Marketing 101

Learn how simple, inexpensive marketing techniques can boost your class numbers and elevate your career.

By Sage Rountree

Keep It Up

Be prepared to continue with your marketing campaign. The biggest problem with most teachers' marketing is that it's not done consistently, Sagee says, adding, "Picking something that works for you is half the equation; the other half is doing it every day."

McDonough agrees. "The number-one marketing tactic is the one you're going to do again and again and again," she says. "What are you going to do consistently and over time?" Thus, depending on your market, flyers may be useful. Often, however, they require weekly updating, so consider your time and investment. Avolio suggests, "Don't create very expensive, high-quality color postcards and leave stacks of them in coffee shops where they may get lost, buried under other information, or thrown out. Do create simple but professional business cards and class schedules that are easy and inexpensive to reproduce." Keeping these current and distributing them regularly is key.

Avoid Mistakes

Avolio also sees teachers make the mistake of being too shy to share about teaching yoga, or too uncomfortable about inviting people to attend their classes, for fear of being pushy. Remember, active marketing is effective, she says. "When appropriate in a conversation, ask, 'Have you ever tried yoga?' Invite people to attend your class for beginners by passing them a free class card," she suggests.

Another passive mistake is doing nothing at all. Hori warns against thinking that just because you love it and you're good at it, you don't have to do anything to get to get the word out—the universe will take care of you. "The universe does take care of you," she says, "but that includes giving you the opportunity to stand up!"

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