The priceless recommendations are more important than any other marketing you do.
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Even in today’s media-driven world, there is no better form of advertising than word-of-mouth—a personal referral from someone whose opinions others trust and respect. Dance school owners are among the biggest beneficiaries of word-of-mouth referrals, as they require no advertising and marketing budget. The key is how do you get your students and their parents talking? Create WOW moments at your school. When you have an unexpected event or special give away it will create a buzz that will get people talking about you! While you cannot always control how and when referrals come about, there are many ways to start and sustain a positive buzz about your school. Here are some helpful tips on how to attract high-value, low-cost word-of-mouth referrals. Recruit Cheerleaders Network, Network, Network Capitalize On Your Current Customers Become A Knowledge Source Keep In Touch Give As Well As Receive Do A Good Job |
Maintain Visibility At The Local Level
Be an active member of your local business community. Volunteer for select nonprofits aligned with your field, attend Chamber of Commerce mixers and participate in local activities as your schedule allows. The personal bonds you create can fuel new business opportunities.
Put Technology To Work
Stay connected to your market and accessible to your customers by leveraging your time and reach with technology. Everything from voice mail (yes, if your studio still doesn’t have answering machine or voice mailbox system, you need one immediately!), cell phones and desktop publishing to the instant communication via email and the Internet can help you.
Share Your Knowledge Freely
Consider giving presentations at no charge for your local Chamber of Commerce or another association in which you participate. Volunteer to have one of your ensembles or classes perform at a fundraiser or donate a block of classes to be raffled off. Volunteer to write articles for smaller publications that reach your target audience. All these activities serve to increase your visibility while giving you an opportunity to showcase your expertise and generate good will.
Remember that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. If you spend your money on making sure your current clients are having a great time at your school it will be well worth the cost because there’s no better way to market your school than to have clients who give you testimonials. People will believe their friends and will try a business based on their recommendation. So if you are looking to grow your school, work to make WOW moments for your current clients!