7 Local Marketing Tips for Yoga Teachers Who Want to Fill Up Their Classes

If you're a yoga teacher, there's no better time than the present to grow your business and expand your brand. ​ As the demand for yoga continues to grow, so does the opportunity for teachers to build a profitable side, or even full time business.

First off, it's important to remember that its completely normal to struggle with filling classes as a new yoga teacher.   It is easy to think that growing a business will happen quickly and without effort based on the information online.  However (and I know this from direct experience!) growing a business takes time. 

As much as I've learnt that it takes time, I have also learnt that businesses do grow.  As long as you have some patience, and consistently put in the effort to market your yoga business, your classes will fill up. Start small, stay consistent and keep going.  Your dreams of becoming a yoga teacher will become a reality. 

1. Network and advertise locally

If you want to grow your yoga business, you first need to know your customer. One of the best ways to understand your target market and create a product that resonates with your customers is by networking with other yoga teachers in your area. This can be done through in-person meetups, online forums, or social media groups. ​

By getting to know your local market, you can identify your ideal customer, discover what products and services they need, and figure out where your product fits in the market. Another great way to advertise locally is to purchase a few ads on yoga websites or directories relevant to your area. 
If you run a yoga studio but offer private yoga lessons, specify that in your ad so that you're reaching the right audience.

2. Optimise your Website

One of the best methods for attracting new clients to your yoga business is through SEO.  This is because clients searching for "yoga near me" or "yoga Edinburgh" are looking for local yoga classes to join.   These are the type of customers it is very easy to convert because they arrive at your website looking for your service.   

Customers who come from Google are much more likely to turn into paying customers than customers that come from social media channels. 

There is one caveat to this, Facebook Groups.  Facebook groups can provide a steady stream of returning and new customers as long as your group is active and has high levels of engagement.  

In terms of Facebook Pages, Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok and so on, Google is still the channel which converts the best.  Start with some keyword research and optimising your service pages with the correct meta data.  If you don't want to do your own SEO then we can help, check out our SEO Packages for Yoga Teachers. 

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3. Be Where Your Customers Are

To grow your yoga business, you need to be where your customers are. For example, if you want to attract yoga students who work full-time, you should be scheduling your social media posts after work hours.

Or, if you want to attract students who are stay-at-home moms, you should schedule your posts during the day. Schedules are different for everyone, most scheduling tools offer the option to check when your audience are most active. Over time you can adjust to a schedule which works for your audience. 

By identifying where your yoga-seeking customers are, you can reach them and start converting more leads into customers. Get familiar with the marketing tools available on major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Once you know which social media channels your customers are using, you can focus your efforts on these platforms to reach them. Make sure you're regularly posting information on your social channels to keep your audience engaged.

4. Write Guest Blog Posts

Another great way to increase your online presence and visibility as an instructor is to write guest blog posts. Submit guest posts to relevant online publications and blog networks focusing on yoga, health and wellness, or fitness. 

When you write a guest blog post, ensure it's relevant to your target market and contains practical, actionable information that your readers can apply to their lives. ​

Remember that writing blog posts is a great way to build your online presence because they grow your traffic in two ways.  One, is the referral traffic you will recieve when the blog owner shares your post on their social media channels, as well as click through traffic from the Guest post to your website.  The second is through customers coming directly to your website from Google because the links that you earn from the guest post will help your website to rank.  For more advice about Guest posting check these posts;

6 Steps To Launching A Niche Guest Blogging Campaign For Female Entrepreneurs
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How To Write A Pitch For A Guest Post Article

Forget Getting Featured On Forbes Try This Instead
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How Do I Find Blogs That Accept Guest Posts? [6000+ guest post opportunities inside]

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5. Create a blogging habit

If you want to grow your business, a great way to do this is to start a regular blogging habit. By creating a regular blogging habit, you can establish yourself as an authority in the yoga industry.
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Blogging can be an incredibly rewarding part of your work life as it offers the opportunity for self expression. If you are a new teacher blogging can help you to find your voice, your passion and hone down on what is really important to you. 

If you don't like writing then you could express yourself through creating a youtube channel or Podcast instead.  And if you don't have time for any of this start even smaller, start with a single social media channel like Instagram.  

Simply get used to talking about what you do, offering advice and getting comfortable with sharing your passion for yoga with the world. 

6. Leverage local events to grow your business

Try to find an event in your town connected to the yoga industry. For example, if you specialize in yoga for kids, try finding a children's event to which you can market your services. If you can leverage events in your area related to yoga, you can significantly expand your reach as an instructor and grow your business. 

Make sure to publicize your presence at these events. Bring a few flyers or marketing materials that advertise your studio and services. Try to talk to people attending the event and offer your services. Make friends with the event organizers and get your business card into their hands. These connections can help you get more clients in the future.

7. Write an eBook or blog series

Another great way to grow your business is to write an eBook or launch a blog series. An eBook that teaches yoga poses or how to teach yoga would greatly assist your customers. It would also help you rank higher in search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website because you can reach out to other website owners with this material and see if they would be interested in sharing your ebook with their audience. 

Once you've written your eBook, don't forget to promote it on your website and on popular ebook platforms. Be sure to post links to your eBook on your social media channels and website. You can also try to get your eBook published on major platforms such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Final words

Most importantly, have patience and be realistic about how quickly your business is going to grow. This is the most important advice!  All new businesses take time to grow and pick up momentum. 
You can't expect new students to show up at your studio or expect them to find you online without a little bit of marketing.
 
I hope some of these tactics can help you to grow your yoga business.  If you need help filling your classes reach out and book in a free strategy session, I'd love to show you how SEO can help your yoga business grow. 

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