Writing, Buying And Selling Correspondence Courses

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this guide into the profitable business of

correspondence course dealing.  It is indeed an armchair business

(almost) if ever there was one.  You can work from the comfort of

your own home and reach a great number of regular clients who will

send you their fees monthly and if you take your own time to study

their previous correspondence and reply with a next lesson.

An ideal way to run a business completely by mail order without

the expense of having to find new ideas every month to satisfy new

customers.

Running this business (once established) is as near as you can get

to guaranteed regular income.  You will have to work at it though,

albeing from the comfort of your home as mentioned already.

So I wish you great success and a steady supply of regular clients

as I'm sure with a little patience and lots of hard work you will

manage to achieve.

If you can write or have someone write courses for you then even

better as the originality of this will produce greater income than

selling secondhand.

Whichever method you choose after reading this manual, go for it,

and remember this is a business which can give you income year

round, as opposed to some mail order businesses which are

seasonal.

Good luck with your efforts.

SECTION ONE

A look into correspondence courses and how they work.  The past

and present successes.

THE PAST AND PRESENT

In the sixties when just about everyone was looking for a way to

get a better job or at least improve their income with better

qualifications, the most common way was for one to enrol into a

correspondence school as they were then called.

If it was for a way to earn extra money at home by a spare time

business project then the courses available were quite freely

available, but at a price.

Whichever you chose to enrol in, the course was usually spread out

over a period of twelve months because no one had the money to

invest all at one time.  So lots of these correspondence people

set up in business - some were pretty rough in the material

offered and the printing which was usually just duplicated sheets

of paper (you know the type, churned out on a second hand

Gesteteners on that thick, heavy duplicator paper which felt like

newspaper) was quite awful, but photocopiers hadn't quite come

into fashion then, and everyone expected this sort of thing.

Even the courses on writing were roughly duplicated in this

manner, and I would expect that because of the incredibly low

standards for most of these courses, it was the 'norm' at the

time, and you couldn't expect much else.

Lots of people took advantage of the need to fulfil peoples

curiosity for some kind or other new knowledge and there sprouted

up hundreds of 'wonderful' and 'amazing' new types of course. 

Needless to say, as bad as some of them really were, they

undoubtably made money for their inventors.

SOME WHO HAVE LASTED, SOME WHO HAVE NOT

One chap who started I think well before that time was Anthony

Wade, with a really remarkable correspondence course, dealing in

export and import.  Today his course is sold through Wade World

Trade Ltd., and incorporates other courses including one on postal

business.  His was a remarkable success story and he had built up

a client list all over the world within years of starting up.

Wade, whilst his courses were not cheap, had no shortage of

customers, because he offered great value for money and his

correspondence with his customers enabled thousands of them to

start up an import/export business of their own and to be able to

continue to seek advice while starting a business is a godsend.

Others followed such as Impex, which offered courses similar, and

even newer companies began to offer this type of course, but none

so successful as Anthony Wade.

COURSES ON VIRTUALLY EVERY SUBJECT

There are courses around today which are similar to ones being

sold years ago, only updated and marketed in a different manner.

You have probably seen the courses on how to be a better gambler,

on just about every business under the sun, on how to improve your

spelling (perhaps I should buy that one), on how to learn

languages, how to study for exams.  Just about everything can be

made into a correspondence course.

Look at the advertisements from the Rapid Results College or the

International Correspondence Schools who offer over 70 career

opportunities.

GOOD AT SOMETHING ALREADY?

In the next section I am going to show you how to take a talent

you (or a friend) may already have and turn it into a

correspondence course you can market and sell providing you with

regular monthly payments for your initial effort.

You may be good at painting (and I mean home decorating as well as

painting pictures), you may be a good joiner or craftsman of some

sort, or good at teaching people to write (this is always a good

seller).  Pick up the Sunday Newspapers and see the adverts for

writing schools, business schools and career courses and then look

at all the others advertised in all the various specialist

magazines (photography and D.I.Y. etc.) and you can see the scope

for yourself.

NEVER MEET YOUR CUSTOMERS

You never meet your customers unless you want to so everything is

controlled directly from your home.  You can give tuition by

writing taking as much time as you please and in your own hours,

just so long as you don't keep your precious client waiting too

long!

IF YOU'RE A TEACHER, CRAFTSMAN OR JUST REALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING

YOU CAN WRITE YOUR OWN COURSE AND TAKE ALL THE PROFITS.

Yes I will explain later how to devise a course of your very own

and how to market it successfully.  If you cannot write your own

course then you may know a friend who would devise and write one

for you for a fee, and perhaps a percentage of takings when it

comes to the correspondence.

You can also buy and sell secondhand courses which you could

advertise nationally, and in your local press, but if you can have

something original you will earn more profit.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO USE YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

In fact using the information on a variety of subjects available

in the library is quite commonplace these days with people who

sell information of some kind and this obviously applies to those

selling correspondence courses.

If you have a basic knowledge on a subject you think would be

appealing if set out in course form, then by all means learn more

on the subject from the books and manuals available.

Should you have an enquiry from one of your clients about

something you cannot answer immediately on your own, then remember

you have plenty of time to check out the correct reply to that

question as with this business your time is your own (to a certain

extent).

It would be perfectly in order for you to learn something new by

going to nightclasses or again studying in your library until you

become proficient enough to offer that knowledge to other people. 

You must of course be able to put that knowledge into practice and

show that you can either make money from it or use it to better

your own lifestyle.

MISTAKES

Don't make the mistake of many people from the past (and perhaps

the present?) of just copying information about a subject you know

nothing about.  This will land you in deep water eventually and

you will lose credibility and eventually large drops in your

sales.  People who do this can often find good customers 'pulling

out' of their agreement say half way through.  You lose money and

they will never buy from you again or recommend you to others.

HOW CORRESPONDENCE COURSES WORK

Quite simply you advertise your course as a kind of postal school

giving the client private lessons at home, everything being done

by mail and on no account by telephone, as this takes away your

time.  'Phone instruction is not paid for, and therefore cannot be

accommodated'.  Make this clear as you wish people to write to you

monthly, enclosing another cheque for their next instructions.

Many people, especially those working during the day, are very

happy to receive personal tuition at home through the post.  It

lets them get on with their studying when they have time, and when

they feel like it.

Most courses require sections to be sent in each month for a

period of up to twelve months.  This is for correction to the

'test' forms you will send in and also with this they send their

next payment for the next part of the course.

It gives people an incentive to work monthly on a subject and to

learn by your replies how well they are making out.  Also this

ensures they forward payment regularly, as you do not want clients

dropping out because of a too big work load, should you forward a

huge package for them to study for any particular month.

AGREEMENT FORMS

You will find again most courses today expect you to sign an

agreement form stipulating you will purchase a section of the

course each month similar to the books clubs which operate today.

Some modern correspondence 'schools' expect the customer to pay

the whole years tuition in one payment.  But I do not recommend

this as it often puts otherwise good prospects off.

WRITE FOR INFORMATION FROM OTHER FIRMS

To get first hand ideas on how others run these courses, it is a

good idea to write to as many firms as you can see advertising in

the regular press.  Up to date publications may include adverts

from many new courses being offered and this will keep you up to

date.

However, write to the older firms as well.  The writing schools

and import/export firms, the educational programs being offered,

etc. and you will be surprised at how big a range of courses (and

prices) are available today.

This is another reason why these courses are doing so well once

again, because the more you see advertised the bigger you know is

the market.  Many people today are also information crazy and

knowledge on new subjects no matter what the subject may be is

selling better that at any time in the past.

SEE THROUGH WHICH MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS

When looking at adverts remember that most correspondence courses

are not advertised as such because of their usually very high

prices.  Many firms just offer a subject and ask the reader to

send for information.

There is a lot you can say in a brochure or set of sales material

which you could not possibly put into any advertisement without it

costing the earth.

When people have had time to study the information sent to them in

their own homes, they tend not to be so shocked at the high prices

asked for it and this results in higher sales.

SECTION TWO

Getting your subject together and creating your course in monthly

stages.

WORKING ON YOUR SUBJECT

There are many subjects, as I have mentioned, which are suitable

for compiling a course.  If you are not sure at the moment what

you might be able to present as a marketable good seller, then

let's take a look at some possibilities to make you think.

ADULT EDUCATION

If you are qualified in any teaching or academic subject, you have

obvious possibilities in this field.  Some of the most popular

courses available today are in:  Business Studies, Law, Marketing,

Accounting, Banking, English, Mathematics, Computer Studies,

Sociology, Languages, Finance and Travel Management.

There are many technical subjects also marketed by various

'schools' advertising today and these include: Car and Motorcycle

Maintenance, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Building, Carpentry and

Joinery, and of course in the electrical and electronics field we

have subjects such as: Television, Video and Hi-Fi Servicing,

Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical

Contracting and Installations.

However, to compile a course with any of these subjects in mind,

you must be suitably qualified yourself to provide your client

with lessons which will bring him or her up to the appropriate

examination standard.  I will say again though that you should

know a friend or colleague with the right qualifications for any

of these courses above, then offer a fee or commission for him or

her to write it for you and prepare the correspondence.  If not

there are plenty of other ideas.

OTHER SUBJECTS YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO YOURSELF

Remember that in the area of personal development you do not need

to have standards of qualifications up to Diploma level to write

and compile a good course.  Even 'A' level standards in various

subjects of personal development will be good enough to provide

tuition on 'improvement' type courses, such as learning a foreign

language, English and Maths, etc, computer subjects, home

management, etc.

IN THE GENERAL INTEREST FIELD

Good at cooking?  There are opportunities here to compile a really

good course including menu's (with some of your own recipes) and

easy step by step lessons carefully prepared to bring a newly-wed

or just an inexperienced cook (or even just someone who wants to

learn from scratch) up to your standard.  Many people cannot cook

at all, and would enjoy the possibility of learning by

communication by post and being able to write to someone who will

take an interest rather than buy magazines which cannot 'talk'

back or go to cookery lessons because of embarrassment.  Most

people are shy.

This is just an example of what you can do if you are good at

cooking but there are many other fields.  Take for example

practical photography.  Many amateur photographers are up to a

standard equalled by professionals and some even better.  Here is

another good idea for a course designed for those who are just

starting in serious photography and want practical advice to

produce good pictures without having to pay a huge amount of money

for it.  There is definitely scope here once again for a practical

course with mass appeal.

GETTING THE IDEA

You should now have some idea of how to think of a subject for

your correspondence course.  There are some ideas probably more

suited to women such as embroidery which could be presented as a

practical course and advertised in women's magazines.  Others such

as heavy DIY projects, like joinery and building are perhaps more

suited to men, although these days both women and men do these

subjects, and it is not correct to discriminate.

Astronomy is a popular subject with some courses on this already on

the market.  Aim for the beginner who does not require any

certificate at the end of the course, but just wants to learn from

someone experienced and you have a viable business proposition for

turning your knowledge over to the public and also getting well

paid for it at the same time.

Remember that if you are a qualified plumber, painter, joiner, in

fact any sort of tradesman (or woman) you have the experience and

the professionalism to teach others.  Some courses involving

trades will have to include photographs and most probably line

drawings as well, so get good black and white photographs taken of

yourself at work, showing close-ups of what you are doing and have

these included in your course lessons.

OTHER NOT SO COMMON IDEAS FOR COURSES

If you do something out of the ordinary or unusual then you could

have an idea for a course no-one has done before.  Unusual ways to

decorate walls or specialist furniture you make and sell.  This

kind of thing WOULD be unique.

SPREADING THE LESSONS OUT OVER TWELVE MONTHS

It doesn't have to be twelve months of course, you may decide that

your particular project would be better with just six months or

even three.

This all depends on how much learning is required, and do remember

that should your course be better suited to a shorter time, you

must allow for this in pricing.

A twelve month course could fetch the same as a six month course

if you think it is worth it, by simply doubling the amount of the

monthly payments.  The instalments should be affordable to the

majority of the people writing for details as you really want to

cater for the end of the market which is left open by the larger

organisations due to those people who cannot afford the higher

prices.

On the other hand, don't be too cheap either.  Very cheap courses

may not sell well, because people can be rather suspicious about

buying information in this form if it is priced so low it gives

the impression of being second rate.  WRITE EACH SECTION IN

RELATIVE STAGES.

Do make sure your course will be easy to understand as you want

the reader to be able to follow your instructions and understand

them without too many questions with the next instalment.

This would take up much of your precious time, resulting in you

working harder for your money than you should be.

Remember you will want to have perhaps 50 or 60 (or even more)

clients to handle every month.  Each sending you their next

payment and their question papers to be answered.

This alone is quite a lot of tiring work, although most enjoyable,

and done from the comfort of your own home.

SECTION THREE

How to Prepare your Course for Marketing

WORK TO BE DONE

Let's assume your idea for what you hope will be a really good

marketable course which you want to make you lots of money has

originated.

You now have important steps to take, to make all this fact. 

These are:

1. WRITING AND EDITING.

2. COMPILING THE MONTHLY SECTIONS.

3. CREATING A COMPLETE PACKAGE WHICH GOES FROM START TO FINISH.

4. PRINTING AND PRESENTING.

THE WRITING OF YOUR COURSE

Here is something which you must decide whether to do yourself, or

have 'ghost written' for you.  By 'ghost' writing, I mean having a

capable and competent writer do this for you, for a fee.  The

course under an agreement can be in your name solely, and you

would hold the complete copyright and all the master copies.

Should you think this may be too expensive (anything from #150

upwards, depending on how much information is provided and how

much time this will take) you should try doing it yourself.  The

benefit of having it written for you is you know the writer has

experience in writing such courses, which will sell.  When you've

finished, delete the bad bits, and re-write.

COMPILING YOUR MONTHLY STUDY SECTIONS

When making a draft for your course, remember to work out what you

will need to teach your client in his/her monthly study section. 

Starting with easy steps, and working onwards.

You should begin to realise the importance of having the course

carefully designed for simplicity to the reader.

Let us take for example a twelve month course which will each

month be a step more towards the ultimate goal your client wishes

to achieve. If this was, say, a monthly course in cooking, you

would have to imagine that the client knows absolutely nothing

about the subject, and begin as if you were teaching a child

working up to a level where the reader can now cook not only basic

dishes with ease, but be capable of producing really first class

main courses, which he or she would be able to prepare with

confidence when holding a dinner party.

THE FIRST MONTHS BASICS

For your first instalment you would perhaps send out some very

simple dishes for your client to try.  Something in the nature of

scrambled eggs and an easily made home soup.  Together with these

dishes, you would send out all the basic kitchen utensil

requirements and what these are used for.

Then perhaps a list of various ingredients and their uses and even

a short history about cooking.  You would also enclose the clients

first monthly report and questionnaire which would be based on the

dishes you have asked him/her to try.  Also you would enclose your

payment slip for the next section of the course, and your return

of the correspondence.

AND SO TO PROGRESS

As the months go by, the client receives more recipes to try out,

each a little harder, and the usual correspondence forms to

complete, until he/she has a good practical understanding of how

to cook very well.

By the end of the year, your client will be congratulating you on

becoming a good cook or at least you will have had fun!

CHECK YOUR PACKAGE GOES CORRECTLY FROM START TO FINISH

This may sound obvious, but you may have mistakenly placed

something too difficult for your client to do too early on in the

course.  I need not tell you what would happen if you did this.

Yes, the client would become dismayed at being given something he

or she cannot handle, and makes a mess of, and your client just

drops out and gives up.

So before you send anything out, please check your course is well

laid out, and you will not only be doing yourself a favour, but

that of your poor client, who is, after all, depending on you to

become a good cook, or whatever you are selling.

PRINTING YOUR COURSE

Various ways you can do this.  One is to have the pages typeset,

which will cost about #5.00 per page, but gives superior printing

results.  You do not have to have all this done at once however,

as you can do the first months section, and then progress with the

rest as you get paid.

If you do not wish this expense, you can use a good electronic

typewriter, and have the course photocopied at your local copy

shop.  This is a very popular way of producing material regarding

information these days.  Make sure everything is correctly paged,

so that you make no mistakes in what you send out.

PACKING FOR GOOD PRESENTATION

Pack each months section first in a polythene wrapper, and then a

"jiffy" type bag, which are relatively inexpensive if brought in

quantity.  It is important to ensure the course looks

professional, as well as the contents being professional.

SECTION FOUR

An example of how you would lay out your course and your

correspondence reply forms

TAKING THE REPLY FORMS FIRST

These are the most important, as you must word the questions as to

make the reader enjoy filling this in, and make him/her look at

you as a personal tutor, which in a way you will be.  The client

must also look forward to sending off for the next part of the

course, not forgetting actually looking forward to sending you a

cheque for this!

BASIC CHATTY LETTER FIRST

Start the form(s) with a chatty letter (this can be photocopied, s

long as it is signed by yourself, although a personal letter is

more impressive, but time consuming should you have hundreds of

clients).

The below gives you an idea of the sort of letter to write, use

this if you wish, or alter it to your liking.

(Let us take for example a picture framing course I once had

published as a correspondence course.  It is not available as a

publication from the dealer who sold you this guide).

"Dear Mr Jones,

Welcome to this course on starting a picture framing business from

your home.  You will find enclosed with your first lessons a reply

form, which I would like you to return by the date shown.  Please

feel free to send me as many details of your progress as you wish,

and ask any questions which are not covered in your first report.

I wish you much enjoyment and hope by the time you have completed

the course, you will be running a successful picture framing

business."

That was a letter of introduction which you should always send

with the first instalment.

Below is a letter which you would send with the reply forms. 

Remember, these can be altered to suit the type of business or

self-help course you are offering.

"Dear Mr Jones,

Now you have completed the first easy steps of your picture

framing course, I would like you to fill in the questionnaire, and

the progress report, to enable me to decide on your progress, and

help you continue to learn all there is to know about picture

framing.

I am sure you did not find the first section difficult, but as you

know I'm here to help you, and look forward to hearing of any

problems you may have encountered.

When you have completed these, send together with your cheque for

the next instalment, and my review on your progress, and the

answers to any problems.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Gruenwald."

Name:

Address

Postcode:

Your Ref No:

Date of Commencement:

Q.  Did you purchase all the initial start up equipment you

require, and where from?

A.

Q. What type of picture frame mouldings did you buy, and at what

cost price?

A.

Q. When you first made a sample frame as suggested, what moulding

did you choose for this?

A.

Q. How did you find using the mitreing equipment.  Did you find

any difficulties in making your very first corner cut?

A.

Q. Have you enclosed a small sample of a mitre cut you have made?

A.

Q. Did all the sections of the picture frame together without any

gaps in your sample frame?

A.

Q. What did you glue the corners together with in the mitre clamp,

and did the glue 'spurge' or make any marks?

A.

Q. Did you pin your frame as well as glue?  Answer Yes/No.

Q. If you pinned your frame, did you have any difficulties with

splitting and what size of pin did you use for the chosen

moulding?

A.

Q. When you put the frame on the worktop, does it lie flat or do

you have to press it flat?

A.

Q. If you have to press it flat, does the frame have small gaps

appear at the corners?

A.

Q. How long did it take you to make this, and are you pleased at

the result, if not please explain in further detail on the blank

personal question form?

A.

Q. Did you enjoy the work, considering this was your first

attempt?

A.

You then proceed to supply a blank form with your address at the

top.

LAYING OUT A COURSE

With my picture framing course, before I turned it into a manual

type publication (although retaining most of the original

content), the client was sent six monthly stages for the first

half, with the option of an advanced course consisting of another

six months instalments, showing how to progress into using picture

framing machinery, and much more complicated equipment (and

expensive) than the original 'starter' material.

The objective I had was to interest people who wanted to seriously

go into this as a full time business to take on bigger jobs, such

as contract work, with required costly equipment.

I also wanted to supply this equipment myself, so gaining an

additional income, as I have said before this is very profitable

indeed.  If you do have something to offer which will require any

materials or equipment, then I suggest you get in touch with the

manufacturers of such, and get a trade discount.  You can then

offer this at an early stage, perhaps with the first instalment of

your course.

When laying out my original picture framing course, I gave the

client advice on the basic tools needed, and the lengths of

mouldings required.  I also offered to supply these myself, and

many did just that.  This in the first part, together with a

simple step by step instruction on making a sample frame.  Getting

to know the equipment was most important, as I did not want people

dropping out at the beginning.  So keep the first lesson very

simple.

THE PROGRESSION

As you have seen from the return form questionnaire shown

previously, this was for the very first lesson.

On receiving this completed form from my client, together with a

cheque for the next instalment, I would make a summary of what was

available through the answers, and also reply to his/her other

questions, and any problems.

Progressing to the second stage, I send my client a list of items

he/she should purchase for completing the picture frame if not

already purchased.  The client then is given a further frame

to make, but this time more ambitious and with the full backing

completed.  He/she also receives other small exercises to perform

to gradually increase the knowledge required to make perfect

picture frames.

AND SO IT GETS HARDER

By the third and fourth stages, he/she is already making and

SELLING the frames and has learned to complete all types of

framing, including those requiring glass.

By the final stage, the client is (or should be) quite proficient

at making and selling picture frames, with the last two stages

covering marketing and sales in general.

ILLUSTRATIONS

I used illustrations quite a lot as obviously for this type of

course, you require these.

If you need to use drawings with your course, then get someone to

do them for you, if you are not good at graphic art.  You do

not have to be up to professional standards for this, just

capable.

SELLING YOUR COURSE THROUGH CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

This is probably the cheapest way to sell your new course.  Make

sure you stress that it is new, and you will have a bigger

increase in replies to your advertisement.

Classified adverts can be displayed in all the national magazines

which incorporate business opportunity sections.

The obvious one is the Exchange and Mart, but don't forget all the

specialised magazines on the market, such as Practical

Woodworking, the special hobby mags, etc, which could be more

appropriate for whatever your course will be.

The Sunday newspapers are an excellent media, although pricey. 

They could however bring you the kind of response you have been

dreaming about.

Typical ads might be on the lines of:

"BAD COOK?  LEARN TO COOK WITH PERSONAL TUITION BY POST.  START

WITH SIMPLE DISHES, AND BECOME CORDON BLEAU.  NEW POSTAL COURSE

SHOWS OW.  DETAILS FROM (put your name and address)."

"LEARN TO SPEAK HOLIDAY FRENCH.  NEW POSTAL COURSE WITH CASSETTE

TAPES AT LOW PRICES AND PERSONAL TUITION.  DETAILS etc."

"POSTAL TUITION IN BASIC COMPUTING.  NEW COURSE WILL TEACH YOU TO

WORK WONDERS WITH YOUR COMPUTER INSTEAD OF JUST PLAY WITH IT. 

WRITE FOR DETAILS etc."

These are typical of the adverts required which are a cheap way to

start your business.  You could then progress to display ads, but

only once you have tested the publication FIRST to determine

whether the response is to your benefit.

BUYING COURSES EITHER SECONDHAND OR FROM A SPECIALIST

You can buy secondhand correspondence courses and sell these

provided the course is out of date.  If it is still on the market,

then check first to eliminate any legal difficulties you may

occur.

Obviously, you will not be able to give your purchasers any

correspondence as it was not your course in the first place, but

there is a market for such courses.

To purchase second hand courses (incidentally these must be in

good condition) you must advertise in 'wanted' columns of both

local papers and magazines.  Many people who have purchased these

and have completed the course will be delighted to get a small

payment for something they no longer use.

Place an advertisement as such "WANTED, YOUR OLD CORRESPONDENCE

COURSES.  ANY TYPE BOUGHT FOR CASH.  CONTACT etc".

Find out what the cost is new, and offer about one eighth of that

price.  You will need to buy these as cheap as possible, because

you will be likely offering such courses for less than half the

original price.

The best way to sell these is by classified ads in the business

opportunities columns of publications like the ones already

mentioned.  Remember, you will have a selection of DIFFERENT

courses, so you must word your advert to bring in enquiries from

people interested in buying something that would suit them CHEAP.

"SECONDHAND CORRESPONDENCES COURSES FOR SALE.  BARGAIN PRICES. 

WRITE FOR LISTS.  MANY SUBJECTS.  DETAILS etc."

You must of course ensure that you have a good selection before

you advertise.  If your stock eventually runs low, and you are

flooded with enquiries for certain types of courses, then write to

your customer and ask him/her to wait a few weeks, and you will

acquire whatever he/she wants.

Advertise for the type of courses needed, and don't forget to

build up a stock of the most popular ones.

BUYING FROM A SPECIALIST

You could write to specialist writers who would prepare such a

course for you, but this would be expensive, especially if it is

to do with a 'degree' type course.  These writers would then hand

over complete copyright and you would sell it as your own.  You

would have to approach a qualified person in the field of your

course to do your correspondence replies for you, and pay him/her

for this.

The one advantage if you decide on this is you will not have very

much work to do, just basic mail order posting and packing and not

forgetting placing ads etc.

If you can write your own, please do so as one of the greatest

things about correspondence courses (apart from the regular

cheques) is the fun of regularly writing to people, who you will

get to know just like distant friends.

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF COMPILING AND SELLING COURSES

FIND THE IDEA

Look for a good idea, perhaps something you already are good at. 

If not, get someone else to help you.

WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT

Prepare a first draft of what your course will look like, and

check it.

ARRANGE INTO APPROPRIATE SECTIONS

Starting with the simplest lesson, and going on from there.

CHECK IT AGAIN

You do not want any people finding it too difficult at the start.

PRINT THE COURSE

If using typeset, you can do this in monthly steps, saving an

initial large outlay.

PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS

Find the right publication for your course by testing.

SEND OFF YOUR DETAILS

Write your details, based on what your course will offer, and

print and send these out first class to your enquirers.

SECONDHAND COURSES

Be careful you don't buy anything which is still in print.

KEEP YOUR LETTERS BRIEF BUT TO THE POINT

You hope to have many clients.  You will need time to answer all

their monthly reports.