How to keep your business running smoothly?

10 replies
Let's say you are a self employed musician who teaches lessons.


So you initially post ads in the local newspaper, post flyers around your neighborhood, post ads on Facebook... Etc

So now your a piano teacher and you have lots of clients.

So to keep your business running, how are you going to keep advertising when you have a low amount of services/products to advertise about?

Are you going to just keep posting the same ads? isn't that sort of like spamming on the internet?

How does this work?
#business #running #smoothly
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    You would be surprised at just how many people need all those services so keep posting. I post my resume ad in Gumtree and get inquiries every week. Not everyone places an order but at least they read...and make contact.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmericanMuscleTA
    If the ads are working keep using them.

    Once you see a drop in response from the ads change them up.

    You can also buy/rent lists of people who are interested in music. Have a great offer so prospects will respond.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Zones
      you can have your own website with your name and offer bonus packages or discount packages based on the season. People want more value from services with lesser charges.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
        Originally Posted by Steve Zones View Post

        you can have your own website with your name and offer bonus packages or discount packages based on the season. People want more value from services with lesser charges.
        Holy Jeez...

        Why don't we just discount ourselves into oblivion??

        The thinking of the majority of people on this forum keeps you in the poorhouse.

        YOU, Steve, believe people are looking for discounts.

        Much of the world is NOT.

        People like me want QUALITY. Not discounts. I don't want a crap music teacher. I want someone who knows how to teach. I want results.

        When I trained kung fu in my mid-20s, I didn't go to the cheapest martial arts school. I went to one of the most expensive. Hundreds of dollars a month. Because they had the best cultures--group and 1-on-1 classes, comraderie; I met many of my friends there, events--and training around.

        It was expensive for me, too. I was tight on money every month. And guess what, I was committed to training because it cost me so much. Start thinking about potential customers in this light. If something has a high investment for them, are they likely to ditch it because of a hiccup? And the opposite, with a cheap product or service?

        What the OP needs is a referral system.

        They need to start asking every parent and adult and maybe even the kids, too, "Do you know anyone else who you think might like to learn to play like this?" And at least get the business card into their hands. Give them out at the end of every lesson. Call or in-person meeting would be better.

        And yes, if advertising is working for you, keep advertising.

        New people will see the ad all the time. People who have walked past it a thousand times will suddenly see it, because NOW their mind is attuned to its message. People are not always ready for your marketing message.
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        • Profile picture of the author Matt Lee
          Damn Jason hits it on right on the head here. There ARE discount seekers, there always will be - But here's a secret most don't know until later down the road. Those discount seekers, are also the most difficult clients to work for. They expect the moon, and if they don't get it they are the first to complain.

          Let other people handle the discount seekers.

          Not to say that you can't offer "freebies" for the sake of perceived value. For instance, if a client chooses my $4500 website package, I'll include a "branding package" across all of their social networks. So the website and their social platforms have a co-cohesive feel.

          You don't need to be the cheapest guy to offer the most value.

          Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

          Holy Jeez...

          Why don't we just discount ourselves into oblivion??

          The thinking of the majority of people on this forum keeps you in the poorhouse.

          YOU, Steve, believe people are looking for discounts.

          Much of the world is NOT.

          People like me want QUALITY. Not discounts. I don't want a crap music teacher. I want someone who knows how to teach. I want results.

          When I trained kung fu in my mid-20s, I didn't go to the cheapest martial arts school. I went to one of the most expensive. Hundreds of dollars a month. Because they had the best cultures--group and 1-on-1 classes, comraderie; I met many of my friends there, events--and training around.

          It was expensive for me, too. I was tight on money every month. And guess what, I was committed to training because it cost me so much. Start thinking about potential customers in this light. If something has a high investment for them, are they likely to ditch it because of a hiccup? And the opposite, with a cheap product or service?

          What the OP needs is a referral system.

          They need to start asking every parent and adult and maybe even the kids, too, "Do you know anyone else who you think might like to learn to play like this?" And at least get the business card into their hands. Give them out at the end of every lesson. Call or in-person meeting would be better.

          And yes, if advertising is working for you, keep advertising.

          New people will see the ad all the time. People who have walked past it a thousand times will suddenly see it, because NOW their mind is attuned to its message. People are not always ready for your marketing message.
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          "One of the Most Successful Offline WSO's Ever!
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  • Profile picture of the author dash0205
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author Angle Warrior
    What about putting up a couple video of your amazing students, somtimes I like to see what can be done or what results your obtaining, just my thoughts.
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    • Profile picture of the author businessmatt
      Originally Posted by Angle Warrior View Post

      What about putting up a couple video of your amazing students, somtimes I like to see what can be done or what results your obtaining, just my thoughts.
      To add to this idea, make sure to select students that can play well, but don't have an impressive background. In other words, pick someone normal and average looking, it will have far more impact than picking someone that already looks exceptional. People expect someone that looks exceptional to be exceptional, they don't expect someone that looks normal to be exceptional.
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      When life gives you lemons, at least you don't get scurvy.

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  • Profile picture of the author amcg
    Originally Posted by bigfoot12 View Post

    Let's say you are a self employed musician who teaches lessons.


    So you initially post ads in the local newspaper, post flyers around your neighborhood, post ads on Facebook... Etc

    So now your a piano teacher and you have lots of clients.

    So to keep your business running, how are you going to keep advertising when you have a low amount of services/products to advertise about?

    Are you going to just keep posting the same ads? isn't that sort of like spamming on the internet?

    How does this work?
    When you're doing marketing, previously, it was a case of rinse and repeat. What's changed is analytics e.g Google Analytics; meaning you can actually measure the results and take the appropriate course of action based on what your customers actually want.
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  • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
    you're a piano teacher with lots of clients, all of whom love the piano and want to play it better, chances are they know a lot of other people with the same aims, hello new prospects introduced to you personally by your rapidly improving existing clients . 3 months ago I could only plus this, now I can play this!! and its all down to my fab piano teacher.

    Whilst you cant solely rely on referrals and you should keep on with the ads, you can be more selective in your ad placements (what placements brings you in the well connected influential clients who become your best referees ) ,your ad wording (you only want seriously committed long term clients bringing long term value from each lead) and selective in your choice of clientele (one person who might be able to scrape the lesson charges together each week V one person who's grandparents have already put aside $3 k to start them on their way )
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    Mike

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