We've received your requests for in-person training events and we are pleased to announce the launch of our 2024-2025 Small Town Soul Southern States Tour. We are bringing our extended catalog of training courses straight to your door.
The tour includes six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. This is our first in-person tour since the pandemic began. We will be starting small within our home region and will expand the tour in 2025 to include more states. All courses listed below are still available through online training with an instructor if you are not located in one of the initial states.
You can find a course list and overview in the sections below. Slots are limited and will be assigned based on location and availability. Don't wait any longer, fill out the registration form today to secure your spot!
Who can benefit from these trainings?
The easy answer is everyone! We offer a wide variety of courses already but we can also custom-build a course to meet a specific local need. There are basic courses such as marketing, time management, and communication that everyone can benefit from as well as more specialized training such as board development and blog writing. These courses and workshops can be held by a specific group such as a chamber or merchant's association. They can also be sponsored by the town or through the local Main Street Program.
What is the cost of the training?
We offer flexible options depending on the number of courses or workshops held. We want to make this training affordable for everyone as our main objective is to educate and empower. Below are the training options available. If you have a specific training need or budget in mind, let us know in your registration form and we will reach out to discuss further. Attendance is unlimited and will be based on the capacity of the training location you reserve.
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One Course - $500
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Full Day Workshop - $750
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Extended Workshop - $1250
(includes hands-on training and an evening option)
Course overview
These courses are selected especially for small towns, chambers and Main Street organizations to help you organize, strategize and implement your plans!
Available Courses:
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Downtown Director Playbook
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Board Development and Goal Setting
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Time Management and Organization
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Operational Efficiency Workshop - policies, procedures, and strategic plans
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Marketing Your Community or Organization
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Effective Communication and How to Present Your Ideas
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Brand Development & Implementation
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Lunchplate Marketing Program (1 topic focus)
These courses are selected especially for small businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs in rural communities to empower you to get organized and grow your business!
Available Courses:
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Time Management and Organization
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Operational Efficiency Workshop- hiring and training staff, developing policies and procedures, etc.
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Marketing Your Business - developing a marketing plan and implementation
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Online Visibility - Google My Business, social media, and website development
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Brand Development and Implementation
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Build a Blog - the easy way
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Canva Workshop
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Creating a Wix website + SEO Optimization
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Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
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Lunchplate Marketing Program (1 topic focus)
Course descriptions
workshops & coaching Programs
These classes were custom-made for business professionals, rural communities and Main Street towns. They have been crafted to give you the tools to be successful in presenting your ideas, creating a sense of place, promoting your assets and attractions, assisting your businesses with marketing, and perhaps most of all finding the time you need to get it all done.
Courses are aimed at both community staff as well as local businesses and non-profits. They are a perfect fit for organizations like Main Street and county chambers. Topics to choose from include:
Board Development and Goal Setting
This training program is designed to help teams work together towards a common goal and create maximum impact. Our expert trainers will teach you how to build personas, organize strengths, and set effective goals that align with your organization's vision. Join us today to take the first step towards achieving your goals!
Time Management and Organization
Stop feeling overwhelmed by your never ending to-do list with our Time Management and Organization training program. We'll teach you simple yet effective organizational techniques and proven time management principles to help you get more done. Say goodbye to stress and hello to productivity!
Operational Efficiency
Streamline your business operations with our Operational Efficiency training. From policies and procedures to staff management and job descriptions, we teach you the skills you need to build a cohesive and efficient team. Our program emphasizes continual improvement and provides you with the tools to assess and enhance your processes on an ongoing basis.
Marketing Your Community or Business
Are you struggling to market your business or community? This training program offers a step-by-step guide on how to develop a winning marketing plan. We'll provide you with the necessary skills to execute your plan and increase visibility, all while accommodating even the smallest of budgets. Sign up today and take the first step towards success!
Online Visibility
In this course, we teach the importance of establishing an online presence through Google My Business, social media, website development, and SEO. We also offer training in setting up and managing Google Ads campaigns. Our expert instructors provide hands-on training, so you can see results quickly and effectively.
Effective Communication and How to Present Your Ideas
Communication skills are vital in all aspects of life. Our Effective Communication training provides you with the essential techniques to present your ideas, actively listen, and understand others' needs successfully. We will share invaluable tips that will help you communicate effectively in both your personal and professional life. Trust us to help you become a skilled communicator.
Brand Development and Implementation
Are you struggling to create a cohesive and recognizable brand for your business? Our training will provide you with all the guidance and tools you need. Learn how to identify your brand elements, integrate them effectively across all your communication platforms, and build brand recognition. We will help you transform your brand into a strong and memorable representation of your business, town or organization.
Build a Blog - the easy way
Building a successful blog may seem daunting, but with our Build a Blog training, anyone can do it. We provide step-by-step instructions on how to easily create a blog, generate ideas, and build an itinerary. You'll also learn how to optimize your content for search engines and promote your blog online. Our program is designed to make the process stress-free and enjoyable, so you can focus on creating great content.
Canva Workshop
Get hands-on instruction on how to use Canva, the go-to graphic design tool. Our Canva Workshop teaches you how to create stunning designs for print, social and web marketing without the stress. You'll learn how to take the work out of design and easily produce professional-level graphics in no time. Our workshop will show you how to create a month's worth of content in minutes, so you can focus on your other business goals.
Creating a Wix website + SEO Optimization
Creating a website for your business has never been easier. With Wix, you can create a beautiful, professional-looking website in just a few steps. The platform includes AI-assisted content creation and image uploading tools that will guide you every step of the way. We'll discuss SEO optimization and ADA compliance tools that make your website easier to find and accessible to all users.
Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
Don't let a fear of public speaking keep you from sharing your ideas. Our training program, Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking, is designed to help you feel confident and in control when presenting your ideas to an audience. Learn practical techniques and get feedback to hone your skills and overcome your fears. Join today and feel confident the next time you face an audience.
THE DOWNTOWN DIRECTOR PLAYBOOK
This program is specifically designed to help Downtown Directors get more done. Directors have a lot of tasks to juggle. If you are part of a Main Street Program, you have even more on your plate. In this program you get hands on attention from our team to help you organize your efforts when it comes to:
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Assisting small businesses to grow and succeed
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Organizing events, vendors and forms
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Social media updates and scheduling
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Accreditation tasks and timelines
There is no other program like this on the market. We created the program based on over 15 years working with Downtown Directors and serving on community boards. This program gives you access to:
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Our small business strategy and growth plan
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Customized forms and dashboards to help you get more done
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Templates to get organized
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Monthly coaching with our team.
Download our brochure to find out more.
LUNCHPLATE MARKETING PROGRAM
This program is like nothing else on the market. It is an A to Z program that teaches you about every aspect of marketing and walks you through how to apply to your business.
The program consists of small lessons that cover 7 different components of marketing including; website design, social media, advertising, PR, collateral, branding and advertising. Participants can complete the program in less than 30 minutes a day, or as we like to say, over their lunch break.
LICENSE OUR CONTENT
This program is a great tool for towns to use and hold their own workshops. Any municipality, member organization or chamber can license our program and then use the content to train business owners or their members in how to market and grow their business.
We have different licensing levels to fit your budget.
Benefits include:
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Ability to host multiple workshops or group classes throughout the year.
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Professional training by our staff on how to deliver the content.
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Dedicated support throughout the year, when you need it.
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Access to our online Facebook group for collaboration, ideas and additional tutorials.
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Discounted programs for members or class attendees for our online program for an entire year.
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Unlimited updates and access to new courses as they are released.