What's the Easiest Way to Promote Your Studio's Workshops?
We've all been there. You have an amazing workshop scheduled, you have sorted the material, and you have even pre-prepared the playlist. You are prepared to teach your heart out. You take a glance at the sign-up sheet, though, and it is... silent. Too quiet.
Panic sets in. Then you begin to think whether to lower prices or just call it off.
The good news, however, is that it does not take a marketing degree or a lot of money to fill those seats. Actually, the simplest way to advertise your studio is not about learning how to use complicated algorithms and spending money on ads. It is all about being visible where you already are: in the community, online, and in the real world.
Let us consider some simple yet effective high-impact strategies to make your workshops get the attention they deserve.
1. Leverage Social Proof and User-Generated Content
The most effective means of selling out a workshop is to have somebody else sell out the workshop on your behalf. Social proof is powerful. When a prospective student watches a real person having the time of their life in your studio, they picture themselves in there as well.
So, how do you encourage this? You are required to make your room shareable.
When you are holding workshops, you should create moments that beg to be photographed. You can have a special photo corner with good lighting or just get people to take a group picture at the end of the lesson. To make it even more entertaining, you can give people props or even use Selfie Frames with your studio's handle and a catchy hashtag. It is a minor gesture, but when students take such photos to their Stories, they are broadcasting a personal recommendation to all their local friends.
You are not merely a studio demanding sales anymore; you are the location where their friends are enjoying themselves.
2. Capture Local Foot Traffic with Physical Signage
We are very much attached to our phones to the point where we tend to overlook the fact that people may be passing right in front of our door. The foot traffic in the area is a treasure for studio workshops since these individuals already reside or work nearby. They are your most convenient clientele.
Unless you are advertising on Instagram alone, you are leaving out the neighbors who may not be your followers yet.
Take a look at your studio's exterior. Do you feel like something is missing? A simple A-frame sign on the pavement can perform miracles. If you have more frontage or wish to advertise in a community fair, investing in quality custom banners will enable your message to stand out as people see it from a distance. A large, graphic message stating that there is a "Beginner Pottery Workshop This Saturday!" makes people think about it in a manner that a Facebook snippet cannot necessarily do.
3. Drive Referrals with "Bring-a-Friend" Discounts
When you feel like taking the easy way to a fully booked class, use the contacts of the already registered students.
Individuals can be reluctant to sample something new on their own. The first time walking into an art workshop or a dance class can be scary enough. The barrier you can eliminate is to offer a "Bring a Buddy" discount.
It does not need to be very big, perhaps 15 percent off when they reserve two places. This makes your individual registrations double instantly, filling your room twice as quickly. Besides, the atmosphere in the room is generally enhanced as people are more relaxed sitting beside a person they know.
4. Cross-Promote via Local Business Partnerships
Teamwork is among the least used strategies among local studios. Consider where your perfect student will be before or after class. Do they grab a latte at the local coffee shop? Do they purchase leggings in the boutique down the street?
Pop next door and greet them. Suggest a basic cross-promotion.
You might leave a pile of flyers at their counter, and in return, you might give them a free class or provide their clients with a special discount code. It's a win-win. You receive an untouched audience that trusts the partner business, and the partner receives the opportunity of providing a perk to their loyal customers.
5. Simplify Your Studio Marketing Strategy
Selling your workshops should not be like doing a second full-time job. It is just a matter of connection.
Begin by making your existing students feel special and ask them to tell their stories. Then, make yourself known to the people passing your door. Add an atmosphere of friendly collaboration, and you will discover that filling those seats is less of a sales effort and more of a side effect of creating a great community.
You have got the ability and the space—now get those sign-ups.