As a yoga studio owner, marketing your business is essential to ensure a steady flow of new and returning customers. While there are many different marketing strategies you can use to promote your studio, not all will be effective in attracting the attention of your target audience.
Here are ten yoga studio marketing ideas that are sure to increase the number of customers:
Know your students
The most common error yoga instructors make wanting to appeal to everyone. However, your sessions are designed mainly for certain types of individuals. For example, a person with a different personality would be drawn to a beginner, gentle yoga session than a hot vinyasa class.
You must first understand your target audience before marketing strategies for them to succeed. Create a character for your ideal student. Consider the gender, age group, family status, education level, location, and hobbies of the person you’re thinking of.
If you’re not sure, look at who’s already attending a yoga class. Inquire about their opinions. You may be startled by the topics or times that appeal to them.
Update your website
Like a freelance yoga instructor, a professional yoga instructor needs a website. It’s self-evident if you operate a studio. Before attending class, all of your pupils will check out your website. As a result, make sure your website includes the following features:
- Education policy is the latest legislation that has pushed schools toward cutting-edge cybersecurity methods. Everyone will want to know if you’re protecting youngsters.
- A weekly timetable, along with detailed descriptions of each session and online courses
- The office was designed with each teacher, and the school owner is also shown.
- Instructions for pupils, including what they should bring, what’s available, and what extra services (such as cooling clothes for savasana or showers)
- Your physical address and phone number
These should be immediately apparent on your site’s homepage so that people will seek you out as a potential place to practice yoga.
Keep your website up to date and consider a redesign if you haven’t in a while. It’s critical to keep your online presence as up-to-date as possible, especially if you’re offering classes.
Get listed
Students frequently go online to look for information on their own when they are ready to experiment with yoga. Even if you don’t have your studio, your yoga business must be listed on Google My Business, Facebook Business, Apple Maps, and Yelp. If you belong to the Yoga Alliance or other health-related organizations, keep your listing current there.
While you’re at it, have your regular pupils offer a review of your company on these sites. Prospective students will want to know what others think about your business.
Engage in social media
Finally, there can be no yoga marketing guide without social media discussion. Small enterprises like yours require platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to interact with their customers (and potential consumers).
You can use social media to:
- Announce changes or updates to your schedule
- Introduce new teachers
- Offer promotions or discounts
- Share photos and videos from classes (with permission)
- Engage in conversations with your followers
Choosing one platform and becoming good at it is the best way to begin. Then, after mastering social media marketing, add another channel to your skill set. The goal is to be consistent in providing value.
Host special events
Some people need a specific motivation to try yoga, so be unique. Creative yoga classes examples are
- Hosting an outdoor class in a local park (check with the local government for any required permissions).
- Organize a session on alignment concepts, inversions, or another area where you excel.
- Perhaps a Zoom book club devoted to spiritual writings would be attractive.
This could be a great part of your marketing efforts, and people who are interested in yoga would swarm like bees to attend the event. This increases the intimacy of the encounter and provides ample time for each person to receive individual attention from the instructor. If you’re unsure whether you can handle an event on your own, consider teaming up with another local company.
Post videos on social media
Sure, I can create an asana flow for myself every day, but sometimes I’d rather watch a class taught by a colleague on social media. You may also post videos to share with potential students.
Your goal should be to offer a wide range of free yoga classes on the internet but don’t think about it as competing against other yoga teachers with social media clout. Instead, concentrate on your target audience and provide these free sessions as a chance for them to get acclimated to your style. Make three to seven Facebook postings per week, with at least one being a 30-minute Live class.
Schedule classes at various times of the day to reach a larger audience. In addition to posting class descriptions and reminders on your page, could you post them in relevant Facebook groups? Also, don’t forget to include a feature after the session! Keeping your students engaged with a quick post-class video or review is an excellent method to keep them returning for more.
Grow your email list
While the epidemic has shown no signs of slowing down, staying connected is more crucial than ever. Email marketing can help you do this – and remind students about future virtual and in-person courses – while also reminding them of coming due dates.
‘Start here’ is a compelling call-to-action for ‘Mang’Oh Yoga,’ the group’s email addresses of new students can be requested with.”
Start collecting email addresses from your current students now if you haven’t already. It might be as simple as a sign-in sheet at the start of class or more elaborate, such as providing a free e-book in exchange for an email address through your website.
Several email marketing services are available, but Constant Contact and MailChimp are both excellent places to start. You may segment your list with these programs to send relevant information to those who want it most.
Finally, don’t forget the power of an email signature. Include a connection to your website and social media sites and your contact information in your signature. Again, this is a low-effort approach to remind people how they may keep in touch with you.
Partner with local businesses
If the business you’re looking for is in your neighborhood, there’s a good chance it will post flyers and provide information about your sessions to its customers. You may reciprocate by referring students to their companies.
You might also collaborate with a vegan restaurant to offer a plant-based cuisine class following your yoga session or advertise their business to your pupils.
In today’s environment, aiding local enterprises is more essential than ever. So why not join forces with them to grow your yoga business? The COVID epidemic has compelled us all to get innovative in running our businesses. That means yoga instructors must think outside the box to attract new pupils.
Even during these trying economic times, you may continue to expand your student base by networking with other local companies, being active on social media, and organizing special events.
Network with other yoga teachers
This is one of my favorite marketing suggestions for yoga instructors, and it doesn’t require much money.
Some of the most influential people in my life are other yoga instructors. We rely on each other for moral support and practical advice, including on how to get new students. If you don’t have a network of supportive teachers, seek them out.
You can find other instructors by taking classes from different yoga studios in your area or attending yoga conferences. If you cannot do either of those things right now, join one of the many Facebook groups for yoga teachers.
This way, you may reach out to people who appreciate paddleboarding and plan a unique event for my regular pupils from my studio classes.
Support a worthwhile cause
When area nonprofits have a special night where a portion of the cost is donated to a good cause, take a lesson from the restaurants that collaborate with them. You may do the same with your yoga sessions. You’ll give back to society and meet people interested in yoga who like your work.
Yoga is a beautiful way to improve your health and wellbeing, and there are many different ways to get involved. If you’re looking for ways to get started, consider some of these options. With a little effort, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying all the benefits yoga offers.
The best part? The nonprofit organization will market on your behalf — perhaps through email segmentation.
What Is Email Segmentation?
Segmenting your email list based on specific criteria is known as segmentation. This enables you to send more targeted, relevant emails to each group, leading to higher engagement rates and better results in general.
You may divide your email list in various ways, but the most popular techniques include geography, age, gender, hobbies, and even past purchase history. You have control over how granular or detailed you want your segments to be; the key is ensuring each piece is relevant and aids in achieving your objectives.
Email segmentation can be a highly effective approach for improving interaction and boosting your outcomes, so if you haven’t already, now is the time to start!
Create a VIP program
Yoga instructors are particularly attached to their regular pupils since we get to witness others on their yoga journey. So please give them a VIP program, so they know how much you appreciate them.
Consider it a restaurant loyalty program for classes instead of desserts. You can implement this in several ways, including offering loyalty cards they can use to get stamped after each session.
They may redeem the card for a free class once it has been completed. You could also have an e-commerce loyalty program, where customers earn points for every purchase and can use them to save on items or have private sessions.
Encourage students to bring friends
Finally, don’t overlook the power of word-of-mouth advertising as a fantastic yoga marketing idea. Give your students the option to invite a friend to class (whether online or in-person) and receive half of the total price. Who wouldn’t want to bring a friend and feel like a VIP?
You might also run a refer-a-friend scheme, in which your pupils earn points that can be used to take free classes. People love free stuff, and this is a fantastic approach to show gratitude for their dedication while also increasing your student base.
Another option is to supply aromatherapy oils as a gift to participants who bring friends. The goal here is to entice them to return and attract new students.
Conclusion:
Yoga is a centuries-old practice that offers many benefits, from improved flexibility and strength to reduced stress and anxiety.
If you’re a yoga teacher, you know how important it is to attract new students. Keep your yoga website updated, get listed on online directories, special host events, post videos on social media, grow your email list, and partner with local businesses. You can also support a worthwhile cause to attract people who share your interests.
By following these yoga marketing ideas, you’ll be able to reach more people and build a successful yoga business. Namaste!