After a slog through your day job, you race across town getting stuck at red light after red light. You finally make it to the dojo just before your first class starts. No one is waiting for you to arrive. You open the door to the dark, empty space, stepping over the bills and the overdue rent notice sitting just under the mail slot.
After changing into your gi and preparing to teach class, a potential student stops in. You chat about the practicality of self defense, about fighting as an art, and about the tradition you’re working to uphold. About how martial arts is really about self-expression. He asks if your style is like “what they do on the UFC” and if you offer a cardio kickboxing class his girlfriend might join. You answer no to both questions and he leaves.
Bracing yourself for another empty class, you begin to doubt why you opened your school in the first place. Are you good enough? Are you interacting well with students? How are you going to pay the bills this month? What are you to do? Get tangled up in a mess and fight like Mike Terry? Except only one student and hide away like Mr. Miyagi? How do you uphold tradition and live by a code of honor when everyone else is just trying to make a buck? Is it worth it to even try?
You know, deep down, that it is. There must be an alternative. What is the next step?
Have you tried marketing? Not yellow page ads or crazy stunts. Not bait-and-switch tactics or false bravado. Real, honest marketing. Not like this. (For the record, Lloyd Irving is the real deal, but his website is really over the top. Click at your own risk!) Fred Villari, the Ray Kroc of Karate, may be another example of what to avoid when marketing your martial arts school.
Is this the best way to show your karate is authentic?
If you want to succeed as a martial arts instructor and entrepreneur, you need to learn to tell an authentic story about your art that you can share with people. Fancy window stickers and direct mailers are not going to do it. People want the real deal, but sometimes they need help recognizing it.
What you need is to form a martial arts community, a group of loyal members who want nothing more than to convince their friends to join!
As business writer Seth Godin states in his book, Tribes, “You have everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself.” I firmly believe that new media is the best vehicle for you to achieve this as you promote your organizations and ideals. But, without a story worth telling, you won’t be able to leverage the advantages of today’s technology.
That’s where I come in.
I really am a black belt marketer. As writer and administrator of moaimartialarts.com, I have established myself as an insightful expert of my art. I am also the lead marketer for Gracie Farmington Valley and Greater Farmington Valley Fitness–both are making amazing profits within their first few months of business. Thanks to my experience as a search engine optimization (SEO) writer, my understanding of Google AdWords, and my social media expertise (Facebook, Twitter) both companies have really taken off.
Let me put more knowledge and skills to work for you martial arts school or gym! I can help you to:
- become a recognized expert of martial arts
- form a loyal following fast
- reach a specific group of students that are a perfect fit for your style
- get people excited about the culture and philosophy of your art
- start people talking about your school and bringing their friends and family
- avoid that cheap feeling that comes with excessive self-promotion
- network with other enthusiastic martial artists
- recruit new students that sign up and train for the long haul
- free up more time for teaching and training
- earn the respect you deserve
- make more money teaching martial arts that you ever thought possible!
My marketing methods are proven to get real results in a short amount of time. If you are worried that your love for your art isn’t reaching the people who need it most, don’t hesitate. Let’s work together to serve your community.
You’ve already mastered your body, mind, and spirit. It’s time to let people know about your achievements and to help them reach their own goals. Don’t let yourself–or your present and future students–down. A real martial artist is a terrible thing to waste.
Yours In The Way,
Bill Antonitis
Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)
Shohei-Ryu Karate
traditional martial arts marketing
PS – Call 860-325-0839 or e-mail bill@proofrocks.com today for your free consultation. I’m looking forward to working with you to share the best of what martial arts has to offer!
PPS – Another great way to market your martial arts school is by showing your students what you’re all about. Check out my sizzle reel to see how it’s done!
Never rush points. Make a move one day each time one step each time. You need to very first build a sturdy relationship amongst your buddies and followers.