Making Craigslist Work For You...

[Administrator]

Since I'm speaking to a group a yoga teachers, what would you think
if I told you I can't jump back from crow pose into plank pose?

You see, I tried it today and fell on my knees. I tried it again with
the same result.

Some of you are probably smiling. You'd say "Harlan. It may take
months or years to learn to do that." You can't just do it once or
twice and expect magic.

Using Craigslist is the same way.

Let me answer some of the questions I've received about Craigslist.

Question One: There is no Craigslist for my city.

In Florida, there is no Craigslist for Boca Raton. The closest one is for West Palm Beach which is miles away yet Sara has managed to pull private clients out of Craigslist.

Simply use the closest Craigslist to your area. I promise you people will find your ad.

Question Two: I posted to Craigslist and I didn't get a response.

Here are some suggestions.

What are the benefits of doing yoga with you? Will your clients lose weight? Will their flexibility increase? Will it lessen their back pain?

These should go into your headline.

Hint: Think of things people universally want and base your campaign around that.

"Learn Yoga" or "Private Yoga Lessons" are not effective headlines.

Test your headlines until you have a winner. You'll know when your phone begins to ring.

Remember, Craigslist is free so it doesn't cost you anything to post 3 times each week.

Also, pay attention to the day of the week you are posting. Posting on a weekend may fit into YOUR schedule but readership may be higher during the week.

Once again, test until you discover the best day of the week.

Question Three: I don't know what to put in my Craigslist ad.

There's a simple solution to this problem. Post your ad to this forum and get feedback on your ad.

Craigslist is just one element in your marketing bag of tricks. But it can be a steady source of income to your business or studio.

And remember...you can't beat the price!

Namaste!

Harlan

[yogaitaly]

Sorry, I'd say so what you can't jump back from crow to plank. Why are you doing yoga? Is it fun trying? Are you making connections ... building strength... you may never jump back but it isn't the point.

Having said that, thanks for your process.

So far, it's basically helped me to see where I'm not and get a different viewpoint. I live in Italy and am not looking to have lots of clients but rather at how I do business, where I put my energy and how best to share the gift I've been given and be adequately compensated so that I can do it with ease and grace.

I happen to love teaching classes, though not too many, and feel it's valuable for all concerned even if it doesn't make as much money.

[Karen Lee]

Hi,

This is an ad I've posted in Craig's List. I've actually been trying any number of ads and so far the only interest I got was a scam artist (not a good one) who wanted umpteen hours of private yoga therapy for his 14 year old daughter who would soon by in the US, etc., etc.

I've been listing under therapeutic services and classes. This one is under therapeutic services on craigslist: rhode island classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

So, I'd appreciate input.

Karen

Yoga Workshop for Low Back Care
Reply to: breathingtime@mac.com
Date: 2007-02-05, 5:10PM EST

10 week series starts Sunday, February 25, 1:00

[Karen Lee]

Here is another example

email this posting to a friend
Private Yoga Therapy for Stress Reduction
Reply to: breathingtime@mac.com
Date: 2007-02-12, 12:06PM EST


Private students meet with Karen Lee, a Registered Yoga Therapist with over five years of specialized training in yoga therapy. Karen teaches you what you need to know to relax, release physical tension, and find peace of mind. Her approach is to teach you what you need to know to practice yoga on a regular basis on your own, with techniques that are specifically tailored to your needs and interests.

Sessions are held at the Breathing Time Yoga studio, 541 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island (just a few blocks from Gregg's Restaurant on North Main Street in Providence). The studio is a peaceful oasis from the everyday world.

The initial session is 90 minutes and subsequent sessions are 60 minutes. It is suggested that you plan on scheduling a minimum of four sessions to get you started on an effective at-home personal yoga practice. After that, you may want additional sessions to update your practice as needed.

Please call or email to schedule an appointment. Karen may be reached at 401-421-9876. Provide your name and phone number so that I can respond to your request. If you email, please be prepared to answer a verification email from SpamArrest to get through the filters. Thanks! Karen Lee

Please also feel free to visit http://www/breathingtimeyoga.com/privateinst.html for more details on private yoga therapy.




* Location: Breathing Time Yoga, Pawtucket, RI
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
*
* License info: International Association of Yoga Therapists, Registered Yoga Therapist, Membership #:19011


PostingID: 277513187

[Administrator]

Okay, I'm going to offer some detailed feedback here...

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Here is another example

email this posting to a friend
Private Yoga Therapy for Stress Reduction
Reply to: breathingtime@mac.com
Date: 2007-02-12, 12:06PM EST

Okay, you lost them right there. Once you say Yoga up front, people
won't even open your ad. There's no mystery. They are deciding to
skip your ad with no information at all.

A better headline:

How Executives Reduce Their Stress

or

Secrets To Reducing Your Stress

Why would I say executives? Because they can afford your services.
And other people will open it as well.

The demographics of Craigslist show lots of people making over
six figures are reading Craigslist.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Private students meet with Karen Lee, a Registered Yoga Therapist with over five years of specialized training in yoga therapy. Karen teaches you what you need to know to relax, release physical tension, and find peace of mind. Her approach is to teach you what you need to know to practice yoga on a regular basis on your own, with techniques that are specifically tailored to your needs and interests.

Okay, how many times did you say the word yoga?

And how many benefits did you mention?

Why would someone new to yoga call you?

People do not know what a yoga therapist is.

This first paragraph is about you. Guess who it needs
to be about...

That's right...it needs to be about them.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Sessions are held at the Breathing Time Yoga studio, 541 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island (just a few blocks from Gregg's Restaurant on North Main Street in Providence). The studio is a peaceful oasis from the everyday world.

The initial session is 90 minutes and subsequent sessions are 60 minutes. It is suggested that you plan on scheduling a minimum of four sessions to get you started on an effective at-home personal yoga practice. After that, you may want additional sessions to update your practice as needed.

You haven't sold them on the first session but you're trying to sell them
additional ones as well.

No wonder the fish aren't biting.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Please call or email to schedule an appointment. Karen may be reached at 401-421-9876. Provide your name and phone number so that I can respond to your request. If you email, please be prepared to answer a verification email from SpamArrest to get through the filters. Thanks! Karen Lee

Please also feel free to visit http://www/breathingtimeyoga.com/privateinst.html for more details on private yoga therapy.




* Location: Breathing Time Yoga, Pawtucket, RI
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
*
* License info: International Association of Yoga Therapists, Registered Yoga Therapist, Membership #:19011

PostingID: 277513187

You are making it hard to get to you by having leads go through Spam
Arrest. Get a free Gmail account and use that one publicly.

So here's the short form:

Don't tell them it's yoga up front so they skip your ad out of ignorance.

Next, give them benefits. Make the ad about them - not you.

Finally, assume your best clients know nothing about yoga.

Why does yoga reduce stress?
How does that work?
Do I need to be in shape to do yoga? Is it hard?
What if I'm out of shape?

You aren't in the mind of your audience...yet.

And that means you aren't in their wallets either.

Keep trying. You'll get there!

Namaste!

Harlan

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Hi,
Yoga Workshop for Low Back Care
Reply to: breathingtime@mac.com
Date: 2007-02-05, 5:10PM EST

Once again - you lost them right there.

In five words you can't sell yoga.

You can't sell back care either!

You can sell reducing back pain.

How To Reduce Back Pain
Secrets To Eliminating Back Pain

are much better.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

10 week series starts Sunday, February 25, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Breathing Time Yoga, 540 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
401-421-9876

You haven't convinced me, told me, explained to me, the connection
with yoga and back care and you want me to come 10 times?

I'm outta here!

Is this the way you would talk to your best friend who's in back pain?

No way. You'd patiently explain why they are in pain and how yoga
can help.

Explain. Explain. Explain.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Yoga for Low Back Care Workshop Series

Are you in the 50% of the population that experiences chronic backache? There's hope of finding relief. In this series of gentle yoga classes, learn a simple sequence that was tested in a NIH study and found to be more effective than Physical Therapy or a book on exercises for low back care.

Now here's a good paragraph but it's still too early to talk about yoga.

Start with...

Now you can discover a simple series of movements that was tested in a NIH study and found to be more effective than Physical Therapy or a book on exercises for low back care.

Now that's a wow.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Each class consists of asana (posture), pranayama (breathing technique), relaxation, and instruction in body/breath awareness. Each student will complete the series with a solid understanding of five yoga practices that stretch and strengthen the low back.

Never. Ever. Ever. Use Sanskrit names in an ad unless it's to yoga teachers.

You've just lost 100% of the people who opened the ad.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Through a regular practice of therapeutic yoga, students may reduce low back pain and minimize reliance on pain-relief medication, improve quality of life, and reduce the number of doctor's visits. Appropriate for yoga students of all levels, the series introduces both seasoned practitioners and beginners to the appropriate application of yoga therapeutics.

Here are your benefits but they are too far down in your ad.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

The Teacher: Karen Lee has recently completed a four-year 1000 hour program in yoga therapeutics and is the only Certified Viniyoga Therapist in the state of Rhode Island. “Viniyoga” essentially translates as “yoga designed for the individual.” Viniyoga is a methodology of yoga therapeutics that has a strong emphasis on safety and an NIH funded study found it effective for treating persons with chronic low back pain.

Your audience cares only about themselves. How is this important to them? It's not. You are throwing in terms they don't know and don't care about...

You have to write totally to your audience.

But it's great you are trying Craigslist. Sooner or later you will connect and fill your schedule with clients.

Keep it up!

And in my next post - which will definately catch your attention, I'll explain
what the real problem is.

[Jen ed]

Greetings- the following is an add for Craigslist that I would love feed back on... many thanks! Jennifer

Introducing Relaxation on the GO

[Karen Lee]

Harlan,

Thanks for the feedback. I've done the suggested editing, and this is what my ads looks like now:

How Executives Reduce Their Stress
Reply to: serv-282226347@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-02-21, 11:22AM EST


Are you wired? Tense? Can

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Harlan,

Thanks for the feedback. I've done the suggested editing, and this is what my ads looks like now:

How Executives Reduce Their Stress
Reply to: serv-282226347@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-02-21, 11:22AM EST


Are you wired? Tense? Can’t relax?

Learn how to relax, release tension and find peace of mind, in one-on-one sessions designed to meet your specific needs.

Karen Lee will teach you breath and movement techniques that are targeted to work to relieve your problems with physical and emotional stress.

This is yoga, but not like any yoga you’ve probably heard of, or done yourself in the past. These techniques can be done by anyone, in any condition. They are easy to learn and extremely effective.

Will you marry me?

Too soon in the ad to talk about yoga.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

First of all, you will learn how to breathe to release stress. When we are stressed our breathing patterns become dysfunctional. Changing the way you breathe can change the way you feel by sending more functional signals to your nervous system with every breath you take.

Second, you will learn how to relieve chronic muscular tension with simple movements. Your muscles will learn how to stop tensing up and learn how to soften and relax.

Most importantly, there is no cookie cutter formula here. Each thing you learn will be specifically designed with your needs in mind!

Good!

Now take them through the experience. What will it be like for them?
What should they wear? How long is a session?

[quote=Karen Lee;90]Sessions are held at the Breathing Time Yoga studio, 541 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island (just a few blocks from Gregg's Restaurant on North Main Street in Providence). The studio is a peaceful oasis from the everyday world.

Please call Karen Lee to schedule an appointment. She may be reached at 401-421-9876.

Please also feel free to visit http://www/breathingtimeyoga.com/privateinst.html for more details on private yoga therapy.


* Location: Breathing Time Yoga, Pawtucket, RI
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
*
* License info: International Association of Yoga Therapists, Registered Yoga Therapist, Membership #:19011


PostingID: 282226347

AND

How To Reduce Back Pain

Now you can discover a simple series of movements that was tested in a NIH study and found to be more effective than Physical Therapy or a book on exercises for low back care.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

Through a regular practice of therapeutic yoga, students may reduce low back pain and minimize reliance on pain-relief medication, improve quality of life, and reduce the number of doctor's visits. Appropriate for students of all levels.

Too soon for yoga. More proof.

Each class consists movement, breathing techniques, relaxation, and instruction in body/breath awareness. Each student will complete the series with a solid understanding of five yoga practices that stretch and strengthen the low back.

Originally Posted by Karen Lee

The Teacher: Karen Lee is the only Certified Viniyoga Therapist in the state of Rhode Island. Viniyoga is a methodology of yoga therapeutics that has a strong emphasis on safety and an NIH funded study found it effective for treating persons with chronic low back pain.

Too much irrelevant information. Viniyoga is of zero interest to the client.

It is only of interest to you.

So take it out of the ad!


But we are making improvements.

[yogalesley]

Hello, I am totally new to using forums. No idea what I am doing!

First I wish to send my sincere thanks to Sara and Harlan. Since I started using your website and ideas, I finally feel like I can actually grow and expand this business to the point where I can afford to do what I love long term.

I started using craigslist yesterday and would like some feedback on this ad.

Want to know the secret to changing your life?
Discover how you can change your life...

Now You Can Feel Better, Lose Weight, Recover From
Injuries, Add Flexibility To Your Life, Increase Your Energy,
Be More Relaxed, And Have Improved Concentration When
You Work With Me in One on One Yoga Sessions.

Limited Private Sessions Are Available Now!

Your quality of life begins to improve as soon as you pick up the phone and call me at 519-888-9625.

Prepare to be amazed at all the benefits yoga will add to your life.

My schedule fills up quickly so if you are serious about making significant improvements in your life, pick up the phone and call me at 519-888-9625

Lesley Nevills
Yoga Instructor

any feedback you have on my website would also be appreciated.
Welcome to Yoga with Lesley, Yoga Instructor and Reiki practitioner in Waterloo Ontario teaching public classes and specializing in private yoga training