{"id":179,"date":"2024-04-23T14:03:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T21:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/?p=179"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:31:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T23:31:53","slug":"designing-a-successful-information-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/designing-a-successful-information-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing a Successful Information Session"},"content":{"rendered":"

Working with non-profit organizations often requires active involvement in program marketing and participant recruitment<\/strong> efforts. With numerous free training programs available for adult learners seeking employment services, effectively reaching the target population and clearly articulating the program’s benefits are essential for success.<\/p>\n

As an example, here are a few slides I used during an information session for a SPRINT project with a community partner.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The brief outline follows a logical thought process, addressing the why, what, how, who, and so what<\/strong> aspects of the project.<\/p>\n

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Why<\/h3>\n

Before delving into the specific details of the program, I prefer to allocate time for a brief introduction to its background. This step is crucial for establishing a foundational understanding among your audience at the outset of the presentation. It helps to raise awareness and build consensus regarding the purpose and objectives of the program.<\/p>\n

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What<\/h3>\n

Building on the needs outlined earlier, it’s time to present your program within a broader context. At this stage, it’s important not to overwhelm your audience with excessive detail. Instead, focus on connecting the identified needs with the key concepts of the program. This approach will help to secure initial buy-in from your audience.<\/p>\n

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How<\/h3>\n

Now, it’s crucial to delve into specifics. Your audience is eager to learn how this program will benefit them personally. At this stage, it’s essential to always frame the discussion in terms of the participants’ perspective. Focus on articulating how participants<\/em> can gain benefits from the program, rather than simply how the program<\/em> can help them. Speaking in the language of the participants and providing information from their perspective are effective communication skills.<\/p>\n

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Who<\/h3>\n

Clearly outlining eligibility criteria for registration will streamline the process for both applicants and service providers, saving valuable time. Additionally, consider offering alternative options for ineligible applicants to ensure inclusivity in your presentation. This might include providing information on other relevant programs or resources available to them, or suggesting steps they can take to become eligible for future participation. By addressing the needs of both eligible and ineligible individuals, you can maximize the impact and reach of your presentation.<\/p>\n

So what<\/h3>\n

The primary objective of the presentation is to encourage attendees to visit the program website and sign up. The success of the information sessions can be measured by the number of recruits and referrals generated as a result. By emphasizing the importance of taking this action, you can effectively gauge the impact of the presentation and the level of interest generated among participants.<\/p>\n

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Useful Tips<\/h3>\n

Here are some useful tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Incorporate Key Words:<\/strong> Utilize key words to convey your message efficiently. Avoid lengthy sentences that may distract your audience.<\/li>\n
  2. Use Simple, Effective Images:<\/strong> Enhance comprehension by integrating simple yet impactful images. Websites like Canva, Freepik, and Unsplash offer a wide range of digital images to choose from.<\/li>\n
  3. Make the Story Relevant:<\/strong> Tailor your presentation to address the specific problems faced by your audience. Provide potential solutions within your presentation to make the content more relatable and engaging.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Working with non-profit organizations often requires active involvement in program marketing and participant recruitment efforts. With numerous free training programs available for adult learners seeking employment services, effectively reaching the target population and clearly articulating the program’s benefits are essential for success. As an example, here are a few slides I used during an information […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101268,"featured_media":211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions\/213"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/rankang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}