Casual Articles - Business

Outsourcing From ASPs - Things To Consider
Application Software Providers or ASPs, a new revolution for the business world, provide you with customized software solutions for your business processes, be it accounting, human resource management, or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), to name a few. ASPs help you focus on core business issues by taking care of your key system software.ASPs combine traditional outsourcing model with Internet to deliver customized software solutions with real time services. ASPs are a compelling alternative to buying packaged software and implementing it in house.Key factors: Before you decide to outsource an important software application system of your business to an ASP, you need to consider the following:A) Assessing your company objectives and the requirement to outsource business applications. • Define your business objectives and analyze how the ASP will help you streamline business applications and to what extent. • Assess your current IT staff strength and their compatibility levels while working with an outside agency. • Do a cost benefit analysis of using an ASP and whether you’re ASP helps you to concentrate and focus more on core business areas. • Pen down the exact application requirements you want to outsource, correct estimation of trouble shooting, real-time services, the scale of operations, and, most importantly, deadlines.B) Choosing the right ASP specific for your business needs. • A correct estimation of your application requirements will help you choose the right ASP for your business. • Assess your ASP based on your company’s requirements and

to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

There are so many study abroad programs on offer around the world that you really have to specialize. By choosing a selection of countries to specialize in you can minimize the time that you need to spend familiarizing yourself with the education systems, educational institutions and lifestyles of those countries so that you are well informed when it comes to sitting down and consulting prospective customers. You also have to learn about the visa application process for students from your country to study in the countries that you are promoting.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Language programs - English is a huge market but you may also want to offer other languages. A course of twenty-five hours of English tuition per week plus accommodation with a local home-stay family is a very popular combination and has almost become an industry standard.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools t

Recruiting Is Like Opening a Box of Chocolates
You never know what you’ll get and sometimes what you get is not what you expected. But you always start the same way… First, you screen out the ones that are obviously not good. Second, you look at the remaining ones and you pick a few. Third, you give it a try.There are some basic lessons to learn from the above analogy. Form matters because it is the first thing recruiters will set their eyes on. In order to pass the first stage, an application has to be appealing and look professional.Once the preliminary screening is done, recruiters go to the next stage of looking at the substance of the applications. If they like dark chocolate, they will choose them first. Too bad if you are vanilla! Concretely, this means that you have to meet the employer’s requirements.Last step can be either the most rewarding one or the most disappointing one. You taste the chocolate with high expectations since you think you did a good job screening out what you don’t like. Some may be up to your expectations, some less, some not at all…What is the lesson from all this? Writing good resumes or cover letters can help you get to the third stage, but if you don’t have what the employer really wants, you won’t get in… and you might get burnt at the interview. Alternatively, if you have what it takes, but cannot make your case, too bad, you just missed the boat! This doesn’t mean that you have to be modest. It simply means that you have to look at the application process as a whole and be honest with yourself and the recruiter.Whatever you write in your application, be sure you can

Profit from Commission Payments and Consultancy fees

As an education agent you build relationships with educational institutions in various locations around the world, sign agreements to represent them in your country and then market their courses.

Many students that study abroad book their course of study through an agent or consultant in their home country. Even though the internet has made direct bookings possible students often prefer to deal face to face with a representative of an agency in their home country who speaks their native language. Language schools that I work with say that approximately three quarters of their enrollments come through agencies.

Once you have enrolled students with these institutions you then receive a commission payment, usually a percentage of between ten and thirty percent of the tuition fees that your student has paid.

For students studying abroad long term these commission payments can be considerable in some cases as tuition fees can often exceed US$10,000 per year.

Depending on the market you are working in and the amount of time that you put into each case you may also be able to charge your students a consulting fee for your services.

Good Locations to set up your Agency

The ‘study abroad’ industry worldwide has continued to grow at a remarkable pace and continued growth is anticipated.

The education consulting business has matured in some countries (particularly Western Europe and Japan) and become quite competitive but in other developing parts of the world such as Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America where economies have been growing rapidly in recent years tremendous opportunities are available for education agents as the industry expands with large numbers of people joining the ranks of the middle class and being able to afford to travel and study abroad.

The benefits of setting up an agency to entrepreneurs in developing countries are compounded by the fact that local salaries are lower and their income from commissions (often in US$, Euros etc) should ensure them a much higher income than average.

Schools report that student numbers from these developing regions are growing much faster then the more traditional markets in Western Europe and Japan.

Although the best opportunities at the moment are clearly in the developing countries it is possible to set up an agency just about anywhere in the world. Even countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom which have both traditionally been seen as ‘destination’ countries for students could offer good opportunities as it becomes more and more popular for young people to travel, learn languages or take a gap year abroad.

In terms of locating your business only a small office is required at first. Sharing premises with another travel or education related business is a good idea. You may even be able to start off working from home or look at running an online business.

Barriers to Entry

In most countries it is surprisingly easy to start out in the ‘agency’ business and turn it into a small part time business for yourself or even a large business employing other consultants if you are prepared to work hard.

In many countries the ‘study abroad’ consulting business is basically still unregulated and anyone can set up a consultancy. In some countries such as China the government requires agencies to have a certificate issued by the Ministry of Education and in some cases to pay a bond before they can operate.

In order to prevent unethical practice by agencies some agents in various countries have formed agency associations. Members of these associations set out a service standard for their members. It is usually not compulsory to join these associations however members usually benefit from promotion of the association and the fact that some students perceive it to be safer to book with agents that are association members.

In any case before you start planning a new agency business you should check to see if there are any rules or regulations that you have to comply with in the market that you wish to operate in.

Representing Institutions

It should not be hard for you to build up a database of schools to represent. Many institutions are prepared to work with inexperienced agents and will issue you an agency agreement right away. Others will want to see that you have some experience and want you to complete an application form and give a few references from other schools that you have enrolled students with.

Getting agreements to represent Language schools and High schools is usually much easier than getting agreements to represent Universities.

It is important that you review the agency agreement carefully and understand your rights and obligations as an agent representing a foreign institution in your country. However these agreements are usually just a formality and are not often referred to.

The school should also send you promotional material to help you to market their courses in your country. This usually includes a brochure in English but can also include translated brochures, posters, DVD’s and other multimedia.

Many institutions will have representatives visiting your country and they will usually be very happy to visit your office and talk to you about the courses that they offer and answer any questions that you have.

Over time you need to look at forming relationships with institutions that are not only paying good commissions but also institutions that offer a good standard of service to the students that you place with them and a good standard of service to you as the agent. Institutions that respond to your communication, issue documents and pay commissions promptly are the best ones to deal with.

Most schools want to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools th

What Would You Do If You Lost All of Your Data?
Every serious computer user has felt it: the fear of losing all of your data. Just what would happen if you were to lose a week’s worth of data due to file corruption? How about a month’s work? What about if you lost the entire contents of your laptop’s hard drive, potentially erasing years of data that you have been saving for personal and business use?We use our computers for many different reasons and store many different types of data on them. To some, the computer is an office workhorse…text documents, spreadsheets and databases, client contact information and e-mails are just a few of the types of data that are dealt with on a daily basis, on a typical business machine. Perhaps you are a home computer user as well. Do you use your computer to store your digital music collection? Maybe your hard drive holds personal finance documents. Whatever you use your computer for there is no doubt that you are generating files that you will want to have access to for an indefinite period of time yet to come.So what can you do to ensure that your data will be accessible for years to come, no matter what happens to your computer’s physical media?The answer is online data backup.By using an online data backup you can ensure the integrity of your files for years to come with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your important files are backed up on a regular basis and stored in a safe, secure facility that allows network access to your files 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Here’s how it works: When you sign up with an online data backup provider (sometimes referr

ularly Western Europe and Japan) and become quite competitive but in other developing parts of the world such as Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America where economies have been growing rapidly in recent years tremendous opportunities are available for education agents as the industry expands with large numbers of people joining the ranks of the middle class and being able to afford to travel and study abroad.

Schools report that student numbers from these developing regions are growing much faster then the more traditional markets in Western Europe and Japan.

Barriers to Entry

In any case before you start planning a new agency business you should check to see if there are any rules or regulations that you have to comply with in the market that you wish to operate in.

Representing Institutions

Getting agreements to represent Language schools and High schools is usually much easier than getting agreements to represent Universities.

Most schools want to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools t

Establishing Proof Key to Mortgage Marketing
Let us say that you are working on your mortgage marketing presentations. You have just made a perfect presentation to a Realtor. They were excited and impressed with your services and said they were ready to move full stream ahead with you. What is the next step? Going back to the office and waiting for a phone call?You may find yourself waiting a long time. It is incredibly frustrating to be promised one thing and never have it come to fruition. That is what happens when your mortgage marketing does not focus on building a solid relationship with the Realtor, even if it sounds like they made a commitment.You know the expression of "Out of sight, out of mind". If you have not properly built your case for doing business with you, the agent will forget all about you as soon as the door closes.For your mortgage marketing to be effective, you are going to have to continue to build your case. Then, and only then will you solidify your relationship with the agent.Documented Performance Builds CaseWhen you document your performance you account for your actions with clients. It demonstrates how you work to solve problems. Nothing captures prospects attention like a track record for proven performance.One way to document the performance is by meeting with the client. It works well because it gives you an opportunity to remind them of why they should continue to use you, instead of your competition. If you find there is not a positive experience to document, you can use the meeting as a learning opportunity. You can interview

off working from home or look at running an online business.

Barriers to Entry

In any case before you start planning a new agency business you should check to see if there are any rules or regulations that you have to comply with in the market that you wish to operate in.

Representing Institutions

Getting agreements to represent Language schools and High schools is usually much easier than getting agreements to represent Universities.

Most schools want to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools t

Are You Taking Advantages of Your Expertise?
According to economist Charles Handy, less than 55% of all employees work full-time for one employer. Yet how many job seekers have the image seared into their brains of doing one job, for one employer, for the rest of their lives? By keeping such an unrealistic picture of what today's employment world looks like, many job seekers miss out on opportunities. You can have a very successful and rewarding career without being somebody's permanent employee. Have you ever considered taking what you know into the marketplace and selling it to individuals and organizations that need it?Research indicates that to feel happy, fulfilled and healthy, we need to feel a sense of control over our work life. Marketing what you know to people who can utilize your knowledge may give you that sense of control. Some of you will be asking yourself "What do I have to sell that people would pay me for?" The answer is simple. Everything you know! There is a book called the Directory of Consultants. It went from one medium-sized book to a three-volume set. The majority of people listed in the books came from backgrounds where their former employers outsourced their functions. Some of the people now selling their skills, expertise and knowledge simply got tired of being paid a fraction of what their employer was charging clients for their services. They decided to eliminate the middleman and work directly for the clients on a free-lance basis. Here are some areas of expertise that have been converted into consulting or contracted out services:1. The ability to organize others - helping scattered people organize their

ement right away. Others will want to see that you have some experience and want you to complete an application form and give a few references from other schools that you have enrolled students with.

Getting agreements to represent Language schools and High schools is usually much easier than getting agreements to represent Universities.

Most schools want to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools t

You MUST Use Conviction and Authority to Attract More Clients
Did you know there is a way of BEING that literally makes or breaks your ability to attract clients in large numbers? The sad thing is, many self employed people don’t use it and, as a result, are literally letting prospective clients slip through their fingers, day in and day out, even if they’ve done a lot of marketing and networking, even if they have lots of prospects. It’s almost like they destroy their chances of winning, at the very end of the cycle.To avoid letting prospects slip through your fingers, you need to have serious CONVICTION about what you offer. If you don’t, if there’s no certainty on your end, then a prospect is simply not going to be certain either that working with you is the answer to their problems. They’ll question whether you’re really good at what you do and then decide they’ll keep looking.I’ll give you an example of what occurred to me recently, after going to the dentist.For months, I’ve been meaning to get some light cosmetic dentistry done to improve my smile and during a recent routine dental checkup and cleaning, I asked my dentist (let’s call him Dr. Smith) if he performed cosmetic dentistry.Now, before I tell you what happened, let me explain his typical behavior. He’s naturally very outgoing, charming, and does great work (as far as I can tell from the routine cleanings.) He tells jokes, is jovial and seems pretty confident all around. But something happened when I asked him if he did cosmetic dentistry.Dr. Smith’s behavior changed, almost on a dime. He looked away, mumbled something about being in

to maintain a good relationship and reputation with agents worldwide so they should offer you a high standard of reliable service.

What Courses should I Promote?

Using websites like www.agentschat.com and many other online sources it is not hard to find institutions around the world that are looking for international fee-paying students for their programs.

You may also want to specialize by targeting specific markets with specific programs. The following list is to give you a few ideas about the variety of programs that agents offer.

Exam preparation programs – Programs at Language schools that prepare students for examinations such as IELTS or TOEFL.

English plus activities – Many language schools offer English plus sightseeing, surfing, golf etc

University placements – Many language schools also offer University preparation programs and many Universities have foundation programs designed specifically for international students.

Business Language – Agents offering Business Language usually target companies. Language schools usually offer a higher standard of accommodation for executive clients.

Study Tours for youths – Summer study tours for teenagers during vacation times are becoming extremely popular. Agents usually put together an all-inclusive package that includes tuition, accommodation, tours and activities, and guides to accompany the group. Agents can market such programs to schools or parents. Language schools offer groups either ‘open’ programs whereby students are in mixed classes with students of other nationalities or ‘closed’ programs whereby your students form there own exclusive classes. Reassuring parents that their children will be safe and well taken care of is the key to success in this market.

Working Visas – In some countries agents assist their customers to gain working visas and in some cases even help them to find work abroad while they are studying.

High School Placements – Many parents are not satisfied with the school system in their country. A lot of private and state High Schools around the world welcome foreign fee-paying students and have systems set up for their integration and care. Many parents just want to send their children abroad for a year to help them learn the language and for the cultural experience.

Marketing your new Agency

Depending on your background and contacts you may have certain advantages when it comes to finding potential customers. If you are working at a High School, an ESL School or a University then you will have good opportunities to meet students and talk about ‘study abroad’ options with them.

Agents that have studied abroad themselves also have a small advantage as they can relate to their customers, have more credibility and also have existing relationships with the educational institutions that they attended.

Most agents find that they get most of their business through ‘word of mouth’ referrals. If you are honest with your students and they have a good experience abroad then they will tell their friends about it and refer their friends to you. It’s important that you manage your client database carefully and keep in touch with your students while they abroad and after they return.

This system of referrals works well when you are well established but a new agency will have to look at other means.

Having an informative website with information about your services and the institutions that you represent is also one of the best ways of attracting students. Of course you also have to promote the website and usually seek expert assistance to increase your page rankings with search engines.

Most agents will agree that the methods listed above are by far the best forms of marketing in the industry. However attending ‘study abroad’ fairs or exhibitions, radio and print advertising, targeted flyers and referrals from teachers (pay them commission) are other ways that can be effective depending on your market.

The Consulting Process

Once you have a client interested in one the programs that you are offering it is just a matter of going over the information with them in face to face meetings and phone calls. It’s a big decision for your customers as a lot of money is involved and spending a lot of time ‘studying abroad’ will be something that they think through very carefully.

Be ready to answer as many of their questions as possible and if you can’t answer right away then you can look for further information and get back to them.

Developing some kind of sales approach is a good idea and many books have been written on this subject.

Set out all costs clearly to the student on an invoice so that they can see which charges are for the institution and which charges (if any) are for your agencies services. You can always direct them to the institutions website so they can see that they are paying the listed price and that you are not overcharging them.

It is up to you if you want to have students transfer fees to your agencies account and then transfer it on to the school yourself or if you have them transfer fees directly to the school. Some schools insist on full payment and then reimburse commission to the agent at a later date (usually about 6 weeks after your student has started their course). In some cases schools can issue agents a Net invoice, allowing them to deduct their commission from the students payment before transferring the balance.

Once the client has agreed to your offer and all the enrolment papers have been submitted to the institution and the student has been accepted and fees have been paid then you can work on the student’s visa application and help them to make the necessary travel arrangements.

There are many more things to consider but hopefully this article has given you a basic idea of an industry that you may not be so familiar with and a foundation for doing further research.

A ‘study abroad’ agency or consulting business could be the just the small business opportunity that you have been looking for.

HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/40873/casualarticles-Starting-Your-Own-Education-Agency.html">Starting Your Own Education Agency</a>

BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/40873/casualarticles-Starting-Your-Own-Education-Agency.html]Starting Your Own Education Agency[/url]

One thing in life that is certain is change! The world as we know it is changing in terms of the makeup of the land mass we live on, the people we know, the society we live in, the businesses we work within and the people we deal with each day.

Tags

Links

Casual Articles - Starting Your Own Education Agency

Related Articles: