OK guys I get the point.
First of all I know none of you out there are communists we did away with them. I want you to understand that it is OK to make good money and a lot of money teaching scuba. For too long scuba instructors have had to provide this wonderful service without proper pay. I want to see this change for as many as possible. If this causes prices to go up them maybe they should go up. I have stated earlier that it is in the interest of the Cert. agencies to keep prices low as they benefit by the numbers. I suspect they have even created an intense competition in order to keep their numbers high. I have to compete in this arena but I also have found another way outside the stream to make some good money. That Said.
The next phase of this plan is not MLM as someone suggested.
This is where the real work comes in. This is not an easy plan to promote and you will likely receive a lot of rejection before you strike the goldmine. The key is persistence persistence persistance.
Your target market.
Teach only to people who have access to money. This gives you enough money to provide the logistics necessary to put on a superior scuba seminar.
Your find your clients in-groups. The right client is a special type of individual. They are not leaders, they are not physically gifted and they are not independent thinkers.
They are not rugged adventurers, nor are they millionaires or celebrities.
They are joiners; they join groups, associations, clubs, and work for corporations.
Any group, churches, self-help groups, seminar companies, educational organizations, etc.
This is key to your success as the group phenonomin.
This means you can register your clients in bunches plus the group will recruit for you as the group endorses your seminar.
The age of the target market is 25-55 with an income from 31-79,000.00 per year.
The best way to approach the group is through the leader and get them hooked on scuba in doing so you will get the endorsement to register the flock.
Kiwanas clubs, bankers, mortgage brokers, chambers of commerces, rotary, lions, single clubs, even any of the self-help anonymous groups like AA can be an asset to your plans.
How would you like to get in at Microsoft, IBM, apple, Intel Hughes, Cisco, How about the thousands of other corporations that exist in our society.
You can go directly to the headman and offer to put on a free scuba demonstration to their employees and give the boss free lessons to see what your superior program consists of. This will justify the added cost of your program over the local competitors as well as give your program endorsement and the dominos will fall as the followers and joiners will want to please the big guy.
Avoid Doctors and Lawyers, as they are too independent and do not have enough free time for this program. And for a lot of other reasons will not work out. Now do not get offended you doctors and lawyers you just do not fit the profile for this plan to succeed.
The best people and the ones who go over and over again are the computer nerds, tech heads, engineers, etc.
They get hooked on imagined adventure and they love equipment especially computers, cameras, and regulators.
They find it an easier way to impress a girl than with their calculators, ram, dos, gigs, etc. and they have something to talk about with others that are interested in and willing to listen to them. Now I am not being sexist here it is just that 75% of the divers are men. I will talk about the ladies later. They love this, as it is a great place to meet men. Don't get mad at me these are the facts I am only the Messenger.
This is where the hard work comes in. This is not a get rich plan as you can see. You have to contact people, go talk and put on programs get the big guy hooked and this costs time and a little money. The big thing is it takes your time but if teaching scuba and wanting to make the big bucks this is the way to go.
People will not pay big bucks for a scuba class but will pay for a packaged, fun, adventure, travel, romance, (Safe) excitement, and ego enhancement. And as a famous salesman once wrote: Sell the sizzle, Not the steak
The right types of people buy benefits not features.
Keep in mind all of the "Right people" get from 1-4 weeks of vacation per year and they plan it 10-12 months in advance. So that is how far in advance you book your scuba seminars 12-14 months. That sure is not getting rich quick.
The Concept of Perceived value is why your program succeeds:
You are not selling scuba lessons: You are selling a unique package of superior training, adventure, etc. Now you have no competition, as you will be the only one in your area that offers this type of Scuba seminar package...
You are selling: The finest scuba course in the world, escape to the tropics with like minded people, cruise on a custom built luxury livaboard with state of the art scuba support systems and creature comforts. or the best resort in the area. You are selling fun, excitement, adventure, romance, and appealing to the ego.
The fact is people will pay much more for something if they perceive it to be more valuable. People will pay more to go with a group of friends and known instructors than with strangers. They will pay more to go with you, as their instructor will than they will pay to go on their own.
You have to wear a lot of hats in this program. As someone stated earlier, you have to be a travel agent good scuba instructor, a people person, a salesman, etc. etc.
This is not easy but it only takes a few groups to get you rolling.
When I first started. I used to book these exotic trips and was happy to get to go for free. That seems all well and good except that your rent, utilities bills etc. are coming in while you are on vacation...You have to be making an income for taking people away to these great places or you will loose you butt. I gave it away for free twice before the light went off. I have to compete locally with those same types of thinkers who give the dive trip away so they can go for free.
By packaging it as stated above this is not the run of the mill scuba class and dive travel trip. It is unique and the best there is to offer.
You have to get on the telephone call and talk to group leaders and make appointments. Advertising does not work as this is a special unique program you are offering to their organization....Of course business cards are a great help a brochure of the livaboard and pictures help a lot including slides of previous adventures. That is all you need to put this over. If you contact the finest resorts and livaboards they all will be glad to send you a video of their operation.
Shall I go on?