courses (usually many thousands of dollars). These include boot camps, university courses…They also usually include a degree or some kind of professional certification. And they are usually delivered live with an instructor. Then there are dirt cheap and free courses. You will find learning content on almost any topic for free or for less than $20. The content is out there you just need to look for it. What you need to keep in mind is that there isn’t much space between these 2 lanes. You can price a course very high and you will find people willing to pay for it if there is a direct career ROI (see tip #1). But do not try to aim for the middle of the market, you will have a hard time finding customers. So my advice would be either to price your course above $1500 or below $100. —#3: TIME SPENT IS A COST— Professionals all say they want to learn more. They all talk about how important learning is and that they try to take time to learn new things. The reality is that they don’t spend that much time learning and are not necessarily willing to spend more. With learning, there is a big difference between what they say they want and what they actually do. The reality is that time spent in learning is always seen as an extra cost on top of the actual dollar cost. So even if the course is already paid for by their boss, for example, there is still a price to pay which is the time spent learning. This is why most of the L&D programs are unsuccessful and why most online courses are never completed. —#4: BLENDED LEARNING— The format of learning for professionals is very important. They need the training content to be concise and entertaining. This is why blended learning is probably one of the most efficient and enjoyable experiences for professionals. Blended learning is a mix between video and live. It is a mix of self-paced learning and instructor-led learning. What we found to be most efficient is: Teaching the theoretical aspects of the course by pre-recorded video. [It’s also usually quite boring to repeat the same concepts over and over every session for the instructor]. In addition, having live sessions with interactions, group activities, and questions. This is also where the live presence of the instructor has the most value. During the live sessions, you can debrief the videos, and have group exercises to apply the knowledge. —#5: PRIMARY & SECONDARY SKILLSETS— Every professional has a primary skillset and secondary skillsets. The primary skillset represents the skills they need to do the core of their job. So marketing is a primary skillset for marketers, coding is a primary skillset for software developers. On the other hand, coding is a secondary skillset for marketers and marketing is a secondary skillset for software developers. Overall it is much easier to train professionals on their secondary skillsets. They will be much receptive to the training proposition and enjoy it much more because they have almost zero knowledge about the topic. If you want to train professionals on their primary skillset you will need cutting-edge expertise, content, and world-renowned instructors if you want them to pay for it. With primary skillsets, professionals usually know how to upskill themselves for free. Marketers know where to find and learn the latest marketing techniques for free. However, a marketer will have a hard time self-learning data science for example. ——————————- If you liked this content and if your looking for to design a website for your business, I’m willing be happy to help 5 people design a websites for people for free in return I ask for your permission to add your website to my portfolio as an example of my work. If this sounds good, feel free to send me a PM and we can take it from there. submitted by /u/LaptopAddicted [link] [comments]

  • Design has a language

    And it changes over time.

    You and I know what to do when we see a revolving door, or to speak quietly in a library. We have expectations of how the world works and what designers are saying with their work.

    Here’s a photo of a device with two controls. We’ve been taught our whole lives that the bottom one, the faucet, is designed to control the amount of water flowing through a pipe. And the top one is generally used to divert water from one pipe to another, often used to control the temperature in a shower.

    Unfortunately, this design has a typo. The bottom faucet was chosen by the designer to control the temperature and the top one turns the shower on and off. There’s no way to control the volume.

    When you make a typographical error in your design language, you’re either being careless or seeking to lead toward a new way of interpreting the work of anyone in your field.

    Over time, the meaning of something changes. It used to be that offering plenty of disposable plastic bottles was a way for a designer to communicate surplus, luxury or sanitation. Now, it simply feels wasteful and short-sighted.

    It used to be that affordances in design for people with less range of motion or other disabilities was seen as grudging and mandatory, but now it communicates awareness, openness and thought…

    In New York, designing a fancy restaurant to be quiet was a sign of luxury, now, restaurant designers seek to signal scarcity by making restaurants noisy.

    Kerning your type is a form of communication through design, and the rise of social media has added new meaning to poorly set type as well.

    A list of rules isn’t helpful. Looking for and understanding the language as it changes is.

  • Customer Experience Trends to Watch Out for in 2023

    In this blog post, we explore the key customer experience trends that are expected to shape the business landscape in 2023. We discuss the evolving customer expectations and behaviors, the impact of emerging technologies, and the role of data analytics in improving the customer experience. We also provide actionable insights and best practices for businesses to stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional customer experiences in the years to come. This blog post is a must-read for business leaders, marketers, and customer experience professionals who want to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the industry. Read full blog here: https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/customer-experience-trends-2023/ submitted by /u/David_starc150 [link] [comments]

  • Ultimate guide for marketers to strike balance between privacy and personalization

    As a marketer, it’s important to find the right balance between personalization and privacy in your marketing efforts. On one hand, personalization can help you create more engaging and relevant experiences for your customers. On the other hand, customers are becoming increasingly concerned about their privacy and data protection. ​ Tips to strike the right balance between privacy and personalization: Be transparent about data collection and use: Clearly communicate to your customers what data you are collecting and how you will use it. Make sure to obtain their consent before collecting any personal information. Respect customers’ preferences: Allow customers to control their data and preferences. Provide them with the option to opt-out of certain types of data collection or to delete their data if they choose to. Use anonymous data where possible: Use anonymous data to personalize experiences whenever possible, such as through website analytics or aggregated customer data. This can help you create personalized experiences without compromising customer privacy. Use targeted advertising carefully: Be careful when using targeted advertising. While it can help you personalize experiences, it may also be seen as intrusive by some customers. Consider using opt-in advertising to ensure that customers are comfortable with the level of personalization. Invest in data security: Invest in secure data storage and processing to protect customer data. Make sure to comply with all relevant data protection regulations and standards. Provide value through personalization: Make sure that your personalization efforts provide real value to your customers. Personalization should be used to enhance the customer experience, not just to collect more data. Monitor customer feedback: Listen to customer feedback and adjust your personalization efforts accordingly. If customers are concerned about their privacy, consider adjusting your approach to prioritize privacy. Different ways how you can earn customer’s trust Establish a privacy policy that outlines how data is collected and used In today’s digital age, protecting individual privacy has become a pressing concern for both individuals and organisations. It is essential for businesses, websites and apps to have a privacy policy that outlines how they collect and use the data of their users. This policy not only assures users that their private information is in safe hands, but it also complies with GDPR regulations. By clearly stating how and where user data is collected, stored and used, organisations can build trust and establish transparency with their users. The privacy policy should also offer users the opportunity to opt-out of data collection, which enables them to maintain control over their personal information. A thorough privacy policy is a critical element of any business that deals with data, and it can be the difference between winning or losing a customer’s trust. Offer customers the option to opt-in or out of personalized advertising/marketing In today’s digital age, targeted advertising has become extremely prevalent. While some customers may find personalized advertisements helpful, others may feel as though their privacy is being invaded. That’s why it’s important for businesses to offer their customers the option to opt-in or out of personalized advertising and marketing. By providing this choice, it empowers customers to have control over their own data and helps to build trust between them and the business. It’s a win-win situation for both parties, as customers receive advertisements that are relevant and wanted, while businesses can still effectively reach their target audience. Use segmentation to personalize marketing messages Personalization is a powerful way to connect with consumers and build lasting relationships. Segmentation enables marketers to identify specific groups of people with shared interests or characteristics, allowing for more personalized and targeted messaging. Instead of sending the same generic message to everyone, segmentation allows marketers to create tailored content that speaks directly to the needs and preferences of different segments. By using segmentation to personalize marketing messages, businesses can increase engagement, drive conversions, and ultimately, grow their bottom line. Whether you’re targeting millennials, empty nesters, or any other group, segmentation is a valuable tool for creating meaningful experiences and building lasting relationships with your customers. Leverage customer feedback to improve personalization efforts In today’s increasingly personalized and data-driven world, customer feedback has become a crucial component in delivering effective experiences that truly resonate with consumers. By leveraging customer feedback, companies can gain invaluable insights into what their customers want, need, and value, allowing them to tailor their personalization efforts and deliver experiences that are more relevant, engaging, and impactful. Whether it’s through surveys, focus groups, or social media, capturing and analyzing customer feedback is essential for any organization looking to stay ahead of the curve and truly connect with today’s empowered and discerning consumers. So if you’re looking to take your personalization efforts to the next level, make sure you’re not overlooking the valuable insights that your customers have to offer. Know how appICEcan help with personalization. submitted by /u/appICE [link] [comments]

  • 8 Must-Have Elements For A Valuable eBook

    “I barely have time to write blog posts. Now you’re telling me I need to create eBooks?” If this is your reaction to the blog title, your frustration is valid. Writing a valuable eBook takes time and effort but can do a great deal of good for your business. Authoring an eBook sets you up…
    The post 8 Must-Have Elements For A Valuable eBook appeared first on Benchmark Email.

  • How to Verify Your Salesforce Certifications

    Now that you are a Salesforce Certified professional, it’s time to let the world know! In addition to promoting your latest shiny credential on LinkedIn and your Trailblazer.me profile, there is an official way to allow others to confirm that you have indeed obtained those… Read More

  • How to Sync Data from Salesforce to Google Sheets

    The built-in reporting capabilities inside Salesforce are powerful. So powerful that the interface can be too much for some Salesforce users; many would prefer to do their most detailed analyses in a tool they’re already familiar with, like Google Sheets, which also has the bonus… Read More

  • DevOps Using Bitbucket Pipelines and Docker

    One unique thing about Salesforce development is that there is no local environment, unlike other software development. You cannot make the changes in your code and see them right there on your machine; the code must be deployed to at least one org whether it’s… Read More

  • Revolutionize Your Marketing Efforts with the AI-Powered All-In-One Marketing Suite

    Introducing the ultimate all-in-one marketing tool that can take your business to new heights – the AI-powered marketing suite! With this innovative tool, you can create professional-quality landing pages, promo videos, ads, marketing copy, graphics, email swipes, voiceovers, blog posts, articles, art, and more – all in just 60 seconds! This cutting-edge technology uses advanced algorithms to analyze your needs and create stunning, high-quality content that is tailored to your business. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to ramp up your marketing efforts or a seasoned marketer looking for a powerful tool to streamline your workflow, this AI-powered marketing suite is the perfect solution. Say goodbye to the hassle of managing multiple tools and platforms – with this all-in-one marketing suite, you can do it all quickly and easily. Try it out today and see how it can transform the way you do marketing! For more info watch this video: The tool⚒️ https://ytube.io/3d0Zhttps://bityl.co/I8UF submitted by /u/MarketingMindsAI [link] [comments]

  • What email marketing platform and customer messaging platform should we use?

    We are a mobile app looking to migrate to new platforms. We currently use Intercom but it doesn’t have as much capabilities as we’d like for emails. For example, our users click a button to redeem discounts on our app. We would like to set up an email automation for every time someone redeems a specific discount, which would include the name of the discount redeemed and the time. Therefore, we would like to use a new email marketing platform and a customer messaging platform (in-app messages, push notifications, SMS) We ideally want to be able to utilize triggers and automations based on user behavior within our app. Plus, we want to have better design capabilities with our emails since Intercom is fairly limiting. What we’re leaning towards thus far: Email Marketing: Mailchimp or Sendgrid Customer Messaging: Braze submitted by /u/coloradocon [link] [comments]