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Why are wall street
stockbrokers filling up the yoga studios in record numbers in New York
City?
Could this recession be a time and opportunity to help others to find our
local yoga studios to relax and find some peace from all external noise?
If we decide to go to place of
fear and see our yoga studio as another place doomed for failure due the
economy..we will lose sight of a much grander plan to help others find yoga
to be relaxed during a major shift.
Time is now for yoga studios
to really thrive and give others that space to go inward and away from
all the noise on TV, their jobs, and stress of daily external life. You can
be the driving force to make sure that they learn the connection of yoga
and the mandatory reason to attend yoga class for their well being.
So let’s look at 5 marketing
steps that you can take to keep your yoga students and find new yoga students in
your community:
§ Referral Program - Start running “refer a friend” or “bring a friend to
yoga class” programs with your current yogis. Using signage at yoga class sign in
and/or posters, invite yoga students to have their friends come into yoga class
with them for FREE. A great time to try this is during the holidays.
·
Internet
Marketing – Have a website. Use the
Internet to communicate with your yoga students posting yoga events, emailing yoga
students, and newsletter to stay on their radar. Look for new and
existing yoga students by posting events on other websites like
YogaFinder so they can discover your yoga workshops. Set up a template
that you can use every month to communicate new programs, special
offerings, clothes etc. The more you communicate with them, the tighter
the bond with your yoga students and the more involved they will be.
·
Beginner’s
Series - Advertise in local weekly
newspapers (very inexpensive) or go grassroots and put posters up in
local coffee shops, Laundromats etc. This is a great time to expand your
base of yoga students. I would offer a beginner’s price for a pack of 6 yoga
classes to start the program, offering a morning and evening class. Make Beginners feel very comfortable on
that first visit to your yoga studio.
·
Sell
Yoga Accessories -
Make extra revenue selling blocks, mats and t-shirts. Most yoga studios do not
have much room for yoga products or a boutique…but with some smart planning
you can change that. Many yoga students need blocks, straps and mats for a yoga
class. You can display one of each at the sign up desk and store
inventory in a nearby closet. Yoga Students like having a yoga t-shirts or yoga mug with your Yoga
Studio Name so they feel a part of a team. Place a pinup of your yoga branded name t-shirt behind
the front desk.. These are great to brand your yoga studio and get the word
out there as well. All of these products can be found on the
internet at wholesale prices and resold in the studio for a profit.
You’ll find that these sales will build up and provide you with much
needed additional revenue.
·
Special
Theme Yoga Classes -
Boot Camp / All Day Yoga Immersion - It’s time to have a fun day of yoga! This is a great
chance to invite yoga students and their friends to an event that can be a lot
of fun and provide the studio with new faces. Most of the time you can
have the event right at your yoga studio….you can bill it as a full day
immersion or boot camp….have fun with posters for the event and event
branded accessories (water bottles, shirts etc.). Have other Yoga programs like a yoga children’s program, woman’s
centered yoga program, men over 50’s yoga class, yoga for golfers, yoga for
surfers, and any yoga class you feel will address some of the needs of your community.
Look at your community and decide the niche market that you could help
others feel comfortable and connected to their peer group in your yoga
studio. Even better have an after yoga
class gathering serving tea in your yoga studio or nearby restaurant. Another program to have after yoga
class might be a seva program to help others in the community.
These are only a few of the
yoga marketing tools to help you get started on a road during this
recession to guiding others to find their own
strong inward spirit, relaxation, and energy on the yoga mat.
Written by John Galbraith,
Founder of www.twinyoga.com
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