Instructor Guide

Please print and keep this guide handy for future reference. It contains everything you need to know about being an instructor at The Holland Center.

Marketing

We advertise your class to our onsite visitors, web site visitors, email subscribers, and social media followers in the following ways.

  • Class listing on our website/calendar
  • Class listing in bi-weekly Upcoming Events email
  • Promotion on our Facebook page
  • Promotional fliers in our lobby

Logistics

We provide the following logistics.

  • Participant payment (and refunds) & registration management
  • Program Manager – a single point of contact for coordination
  • Room setup per your pre-approved requests
  • Room setup tear-down, including trash removal

Payment

  • The Holland Center pays instructors with a 70/30 split: 70% goes to instructor, 30% goes toward The Holland Center’s administration expenses.
  • Payments are mailed to instructor within 14 days after the class has concluded. Please ensure that we have your correct mailing address on file.
  • If you haven’t already submitted a W-9 form for us to have on file, please print/complete the attached and return to us as soon as possible. This is required for instructors to receive payment from us, and only needs to be submitted one time (or if you have any changes).

Class Preparations / Guidelines

  • If you are unable to attend a scheduled class, please let us know soon as possible.
  • If you will be using any AV equipment, consider coming in on a day prior to the class to test your setup.
  • Consider designating a class facilitator to keep time, distribute supplies, take photos/video, etc. so that you can focus on other priorities.
  • Two (2) business days prior to your class date, we will contact you to confirm enrollment numbers and provide a class roster with names and email addresses. Please consider using this list to contact attendees to remind them about what to bring (if applicable) – or to simply let them know you’re looking forward to seeing them.
  • Please arrive by your class setup time to check in, confirm the correct room setup, and pick up the final class roster.
  • Please use the final class roster given to you on the day of your class to confirm attendance. Please have attendees initial by their name on the roster. If any participants are not on the final class roster, they likely have not paid. Please check with us to verify.
  • If you have a soft voice, consider using a voice amplifier (approx. $30 on Amazon).
  • We may have a volunteer or staff member take photos of your class, or have them observe/take notes. This helps us better market our offerings and discover ways we can improve operations.
  • Please notify a Holland Center staff member immediately of any unsafe situations. In the event of an emergency, please immediately contact 911 and then inform a Holland Center staff member.
  • At the conclusion of the class, please return the roster with participant initials to us.
  • Please leave the room in the condition in which it was found.

Timeline

From the time a Class Proposal Form is submitted, it can take up to three (3) weeks to be approved and uploaded live to our website/calendar. To assist with your planning, here’s an example timeline with estimated turnaround times.

  • Jan. 8 – Submit Class Proposal Form for “How to Start an Herb Garden” held on March 8.
  • 5 business days later – The Holland Center contacts you to confirm receipt of your Class Proposal Form and discuss any changes/additions before approval such as fees, dates, and room selection/availability. For approved classes, The Holland Center provides a Contract for you to sign.
  • Once signed Contract is received, The Holland Center creates a class listing on our website/calendar and will email you a link to the class listing.
  • Jan. 19 – The Holland Center begins advertising your class, and you can begin your own marketing tactics.
  • Mar. 6 – (2 business days prior to class date) The Holland Center contacts you to confirm enrollment numbers and provide a class roster with names and email addresses. If the class does not meet the minimum enrollment, we will discuss the possibility of canceling or rescheduling.
  • Mar. 8 – Class day!
  • Mar. 22 – Instructor receives payment in the mail from The Holland Center.

Terms & Conditions

Here are the Terms & Conditions that were included in your Class Proposal form submission.

  • PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: Submission of a class proposal is not a guarantee that it will be approved.  Proposals will be evaluated based on demand, capacity, room availability, and content.
  • CLASS CANCELLATIONS: We try to avoid cancellations whenever possible. However, when classes do not meet their minimum enrollment two (2) days prior to a class date, they may need to be canceled or rescheduled.
  • PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT: Instructors are to maintain a professional relationship with participants and parents/guardians of minor participants at all times. Classes should not include any content/curriculum that would be reasonably considered scandalous, controversial, defamatory, or obscene—and shall not violate, infringe, or impede the legal or equitable rights of any person, firm, corporation, or other organization.
  • EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES: The Holland Center only provides tables, chairs, and projection equipment. Instructor must provide all other equipment needed for their class. Instructors cannot store their materials at the facility, and may not use the copy machines or computers.
  • LIABILITY & INSURANCE: The Holland Center is insured in the case of any liability claim occurs against it. This insurance does not in any way provide insurance coverage for instructors. Therefore, if a liability claim occurs against an instructor, the instructor is responsible for defending herself/himself, and paying a claim brought against them.

Marketing Tips

As part of your partnership with us, we include some basic marketing to help advertise your class: a class listing on our website & in our bi-weekly Upcoming Events email, promotion on our social media pages, and a promotional flier in our lobby. Here are some additional marketing “best practices” we recommend.

  • To have ample time for marketing your class, submit your Class Proposal Form at least two (2) months prior to the class date.
  • Create and distribute your own print & digital marketing pieces for generating more excitement about your class.
  • Announce/promote your class on your own social media pages, web site, relevant Facebook groups, NextDoor, and email blasts.
  • Announce/promote your class in other offline outlets like community newsletters, activity clubs/groups, community bulletin boards, etc. 
  • Be sure to include the link address to your class listing in all your marketing. To offer quicker/easier access to your class listing offline, you can create a free QR code that, when scanned by a smartphone, will instantly take a user to the class listing page versus having to type out the link address. To do this with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers, simply right click when on your class page on The Holland Center web site and choose “Create QR Code for this page”. Then Download/Save the QR Code image to your device, and then place into your print marketing pieces just like you would place any photo. For Safari browser, use the QR code generator plugin. You can also search for “QR code generator” at www.bing.com for free options.
  • On social media posts that you create, please tag The Holland Center to boost the algorithm and help build cross-engagement on the platforms.
  • Join and engage with The Holland Center’s Facebook and Instagram communities. The more people we have engaging on social media about The Holland Center and all its offerings, the better chance we have at making the algorithms work in your favor.
  • Take photos and videos of your class activities to use for your own marketing.
  • At the conclusion of the class, email the participants to say “thank you” for attending, and include links to register for any future classes and an invitation to follow your social media pages.
  • Build upon your own “following”.
    • During your class, ask participants to help in your success by posting on social media about their experience live (during the class) or after the completion of the class – using photos, some positive words, and tags.
    • Collect email addresses of your class participants to use for future class announcements as well as requests for post-class surveys & testimonials for future promotion/class development.
    • Utilize both personal and business social media pages for friending/following your class participants to get to know them better, to build upon an online community, and to expand your reach for promotion of future classes.
  • Manage expectations. It takes time to build a following and ultimately fill seats in a class. Partnering with us is often a long-game strategy for strengthening your brand, building relationships, and reaching your goals. The value of your following grows over time. Make the most out of your partnership with us by participating in our events and social media, and by embracing all marketing opportunities. A consistent presence over time elevates your name/brand in the community.

Contact Information