Promoting your School - What have you found that works?

**1slorunner** · 06-20-2009, 06:31

I have started teaching at a new fitness center and I am starting from the ground up acquiring students. I am considered a contract instructor so all promotional materials are my responsibility. I am in the process of getting brochures printed which explain pricing, times/dates etc. I have also purchased a 6 foot banner to put on the corner near the fitness center. What methods have you found that work to get students? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

**TonyU** · 06-20-2009, 09:01

Moved to School Management.

**Prince Loeffler** · 06-20-2009, 14:20

Originally Posted by 1slorunner

I have started teaching at a new fitness center and I am starting from the ground up acquiring students. I am considered a contract instructor so all promotional materials are my responsibility. I am in the process of getting brochures printed which explain pricing, times/dates etc. I have also purchased a 6 foot banner to put on the corner near the fitness center. What methods have you found that work to get students? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

Offer students $50 dollars cash now or their next month course for FREE when they bring friends in that signs up. Works great with teens during summer time.

**DragonMind** · 06-20-2009, 15:05

Set up a web site that addresses the benefits you offer and collects contact info. Follow up with them regularly. You'll already be doing more than 95% of MA schools out there.

**Aldiel** · 06-24-2009, 13:31

Originally Posted by 1slorunner

I have started teaching at a new fitness center and I am starting from the ground up acquiring students. I am considered a contract instructor so all promotional materials are my responsibility. I am in the process of getting brochures printed which explain pricing, times/dates etc. I have also purchased a 6 foot banner to put on the corner near the fitness center. What methods have you found that work to get students? Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

Fitness centers can be tough, but I would start with the fitness center itself. Is it part of a school, or is it a private entity? If it's part of a school, go to the school. The best advise really is, get one student, tell him to bring a friend, tell that friend to bring a friend.... School rarely explode, usually they slowly grow. Being friendly and actively striving to build camaraderie within your dojo will be one of your largest marketing tools. Promote to the students that this is their dojo too, and if they want it to be large and exciting, they need to help you build it as well.

**Cliff Hargrave** · 06-24-2009, 14:55

http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/sh...ad.php?t=25828

**DragonMind** · 06-25-2009, 10:30

Start with Mike Massie here

**Cliff Hargrave** · 06-25-2009, 15:22

Also, if you are willing to invest $17.95 a month, go here:

http://www.starting-a-martial-arts-school.com/

**DragonMind** · 06-26-2009, 13:14

And if you're not willing to invest $17.95 a month...

GET THE HELL OUT OF THE BUSINESS! YOU ARE A DAMN FOOL!

**Rasputin** · 06-26-2009, 13:42

Harry passersby mercilessly.

**DragonMind** · 06-26-2009, 14:35

Originally Posted by Rasputin

Harry passersby mercilessly.

I think you mean harass but I can't tell if that's one word or two...

**Rasputin** · 06-26-2009, 14:54

Originally Posted by DragonMind

I think you mean harass but I can't tell if that's one word or two...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harry

Nope...

**Cliff Hargrave** · 06-26-2009, 16:12

Originally Posted by DragonMind

And if you're not willing to invest $17.95 a month...

GET THE HELL OUT OF THE BUSINESS! YOU ARE A DAMN FOOL!

I agree, best money I have ever spent. The forums alone are a wealth of info. You get to talk with people that have actually done these different steps and see what is working and what isn't.

**AllanJGAnderson** · 06-26-2009, 18:18

Originally Posted by Rasputin

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harry

Nope...

Learned a new word today. . .

**John Bennett** · 06-27-2009, 08:56

Originally Posted by 1slorunner

What methods have you found that work to get students?

You must have a website. You simply must.

I did it on the cheap:

$10 for a domain name from http://godaddy.com

My web files are hosted for free here: http://awardspace.com/web_hosting.html

Then, submit the web address to search engines like http://www.google.com/addurl/ and web directories like Budoseek directory http://www.budoseek.net/cgi-bin/hyperseek/add_url.cgi

At least have a single page with your name, address, and phone number.

Here's my website: http://lufkinma.com

For $25 per year you can get full web hosting with email addresses using your domain name from A Small Orange here:

I've used A Small Orange in the past. They are top notch.

**1slorunner** · 06-28-2009, 06:32

I do appreciate all the input. I am in negotiation with a fitness center and it has not been pretty. I was promised some things (verbally) and now it seems that they do not want to hold up their end of the deal. I get the impression that martial arts takes a back seat to other money making activities such as dance and gymnastics. I have drawn up a contract and if they don't sign, I move on. I have some other options available. This is a great learning process for me. Thanks for letting me vent.

Hapki,
Joe

**DragonMind** · 06-29-2009, 16:09

Originally Posted by Rasputin

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harry

Nope...

I knew the word, just didn't fit the joke...

**DragonMind** · 06-29-2009, 16:21

Since John brought it up, let me expand on that. Get a website as one of your first orders of business. Domains can be had for very little (GoDaddy is actually one of the more expensive ones). Hosting can be had for $6/mo. I have sites hosted at GoDaddy, BlueHost and Hostorix. I like BlueHost the best for their 24/7 tech support with a live native-English speaker.

Now for the part you haven't heard.

Set your site up with WordPress (free) and choose a clean looking theme (hundreds of free ones and some really great ones for under $100). WordPress started as a blog tool but has evolved into a full blown Content Management System. The beauty is that you don't have to learn how to write html or code or anything like that. Even a techno-phobe can have a really nice looking site with minimal effort. You'll need a few add-ins but they are easy to install. add-ins let you have things like photo galleries, social networking, videos, SEO optimization, and a lot of other cool features.

Next you need a good auto-responder service (I use Aweber @$19/month). What this does is allow you to put a sign-up form on your site (again with no coding on your part) and capture email addresses. The more important part is it builds a mailing list that you can contact easily. You can have a series of pre-built messages go out on a fixed schedule to maintain contact with prospects and you can send broadcasts or even have new entries on your site sent automatically to your list.

The days of static web sites with standard sales letters or electronic brochures are over. Internet users are more savvy than that and will click off your site in a New York minute if you try the old boring stuff.

**Rasputin** · 06-29-2009, 16:30

Originally Posted by DragonMind

I knew the word, just didn't fit the joke...

Harass is in the hizzouse.

**JWhiteSensei** · 09-11-2009, 23:40

It's a struggle when you first start out because everyone has an idea of what you should do. Here are a few things that have worked for me.

Newspaper ads. Don't stop at just one and don't give up if you get no immediate results. Remember, the average person has to see an ad at least four or five times before they repong to it.

Word of Mouth. THE BEST promotion you can get! Run a good class. Be a good teacher. Word will get around.

Flyers. Put them everywhere! Make sure they look good and have all your information. Try to avoid putting them on peoples cars though. They usually just get thrown in the parking lot.

Community Services. Great time of the year for this. Do a Food Drive for Thanksgiving. Organize a Toy Drive for Christmas. Set up a Safe Trick or Treat station at your school. Make SURE you get the word out that you're doing these things.

Newspaper Articles. A major difference in an ad and an article is the article is FREE. If you or any of your students do ANYTHING that is newsworthy get it in the paper even if you have to write it and take the photographs yourself.

If your town has a Recreation District they usually put out a catalouge about twice a year. It's a little costly but it works great!

Hope some of these help. Just things that have worked for me.