Motivate Your Clients

Client retention is as integral to your Pilates business as you are. If your clients are not consistent not only does that affect how much you make each week it also can cause you to have to constantly get new clients or manage more clients than you have time to teach? Does this sound familiar to you: A client says they want to come in three times a week and then they move a session here, ask the last minute to switch to another session. Cancel the next two sessions because they have lunches or dinners, can’t get into the studio because they have this, that, and the other. They want to do Pilates three times a week but they are trying to fit Pilates into their life. This song and scheduling dance is not only frustrating for you it’s also exhausting. And, to add more stress about it if they don’t come in consistently then they will not enjoy all the benefits of Pilates and so then of course…bye bye Pilates!

So, how do you manage your client’s schedule and yours? Well, first let me just tell you that you do not have to manage your client’s schedules as you manage yours. But, if you can motivate your Pilates clients to schedule their life around Pilates instead of the other way around then your Pilates business will not only be healthy it will continue to grow. Client consistency is key for Client Retention and their consistency equals reaping the benefits of Pilates which means their friends will notice how strong they are, how well they stand, and want some of you too! Hello, client referrals!

Tips for Scheduling Clients

Create a strong teacher client relationship by-

1. Know what your client does when they are not doing Pilates.
2. Remember events that are important to them.
3. Schedule them in advance. Tell them to book their sessions a month in advance to ensure they don’t miss their sessions
4. Remind them to “make up” missed sessions by rescheduling vs canceling
5. Let them know when a time they like becomes available
6. Look ahead at holidays and vacations that may affect them and get suggest times they can do to reschedule in advance.
7. Don’t be afraid to be unavailable! People like a busy restaurant!
8. Remind your clients of their goals and why they come
9. Don’t offer every available hour you have. Use the “which” rule. “I have this time or this time which would you prefer?”
10. Be more than the hour-long entertainment. If Pilates is integral to them feeling good then you won’t have to work as hard to get them to come in regularly.

Look, I get that many of these are easier said than done. But, I promise you managing your clients is easier when you teach them from the beginning that you are not just sitting around waiting to teach them. That, even if you have all the time in the world, you are not a beck and call teacher. Studies show if people are given too many options they have to “think about it.” But, if they only have a couple of options they can make a decision. If you tell a client they can come in anytime on a Monday then they are going to go and plan their whole Monday and fit Pilates in. And, chances are they will be running late or not be able to get in because they are “too busy.” But, if you tell them two options that are near times you know they like then they will schedule their life around the session.

I get it, it’s not easy to say no to a client or to hold your clients accountable but it’s essential in your self-care as an instructor, making it easy for you to manage all of your clients, and will create a strong relationship with them. If your clients are getting their Pilates in regularly with you because you keep them consistent they are going to realize that you are more than a person they see in their week. You are the person who helps them do their week. When you remember life events they are going to feel special and more than a name in your calendar. And, all of this helps grow your Pilates business.

Which one of these things are you going to work on? Let me know below in the comments. If you have any questions feel free to contact me here. Let’s make your client schedule consistent and as full as you want it!

xx~LL

PS for more on creating an optimal learning environment check out this blog and this one for motivating different personality types.