The Learning Practitioners Association: representing all individuals substantially engaged in or actively working towards consultancy, design, development and delivery of training interventions whose recipients are outside statutory education.

The perfect place for trainers, learning developers & training advisers

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Welcome to your TrainerBase update.

Here at the Association we are undergoing a significant amount of change and this will be reflected in how we are viewed by all our stakeholders. Our communication; whilst pretty persistent over the past 7 years (or so we are told) needs some work doing on it. This is in progress with the development of our branding and communication strategy.

One aspect that is being regularly reported is that some members have no idea about how comprehensive the facilities on the TrainerBase web site are and the level of exposure that can be achieved. There are of course a few who do know and are very good at raising their profiles.

In the next few issues of the update (which has changed a little in format) I will include a 'top tip' or 2 that you can use to increase your visibility (subject to your membership) to the 40,000+ visitors to the site.

To get things started here is a quick outline of how the site provides members of the Association with a visible profile.

Trainer profiles

When a visitor to the TrainerBase web site signs up and is approved for inclusion on the system, they automatically get a 5 day free trial period. This enables new users to review the opportunities on the site and have a Basic profile, visible on the TrainerBase web site. A user that does not become a member of the Association after the 5 day trial does not have a profile on the TrainerBase web site (they have a single line entry).

Members of the Association can have 2 types of profile: the Basic (£100+VAT) and the Full enhanced (£190+VAT)

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The Basic profile is a pop up window containing contact details, Associated Disciplines (subjects ticked) and any resources uplodaded. A trainer with a Basic profile is identified in a search listing with the 'more...' link. The Basic profile has limited facilities and limited search engine optimisation. A new member with a Basic profile received 3 free copies of TJ and can upload a CV (seriously recommended by purchasers) and a photograph.

The Full enhanced profile is a web enabled, search engine optimised window. The Full enhanced profile does require activating and the pages populating. This can be done in Edit Profile and will form some of the later top tips. The level of customisation of the Full enhanced profile is significant and can seriously increase your rankings on the internet. To identify a Full enhanced profile click on a member's 'MORE...' link. Statistics tell us that Full enhanced profiles get 4 times the number of visits than a Basic profile and purchasers of training tell us that that are more likely to view a Full enhanced profile first.

In later updates I will explain some of the intricacies of the TrainerBase web site and how to raise your profile including:

• Points and Ranking (getting yourself up the search results)
• Activating and populating a Full enhanced profile (and how to help your own web site)
• Sharing resources (without giving away your stock in trade)
• Who been looking at your profile (how popular are you)
• Networking (making contacts in a virtual world)
• Applying for opportunities (how not to get yourself eliminated before you start)

And if there are other topics that you would like an explanation about, please feel free to get in touch.

The copy of these 'top tips' will be posted into the TrainerBase info site and form a user guide for members.

Top

Of course there is the usual activity taking place on the site and you should visit regularly to ensure you do not miss out.

Opportunities

Contract opportunities are being posted at a current rate of 1 per day. Have you seen if your next job has been posted?

News stories

We are always keen to receive news stories from members; this is great FREE advertising. Go on; showcase yourself.

Discussion forums

Alison Snelling has posted a question on the Discuss page.
Jacqueline Harris has raised a concern on the Members only forum.

The World of Learning Conference & Exhibition is the premier event to discover the essential suppliers, skills, inspiration, ideas and advice to ensure you are delivering the L&D solutions your organisation needs to stay ahead.

New members

New members of the Association include: Stuart Mann, Chris Parslow, Jane Walshe, Jane Cousins,
Martin Quiery, Nicki Davey,
Steve Craig, Paul Wilson.

Downloads

Helen Miller and Joy Wilson have recently added some resources to the Downloads section.

Number of FREE downloads on the system: 1,689.

Downloads in the past 28 days: 347

Benefits of membership

Check out the Business Case for membership of the Learning Practitioners' Association.

Are you receiving FREE copies of TJ?

Are you getting discount insurance?

User statistics

Current total number of active web site users: 5,896 of which 4,142 are UK based.

Currently signed up for the newsletter: 4,931

Currently signed up for offers and ads: 5,307

Current association members: 513. Is this the economic climate hitting. The number and value of opportunities contracted via the site is holding up, if not improving.

Number of new member types in the past 28 days;

• Basic user (potential purchaser) 25
• Supplier 1
• Trainer 44

Profile views in the past 28 days; 5,628.

• Traceable: 686 (registered user on TrainerBase)
• Non traceable: 4,942 (unidentifiable visitor, search engine robot)

The top searched for subject in the past 28 days out of a total of 133 different subjects are:

• Finance and Accounting, Sales, Health and Safety, Leadership, Management Development

And what are the top keyword searches being used in the general Search filed on the site: well here they are:

• invoice, tna, time management, coaching, opportunities, training needs analysis, kolb, jobs, trainers, assertiveness, proposal, open and closed questions, resources, managers guide to tna, export, open questions, sample invoice, insurance, evaluation, first aid, pdp, questioning, coaching exercises, appraisal forms, customer service, project management, trainer, train the trainer, management