10 Powerful Tactics to Kick Out Your Competition!
Running a martial arts studio goes beyond just mastering high kicks and perfecting forms. It’s about building a thriving community as well as staying ahead of the competition. Whether you’re a new martial arts studio or have been in business for years, there is always room to grow!
So how can your martial arts studio stand out? In this guide, you will learn 10 tactics to kick out your martial arts competition!
1. Create a Referral Program
One of the most powerful yet often overlooked methods to boost member sales is through member referrals! A strong referral program can not only boost student numbers but also enhance loyalty and create a community-driven atmosphere.
Studies show that over 80% of people in the United States are more likely to make a purchase when a word-of-mouth recommendation comes from a friend or family member!
Whether your martial arts studio is big or small, a referral program is a systematic way of getting your clients to make referrals to your business. When offering a martial arts referral program, the offer needs to benefit both new and existing students. By leveraging your existing customer base, you can turn them into your brand promoters. Referral programs can take many forms but typically involve offering a discount, free trial, or another exciting perk to the current member for every sign-up they refer. It is also smart to offer the new student a gift as well!
2. Get Out in the Community
Being out in the community is one of the keys to bringing in more students. Ideally, you want to get your school’s name in front of as many people as possible! There are plenty of places to bring in new students. Reach out to local smoothie shops, health shops, and sporting goods stores to see if they’d be interested in collaborating! It’s a win-win for both you and the other business.
Contact local schools and ask if you can give a presentation to parents and the students to advertise your classes for younger students. You may even want to set up a booth at a local event such as a fair or local fun run!
3. Run an After-School Program
Running an after-school program meets a critical need for working parents and gives you the opportunity to transform new students into students for life! If your martial arts studio is near the school, you and your staff members can walk with the students from their school. Parents can then pick up their children at the end of their workday, feeling stress free!
If your martial arts studio is not close enough to a school, you should still offer an after-school program! Many parents will still want to get their children involved in a program, and many kids will love to take part! A martial arts after-school program is an eye-catching offer to children of all ages, and it is an effective way to boost income.
4. Offer a Variety of Martial Arts Programs
Another powerful martial arts tactic to grow your business is to offer a variety of programs. By expanding your offerings, you’ll widen the types of martial art students you can target with your marketing. With that being said, you don’t have to go all out and offer all the martial arts! The key is to have different programs that tailor to various levels and interests. Not only will this peak the interest of potential customers, but it will also make your current students happy! It is also worth keeping an eye on current martial art trends and keeping track of which disciplines are currently popular. Some martial arts programs you could offer include:
- Beginners class for younger students
- A self-defense program
- A martial arts fitness program
5. Make sure your Google Business Profile is Up To Date
Google Business is one of the first things your martial arts studio must set up! It is the “ultimate” fitness business marketing tool! Google Business is a free tool from Google that helps you manage how your business appears in Google search. Once you’ve claimed your profile, you’ll be able to send review requests, respond to reviews and update your business information like address and hours of operation.
Through your Google Business profile, you can engage with customers by responding to reviews, answering questions, and enabling direct messaging. You can even use the platform to publish posts, much like you would on traditional social media platforms. On the account dashboard, you can provide hours of operation, a link to your website, products, pricing, and more! Gain key insights on your audience and local search performance. In the analytics tab, you can see the queries customers are using to find your profile, a breakdown of actions taken on your listing, and how your photos are performing compared to other martial art studios.
It is vital to make sure your Google Listing is up to date. Check to make sure your phone number, address, and hours of operation are correct. Additionally, in order to rank higher on Google, be sure to optimize your business description with keywords! For example, if you’re a karate studio in Clearwater, include the terms “Karate Studio” and “Clearwater” more than once!
6. Don’t Forget to Focus on your Current Martial Art Students!
Don’t let your martial arts marketing efforts distract you from focusing on your current students. Helping your business grow means more than just bringing in new students. If you focus all your energy on new members and neglect your long-term clients, this could lead to a decrease in students! It is vital to maintain your relationships so that you retain members as well.
Be sure to stay engaged with your current students with small gestures like birthday and anniversary messages, milestone encouragements, targeted emails, and even a kind welcome when they enter your studio! Little things can go a long way. Your students should constantly feel a sense of community and not that new members are replacing them.
7. Leverage Reviews and Testimonials
Many people forget about how crucial reviews and testimonials are for brand image! Positive reviews are your digital word-of-mouth. Google reviews are one of the first things that people see when they search for your business online. Encourage satisfied students to leave stellar reviews on Google and social media. How to get more reviews:
- Send a friendly email request after milestones, such as belt promotions.
- Offer small but effective incentives, such as discounts or branded merchandise.
- Create a simple, direct link to your review platform in emails as well as your website. This makes it a quick and easy process for martial arts students.
- Highlight and share positive reviews on your social media pages. This helps to build trust with new and prospective students.
Respond to reviews, both negative and positive. This shows that you value feedback in addition to your commitment to improvement.
8. Use Social Media to your Advantage
Did you know, social media in one of the most effective martial arts marketing tools? Social media are your modern-day dojo walls. Your social media posts showcase what your studio stands for!
It is crucial to make sure your social media channels are active and engaging. Post regularly, use student testimonials, provide training tips, and offer behind-the-scenes looks into your studio to attract new followers. The more you post, the more potential people you will reach. Try to post on your social media channels at least once a day. To save time and make things easier, you can schedule your posts ahead of time! It is a simple marketing tactic that can truly benefit your business in many ways!
9. Offer Intriguing Promotions
Promotions are a proven method to attract new clients. In fact, when a promotion is connected to some sense of urgency, the impact is exponential! By marketing intriguing promotions, you make it easier for hesitant students to take that leap, which can increase both short-term sign-ups and long-term memberships. Below are some examples of martial art promotions:
- Limited time martial art promotions: Introduce time-sensitive promotions with clear start and end dates. Ensure that the offer is exclusive to a certain time period. You want potential students to act fast!
- Exclusive promotions: Offer exclusive or early access to certain classes, products, or amenities for individuals who sign up during the promotion!
- Early bird specials: Promote early-bird specials with additional perks for people who sign up within the first day of the promotion.
10. Use Martial Arts Software to Streamline Operations!
Lastly, you need a way to easily manage your day-to-day operations! You can save both time and money with a powerful martial arts software. The best martial arts software is an all-in-one platform that automates and simplifies all the administrative tasks involved in managing a studio.
When it comes to features, our martial arts software packs a punch!
RhinoFit’s dojo management software is best fit for any type of martial arts school! We know how hard it can be to run a dojo. RhinoFit software is designed to simplify operations without breaking the bank! We strive to provide an easy-to-use set of tools designed specifically for dojo owners and fitness professionals alike.
Our feature rich martial arts software automates many of the daily tasks required to run a dojo like student billing, tracking belt progressions, scheduling classes, tracking attendance, communicating with members, and managing both students and staff! Freeing up this time allows you to spend more time on growing their business and marketing your martial arts studio. It’s time to kick out your competition with RhinoFit martial arts software!
