How To Launch Your Own Certification Program: Ongoing Certification Course Management And Optimization
Let’s talk tweaking.
Let’s say you’ve done it. You’ve created a certification course that
- You believe to be useful.
- Your beta testers approve of.
- Is reasonably priced.
- Is in demand.
But now the results are in. You’ve received reaction on your course, and it’s not good. There’s a steady stream of negative feedback that didn’t come up during your beta tests. Whether it’s a technical issue with your Learning Management System or a course-related problem that you never considered before, you’ve got issues.
- How do you deal with negative feedback?
- How do you improve the quality of your certification program so that you minimize negative feedback and consistently provide the most value to your audience?
- How do you manage your certificate program on an ongoing basis?
Let’s tackle these questions one at a time.
Dealing With Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is not inherently bad. Negative feedback provides you with the opportunity to improve, especially if shared directly with you. If a student isn’t satisfied with some aspect of your course, it’s fortunate that they’ve come to you to correct the problem.
This action shows that the student still has confidence in your ability to correct. Therefore, correct the problem. The “squeaky wheel” student acts as a representative. For every student who complains, there are at least two who don’t but then take their business elsewhere.
Solicit feedback – both positive and negative. Positive feedback may massage your ego, but it doesn’t do much for the efficacy of your course. You need to focus on both positive and negative feedback to find out what’s working and what needs to be tweaked.
Tweaking Your Course
Speaking of tweaking, it’s crucial that you re-evaluate your course at least once a year to see if any information needs to be updated or changed. No matter what industry you’re in, information and standards change periodically.
By committing to continual re-evaluation of your course, you’ll ensure that you’re offering the best and most updated product possible.
This can also be used as a selling point if you require yearly re-certification.
Managing Your Certification Program With Ease and Efficiency
What’s the best way to manage your certification course?
Depending on the scope of your course and how many students take your course, you may choose to create a position solely for managing your certification program. This position will oversee the following:
- Marketing.
Advertising your course through various paid and content strategies (i.e. email newsletters, blog posts, and guest posts). - Enrollment.
Collecting fees, registering students to the course, following up via email concerning course start and end dates. - Student Support.
Providing a helping hand throughout the certification program, making sure that students are updated about course schedules, setting up and monitoring help forums or resource centers for students, and finally, responding to program feedback. - Certification.
Granting certification, delivering digital certificates, and maintaining records. - Keeping In Touch.
Staying connected with certified individuals, actively soliciting word of mouth marketing, reminding them of impending re-certification.
Above all, your certification program manager should focus on creating the most rewarding experience for your students. To do this, your manager must:
- Solicit continuous feedback through anecdotes, comments, and data (embed feedback into your course materials at the end of each module and ask directly through email at the end of the course).
- Apply the feedback to improve the course.
- Ensure that the program is functional (no technical glitches within the LMS, no website downtime).
- Hiring a course manager will ensure that your certification program has direct oversight and doesn’t fall off of the radar.
If you want to know more about how to develop and launch a successful certification program, download the free eBook How To Launch Your Own Certification Program.
