In 2020, we saw a rise in online courses the likes of which the world has never seen. Not only that, but 2020 saw a huge increase in people marketing themselves online, which means that now, even if a course takes place in person, a lot of people are coming across their existence on the internet. This begs the question though, with so much choice out there, how do you know which courses are actually worth your time?
Given the amount of online threats and security issues that people come across on the internet, they’re right to be a bit sceptic about a course they see before parting ways with hundreds of pounds to go on it. So, this article is going to discuss in more detail what you need to look out for when trying to find a course online and potential red flags which could be an indication to avoid them.
Who is Behind the Course?
It doesn’t matter what the online course costs, whether it’s £50 or £50,000, before you do anything you need to ask yourself who is behind it. You will be able to dig deeper into their intentions by considering the following:
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Are they experts on the subject?
People recognise the monetary value of online courses now and so are more than happy to blag being experts for the sake of making a bit of easy money. If they are simply a blog writer with no real qualifications, ask yourself what they are actually able to offer you and whether you want to part with money to gain such knowledge.
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Are they playing with their audience to create false urgency?
A lot of courses will try and pressure you into signing up by acting as if you are up against some kind of made-up time limit. If you are pressured in such a way, chances are the course isn’t worth much.
Who Has Reviewed the Course and What Do They Say?
The relevance of who has reviewed the course will vary depending on what the course offers. For instance, if a training course was on a specialist field such as the 18th edition training course, which is catered towards electricians and discusses protection against over-voltage and electrical fires, the reviews will need to skillstg be from places of authority. The Skills Training Group can provide these references as their course is recommended by major bodies such as British Gas and Scottish Power.
If the course is a lot more relaxed and focuses on something creative, the reviews will need to come from real people who can vouch for the fact the course is genuinely helpful and they have learnt from it.
What Is the Course Promising
You should analyse what the course is promising it can offer you. Some red flags that you should keep an eye out for include:
- Become rich quickly
- Become better at a particular skill almost instantly
- Turn your life around
These promises are so ambiguous and it’s usually because the course doesn’t back them up. You should ensure courses provide a breakdown of what they will cover and how the course will have a positive impact on your life.
