[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I know one of the FIRST things that pop to mind when trying to fill your yoga class is “where do I start?!”. Think about what a full yoga class is for you? Is it 3 people? 10 people? 100 people? When you have a clear understanding of this, it takes the pressure off.
When you speak to potential students (whether it is online or in person) it’s important to remember that they don’t have a lot of time to listen to the benefits of a yoga class. For you to get their attention, you need to be clear on what your message is before you can promote your yoga classes.
- Who Are You? —You need to identify yourself, be it as a yoga teacher, a person, and/or a brand.
- What Are You Doing Here? —You are here to teach yoga, meditation and or breath work
- Why Should I Care? — This is where it gets tricky. There are so many yoga teachers, studios and free yoga online and in person, it takes more than an impressive pose or 200-hour YTT to stand out.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Finding a niche as a yoga teacher may not seem like something you want to do initially because we want to serve everyone. But without a niche, you are a small yoga teacher in a sea of studios, celebrity yoga teachers and established institutions. It is much harder to make your way, and your marketing efforts will suffer.
How to find your yoga niche?
- What style of yoga do you teach?
- Do you like to work with men or women or children?
- What other aspects of your life could inform your practice?
- What are you passionate about?
- What kind of classes are you comfortable teaching? Beginner, intermediate or advanced?
- Once you’ve nailed your niche, the next 3 steps to fill your yoga classes are as easy as plant-based pie.
The good news is that these 3 steps will help you not only fill yoga classes, but workshops and retreats as well!
Step 1: Who is your ideal student?
Your ideal student is your dream student. The one who you adore teaching, the one who is on time, respectful of your rules and the one who is always chatting to his/her friends about you.
If you’re starting out and don’t have a clear idea of who this is, imagine who you would love to teach? Imagine everything from the car they drive to what they watch on Netflix, and even go as far as giving this ‘persona’ a name. In doing so, you help your brain, your marketing and your “sales pitch” becomes more effective.
Remember, if you are teaching a beginner and or an intermediate class, your ideal student’s needs will be different. It’s important to tweak your message and talk to the student who would benefit from that particular yoga class.
Step 2: Pick a marketing platform
It’s alluring to be on Facebook AND Instagram AND Clubhouse and and and… Sigh a breath of relief, you don’t have to be everywhere, but you do need to be somewhere. Here’s how to choose your platform:
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Where are your students?
There is no point in promoting yourself all over Twitter when your potential students are hanging out on Instagram. If you’re not sure, then speak to them after class and find out what they use? Even send out a survey with Survey Monkey to get some insight.
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What do you love to use personally?
There is nothing worse than using a platform that you don’t enjoy and drains you. It’s important to nurture something that you already enjoy because that will come across in your messaging.
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Where can you be consistent?
The key to growing your brand or business is consistency so that your ideal students will get to know you, like you and trust you in the next steps of their yoga journey. Whatever you decide, make sure you can show up for your students consistently, like you do for them on the mat.
Step 3: Create content that connects
Not all of us have a way with words. Do you ever open up your social media apps and feel the need to post, but when you actually go to write a caption… nothing? *tumbleweeds* I know the feeling, and I’ve come to realize it’s not always about what we post, rather HOW we post it.
Here are some tips on how you can create an Instagram caption that connects:
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Theme
Your IG feed should not only be about yoga, but it should also be about things that embody you as a person as well. Choose different themes for your posts so that it gives your ideal students a chance to connect with you through more than yoga.
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Short paragraphs
Break up your caption into bite-size sections of copy – 1 to 2 sentences per paragraph
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Your first sentence matters
Instagram only shows followers the first two lines of your post. From there, it’s up to the person to choose to click “more” to read the rest of the caption (and then engage with you).
Treat that first sentence as a headline and try engage your students from the start, with an engaging question or even a Call to action (like double tap if you agree).
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Get emoji-tional
Emojis help break up your post and can create some interest at the same time. They add charm, a break for the eyes, and interest as people read.
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Include a Call to Action
If you want to grow your classes, you need your students to engage with you! It may feel awkward to start but the more you do it, the more your students will start to participate.
Ask them to leave a comment on your blog post or to “Double-tap/like this post if…”, or “Head to the link in my bio/my stories/my website/etc. for all the details!” on Instagram.
Are you feeling confident you can do this lovely yogis? I hope these steps serve as a useful road-map to filling up your classes with confidence and clarity.
I am here to support you on this journey and would love to help. Check out my yoga business 1-1 consultation and take steps towards a successful yoga business and full yoga classes.
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