What does your school do to bring in students?
I am looking for success stories on what worked for making people come in to the school.
My school is very low key, outdoors on a semi deserted street.
I put up signs in front of the school.
I put up ads on craig's list
I set up a website for the school http://www.thekungfugym.com/
I wear kung fu shirts
I post on KFO
I post videos on youtube http://uk.youtube.com/user/KevinBrazier
If a student brings in someone new the old student gets $25 off the tuition that month.
THE RESULTS
KFO article about me brought in some students
Craig's list has brought a bunch of offers of parents who want to send their daughter to study with me two hours a day 5 days a week. I need to find them a place to live also! I just need to send info on how they can wire money to my bank account.
The sign at my school brought in a student
I get the rest of the students from referrals
Besides that I am thinking about peppering Tampa with yard signs at every intersection.
I am thinking about putting door knob hanger ads all over the local neighborhoods.
Thoughts?
You may not have the budget for this...
but the biggest spike that I can remember at my Sifu's mantis school was after he bought an ad at a local movie theatre. It was nothing more than a slide (posed photograph of a bunch of students working out) and the basic info that you'd put on a flier. This ran with a bunch of other similar slides for small businesses prior to the reels being turned on in the theatre. I believed he was at around 50 students prior to the slide- and after a couple of months of running it- he topped at about 110 students.
Don't forget the power of free...
Right now's a good time to contact local schools to see if you can put on a MA demonstration/Rally. You have to be creative in making it relate to a school goal- something like "the power of motivation and commitment to a goal". Contact the principal and discuss what it is you want to show- and let them know it's free of charge. Afterwords hand out fliers on where and when your classes are. Now's a great time 'cuz Kung Fu Panda is releasing on DVD so the interest level should be high.