Calling all instructors: where do you advertise?
- Thread starter pax
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BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
I don't teach, but the 900 member club I'm president of has its interant trainers advertising their classes in our newsletter, and we put their fliers on our activites table in the Clubhouse.
Wild Bill
Member
Pax,
Our gunshop features the business cards of four area instructors on the front checkout counter. We hand out upwards of 20 copies of the CWP permit application each week. To each of these we staple an instructor’s card.
You’ll be happy to know our sole female instructor is by far the most popular.
She’s getting so many referrals from us she hosts a CWP class every week and has nearly as frequent sessions (both private and group) on basic firearms training as well as women’s self defense.
Our gunshop features the business cards of four area instructors on the front checkout counter. We hand out upwards of 20 copies of the CWP permit application each week. To each of these we staple an instructor’s card.
You’ll be happy to know our sole female instructor is by far the most popular.
She’s getting so many referrals from us she hosts a CWP class every week and has nearly as frequent sessions (both private and group) on basic firearms training as well as women’s self defense.
tnieto2004
Member
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If you are looking to advertise, I work for a Marketing company who does direct mail. We can get a list of all people in a certain area and mail them out whatever you want. If you might be interested PM me.
Kor
Member
Well, I teach CCW classes for a local gun store, and the store does all the advertising - in-store flyers, handing out flyers at gun shows, and radio ads.
Assuming you want to reach more prospective women shooters and/or introduce more women to shooting, may I suggest placing business cards or flyers on bulletin boards at women-oriented or women-patronized businesses like sewing/craft stores, hair/nail salons, greeting-card stores, or the women's locker room of your health club?
Assuming you want to reach more prospective women shooters and/or introduce more women to shooting, may I suggest placing business cards or flyers on bulletin boards at women-oriented or women-patronized businesses like sewing/craft stores, hair/nail salons, greeting-card stores, or the women's locker room of your health club?
tnieto2004 ~
No, I'm not looking to advertise. I'm just doing a little research for a writing project, looking at things from the perspective of a complete novice to the gun world.
How would a brand-new shooter expect to find a firearms class? I thought of a dozen ways, then figured I'd better ask the trainers how they advertise, to see if I'd missed anything obvious.
pax
No, I'm not looking to advertise. I'm just doing a little research for a writing project, looking at things from the perspective of a complete novice to the gun world.
How would a brand-new shooter expect to find a firearms class? I thought of a dozen ways, then figured I'd better ask the trainers how they advertise, to see if I'd missed anything obvious.
pax
ShackleMeNot
Member
Internet message boards, print magazines, word of mouth. Those are the big three.
sacp81170a
Member
Word of mouth, fliers at local gun shops. A lot of the officers in our area get questions on how to obtain a CCW so we get a lot of referrals from them.
Ben Shepherd
Member
Word of mouth is good. But the best way I've found is to get in good with a local sporting goods store.
brownie0486
Member
These types of forums, including my own; the local gun shop I work a few days a week; organizations I belong to like Search and Rescue; and the local law enforcement officers.
Brownie
Brownie
Local gun club newsletter. Only members get the newsletter though.
Local gun club website. I get a few calls from non-members from this. A couple have mentioned they found me after a web search.
Flyers at Gander Mountain and listing of my upcoming classes on their "activities" board. I now teach classes in their store (classroom only) and this has become my biggest draw.
Word of mouth. Probably my second biggest source.
NRA website. When I remember to list my classes, I occassionaly get a call from someone who found me there. It's only been two or three students though.
If someone is *looking* for an instructor/class, I tell people to ask at their local ranges and local gun shops. That seems to be the easiest, most reliable way to find a class, especially if they are a newbie. For experienced shooters, word of mouth plays a more important role.
Local gun club website. I get a few calls from non-members from this. A couple have mentioned they found me after a web search.
Flyers at Gander Mountain and listing of my upcoming classes on their "activities" board. I now teach classes in their store (classroom only) and this has become my biggest draw.
Word of mouth. Probably my second biggest source.
NRA website. When I remember to list my classes, I occassionaly get a call from someone who found me there. It's only been two or three students though.
If someone is *looking* for an instructor/class, I tell people to ask at their local ranges and local gun shops. That seems to be the easiest, most reliable way to find a class, especially if they are a newbie. For experienced shooters, word of mouth plays a more important role.
Hemicuda
member
Both of my local gunstores have a bulletin boards for business cards and fliers for CCW classes, tactical classes, self defense classes, used guns and gear for sale... all that good stuff...
Templar223
Member
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- Dec 5, 2005
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- 309
Where to advertise...
I advertise in my local gun rights organization's monthly newspaper, GunNews. It has a circulation of about 8,500 each month.
Advertising is only half the battle, quite frankly. You have to have a "hook" make people want to come... in our case here in Illinois, it's securing the training to get a Florida carry license.
We have a lot of word-of-mouth business from prior students who were very happy with what our course provided them for a very nominal cost.
John
I advertise in my local gun rights organization's monthly newspaper, GunNews. It has a circulation of about 8,500 each month.
Advertising is only half the battle, quite frankly. You have to have a "hook" make people want to come... in our case here in Illinois, it's securing the training to get a Florida carry license.
We have a lot of word-of-mouth business from prior students who were very happy with what our course provided them for a very nominal cost.
John
Havegunjoe
Member
Word of mouth....
And forums like this one. I don't pursue this as a means of making a living. I enjoy teaching and would like to see as many folks get a CCW permit as possible.
And forums like this one. I don't pursue this as a means of making a living. I enjoy teaching and would like to see as many folks get a CCW permit as possible.
Rob Pincus
Member
In order from Least to MOST important, based on what people mention when they sign up for courses or purchase books/videos):
1.Web Banner:
S.W.A.T. Magazine's website
2.Half, 2/3rds and Full page magazine ads in:
S.W.A.T. Magazine
American Handgunner
Tactical Response
and a few others occassionally
3. Information packets sent directly to people calling/emailing Valhalla.
4.Valhalla Training Center Newsletter (emailed to list and available online)
5. Valhalla Website and Valhalla Online Store
6.Lots of word of mouth (generated by students, TV appearances, Magazine articles, forum activity, etc)
Of course, for most people it is a combination of these things. The magazine advertising, for example, may not be specifically mentioned when someone signs up for a class, but I would bet that a significant number of people that go to our website or sign up for the newsletter did so after seeing ads... and the web banner that we have, really isn't meant to inspire a sale all by itself, it just routes people to the website.... etc, etc.
1.Web Banner:
S.W.A.T. Magazine's website
2.Half, 2/3rds and Full page magazine ads in:
S.W.A.T. Magazine
American Handgunner
Tactical Response
and a few others occassionally
3. Information packets sent directly to people calling/emailing Valhalla.
4.Valhalla Training Center Newsletter (emailed to list and available online)
5. Valhalla Website and Valhalla Online Store
6.Lots of word of mouth (generated by students, TV appearances, Magazine articles, forum activity, etc)
Of course, for most people it is a combination of these things. The magazine advertising, for example, may not be specifically mentioned when someone signs up for a class, but I would bet that a significant number of people that go to our website or sign up for the newsletter did so after seeing ads... and the web banner that we have, really isn't meant to inspire a sale all by itself, it just routes people to the website.... etc, etc.
spwenger
Member
In My Case...
...for a few years, I was the only instructor in town (Douglas AZ) who offered the state-mandated training for the Arizona Concealed Weapon Permit. That got me most of my local students, by word of mouth, most of whom only took my CWP course. I got out-of-town and out-of-state students via my website and that has been my primary source of students since I left Douglas and have lived in two other small cities where I am not the only instructor. As a result, I have fewer total students a year but a much higher proportion of students who come to me for tactical training, versus the CWP courses. Most now come from out of town and many come from out of state.
In short, one can locate instructors via internet searches and can sometimes narrow it down to one's locale or at least state by this means.
...for a few years, I was the only instructor in town (Douglas AZ) who offered the state-mandated training for the Arizona Concealed Weapon Permit. That got me most of my local students, by word of mouth, most of whom only took my CWP course. I got out-of-town and out-of-state students via my website and that has been my primary source of students since I left Douglas and have lived in two other small cities where I am not the only instructor. As a result, I have fewer total students a year but a much higher proportion of students who come to me for tactical training, versus the CWP courses. Most now come from out of town and many come from out of state.
In short, one can locate instructors via internet searches and can sometimes narrow it down to one's locale or at least state by this means.
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