Marketing for Dance Teachers IDTA Business Meetings May 2013

Hello! I’m Sue Wybrow

Why me? My background includes working in these areas: • 6 years in Market Research & Advertising • 2 years in TV • 14 years in Marketing • Now run an international dance business

I love marketing! Today I’d like to share 11.5: Useful Simple Easy-to-implement Marketing tips for dance teachers - enjoy!

We Can Do It! Completing just one “Tip” from each of the sections will make a huge difference to your business!

Let’s make a plan, Stan! Do you know what you are doing next week? Do you know what you are doing in December? Do you have a plan?

Tips: Grab a year planner and write in all the school holiday dates Write in the events you know about Write what events you want to do Plan your marketing around these events

So let’s kick off with our 11.5 tips…

1. Branding Perception of your business Memorable Unique Personality of your business Understanding of what you offer

1. Tips: Look at your branding through fresh eyes - are you happy with it? Ask others for their feedback Is it time for a change/update/refresh? Graphic designers are affordable - why not ask for a quote

2. Brand Consistency Being instantly recognisable Set guidelines Set fonts and colours Consistency throughout “Dress for the job you want”…

2. Tips: Decide on fonts and colours & stick to them Look at all your materials: Letterheads, invoices, emails, newsletters, ensure they all use the same font, colours and branding Create an email signature

3. Your Website Are you proud of it? Does it demonstrate your benefits? Easy to find information? Representation of the personality of your business? It’s your shop window!

3. Tips: Make yourself a coffee and spend a morning visiting your own website Go through each page Would you buy from it? If not, change it!

4. Be found! Listings galore! Keywords! Google Places! SEO Ebay Email Good, old fashioned posters!

4. Tips: Google “dance classes in {your area} Look at where other dance classes are listing themselves - list your dance classes Feature posters in local areas where your customers go, I.e. coffee shops, softplay, libraries - it does work!

5. Videos & Images Limited time to WOW! Helps with being found Visually demonstrating the benefits SEO

5. Tips: Use photos of your class where you can Run a “media” class free of charge to film and photograph (don’t forget consent forms) Edit video footage in imovie or similar free software, photos in picmonkey or similar

6. Data Capture Absolutely Vital! Enables you to keep in touch To tailor offers to customers To preempt upcoming requirements, i.e. birthday parties To keep front of mind

6. Tips: Start capturing customers and potential customers data by: Featuring forms on your website Have sign up forms in class Offer something free of charge in exchange for customers details, I.e. free first class, discount on party etc. Recommend a friend in exchange for free class

7. Communicate Regularly and Consistently Newsletters Web Email Social Media PR The good old Telephone!

7. Tips: Send a monthly “newsletter” via free software such as “mailchimp” Email customers for their feedback Update your website regularly Write a press release for your local paper Make your customers feel special!

8. Update Your Website Feature useful information Feature benefits Feature offers/events Feature case studies Helps with SEO

8. Tips: Write the Top 5 Reasons why customers should dance with you and feature it on your website Write a Top Ten list of why you love dance and feature it on your website Feature a new testimonial each week - if you don’t have any - then ask for feedback

9. Offers & events Loyalty cards Recommend a Friend Taster Sessions Workshops within schools Charity events Themed events

9. Tips: Trial some offers - buy 5 classes, get 6th FREE Bring a Friend - get your class FREE Offer to run a free PPA cover within schools with a view to gaining an after school club Support a local Charity event

10. Make it EASY! Simple Easy Navigation Easy payments Easy to contact Easy to buy Easy to talk to you

10. Tips: Look at your business from a customers point of view: Is everything as easy as it could be Set up online payments Make your phone number visual everywhere Invite people to communicate with you

11. Get Social Network Communicate Be active in social media Talk to people Partner with companies Fun, fantastic and FREE!

11. Tips: Join a local networking group Tweet and facebook Join Linked In Dance forums Follow fellow dance teachers on twitter Form alliances with other companies

11.5 11.5 marketing tips for dance teachers Postcard to refer to Website - featuring this presentation More FREE tips

In Summary: Marketing is common sense as well as fun - don’t try to do everything at once Take it one step at a time and you will see the benefits to your business Thank you for your time today

Final thought: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” Ferris Bueller - 1986