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Find local clients for dance lessons

by dvduval
10 replies
So I have been a dance teacher for 23 years, and generally once someone takes their first lesson they continue 90+% of the time. So really good renewal rate once you give me someone to teach.

The main problem I want to solve is how to do some local marketing to find more students. I live in a OC, so lots of wealthy people where sometimes a single client can be very valuable. Should I do flyers? Postcards? Facebook?

I prefer to spend not more than a couple hundred initially. If there is something I could outsource I have plenty of experience in that area, but just need a way to get more leads. Ideas?
#clients #dance #find #lessons #local
  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Do you have a studio? I think EDDM would be the way to go. A friend of mine runs a dance studio and targets postal routes that typically have more families. Seems to work very well for her.

    She has said the same thing... but she also tries to very young children to start dancing because they're likely to continue dancing for years and years.

    I guess the types of dance you teach will also dictate which methods are more ideal.
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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    I'm not sure what is "EDDM" but my clients would be couples or ladies (sorry if I wasn't clear). I teach ballroom dancing. I'm a good marketer online, but I have always loved dancing and want to do a little more now.
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    • Profile picture of the author mu2pilot
      Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

      I'm not sure what is "EDDM" but my clients would be couples or ladies (sorry if I wasn't clear). I teach ballroom dancing. I'm a good marketer online, but I have always loved dancing and want to do a little more now.
      EDDM is "Every Door Direct Mail" which is to send a mailing to all addresses in a geographic area.
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  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

    So I have been a dance teacher for 23 years, and generally once someone takes their first lesson they continue 90+% of the time. So really good renewal rate once you give me someone to teach.

    Ideas?
    Do you have the names and maybe phone/address/zip code of your clients?

    If so the most valuable thing is to mine the data that list
    throws up.

    From that data goldmine you'll be able to target those just like them
    therefore most likely to buy, which means you stop wastage of your advertising money.

    Best,
    Doctor E. Vile
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    • Profile picture of the author Naren Blaice
      How comfortable would you be on video?

      Because you are promoting something active, Facebook would be fantastic. Perhaps a video with an introduction by you, some shots of you and your students dancing and answering a quick question like "describe the experience in 2 words". Make it 20 to 30 seconds long.

      Hire a photographer for an hour to take some footage and a graphics guy to edit the shots to make the final video.

      Slap it on a promoted facebook post with your demographic and area.
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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    Thanks for your help. I had some pretty good success marketing software on Facebook in the past. I think I will start with that, and then I'll try a few post cards. I'll get into shooting a video maybe later, but for now I want to do something simple as I'm only looking to grow by 5-10 hours of dance lessons per week.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrick Christoph
    Do you have a meetup.com group? This would seem like the first place to be.
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    • Profile picture of the author naturalstamina
      New mommy groups can be a great avenue. I've found them doing stroller walks and exercises and stretches in the park downtown and they are always in groups and droves.

      If you can get in contact and offer a special or coupon for the group or package that may work well. maybe put a lookbetter/lose weight demographic or even a romantic, better for your husband approach

      +if you find events, business meetings, corporate events, you may be able to partner with them to be hired for your time there while you provide dancing tips or a group class Actually first heard of this second strategy from Ramit's stuff online but it worked quite well for my friend and his massage business and was great for the companies that highered him because it created more engagement, leads, experience, whatever the goal. - imagine getting a free massage at a convention booth or business conference if they are local, out of them you are bound to find great clients
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

    So I have been a dance teacher for 23 years, and generally once someone takes their first lesson they continue 90+% of the time. So really good renewal rate once you give me someone to teach.

    The main problem I want to solve is how to do some local marketing to find more students. I live in a OC, so lots of wealthy people where sometimes a single client can be very valuable. Should I do flyers? Postcards? Facebook?

    I prefer to spend not more than a couple hundred initially. If there is something I could outsource I have plenty of experience in that area, but just need a way to get more leads. Ideas?
    I used to have a client that owned a dance studio. The first thing I told her was that it was a mistake to sell it as dance lessons. She should position it as the single best way to meet attractive, fit, members of the opposite sex.

    Advertise online on Plenty Of Fish, and other dating sites. Facebook ads for your local area, Adwords ads locally, with the same search terms as dating sites.

    Really, it's not going to cost much at all. Put up posters at local gyms, spas, anywhere single people gather. Return the favor (put up their poster in your business).

    You are getting people together, and even supplying them their first date. The fact that they are learning dance, is a secondary benefit. The main benefit is meeting the right partner.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      I second this. Once upon a time I took this kind of classes at a place you could take all kind of 6 weeks, 1 hour lessons (find one in your city and offer classes there... can't charge a lot but some become students for years).

      Each group I attended had some 6-16 people, almost all single, all looking for ways to get laid more often or get the first date or a date. Once couple were engaged and were trying to learn some dance moves so they wouldn't be embarrassed on their wedding day. A few were there because it was a fun way to exercise and meet people. (By people, they meant someone they could date, I'm sure, because that's what I meant.)

      Most of the people were in their late 20s or early 30's or older than 50 (50-65).

      I'd add to what Claude said that you can also position it as exercise (in the right neighborhoods).
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      I used to have a client that owned a dance studio. The first thing I told her was that it was a mistake to sell it as dance lessons. She should position it as the single best way to meet attractive, fit, members of the opposite sex.

      Advertise online on Plenty Of Fish, and other dating sites. Facebook ads for your local area, Adwords ads locally, with the same search terms as dating sites.

      Really, it's not going to cost much at all. Put up posters at local gyms, spas, anywhere single people gather. Return the favor (put up their poster in your business).

      You are getting people together, and even supplying them their first date. The fact that they are learning dance, is a secondary benefit. The main benefit is meeting the right partner.
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