Looking for a proven way to increase sales and keep divers engaged? Host a PADI Pro Night. Your customers are eager to connect with their diving family and many are looking for ways to support your business.

Use video conferencing to run a virtual PADIPro Night or, if local regulations allow, host an in-person event. To help you get started, we’ll provide some hints, tips and best practices below. 

If diving is still on hold in your area, don’t forget you can conduct knowledge development online to keep your students engaged and on track with their training until such time that you can meet in person for the practical elements.  The temporary allowance to use PADI-copyrighted material as part of instructor-led online learning has been extended until 30 September 2020. For those of you who are IDC Staff Instructors and Course Directors, you can continue to conduct some components of AI and IDC courses through 1 October 2020 per the guidelines published on the PADI Pros’ Site Training News page.  

How to Host a Virtual or Socially-Distanced PADI Pro Night

1. Download customizable PADI® Pro Night presentation and tools from the PADI Pro Night Marketing Kit which can be found on the Pros’ Site (login required)
2. Follow the steps described in How to Host a Profitable Pro Night
3. Review the best practices for hosting an in-person or virtual PADI Pro Night below
   

   Here are a few things to start thinking about…
   

• Why is your business the BEST place to do PADI Pro training? Is it your facility? Instructional staff? Career opportunities? Add this information to the customizable PADI Pro Night presentation.
• Which instructors, divemasters, or instructor/divemaster candidates are engaging speakers? Think about who you could feature in your presentation. 

If you’re doing a virtual Pro Night, give guest speakers the option to record their video in advance. The suggested interview questions in the Profitable Pro Night article may be a helpful starting point.

• Who will you target from your student roster? Assign instructors to personally invite at least five students who “have what it takes” to become a successful PADI Pro. This takes a bit of coordination to ensure two instructors don’t contact the same student, but it will pay off in a big way.
• Will you promote Master Scuba Diver and/or travel in addition to pro training? Some divers want to level-up without going pro, others may be interested in completing training while traveling.

Tips for Hosting a Virtual PADI Pro Night

1. Sign-up for a video conferencing account such as Zoom or GoToMeeting. We recommend recording your presentation so customers who can’t attend the live event can still learn about your training opportunities. Recording requires Zoom’s pro version ($14.99 US for one month) or GoToMeeting’s $19 US pay-by-month plan.

We don’t recommend Facebook Messenger Rooms or Google Meet at this time. Apple users have reported problems accessing Google Meet and Facebook Messenger Rooms have a 30-person limit. Also, not everyone uses Facebook. That said, it’s a good idea to start a Facebook Group if you don’t already have one.

2. Choose someone to run the presentation other than the host if possible. This person can field questions and assist with any technical issues participants may be having (via chat). 
3. Do a dry run to test the equipment you’ll be using and think of a backup plan in case the host or presenter unexpectedly loses connectivity.
4. Send out a list of best practices for online conferencing to attendees about 24 hours before your event. Go over the list again before starting your PADI Pro Night presentation.

Video conferencing tips to include:

• If you’re sharing an internet connection, turn off video to save bandwidth
• Turn off desktop notifications
• Explain how you’d like people to ask questions (audibly or only via chat)
• Invite users to add a fun underwater background

5. If you’re recording the meeting, inform attendees and invite them to turn off their cameras.
   
6. Ask multiple-choice questions periodically throughout the presentation to keep viewers engaged (both Zoom and GoToMeeting have a polling feature). Here are a few ideas:

• What is your highest diving level (Open Water, OW with specialties, Advanced, Rescue)?
• Why are you interested in becoming a PADI Pro (personal challenge, earn extra money, a career that includes travel, something else)?
• Which pro level are you most interested in (divemaster, assistant instructor, instructor, course director)?

7. Award prizes in-between presenters to keep the excitement up. You could ask a trivia question about your shop, local marine life, etc. and award a prize to the first person who responds with a correct answer via chat.

Health and Safety Tips for Hosting an In-Person Go Pro Night

1. Determine the maximum capacity of your space following social-distancing guidelines. Be sure to leave room for a welcome table and space for the presenter. Host your event outdoors, if possible. 
2. Establish health and safety procedures. Here are a few suggestions:

• Set-up a welcome area where a staff member will log each attendees name and contact info and take their temperature
• Mark 2 metre/6 foot intervals on the floor leading up to the welcome area
• Provide masks
• Give each attendee their own (sanitized) pen
• Put disinfectant and towels in the restroom
• Place bottles of hand sanitizer around the meeting area
• If you’re providing snacks and beverages, designate someone to walk around and distribute these items while wearing gloves. 

3. Consider livestreaming and recording your event for customers who cannot attend in-person. Do a test run first. Check whether your broadcasting device (laptop, phone, etc.) is close enough to capture audio and check light levels. Make sure both the presenter and presentation are visible on the livestream.
   
   If you decide to livestream:

• Advise attendees (in person and online) that the program is being livestreamed and recorded
• Remind the presenter to repeat questions during the Q & A (livestream attendees may not be able to hear questions from the audience)
• Designate some to monitor the livestream for questions

4. When the presentation is over, allow time for divers and staff to socialize – at a distance. This interaction is a powerful sales tool.

Start Filling Your Pro Pipeline – Next Steps

Ready to get started? Here’s what to do next:

– Check out the new promotional graphics and presentation template in the PADI Pro Night Kit.
– Set a date for your virtual or in-person event
– Review these tips for hosting a profitable Pro Night

The post How to Boost Sales and Engage Divers – Virtually or In-Person appeared first on PADI Pros.

Business of Diving / Business Support, Marketing & Social Media, livestream, pro night, virtual, zoomPADI Pros