Sherri Mraz teaching a cooking class
Have you ever found yourself wondering why some cooking classes always seem to have full sign-ups, happy students, and plenty of repeat faces? I remember my early days as an instructor every new class felt like a leap of faith and soooo much work! Would my students love the class enough to come back? Over the years (and more than a few stumbles), I discovered that truly memorable experiences are about much more than recipes. They’re about real connection, simple systems (hint they should direct people to your product and services), and a healthy dose of fun.
3 Secrets to Keep Students Coming Back for More
- Create Community
From the first class, welcome students by name and encourage them to share stories or personal cooking goals. Don’t make it a lecture 🥱Share your clients successes, build them into stories. Small gestures, like sending a quick follow-up message after class, go a long way. The most-loved classes always feel like a gathering of new friends, not a formal lesson. - Keep it Simple — and Personal
Don’t feel pressured to over-deliver information. Start with simple, achievable skills that build confidence. My students always appreciated when I explained not only the “how” but the “why” behind each recipe, have handouts that describe the benefits of the ingredients. You want to make the classes easy enough that they can recreate at home and not feel intimidated. Personal stories or little kitchen mishaps included! - Offer Consistent Value — Go Beyond the Demo
Try and tell a few stories, whether from your own experiences in life, your kitchen or your clients. I often tell about my Nana preaching to chew each bite 50 times. I don’t expect people to count, but it does bring a laugh when I demo. Bonus: Along with the recipe a printed handout with ingredient benefits and tips. It’s the difference between a one-off class and an experience they’ll rave about. It’s been almost 20 years of me teaching classes and I still have people share that they are making one of my recipes, then send me screenshots of a printout. Pretty cool 😎 actually.
Whether you’re starting out or looking for ideas to re-energize your classes, the Wellness Cooking Academy gives you both the system and support you need to succeed. You bring your passion and we’ll help with the rest!
Happy Cooking
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