Ideas - Ways to get business in the door

[curlbroscience]

I remember reading Kancho Ninomiya's book and he would take his heavy bag to the park and workout. Passerby interest was generated. We experienced something similar when we had our annual kumite event at the park, but unfortunately unable to stop to answer/field questions.


I wrote down a few ideas that sounded the same, but what does your dojo/gym do to attract potential clients? I'm starting up a KB class (swing/gobsquat/TGU). Also trying to get people in for a kettlebell and Karate training sessions.

- Thinking of doing a bi-weekly Saturday outdoor sessions especially with the spring and summer bringing families to the park.

- Local knockdown tourneys have no history in a dominant WKF region so that's a strong option for the future. We've been successful in getting other seniors from dojos in the area to cross train with us in our kumite sessions to grow interest.

- We have a bit of MT sparring nights which we participate. We also have a very high level of MMA in this area. The promotion is really, really organized and strong. www.legacyfights.net/schedule/ Just don't know that anyone in our current fold is looking to start up a professional Muay Thai or MMA career. And to be honest, there are plenty of professional gyms that I would turn them to if that were the case.

Any brainstorm ideas welcome. Already starting to blog and do the SEO. My wife has been really helpful with that.

Thank you in advance.

[meguro]

Video, nothing says it better. What you are selling is yourself. Yes, you are selling karate instruction (or kb instruction), but ultimately your potential customers will be comparing themselves to you, and will want to know how they can be like you. Present an image of competence, confidence, knowledge, etc. and you will be able to attract followers. Good copy, good quality video production (all types of media), business cards and brochures at the ready.

Beach muscle, there I said it. We all know it is not necessary, but call it a marketing expense. You are young, you need to look the part. Get shredded, get that side split, 400 lbs squat, or whatever yardstick customers might use. It might sound superficial to the martial artist, but it is vital to the businessman.

Good luck!

[curlbroscience]

Funny that you should mention the above (as I do agree).

I read an interesting article from a prolific RKC that basically said that the reason he choose RKC over Strongfirst is because we should not be judged on our performance but that of the client. It's just show off stuff. Our clients really just want to look good and move better. Strength is a side note to them.

Also an interesting point is the gray line in marketing/advertising a KB gym and a MA dojo. Lots of things you would do for a KB gym that you would not for an MA dojo and vice versa. Interesting note is that the monthly dues for a KB gym vs MA dojo are very noticeable. I've always wondered why I have paid $85 bucks for monthly dues at Karate gyms since the early 2000s! Either I was paying too much back then or too little now. I would bet on way too little.  Private karate lessons?  Yet people would pay $60/hour to a personal trainer.

As for persona, I am definitely not trying to be beastly strong like Max or Dave Whitley. I don't have the time or energy to devote to strength like they do. What I do have is miles of perseverance (thank you Karate!) and the ability to follow programming to achieve a goal. So my hope is to hit the target audience of desk jockeys that have this gray area between being athletic in college before starting a family and when the kids are in their middle school years. To show them that even a little can go a long way to improve quality of life.  I've worked with quite a few people in the corporate world that I think are being lost in the shuffle between Circus man strong and Zumba classes.  I  established a workout lunch schedule with the Controller of my previous company and in my current company have inspired him to lose weight and join 5k runs.  We even take three walks throughout the day around the block. 

If I could teach a father to ATG squat and scoop a kid up, windmill and anyhow his other one in the other arm my job is done.

Anyway just rambling now.

Thank you Meguro for the advice and it actually got me to think about my target audience.  Will work on the beach body.  More benching!

[MMX]

I agree with Meguro to an extent but I would be more impressed with technique. Sure GSP looks great but what about Fedor and his fights? My Sensei is not the finest physical specimen but he can whoop ass still with skill and treachery.

Showcase the skills and abilities they could learn from you. Sure work on the beach body for those that are attracted to that but I would not make that a priority.