I need your help
October 28, 2009 by Ryan Wheaton
Filed under Marketing Concepts
I thought I would do something a little different and ask a question and get your feedback.
I love helping whenever I can because I know how frustrating it can be when you just need some basic direction and no one is there to answer your question.
So, with that in mind…
What more than anything do you want to know about online marketing? What questions do you have?
Why would I do this? It’s simple: I really appreciate you reading this blog and I want to give back so I know how to help you better.
Leave me a comment below and ask those questions you’ve been dying to ask to help bring more students to your martial arts school using the Internet.
I will do my best to answer them all as soon as I can.
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I'm Ryan Wheaton and I work with martial arts school owners to help them attract more students. Many martial arts school owners are confused at how to best market their business and feel awkward in selling situations. I help them overcome those challenges to become confident and competent in marketing and selling their services - helping them become more profitable so they can live the lifestyle they want to live.
Hi Ryan,
I have a question concerning online marketing: What is the best type of message to send out to potential new students? Those who sign up for more information on our school’s site receive an email I send to them. The emails contain all the information about a trial program and the procedure to follow to sign up. However, many of our leads do not respond to the email. Is there any guidelines for us to follow, when writing a message, that will make them want to pick up the phone or email back about joining our trial program?
If you could give us any tips, that would be great!
Thanks,
John
John, can you send me what you send to your prospects? Shoot me an email by using my contact form below:
http://www.marketingmartialarts.com/contact/
That way I can better diagnose what might be causing this specific to your format. I have a hunch I already know what it is (it’s probably a combination of about 5 things, actually) but want to confirm. Thanks!
John, just posted my reply to your question here: http://www.marketingmartialarts.com/email-marketing/
Hi Ryan,
How to get the ranking of my web site on the top of google and other search engines? if I type my schools name it comes up, but when I type Karate it is no where close, so how can I get key word like Karate, Martial arts etc to bring up my school.
Thanks,
Sensei Sriram
Sensei Sriram,
Great question. I’ve been working on a series of blog posts on search engine optimization and will have the first post live shortly. The techniques will not only work for Google, but for all the major search engines. More soon!
Sensei Sriram, I just uploaded a post about search engine optimization. Let me know if this helps! http://www.marketingmartialarts.com/5-search-engine-optimization-mistakes/
Hi Ryan,
I love reading your blog and all of the great advice you have to offer.
I was wondering if you might consider doing a post about answering phone calls? I know that emails are quite popular; but we do still get phone calls, and I’d like to see a higher percentage of those phone calls turn into customers. What are some key things to keep in mind when speaking with a potential customer over the phone?
Thank you,
JJ
JJ Thanks for the comment and for reading! That is a great idea. I’ll add this to my queue of posts I’m writing. More soon!
Hi Ryan. I gotta tell ya that I am so thankful that you have this website! I am also a Kenpoist in Bradenton FL. I was recently asked to start a Kenpo program for a Studio that is struggling, and doesn’t have the greatest of locations. His website is listed, i’m not on there yet. I’ve really got nothing to lose. The agreement is a percentage of my students. No rent, no utilities and ample floor time. I’m considering Lawn Signs and Lead Boxes to begin with a marketing approach, have you ever used them?
Hey Shawn!
I have some experience in the Bradenton area (I’m in Tampa), and a lot of martial arts studios seem to be struggling there. Their location doesn’t seem like it’s helping though. Since you personally don’t have to pay rent, this is a great time to gain some good teaching and marketing experience and to see if you’re good at it so that later you can open your own school (if that’s your goal!).
Regarding Shawn’s question regarding lawn signs: If the question is referring to so-called “bandit signs” (the signs, often measuring 18″ x 24″ that you see either nailed to utility poles or stuck in the ground, often around intersections or median strips), I can provide some insight . . . though not specifically martial-arts related.
I’m familiar with bandit signs, though mostly from a real estate standpoint–though I do see martial arts studios using them, particularly to promote summer camps. First off, they do work, although people who use them report real peaks and valleys. That is, they’ll work for awhile, then calls drop off, then they start working again. There’s no apparent pattern. (Not day of week, or month of year, etc.)
Second, keep the message short and sweet. Easily understandable. For instance, I’d suggest the bandit signs promote karate, not Kenpo. Why? People understand what karate is. Far fewer understand Kenpo. Use a phone number; it’s easier for people driving past. A web site is OK, but that requires writing information down, then waiting until the person reaches a computer and then hopefully remembers to pull out the slip of paper and find the site. And preferably have the calls go (or forwarded to) your cell phone, not an answering machine. People like an immediate response. With an answering machine, you’ll quickly get frustrated with all the hang-ups.
Here’s one source for bandit signs (there are a lot). Not a recommendation, but I have had a number of people suggest this one, and there’s a lot of good information on it: http://witnessdesigns.com/newhome.html
Third, you may run into some problems with the local police, etc. Nothing major, but different areas have different policies and different levels of vigilance on such postings.
Fourth, actually putting up the signs is time- and labor-intensive. You can do it, or find someone else to do it. Craigslist is one good source. But if you hire someone else to put them up, you have to specify where (which roads and which intersections). And require the person putting up the signs to take digital photos of each sign, so you can verify it’s been put up.
Fifth, put the signs at intersections and heavily traveled (slower traffic) areas. People will need a few seconds at least to read the sign; they won’t do it if they’re going along at 60 mph.
Sixth, most such signs will stay up 2-4 days before being taken down. Some will last much longer, but recognize that many will be up for only a few days. So, set a schedule. For example, put 50 up each weekend. Friday evenings seem to be the preferred time, rather than mid-week, though it doesn’t hurt to test. Then each week revisit those locations and refresh the signs as necessary.
Hope that helps.
Shawn, thanks for reading and congratulations on getting a place to teach!
I would recommend getting going on your own website right away as it takes time to get listed in the search engines. I have a ton of articles on the site about how to get that going.
To answer your questions, I use a solo A-Frame sign for my martial arts school but not any lawn signs as you’ve described. Don makes some great points in his comments about the pro’s and con’s.
As for lead boxes, I’ve considered this idea but it seems to be really over done in my area – especially by martial arts schools and gyms. I spoke to a local martial arts instructor who routinely uses these and he recommends them; especially if you’re teaching kids.
Here is a company that makes them: http://www.future-fitness.com/samples/future-fitness/lead-boxes.html
Hope it helps!