MAXIMIZING YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS
While Covid closures and capacity caps forced studios to pivot to online instruction, they also opened a revenue stream that had been untapped in the heady pre-pandemic era. As instructors, managers and studio owners have had to surf numerous learning curves, specific strategies have emerged to ensure that you’re capitalizing on this new and in-demand online connection to your community.
1 / Welcome everyone by name
Log on to your streaming platform early and welcome everyone by name. People like to be acknowledged and recognized just as if they had walked through the through the bricks-and-mortar doors. To establish and maintain connection that will last well into the future, acknowledge the human in attendance. That’s equally and perhaps even more important in a virtual class.
2 / Ask your students to help you
Don’t be afraid to ask your virtual students for what you need to create the best possible experience. ‘If you turn on your camera it makes it easier for me to support you”, ‘Please unmute if you have questions’ and ‘May I spotlight you?’ can make students feel present and seen.
3 / Create relationships
Free classes are readily available on YouTube, so students usually attend livestream classes for feedback and connection – not just follow your lead. Look at the students, take the time to notice and comment on whatever you can help them with. As soon as you use their names, they perk up and become more engaged, which reinforces relationships and trust.
4/ Design pre-registered virtual programs
Creating a registered signature series can bring greater financial stability to a business. Offering a mix of drop-in and registered series will generate earning potential and also creates a community who have committed to a series together.
5/ Target your email list with social media ads
Facebook allows you to create custom audiences for smart, targeted social media advertising. Upload your email list to Facebook and target ads to specific client groups. You most likely already have earned the trust of that audience and can roll out ads on a small budget.
Michael Jay
@YogaBizCamp
