Marketing for New Season

I can't believe that our studio's opening day is less than four weeks away!  Our last summer intensive starts this Monday and then we have a break before starting up in September.

This is a list of what I do to market my studio, including the failed ad attempts - hopefully it will help someone!

FREE - The best advertising is free in my opinion!

• Internet Presence:  Make sure your studio shows up when you search "dance near ZIP CODE" on Google! Update or add your studio to Google Places, Bing, Yahoo, etc.  Check out this post for a way to see if your business is visible.
• Facebook:  If you don't have a Facebook page yet, get one!  Post on your studio's facebook wall at least once a week if not multiple times.  For extra credit, mix up your posts between photos, videos and regular "Classes start soon - not too late to register!"
• Twitter:  If you have a large Twitter following, that may be the way to go.
• Email:  Keep an email list of everyone who has ever asked for information for classes.  Send email blasts once a month or so.
• Demo Classes: Offer free demonstration classes and see if you can get them listed in local community calendars or websites.

Continued after the jump...

SOBuzz: Online Dance Directories

As a business owner, your online presence is essential.  In addition to your business showing up in Google searches, here are a few online directories that will make your studio even more accessible.  Most of these sites are free or have a free option. 

GENERIC
http://www.superpages.com/ - the online Yellow Pages
http://theusaexplorer.com/ - a huge directory listing businesses by town and city
http://local.yahoo.com/ - city guide
http://phones.whitepages.com/ - the online White Pages
http://citysearch.com/ - city guide
http://www.yellowusa.com/

DANCE-SPECIFIC
http://dancestudiosusa.com/ - dance directory
http://www.getyourkidsoffthecouch.com/ - collection of kids activities
http://www.dancedirectory.com/ - ballroom dance directory
http://www.dancedirectoryplus.com/

You might also want to do some research and see if your city or town has its own online directory.  My city has an online kid's directory that lists dance studios, gymnastics facilities, karate, etc.  Also check your local newspaper, radio and TV station websites for business listings. If you offer birthday parties, there might be an online directory for kids parties - make sure your studio is on the list!

Also, many of these are specific to the United States - for other countries, you might need to do a bit of googling to find directories specific to your country.

Anything others you can think of?

Studio Owner Buzz: Facebook Marketing Tips

Four Fantastic and Free marketing ideas using your Facebook fan page to hold a contest!

1) Picture Match
Make a status on your fan page say something like:

"One Week Only! Change your profile picture to match ours and be entered to win a $20 gift certificate to the studio. One entry per day, per family."

Within minutes you will see your logo EVERYWHERE!

2) Instant Testimonials. Ask your fans to leave a comment about "why they joined" or "their favorite memory of last year was" to get entered in for a drawing.

Your fan page will be covered with fabulous testimonials!

3) Recruit Fans!
Another type of contest results in your page getting more fans. Your fans must try to refer new people and the new fans must post a comment and say who their friend was that linked them.

At the end of the time period, the person with the most referrals wins the prize.

4) Fan Photos.
Ask your fans to upload a photo of their child to your fan page and have all of their families and friends "like" the page & their child's photo. The student with the most likes wins.

Prize Ideas: a free week of classes, or free month, free costume, free dance bag or simply a dollar amount gift certificate. Don't have the money to give away - give "parent of the month" or "student of the month" or post the winning comment / picture somewhere prominent in the studio or year-end program.

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