Based on a quick survey including some of our clients and other RTOs, the biggest issues facing these businesses are:

• Attracting and retaining high value clients.
• Managing AVETMISS and other compliance requirements.
• Managing staff and contractors.

These businesses use enormous resources to support administrative functions to manage and execute key business processes.  Many are also facing enormous competitive pressures due to commoditisation of their products and services.  Commoditisation is making it harder for many RTOs to differentiate themselves to prospective clients and increase their sales revenue.

Here is a short list of some solutions that we have implemented for clients and were found to be effective.

• Get very clear on your target market[s] and your ideal client profiles.
• Adjust your ‘messaging’ and communications to fit your market and ideal clients.  One size does not fit all.
• Get some help with your internet marketing. Unless you have some spare time or a resource available to do this critical work.  Internet marketing includes your website, social media, search engine and content marketing.
• Automate as many processes as possible.  Our clients use DOTS LMS as a multi-faceted business management tool for compliance, client and staff management.  You may already have the tools to do this effectively but have not leveraged them effectively.
• Use technology to personalise the client and learner experience.  Our clients have the option of creating unique learning management environments for their corporate and government clients.  You may not have the resources for a comprehensive LMS but you can still set up online resources for your clients that cost little or nothing depending upon your objectives.
• Start having regular meetings with staff and contractors on a team and individual level.  Create an agenda and use these meetings to make sure you are touch with every element of your business.  Regular one on one meetings with staff that review goals, performance and roadblock issues are much easier than one big performance appraisal every 6 – 12 months.
• Use technology to support your sales process from prospect to client stages.  If you have a system use it well and if you do not have a system look for one that is easy to use and includes reports.  This type of software does not need to be super expensive.

If you have any questions about these points or you are interested in exploring some ways to make your RTO more successful in 2014, you are welcome to get in touch using the contact details on this website.