need some marketing ideas on opening a martial arts school?

Question

hey all im opening a mixed martial arts school, Anyone have any good marketing ideas that i can try to reach more customers?
Please no answers if you have no idea about marketing or martial arts.

Chuck you’re an idiot. Im opening a martial arts school not starting my own brand of exercise equipment. Do you honestly think a martial arts school has the budget for ex-stars ? Stop trying to get 2 points.

Answer 1

look truth be told the absolute advertising is word of mouth right? so simply make an apperance at many tournments in the area make and pass out flyers and be sure to be impressive. at the school adorn the entrance with something you think will attract the type of student you want (e.i. like compitions? have trophies, want modest students have a modest school, want to be idelized put up pictures of you shaking hands with famous people and so on. be sure that local schools (such as middle and high schools) know you are opening a school in the area (when little johnny gets in trouble and the guaidance officer recomends an after school activity to keep him out of trouble, you are now in the list. and also civic leagues and other "family fuction" events make an appearance. to let you know up front this is not an easy task. many have tries it in the past, and it is very typical for a new business of any kind to lose money the first year so you may not want to quit your day job. hope this was helpful.

just thought of another one, one of my previous instructors made a deal with a local college (community college) and as a elective credit (like P.E. or something like that) a student could go to his class to take a a class for anout 2 and a half months. sure its a free class, but afterwards many stayed and paid. it was an ingueinus maketing scheme, if you could pull it off.

Answer 2

Several comments for you: 1) zoning determines what kind of business you can open in each type of zoning. 2) opening in a cheap rent location is a sure way to go broke. The schools that stay in business and make a profit are almost always in a high rent building, where they can be seen easily. 3) the people that tend to pay for martial arts are those that make a good living. They have disposable income. As such they live in the better neighborhoods. 4) people are lazy. They will join a martial arts school that is close. NOTE: that brings me back to the fact that the people that can pay for training also live near the higher rent buildings that have the most successful martial arts schools. WARNING! Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can offer cheaper training fees as a way of getting students. This is always a good way to fail. Fact is that many people that will tell you that they can't afford cheaper training fees often go to a higher priced school and join. People will find a way to get the things they want even if they can;t really afford them. That is why you see people living in bag homes in run down areas, yet they have an expensive car, boat, RV, motorcycle, ....etc. Bottom line is that if you try to open a martial arts schools where it is not allowed by the zoning there, they will shut you down. .......

Answer 3

Our martial arts school has a rewards program, That If a current member can get & friend or associate to join the school, that member then gets a thankyou gift e.g. 5 free private lessons, punching bag, or knunchukas ..etc.. try advertising a rewards system through out you martial arts school and the students there will respond in no time..

Answer 4

Word of mouth is the only respectable method. Martial Arts is not a commodity; it is not something to be sold or advertised. Sure, a few flyers at the local gym is acceptable, and even needed (after all, Senseis need money too!), but once you form your first class, and train them well, if you are an excellent teacher, your school/dojo will spread.

Also, competitions, believe it or not, are a great place to show your dojo, and catch attention of other possible students.

Answer 5

Doing demonstrations at various events. My school did a demo at a car dealership this year that had a special event for getting children fingerprinted. We also do demonstrations at street fairs, festivals etc,. And make sure you pass out literature. If you have a school in a rec center or boys and girls club, etc, see if you can promote through those programs. If not, see if you can anyways. Some school districts will let you send fliers home with the kids in school.

Signage on your car is a great roaming billboard.

Also, have refer a friend programs. Basically, you offer so much of percentage to the students who bring someone in who signs up. Usually it is a school credit that you might let them use towards testing fees, equipment purchase, or their tuition payments.

And yes, word of mouth works, but that is more long term. These ideas will help you to start getting those initial students through the door.

Answer 6

Easy start by trainign a few pupils. Get a name for your school out. Than enter them in tournaments prove that yor gym has teh mettle needed to be what everyone wants. This even works with kids train younger students and parents will spread out my child leanred all these practical moves that could help in a dangerous situation. Word of mouth and eyes is teh best marketing device for martial arts

Answer 7

word of mouth is a great motivator..
find some events (local fairs, festivals, parades etc.) where you can do demonstrations as well as hand out flyers with information.
ads in local papers, not the best most cost efficient way to promote your school but, most papers will create an ad for you, and it costs around $80+ a run..
flyers, you can create a simple flyer on your home pc, 4 to a page even, make tons, you can even make it a coupon for $5 off first month, or $20 off for two people, be creative.. flyer parking lots around town, large department store lots, malls, grocery stores, college campuses, sporting events, etc.. this is a great way to get your school out there..
posters, you can make a letter sized poster w/your logo and info re: your school on it and stick them on bulletin boards around town, in some stores that allow info to be put up, etc..
teach free classes (ex.: karate camp- 2 week session, etc.) for the summer at your local ymca/ywca, make it like an introductory course to attract potentials to your school...
you can even create t-shirts by going to a local screen printer or buying paper to use on your home pc, then iron on.. you can be your own walking billboard..

there are tons of ways to do it.. in martial arts schools there is a lot of 'tourists' so be patient and persistant, and you'll eventually get a group of solid, committed students..

good luck!!!

Answer 8

My question to you is how many students do you have now?Get the students first then open a school...I started teaching in a dance school...I offered to teach there..they helped recruit the students let me use floor space a couple hours two to three times a week they collected the money and we split the fees.got our own place when we got about 30 regular students...I tell ya its alot easier to let somone else pay the rent utilities..plus they just mentioned the TKD class in their advertising no extra cost to them better yet no cost to me! Great way to get started..good luck.

Answer 9

OK...so people don't think.
Try contacting the local companies and their HR departments...offer a discount. Now you will be listed on their website and mentioned from time to time in emails etc. Make it large companies.
Contact schools to send fliers to kids in the local school district.
Advertise in military post papers, at the BX (PX army).
Advertise seminars for women at hospitals.
Offer to teach bouncers at dance clubs and strip clubs at discounted prices.
Offer to teach police officers, emergency people at half price. (volume is key not pricing).
Put up signs at the local grocery stores for soccer moms to see.
Make a deal with Pizza joints...you will give coupons to your students to eat at their restaurant if they are willing to put fliers with their orders.
Local public library...signs here are good...seminars are good.

Let me know your thoughts...

Steve

Answer 10

You should get a celebrity spokesman. Like Chuck Norris. I'm sure he's looking for any kind of work now a days.