Welcome to the new KCMTA Tip of the Month forum! This new online community is designed to be a place where teachers (both KCMTA members and guests) can share ideas on a variety of topics that impact us as independent studio teachers – studio business, pedagogy, resources, literature and more!
Each month, a topic will be introduced by the moderator to spark discussion. The beginning of a new school year is a time that many of us work to fill openings in our schedule with new students, so we thought it timely to kick off our forums with a discussion on marketing ideas:
September’s Topic: Online and Offline Studio Marketing
Besides word of mouth, what have you found to be the most effective way to gain new students?
Please take a moment to leave a comment and share marketing ideas and strategies that have worked for you!
(Note: Comments are moderated, and may not immediately appear on the webpage.)
I offer a reward for student referrals. If a current student refers a new student who then signs up for at least 1 month of lessons the current student receives 30 min free! It works wonders, sometimes so well I have to have a waiting list.
My sister is a professional photographer and has some pretty classy referral cards with a deal for both the new and the referrer. She did in postcard size and gives them to her existing clients. I was thinking of doing something similar. But instead of a free 30 minutes, perhaps putting “free method book” or “$15 off”, etc.
My business has, literally, tripled since my new web site went live – this has turned me into a true believer that web presence is foundational to marketing. I believe it reflects a polished, professional representation of my studio and it’s construction has exceptional “back ties” to the search engine terms. The site has been worth every penny and it has, already, paid for itself. The web site makes an enormous difference – prospective student families express a positive, favorable response and most are ready to sign up when they arrive for their scheduled consultation meeting. And, there is no substitute for old-fashioned “grunt work”–getting out to the schools in your neighborhood, being active in church (I hold a church musician position and receive many calls from parishioners and/or from families who have been referred by another church member.), Preparing the students that you do have to perform in the various events that our associations have to offer, as well as at their schools and churches. Finally, I never even walk to the mailbox or stop to pump gas without my business cards – those cards are with me at all times. Rack cards work wonderfully well to promote the studio and give more info than a small business card can contain.
I wholeheartedly agree with Aine! Web sites are almost essential in this digital age. I know for some, its too complicated. Hire out. Aine is right – worth every penny. Google has something called Webmaster Tools and tons of tutorials if you want to try it yourself. There are probably several resources besides this, but if you don’t want to put the money into a website creation, http://www.wix.com is a free website builder and has some darling designs.
I get listed on local sites. The symphony keeps a list of all music teachers on their website. I also strike up a relationship with the music stores so they will give people my card first when people come in asking for lessons.
Do you have local sites that seem to give you more business than others? Any recommendations?
I do all of the above, but my best clients come from word of mouth. This past year I have not invested time or money into marketing and instead tried to really increase the value of my lessons through various means. Better teaching, play parties, follow ups, etc. I think it is making a difference.
I ramped up business for my music school by getting out there and presenting my skills by concertising. The publicity beforehand (carefully prepared by myself and giving the teaching side of my practice plenty of publicity also) and the actual event resulting in hightened awareness of the schools existence and consequently more students. This was before websites were common.
Weebly is also an excellent website building platform.
I feel that I have enough tools to move forward in filling up a studio with quality students.
Adding a few of my favorite resources in promoting a studio and filling it, check these resources out for additional ideas –
http://www.teachpianotoday.com/category/marketing-advertising/
http://www.composecreate.com/?s=marketing+and+advertising
http://colorinmypiano.com/?s=marketing+and+advertising&searchsubmit=Search
http://musicmattersblog.com/?s=marketing+and+advertising
Knowledge is power . . . and that’s what these great posts have done for me!