Let’s face it–– as a studio owner, your best shot at growing your business is through referral marketing. Do you doubt that? Well, take a look at these statistics:
Hopefully, any doubts you had before have been cleared now, because if you are serious about growing your yoga business, you need to be ready to harness the power of referral marketing. So how exactly do you do that? It’s not always as simple as just asking your customers to spread the word about your studio–– you need to motivate and incentivize people to help you grow your studio.
People generally care more about helping you grow your business when the referral has a positive effect on them too. So what motivates people to refer? Here are 11 tips to help you reap the benefits of successful referral marketing:
There’s an old business rule out there that still tends to statistically apply today: the 80/20 rule. 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers. That 20% of your customers may like your studio, but they love you. If you build on those relationships with your biggest studio supporters, they can become strong brand advocates. These students are key to growing the rest of your business, so treat them well. Such is the Law of Karma–– if you help your existing customers, they will help you.
The only reason referral marketing takes off for business is because people want to refer. If you want referrals, you need to provide a stellar studio experience and fantastic customer service. This, in essence, is what drives your business and if you don’t have a sturdy base of quality service, everything you try to build from referral marketing will crumble. So try to provide as many resources to your customers as you can so you never leave a question of theirs unanswered–– people love referring to businesses that are on top of their communication.
One of the absolute best ways to approach referral marketing is with the giver’s gain mindset. Acting as a referrer for other businesses will motivate them to reciprocate. You have nothing to lose by supporting other people’s businesses and everything to gain. Having good relationships with other local businesses will also help corner the local market as a studio owner.
Don’t just throw money at referral marketing–– measure what works and re-invest in the best methods. People show their support with their wallets and this is great for seeing which referral techniques work and which don’t. Track your referral campaigns to determine which strategies work best. Use analytics like web traffic, Facebook engagement, email open rates, etc. to get a scientific idea of how well (or not well) your referral programs are doing.
Stay in front of your current customers with messaging through blog content, emails, social media posts, promotions, and contests. That consistent communication will reinforce your brand in your customers’ minds so that you’re the only studio they think of when making yoga referrals. The constant engagement should serve as a constant reminder to refer, refer, refer.
You should definitely ask for referrals from your customers, but your timing is very important in yielding the best results. The best time to ask for a referral is right after you’ve impressed your customer. Whether it was after an amazing class, after paying an affordable price or simply after receiving great customers service, the most opportune times are when you’ve made your customer very happy. Give good service before asking to take a good referral.
You’ll get more referrals if you make the referral process painless for your customers. Make it something simple such as filling out a short form, sending a pre-written email, or just sharing a Facebook post. The easier, the better for promoting your business.
People go nuts for incentives around referrals. Reward your customers and their networks for the referrals they bring in! Think of the incentives you can provide–– a discount on a future class? A free product? An entry into a giveaway? Get creative with your rewards system! And then pay attention to which incentives drive action.
When you’re first starting out with a referral program, it can be very slow going. Nothing zaps the program into action like working with an influencer. By seeking out partnerships with influencers in the yoga space who have a strong presence online (or in person), you can grow your referrals quickly through social media, blogs, or other publications. Research and reach out to influencers who are right for your brand–– as in, the people who influence the community that will generate revenue for your studio.
Testimonials are not just great for content to prove your ethos on your website. They’re also fantastic used as referrals. When you scatter your customer testimonials across your social platforms, you’re basically delivering snippets of referrals to your network. These may not result in immediate referrals but they seriously build up your reputation online and in the fitness community.
The same goes for reviews. People trust what other folks who have been to your studio are saying about your business. Potential customers will specifically seek out reviews before committing to a brand. So incentivize your current customers to leave reviews on Google, Facebook, or Yelp. It’ll help with your SEO and build up your reputation to make you an even better referral.
fitDEGREE offers a new special feature through our platform that makes referral marketing as easy as Shavasana! With the social share feature, your customers can easily share their fitness experience through the app, make friends through the app, and see what classes they’re attending. fitDEGREE also allows you to invite someone to register for a class directly, filling more mats and making more money. It’s the perfect storm for making referrals to your studio!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
It seems like every day, there is a new tool or app that makes social media easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to take advantage of. These apps make it possible for almost anyone—with a bit of vision and dedication—to put together a brand's social media plan and execute it like a pro.
In the fast-paced and busy lives we live, it can be easy to slip into a routine and lose sight of the things we're grateful for in life. Studies have shown that being able to consciously note what you’re grateful for and actively practicing the habit of thanking the people in your life can improve your mental and physical health. As a yogi, you’re aware that yoga isn’t just a practice of the physical body–– it’s a practice of the mind, body, and spirit. Every time you step onto the mat, you’re engaging in an energetic lesson that goes beyond just your muscles and breathing–– it’s a practice that can spark gratitude. And as many experienced yogis can attest, when you put out love and gratitude into the universe, it comes back to you.
As a business owner, you know having a website is essential to growing your studio business. But simply having a site because you know you’re supposed to does not mean the universe is going to magically send you business because you’re checking it off a list of small business necessities. What you really need, to drive business to your studio, is a website with thoughtful intent–– intent to make your brand’s online experience as easy, engaging, and simple for the user as possible.
