4 Simple Ways To Grow Your Yoga Business

You've heard time and time again that in order to make money, you have to spend money.But what if you don't have much to spend?What if you've spent nearly every last dime (and then some) just to open up shop?Then you need to get clients in, you need to get clients to stay, and you need to do it fast.When you first open a yoga business, you want to help people feel incredible and access peace of mind. You're likely not thinking about marketing campaigns. And Facebook ads. And retention strategies.I know that I sure wasn't when I opened my yoga studio in my hometown back in 2010.But the miraculous thing about entrepreneurship is that you can take almost nothing and turn it into something life-changing.Something bigger than you ever imagined.You just have to know where to spend the little money you have left and you need to know where to focus your free resources.And while this is not about being stingy with money, we definitely want to feel confident that any expense we make is going to have a big impact, especially when we're re-investing it into our businesses.I personally hate the idea of throwing dollars at an idea without knowing if I'll see a return on that investment.And with my three kids at home, I often experience analysis paralysis when it comes to planning out and implementing an intricate marketing campaign.If you own a yoga studio, I bet you, like me, have this hesitation on spending. You often wonder if there are any simple and affordable ways to grow your small business.Well yes, my friend, there are!!!The following four habits have been essential in helping to grow my business, and I know they will help you too!

1. 1. Work with a coach ... but not just any coach.There are lots of business coaches out there, and if you own a yoga studio, you have to work with the best.The best, hands down, is Josh Biro.Josh is the head coach and founder of the Yogapreneur Collective, an incredible resource group made up of some of the most successful studio owners in the world.At this point, nearly nine years in to yoga studio ownership, my studio is kind of like a dog that I'm able to walk without a leash. The dog won't walk himself around the block, but he'll stick with you and not go too far off course if you're walking with him.As a busy mom of three young kids, having this kind of business is essential. I literally can't teach every class, I need to be available for my family, and I have to earn an income that can pay for our lifestyle. I've been able to get my studio to this point because I've implemented the strategies that I've learned from Josh and the Yogapreneur Collective.If you came to this blog post because you were hoping for a free way to grow, you can get that with Josh too!Yep, that's right. He offers a free strategy session (that's how I got started)! That session alone will give you things to work on that will send your business on a trajectory to help more people and make more money.You can get in touch with Josh here and start owning your business! 😉
   2. Learn Your Customers' NamesWhen you have more customers coming in your door because of the strategies you implement from the Yogapreneur Collective, you'll have to buckle down and focus on this one for sure, but it'll be soooo worth it!People feel special when they hear their names, and if you own a small, local studio, you can't afford to not remember them!Greet your students by name when they enter the lobby, and if you do this on their second or third visit, they'll be blown away by how attentive you are to the details.What's more, remembering someone who's been gone for a year or more and then decides to return to your studio will go a mile at building that strong customer relationship and rapport.
   3. Be Interested, Not InterestingYour customers will feel appreciated when you show genuine interest in what's going on in their lives. Resist the temptation to throw in a story about yourself. You don't want to seem like a one-upper.Instead, be interested.How old are the twins now?When does your new job start?How was your day today?All those question go a long way in developing the loyalty your yoga students feel toward your business.Based on how they respond, ask follow up questions. Not only will your interest make your customers feel amazing, you'll also build intangible relationships for years to come. You'll have things to talk about in future interactions based on your conversations today.Your students will want to frequent your studio because they can feel that you care. And you do! They're people with lives and families and jobs, and the fact that they spend their hard-earned money with you is an honor.
   4. "Check-In" On Social Media From Your Personal AccountWhile the previous two examples are intangible and relationship-based, sitting down at the computer or smart phone and typing something out in an effort to reach potential customers is "putting it out there" a bit more.Side note: for help on paid advertising on Facebook and other social media outlets, you've gotta join the Yogapreneur Collective to get the most up-do-date strategies.But here's the thing with your personal account. When you "check-in" to your business from your own Facebook profile, you put your business name in front of social media friends and contacts who may not necessarily follow your business. Maybe they live in your area but aren't a customer ... yet.I often "check-in" to my studio on Facebook and leave a comment like this: "So happy to be teaching such an awesome group of yogis today!"I'll even tag Facebook friends who happen to be in my class.This encourages clients to check-in as well, causing my business to show up on their social media pages and reach a whole new set of eyes.Be sure to make these check-ins PUBLIC.Facebook prioritizes personal pages over business pages all day long, so checking in and mentioning your business page from your personal profile is a good way to play the social media game in terms of getting your name out in front of your "friends."

Keep in mind that these habits work as long-game strategies; I've yet to come across a "quick-fix" or "get-rich-quick" scheme to grow a yoga studio.Your yoga students may not buy a whole new yoga outfit on their first day just because you said, "good morning Judy" or "how's it going Bob" one time.But they will start to feel a connection to you and renew their memberships next month. And the month after that. And the month after that.They're also likely to bring friends too, and when you tell them that those new striped leggings and hooded sweatshirt will look awesome, they'll probably buy them because of the relationship you've built.You've learned their names.You're interested in their well-being.You tag them in your check-ins.And they're at your studio in the first place because of the epic campaign you ran with help from the Yogapreneur Collective.Owning a yoga studio can feel isolating and challenging.But it doesn't have to be.If these four simple habits worked for me, a busy mom of three kids, they can honestly work for anyone!!And when you implement them, just think of how many more lives you'll be changing and even saving.Happy sweating!