Strategy

Welcome to ProfitablePilates.com, your hub for everything but the exercises. These blog posts are dedicated to the more strategic side of your Pilates business, whether that is leading a team or your own personal mindset, these posts are for both Studio Owners and Pilates Teachers.

What Should You Be Blogging About

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Since blogging is far from dead (it really is) you’re probably more worried about what to blog about than anything. Because of my blogs, I have thousands of hits on my site every month. And you can have that too. But, you have to be writing blogs that answer the questions your ideal client is asking the search engines. So, how do you figure that out and then what do you blog about? Well, luckily I’ve got a list of ideas below you can use!

Personal Blog Topic Ideas

  • 10 things most people don’t know about you/your studio/your teaching
  • How you prepare for ___
  • What’s in your Pilates bag
  • Five things/exercises you can’t live without
  • What you love about teaching, Pilates, your clients
  • How you became a teacher, studio owner
  • Behind the scenes
  • Your top 10 favorite things/exercises/props
  • Go to leggings, exercises, books etc

Your Product or Service Blog Topic Ideas

  • 10 reason to fall in love with—
  • How to pick the right product or service you offer
  • 10 things think about when starting Pilates
  • Spotlight your product/service
  • 5 ways your service helps ___
  • Faqs are great blogs!!!
  • Top 10 questions you get asked
  • What clients have said
  • What to look for in a teacher/studio/class
  • What it looks like to work with you
  • Client interview
  • why are people not hiring you

Put these on a doc and start brainstorming. The ones that you can’t stop writing about are the ones you should use and toss the rest or save them for another time. Pick a blog schedule you can keep up with and get to blogging. For more tips on how blogs get your clients check out my client journey course and blogging for your business.

xx~LL

Do You Know What Your AGENCY is?

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Agency has multiple definitions but one of them has to do with using your own inner strengths and abilities. But, that is not as easy to do on your own. Enter imposter syndrome, the grass is greener over there thoughts, indecision, lack of confidence, unawareness of ones owns strengths, etc. etc. It’s not easy being a confident instructor.

After all, so many people tell anyone with ears there is no money in Pilates. That one can’t make a living as a Pilates Instructor. And so, how can you own your own agency? How can you know what it is and see it’s value? How can you see that your uniqueness is what will make your business thrive?

All these worries combined with the questions that teachers and studio owners have on a daily basis is why I created AGENCY. My group coaching membership. I wanted a place where no matter what your teaching background was, if you were a new teacher, experienced teacher, studio owner or independent contractor could come together in a supportive, positive space.

My desire is to help all Pilates instructors see and believe in possibility. To not run their business the way that everyone else is. Or to market themselves the way that everyone else is. Your goals require their own path.

There is no Pilates Career Ladder.

You can have the business you want if you are willing to do the work. But, how? Well, if you know the what you want to do and they why you want to do it in AGENCY between me and others who have been in your place or are going to do be will be there to provide ideas you may not have thought of. Provide support and positivity. Agency, a community in the Pilates and fitness world that wants to see everyone succeed because we rise together.

If you are reading this and you’re wishing you could just ask the questions you have, get feedback on an idea, high fives when you get a new client then you want AGENCY.

And, AGENCY is more than just the community, you get so much more. You can check out all the member benefits here and if you are wondering if AGENCY is for you then you can contact me here. It’s almost 2 years old and when you check out the benefits you’ll see some of the most incredible things members are saying!

xx~LL

PS all my webinars have moved behind AGENCY doors. In order to continue to support instructors and studio owners after they watch the webinar, it became necessary to add the community to these webinars.

How to Attract More People to Your Website

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Most people do not use their website to its full capabilities. They tend to “set it and forget it.” But, a website is truly the 24/7 assistant you want, need and could be doing more for you if you set it up for that. Imagine people searching the internet for a question and your website comes up as the answer? And then, because of the work you put into your site they go on a journey that leads them to schedule a session! Doesn’t that sound amazing?

Here’s How You Do This:

1) You have to have a website. If you don’t watch this course before you spend a dollar or your time building one.

2) Every client needs to be courted. Think about the beginning of a dating relationship. You don’t get married after you become aware of someone right? My course on the client journey breaks down how to take a person from awareness of who you are and what you do to buying your services.

3) BLOG! Its so not dead my friends. My website gets thousands of views every month because of my blogs. Your blogs should be the answer to peoples questions. Then they go to your site and then end up getting on your client journey. See how all that works for you?

4) Newsletters, also not dead! A nurture campaign aka welcome series will help your client journey happen while you sleep. And, regular, consistent newsletters to those on your list keep you top of mind. And your site should be trading emails for something of value so you can guide those people to your core service!

If this sounds like total gibberish then please start with my “what your website needs” course. Then go to the “client journey” before you do the Newsletter 101 or next level. In 4 hours you’ll be sooo ready to put your website to work for you! And, that means it’s attracting your ideal client and telling them what to do while you are sleeping, teaching or reading this blog!

xx~LL

How I Prepare for a New Client

Posted on by Lesley Logan

When you get a new client in your studio there are a lot of butterflies on both ends. Your new client is wondering if this, Pilates, Yoga, Fitness with you is going to be what they need to meet their goals or take away their aches and pains. And, you’ve got butterflies because you know you need more clients in your books to help you earn more money and help more people. So, how do you feel more confident when you have a new client coming in? Here are my go-to tips for when I have a new client.

1) Know your numbers! I’m very clear on my rates, my packages, and what each package equates to when it comes to helping a client hit their goals. If they are coming in for a specific goal and they have a date they want to achieve it by I know which package to offer them in order to help them achieve it. Of course, I hope they stay longer and truth be told they will but in the beginning their why is all they care about. Beyond their why is something I can tackle while they are a client.

2) Be clear on who your ideal client is. This is soo key, my friends. Sometimes I get a new client that I am not the right teacher for. Generally, I am able to weed them out and refer them to someone else before they come in for a first-time session but occasionally it happens. And, it’s important to be able to say no to them after the session. Because, if you are not the right person for them eventually it will not work out. So better to save both your times. And, also clients who are not your ideal client will not refer you more of your ideal client.

3) Tell them what to expect. I love to make sure they know everything about how to find my studio, where to park, where not to park, what to wear, how early to show up, how long the session is! EVERYTHING! I have a pre-written letter that I send out and I even link to it in a confirmation. This helps them feel more comfortable before they even come in. The more you can communicate like you’re already in a relationship the higher the chances of them feeling confident that they can trust you and buy future sessions with you.

4) Tell them when you will follow up with them. And, then make sure you do! No matter how the session goes I always follow up with my first-time client. I remind them of their goals, how Pilates will help them and if they scheduled another session I remind them of when it is, what the cancellation policy is etc. If they didn’t and I want them as a client I offer them times to come in, how long it will take to feel the benefits and ask them a question that requires a response.

5) I have everything ready for them when they arrive. Think of a first date. If the date was late would that make you feel good about how much they value your time? If the date was disorganized would that make you feel like they were an expert? That they could keep all your needs in order? That they could take you where you want to go? Pull out the red carpet for new clients. And by red carpet, I don’t mean discount signs.

I could go on and on but I don’t want to overwhelm you! Pick one or two of these that you are not doing and give them a try. Then add in another one or two. Until they become a habit and you have your own system. And, then, write it down! Then you can review your system before every new client comes in.

Which tip will you try? Post in the comments below.

xx~LL

6 Tips to Get More Clients

Posted on by Lesley Logan

In a perfect world, clients would just grow on trees, right? But, while this world is pretty great clients instead come to us through variations forms of marketing. And, it’s important to know what these different routes to you are and use them to attract your ideal clients. Because even if your schedule is full someday you will need another client or few. Your favorite clients will move. You will move. And, so something you can guarantee you’ll need to have set up in your business is a way to consistently attract new clients to you. Here are 6 of my favorite tips for getting new clients.

  1. Be Known in Your Community: This means getting outside your studio and going to networking events, community events, add meeting local business owners in your neighborhood. The more people know who you are, what you do, and whom you are for the more they can tell people who complain about not feeling good, having aches and pains, looking for a trainer that you are the rockstar teacher for them!
  2. Add So Much Value: to your community, clients and if you’re a studio owner your teachers that people sing your praises! If you focus on your existing one or few clients truly feeling the benefits of Pilates with you they will feel the need to reciprocate and will share your good words to everyone!
  3. Make Your Website Work For You: This means you have to have a website and keep it updated. One of the best ways to do that is to blog weekly (yes, weekly) about the top things people search on the internet that you can help with! Consistent blogging keeps your website updated, helps your SEO (the thing that drives traffic to your site) and shares who you are and what you do with those who come on your site.
  4. Create an Email Campaign: this is something I cover in my courses “Client Journey” and “Take Your Newsletters to the Next Level.” This includes having something on your site that exchanges a potential clients email for something of value and then an email campaign that you write one time and it guides people to your core offering.
  5. Client Referral Rewards Program: I am not a fan of discounts for new clients. I truly believe in rewarding existing clients for sharing how awesome you are. And, there are many ways you can do this. All depend on what your services are and their prices. For my business, I give a free late cancel, a sort of get out of jail free card, for every new client that buys a package. They have to buy a package for the reward to be kicked in. And, you’ll want to remind your clients of this reward program regularly.
  6. Talk to Strangers: Yep, if you want new clients you got to get out there in the world and tell strangers who you are, what you do and whom you are for. You cannot wait for clients to walk by your doors and hand you their credit card. That doesn’t happen often enough to pay your bills. So, get out there, make eye contact. Get told no. It will help you refine your pitch and also who you are looking to talk to. If you are fishing in a pond of cheap fish switch ponds!

I would love to hear which of these tips you are going to try this week. Post your plan in the comments below.

xx~LL

Lead Your Own Retreat

Posted on by Lesley Logan

If leading your own retreat is on your business bucket list this is a blog for you! Whether you want to lead a Pilates, Yoga, fitness, nutritional or meditative retreat the same rules apply. And, there are some key things to keep in mind before you even put down your deposit somewhere.  Retreats can be lots of fun but they are equal amounts of work! If not more work. The number of hours you will spend before you lead your retreat will double or triple the time you spend on the retreat.

And, something I think is incredibly important is to know and understand is that a retreat really is not a paid vacation. If you are leading one to have a paid vacation I do think you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

A few questions I want you to answer before you continue. The answers do not mean you should or you shouldn’t lead one. But, these are things you need to know before you go.

  1. Are an organized person?
  2. Do you have enough existing clients who would go on this retreat or will you need to market to people who do not know you?
  3. If the retreat doesn’t make you money will that affect your business negatively? Or, can your business handle a non-profitable event?
  4. Are you comfortable asking for the sale or telling a client no?
  5. Can your website handle taking payments for an event?
  6.  Do you like to be the leader, hostess or be in charge?

I have tons of other questions that I ask those I coach through organizing their own retreat. But, I think these get your mind and juices flowing and picturing yourself actually going through the process.

As far as putting one together, the sky is the limit! You can have a day retreat, a workshop weekend retreat, a week or 10 day long retreat. I’ve seen retreats where they are all inclusive to ones that only cover portions of the trip or time.

On this potential retreat, what does it look like? Where are you at? When they leave what are they saying was their favorite part? How do you feel and the attendees feel? What are they saying as they leave? Before you plan a retreat sit down and meditate on what the retreat looked like when it was over. This will help you not stress out about things that don’t matter. It will also help you answer some of the questions above.

When you start planning the retreat it’s easy to get distracted by all the questions that you’ll have to answer. It’s like a wedding. You start out wanting just a small outdoor wedding and by the end of it you have this luxury destination wedding at the Sandal’s resort and you’re looking at a bunch of faces you don’t know.

The details in between the start of a retreat when you announce it’s happening to attendees showing up, the day to day agenda and how to handle when shit happens will vary from retreat to retreat. The stories of scrambling I have had to do on a retreat are endless. But, most important none of my attendees knew that I scrambled. The time my chef fell through 4 hours before retreaters arrived was crazy! But, the way we fixed it was brilliant and the food was delicious.

If you want to lead your own retreat you not only have to think through the actual retreat and price it out so that it is profitable. Please, please, please do not skip that part! You have to think through a lot of “what if’s.”

My husband has created a sheet, systems and more to help make sure all of our retreats not only are fun and fulfilling to our guests and us but also to help us sell them, make sure every attendee has all the info they need, makes sure we get paid on time and more.

He’s helping me with our from demand webinar on “How to Create and Lead Your Own Retreat.” And, if you are leading retreats or thinking of leading retreats this is the webinar you need to be at. We are giving out all deets on how we do what we do!

xx~LL 

Join us for this webinar live or watch the replay click here

Do You Need to do Videos to Grow Your Business?

Posted on by Lesley Logan

It seems like everyone and everything is going digital these days doesn’t it? Well, it’s true! Facebook and Instagram are pushing content that includes organic videos more than ever these days. And, with the recent changes at IG where they allow the first minute of your IGTV to go in your feed to get more views it certainly makes you wonder, should you be doing videos?

Now, I know some of you are hating on social and wishing it could go back to being for connecting with friends. But, before you roll your eyes and stop reading let me just tell you a little goes a long way. Don’t forget that I know and believe its not about followers and likes. It’s the quality content that shares who you are, what you do and whom you’re for that gets you doing more of what you love-teaching Pilates. However, just like there are different learning styles you have to know how to teach to.  There are different ways people connect to our message. Some love a good read so blogs and great copy on your site will be perfect. Others need a picture, they need to see themselves in your photos. People who look like them. And, there are some that need audio. They need to hear your voice, and the visual of video will hit two types of learners. So, having some video content of you rocking what you do with your ideal client is quite compelling.

Now, that I’ve perked your ears a little bit please note that I am not going to say you have to start posting as many videos as you can. Not at all. If you want to do that than let’s talk because there are some def do’s and don’ts for Youtube and IGTV. But, for many of you I am talking a video or few on your site and every once in a while on social so that people can see you in your element. Can get to know you. See you as the expert at what you do.

Facebook (who owns IG) has a goal to beat out YouTube. So, if you’re like me and you post videos to YT than do not post those video links on FB. They will bury those posts. You’ll have to do an organic video for them. This is something that might seem annoying for you. But, if you’re not trying to become a YouTuber than it’s really simple, take the video. Cutoff the beginning and ends where you press start and stop and post it to your studio/business FB page or group. If you filmed it in vertical video it’s great for IGTV if in horizontal it’s awesome for FB and you can still upload it to YT just don’t share that link on FB to promote it.

Create videos as part of a giveaway in exchange for email addresses for your newsletters.

Post videos of you and a client accomplishing an exercise.

Share tips on exercises your ideal client can do at home.

Vlog! Allow your clients and future clients to hear what is on your mind.

These are just a few things you can do with video to attract your ideal client to your schedule.

I’ll get honest with you, when I first started posting on YT I thought “Why me?!” I mean, who was I to create these videos. But, now a few years later I have met more people around the world because of my videos. And, my goal was to travel the world to teach. I have a teacher I coach who creates videos of modifications. Her ideal client is someone who is just like her. Wants to get her move on but due to injuries can’t do it like everyone else. I have another friend who does lots of mini classes.

Who do you wish was your client?

What do they need?

Film the answer to their questions. Post it on your websites and share it on social media to drive traffic back to your website where they will then be prompted to schedule a session or class with you!

So, should you be doing some video? I think so. But, you don’t have to. It first depends on the goals for your business and what you feel comfortable doing. However, as I mentioned I was not keen on the idea. And now, I am sooo grateful I was pushed to start. And geez, those first videos sucked but the more I did the more comfortable I got.

xx~LL

Ps I’ll be talking about how to use YT to grow your business and hit your goals in my next webinar. Click here to get the help to start and grow your YT and video business.

Do You Know Your Businesses Seasons

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Feeling the heat in more ways than one this summer? There are few guarantees in life but one of them is that when holidays, summer, spring break, and flu outbreaks are in season your business can feel the effects. But, that doesn’t mean you have to feel it in your wallet or your bottom line. Knowing your businesses seasons and working them is key for making money, and feeling in control of your business. Here are some questions I love to explore with anyone I am coaching:

Do you know your busy and slow seasons?

How much do you want/need to gross each year?

How many weeks a year do you work?

What is your average hourly wage?

When you have these answers then we can get really honest and clear. One studio might be in the suburbs where the calendar is pretty easy to follow. They are busy January-March and then spring break starts to distract people from consistency. Then April-May starts to level out. June-September is “slow.” September-mid November is consistent. And as the year winds down the cancellations wind up.

But, you may live somewhere where it’s busy 6-9 months a year and dead zone for 3 months. That shouldn’t freak you out. Instead, it makes it super easy and clear for you to know when you take your breaks, how much you need to be working those busy months. And enjoy a few months of you time. I think I would like that very much.

If you’re someone who has major seasonal influx and you’re not setting goals in your business to take advantage of the busy months then you will feel it during the slow months.

No business is the same as another. Take some time this week to look at your previous year. When were you the busiest? When were you the slowest? How many sessions a week do you need to come through your schedule/studio during the busy months vs the slow months? What weeks can you just take off?

I would love to hear what your answers are and help you create a plan to make the most of your busy seasons and live guilt free on the slow seasons. Hit me up here or post in the comments below.

xx~LL

What is the Difference Between a Blog and a Newsletter?

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Blogging vs Newsletter? This is a question I get often from fitness professionals, Pilates teachers, and Studio owners all the time! The follow up to this question is “which one do I need to do?” Or, “do I need to blog and write newsletters?” So, today I am going to explain the differences between a blog and a newsletter and answer if you need one, the other or both!

What is a Blog? Let’s get real for a moment when I started blogging about four years ago (wow 4 years of biz blogs for ya) I fought my biz coach and SEO pro’s on the need to blog. I thought blogging was dead, everyone wanted to find things on Social Media and that no one would read it. But, I was so so wrong! While I may not make a living as a blogger (although some people still do) blogging is still hands down the biggest help in people like you finding me. The search engines love blogs because they read words on the internet to help find articles (pages on websites) that answer peoples questions. They want your site to be the answer to peoples searches. If they provide the best answers to what people are searching for then those people will use their search engine all the time (aka they can hit them with ads). So, your blogs are free advertising for your biz because if your blog answers peoples questions Google and other engines will promote your site! How freaking cool is that?

Blogging also allows you to attract your ideal client. Instead of blogging about a basic answer to what Pilates is you can blog about how Pilates helps a particular ache, sport, hobby, demographics etc. Blogging allows you to show how you’re the expert in your area. And, allows future clients who land on your site to see how awesome you are!

Blogging also updates your website. Yes, you want this! It tells the internet that your site is fresh and being taken care of. If you thought you could make your site once and leave it alone until you raised your rates or updated your bio I hate to break it to you but your website might be a bit “dusty.” I write a blog every week on all my sites. This keeps my websites at the top of the searches! And, I didn’t pay for that.

I could go on and on about blogging, but I already have in this course about blogging. So, if you’re ready to dive into blogging for your biz please take it here.

What is a Newsletter? A newsletter is a direct communication between you and your peeps. Anyone who opts into your list can receive this newsletter. Yes, they should opt-in vs you adding them in especially if you do business with the EU. Newsletters should add value to your clients and are great ways to create communication with your past clients, current clients and future clients. Newsletters allow you to remind people about classes, holiday schedules, events, etc. Some businesses send daily newsletters. I enjoy sending weekly newsletters. And, while a monthly newsletter is also fine it may not have the same effect as something a little more frequent and consistent.

What you put in a newsletter is more current event like. It has CTA’s (call to action) and those who are on your list want to be on your list. They put their info in and said: “Yass, please talk to me.” And, like blogs, people do think emails are dead they are still wrong. Here’s why do you remember when FB and IG went down? Almost a whole day was lost and millions of dollars were lost in ad spend. If you rely simply on social media to share updates, events, etc not only are you betting your business on the whim of other businesses but what happens if any of these platforms decide to change the rules? What happens if they get shut down? As it is if you’re lucky only 6% of your followers see your stuff. Read that again, 6% of your followers might see your stuff. But, a newsletter goes directly into your client’s inbox and if you’re good with the subject lines they get opened, read and more!

Like a blog, newsletters must add value. If you are just telling me what workshop you’re selling this month I’m unlikely to get to the end and hit “sign me up.” But, if you share info (which can feel like a blog but it’s not because a blog is on your website) then tell me how the workshop or class you’re offering goes along with that added value I’m more likely to say “take my money.” Does that make sense?

What you put in your newsletters really depends on you and your business. If you want my newsletter 101 course contact me here. For those of you already writing newsletters who want to take them to the next level join me on my next webinar here. But, keep them fun, think of them as writing to a penpal. What would you say to a friend you haven’t seen in a week, month or year? Why do they need to hear this? How can they hear more?

Do you need a blog, a newsletter or both? Great questions! I am so glad you asked. I am going to say you need both. They serve two massively different purposes. Blogging attracts people to your site but once they are there the likelihood of them coming back is slim. Unless they become a client and have to come back to sign up for sessions or classes then any updates you make to your site, your schedule, your offerings may not be seen. So, having a newsletter that shares these updates is key to getting eyes on all your good stuff! If you just do a newsletter then your website won’t be able to be the best assistant you ever had. It can’t be the answer to peoples burning internet questions if you don’t have answers. How often you blog and send newsletters is up to you. I share a TON about these things in my online coaching group. And we can dive deeper into what’s the perfect combo for your business in there.

I know you are thinking how on earth will I have the time and also what the heck am I supposed to write about? Make sure you read my blog about “not working all the time” and take my blogging and newsletter courses. The answers to all this and more are definitely in there. But, if you want to do more of what you love and make a living doing it then I would find the time to make both happen consistently.

Now, you tell me, what are you going to blog about next? What will your newsletter subscribers hear about in your next newsletter? You can share in the comments below or hit me up!

xx~LL 

How to Get Past the Objections

Posted on by Lesley Logan

It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching Pilates, Fitness, Barre or selling make-up, cars or coffee. You will hear objections to your offers. And, it’s so easy to take these objections personally isn’t it? I mean when someone tells you it’s too expensive you may feel like they are saying “you’re not worth it.” You may wonder or be tempted to offer a discount. Tell yourself, “just this once” and believe that a lower priced package will get them to fall in love and see the value of what you offer. And, that’s just one of the objections we hear. There are so many others. And, if you want to grow your business you are going to have to get really good and overcoming them. Let’s talk about how you can do that.

  1. Price objection: this one is probably the most often used. I mean, I’ve even used it places to get out of doing something or buying something. And, it’s rarely true. What is true is that I don’t really want the thing or want the thing right now but I want to end the convo so I say its the price because everyone can understand this objection and no one is going to argue with me. Right? You know you’ve done this too. So, how do you overcome this? First, be upfront with your prices. Put them on your site. Or tell people before they come in. Then you and the client both don’t waste a first time session. If they can’t afford you even if they love you they can’t afford you. Second, make sure your first time session or intro packs are aligned with your regular prices. Third, be sure you are fishing in the right pond. If you want people who can afford ___ rate then advertise at places they hang out.
  2. Time Objection: A great objection for the person who is not ready to commit. Or, never likes to commit. When setting them up for a session be sure to ask them questions that will help you get clear on their availability to add something new into their life. If they say they work 6 days a week and commute an hour each way and you tell them they have to come in 3x a week they are going to believe they don’t have time. But, if you hear all that and then ask them to come on their day off or on their way into work once or twice a week as they feel the benefits of working with you they will start to see how they can add more sessions in.
  3. “I need to think about it” objection: This also is often the one where they need to talk to their spouse or parent. Again, I find this to be an easy excuse in life to use because who is going to argue with that? Couple ways to get around this is on your intake forms on your site or in person ask them if they have ever invested in their fitness before. If they have you are less likely to hear this objection. If they haven’t then keep in mind this is not just a financial or time commitment this is a big step in their life. They’ve not spent money on something that isn’t tangible like jeans, a car etc. So, remember to help them see that you’re the guide for them, the person they can trust to help them get to their why. Do not worry about selling them Pilates. Focus on connecting them to their why with you.

What are some objections you’ve heard? Share them in the comments below and I’ll be back to check and give you some tips for overcoming them!

Remember, if you think that people will think Pilates is too expensive then they will. If you think you’re too far away or it takes too long for people to “get” Pilates all this will come true. But, if you spend more time thinking about why Pilates with you then people will have no problem saying YAAS!

xx~LL

How to Manage Teachers in Your Studio and Not Go Crazy

Posted on by Lesley Logan

Managing a retail store was never a goal of mind. It kind of just happened to me and I was really good at it. So, when I quit retail, became a Pilates instructor and within six months was managing a studio, hiring teachers and making the studio business grow it was an easy transition. Now, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you managing teachers was easy. No, it’s not. It’s so freaking hard. And you studio owners have a big glass to fill each day. But, if you’re teachers are driving you crazy I’ve got some tough love in this blog for you. It’s because of you. So, let’s make it not your fault!

  1. Be extremely clear about your studio policies. And hold teachers accountable. Yep, this means writing teachers up, giving warnings and maybe even firing them. I had to fire some epic teachers because they just couldn’t follow the rules. If you don’t have rules then you can’t get mad or frustrated that people don’t take care of your studio. And, if you do have rules but you don’t enforce them then you’re just asking for yourself to go crazy.
  2. Know your goals for your studio and know your teachers’ goals before you hire them. This is HUGE! If your goals are to have a small staff that creates a family/community vibe at your studio and all the teachers support the clients. But you bring in a teacher who only wants to work one day a week, can’t sub and just wants to come and go because their real goal is to be a writer, actor or influencer then you can’t get mad at them for not supporting your goals. People will not do things that they don’t want to do. So, their goals have to intersect with your goals. If you had the same goal above and you met a teacher who is looking for a studio where they can grow their business and only work at one studio that’s a teacher to consider hiring. Their goals align with your goals.
  3. Read the 4 agreements and practice them. I meet studio owners all the time who are upset that their teachers don’t do blah blah blah. They are frustrated that they (the owner) is the only one who can sell Pilates. And, when I ask them if they have asked the teacher why they are not converting new clients? If their staff has questions about how to get a new client to fall in love with Pilates? If they have regular (monthly to at max quarterly) meetings with their team to go over what they are doing well and where they can improve they stop complaining. Because the truth is they may have done a meeting here and there where they told the teacher what to do. But, they are assuming what they are saying makes sense. They are assuming that the teacher doesn’t see that the new clients they are being offered grow on trees and they don’t need to convert them. In the 4 agreements you one of these agreements is to make no assumptions and another is to not take anything personally. The majority of your teachers (if not all) are not trying to hurt your business or take you and your studio for granted.
  4. So meet regularly with your team. I know, you’re busy, but you actually cannot afford not to meet with your teachers on an individual basis. People want to know what they are doing well. They want to know where they can improve. They want to know how they help the studio. And, if you have a monthly 15min-30min meeting there will rarely be a surprise. Because I met with my team every month I knew when their personal goals or lives had changed. I was able to give constructive criticism and also praise. When you don’t meet with your team regularly you often only meet with them when they are in trouble. So, whenever you go to talk to them they will think they are not good. No one will thrive if they don’t feel good where they are. Also, if you are meeting regularly it will never be a shock to them if you do have to part ways. And, often, they’ll make that decision for you. And, you can still be friends.
  5. Stop doing everything for everyone. Period. Hire people to do things that don’t bring you joy and that don’t bring in money.

Ok, I could go on for hours! I could literally do a few webinars on managing your teachers and not going crazy. But, why don’t we start there? Try these ideas out. And, if you need help putting them into practice please don’t wait, let’s do a coaching call. Seriously, we can make your life and studio better even in just one call. You don’t have to do it alone.

xx~LL

Are You Doing This to Get Clients to Hear About You

Posted on by Lesley Logan

During my last workshop in Poland there was a question about how to market oneself if you are able to teach kids, pre-post natal, elderly, women, men…basically, how can they market themselves to EVERYONE! And I said you can’t market yourself to everybody at the same time. When you tell people what you do when you try to advertise your work do you try to talk to everyone? The truth is, in every business not just Pilates it’s important to know who you are for and why you are the teacher for them. And, then, you have to start with making them aware. Are you taking the time to make people aware of you?

I’m sure you think you are. You post pics of you on Instagram and Facebook. You tell your friends and family. But, are you actually taking the time to meet your future clients where they are?

Getting a new client doesn’t happen overnight or even randomly. On occasion, you’ll randomly meet someone who will hear what you do and sign up. But, I’d bet they’d done Pilates before in the past and were so stoked to hear about you because they’d been thinking they want to do Pilates. The average person needs to hear about your offering 12x. That’s what the new data says.

So, if you’re telling people about what they can buy from you or what classes they can take that’s skipping a step. You’re not starting with awareness.

Awareness is like making eye contact with someone at a party. Think about the last time you made eye contact with someone you didn’t know what happened next? I know for me the last time I did that I smiled. And then I went back to my conversation. But, about 20 min later I saw that person again. Eye contact. Smile. Back to the conversation with someone I knew. An hour later we ended up at the food table together and we said hi, introduced ourselves and a conversation started.

But, we didn’t exchange phone numbers until the end of the night.

And that is just a potential friendship! Not, a potential client. No money was being exchanged. So, think about your future client. If it took me several eye contact moments, a whole party and several texts to get a coffee date with someone. How long will your future clients need to make your eye contact, hear about you and get touch points from you to give you money and time? Well, the average is 12 x.

So, I know that sounds like a lot but you can do this. It’s all in your control. If you’re out in your community meeting other businesses owners and collaborating with other future clients will see and hear you. If you’re posting blogs, sharing testimonials that’s a touch point. If you meet someone in a line at a Starbucks and then follow up with them and they run into them again at Starbucks those are all touch points. And, even better, if their doctor tells them to do Pilates that’s a touch point. If their friends are doing Pilates and talking about it that’s a touch point.

You don’t have to be ALL the touch points but if you are taking the time to share the very basics of your teaching…make eye contact. Post to share who you are and not to sell a spot in your class. Those are all going to be little moments of eye contact.

Our clients are on a journey to get to us. There are specific stepping stones for them to be on before they will commit to you.

They have to become aware of you first, hear about who you are and what you do and why you’re for them. They then need to be able to dabble a little more without a major commitment financially. Like a first time session or assessment. Then they can be swayed to buy a membership or a package. It’s a journey. Are you skipping some stones when you are trying to get new clients? Don’t worry, so many people are.

The first step, start with knowing who you are what you do and why you’re the teacher for them. Then start with awareness. Tell a story. People love learning about people through story. Start with the awareness part. The rest of the stones are going to be more work. And I’ll be talking about them in my next webinar.

If you want more new clients if you want it to be easier to get new clients you have to take them on the journey.

Are you ready? My latest webinar will help you discover the journey you need to take your future clients on. Join me here. Until then, what are you doing to create awareness?

xx~LL