Harlan, help me make $$!! And Namaste ; )

[HipYogaChic]

Well, I have to admit, I have been very much in the same boat as so many of us yoga teachers...loving teaching, wanting to share it with everyone and be of service.

However, I need to pay the bills and grow my business so it lives and breathes and has a life of its own.

Enter, Harlan's advice!
I'd like to get your professional feedback on my ad in Craigslist. Actually, I've already found a few downfalls in the ad myself, but I feel I need creedence from a professional! The link is http://columbus.craigslist.org/ths/276605270.html

The first ad I ran was a bit more personal, warm-toned and inviting, and I received about 5 phone calls in the space of two days, four out of which were not very serious about learning yoga, and all of whom were male, and had never tried Yoga before. Very interesting. I have one fabulous client from the ad, and I realized that I needed to adjust the ad in order to attract more "A" clients like the one I did get.

I have another important question:
If Sara has been able to double and triple her business, are the clients coming from a hip town where people can't get enough yoga? What is the demographic for her average client and does this success model apply to my potential in a city like Columbus, Ohio?? ; )

Bestow elightenment! O mighty guru of marketing!

Thank you!

[Mindful Lisa]

Paige,
I had the opportunity to look at your Craigslist Ad and thought it was wonderful. It really did move me to want to connect!
I will be working on a craigslist ad in the next couple of days.
My website is www.mindfulbeginnings.com.
I do a host of things: I teach prenatal yoga, have a counseling practice. One of the techniques I use is integrative body psychotherapy. I also teach childbirth education workshops and have recently attended 2 births as a doula (labor assistant). I love all that I do and do not have my own center but would like to one day. More money coming in would be great. My youngest will start kinder this fall and it'll afford me more time to focus on my "career."
Thanks for listening.
And Sarah and Harlon, I hope you read this as well!
Please, comment on my website if you feel so inclined.
Many blessings,
Lisa

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by HipYogaChic

Well, I have to admit, I have been very much in the same boat as so many of us yoga teachers...loving teaching, wanting to share it with everyone and be of service.

However, I need to pay the bills and grow my business so it lives and breathes and has a life of its own.

Enter, Harlan's advice!
I'd like to get your professional feedback on my ad in Craigslist. Actually, I've already found a few downfalls in the ad myself, but I feel I need creedence from a professional! The link is A little-known secret about Yoga...

The first ad I ran was a bit more personal, warm-toned and inviting, and I received about 5 phone calls in the space of two days, four out of which were not very serious about learning yoga, and all of whom were male, and had never tried Yoga before. Very interesting. I have one fabulous client from the ad, and I realized that I needed to adjust the ad in order to attract more "A" clients like the one I did get.

Okay, your ad is pretty good for starters but do not give away that it's yoga in the opening line (subject line). Force them to open your ad.

Now as much as I've been teaching Sara about marketing, she has her pulse on who is interested in yoga and who responds to ads.

Here's the scoop:

Everyone knows women are more interested in yoga than men. About 75-80% of the practitioners of yoga are female. There are a lot of reasons for this but the number one reason is than men don't know or believe yoga can give them a really good work out.

Sara informed me that Craigslist brings in a huge male response. Men want to study yoga with a female teacher. It's very common.

Typically, they don't know anything about yoga. You need to find out what they want to accomplish and the nice thing is...men are an easy sell.

Women may say, "I have to check with my husband." But when it comes to health, it's rare to hear a man say, "I have to check with my wife." Yeah, I know it's unfair and chauvanistic but that's the score.

So this ad that got you five responses is gold. Your goal is to convert these leads into clients.

Don't prejudge that they are male.

Don't prejudge that they are beginners. (You were expecting Rodney Yee to respond?) Beginners can become lifetime clients very easily.

Here's a cool secret:

If a beginner gets started in privates and lots of hands on adjustments and personal attention, they won't want to go to large group classes.

In fact, you should let them know how different the experience is in classes.

Don't set up the idea they will graduate from you to classes.

Originally Posted by HipYogaChic

I have another important question:
If Sara has been able to double and triple her business, are the clients coming from a hip town where people can't get enough yoga? What is the demographic for her average client and does this success model apply to my potential in a city like Columbus, Ohio?? ; )

Bestow elightenment! O mighty guru of marketing!

Thank you!

Boca Raton has it's share of hip clientele. Absolutely true. But Sara's clientele - starting with me - are anything but hip. She has a mix of
retired, senior citizens, middle aged, and single clients. The age ranges from 35 to 70.

These people who have become regulars did not start out that way.

I now do yoga 5 days a week plus I go to a class on Sunday when Sara escapes to the beach. But I started at one day a week and had absolutely no intent on doing yoga more often.

What made the difference?

The personal attention

The sense of accomplishment

The recognition that I was moving towards a goal of fitness.

Seeing results.

If you aren't pointing these out to your clients at every session - you're losing them.

Today, Sara had me hold in crow pose for a longer period of time. She pointed out when I couldn't get into crow pose. By reminding me of my accomplishments, she motivates me to keep on going.

There's no question Paith you can do the same. It's being prepared for those calls.

If the ad got you five leads - there are 500 more out there. Go fill your schedule with them.

You can do it.

Namaste!

Harlan

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by Mindful Lisa

My website is Mindful Beginnings.
I do a host of things: I teach prenatal yoga, have a counseling practice. One of the techniques I use is integrative body psychotherapy. I also teach childbirth education workshops and have recently attended 2 births as a doula (labor assistant). I love all that I do and do not have my own center but would like to one day. More money coming in would be great. My youngest will start kinder this fall and it'll afford me more time to focus on my "career."
Thanks for listening.
And Sarah and Harlon, I hope you read this as well!
Please, comment on my website if you feel so inclined.
Many blessings,
Lisa

Sara is sitting next to me as we looked at your website. We both had the same reactions:

1. The font is way too small. We both could not easily read it without squinting.

2. There are two many subjects on your site. Someone coming to your site will be overwhelmed and give up. If you want to have a page on your site about yoga, bring them to that specific page.

3. Sara says "Don't mix yoga and pilates under the same heading because you want to show them you have expertise in one. If someone wants yoga or just pilates, they may go with someone who is more specific."

4. Ideally, you would like separate sites for all that you do. You can check out aqhosting.com which offers very inexpensive webhosting for one low monthly fee.

5. Check out an automatic email service such as aweber instead of asking people to email you to get on the list. We use aweber and used their forms to get you to subscribe to our list. We recommend them. AWeber Autoresponder & Newsletters: Unlimited Follow Up Autoresponders Increase Email Deliverability.

Shanti

Sara and Harlan