How necessary are social networking websites and membership organizations in promoting and managing your yoga business?
It depends...
What's your intention for your business? In fact, do you see what you do as a business? Surely, teaching yoga has many aspects. Do you teach yoga part-time while maintaining full-time employment? Do you love to teach yoga – so much that you would or do teach for free?
Are you in a position to teach part-time? Teach for free? If so, you may decide that building a yoga business isn't necessary. Perhaps you teach for a studio or organization that doesn't need your marketing efforts.
Do you teach yoga as your full-time, only source of income? If so, social networking and membership organizations are great ways to reach out and let people know what you're doing without spending a lot of money or other resources to do it.
It helps to know what you want for your business.
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Do you want more students? More classes? More income?
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Do you want to build community? Be a part of something bigger than your individual efforts?
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Do you want to increase your global impact while decreasing your carbon footprint?
Website:
This is an important tool that establishes your presence on the web. Most students look for classes and yoga teachers by searching the web. There are lots of strategies to drive search engines to your website but, first you need to have a website. There are so many webhosting sites.
Currently, I'm using www.ixwebhosting.com
which has a site builder with lots of templates to choose from. I can upload photos, change color and fonts, etc. The main thing is that students and potential students can find out about classes and services that may interest them. Websites actually save you time because many questions can be answered by the content that you put on your website.
Facebook.com:
I admit that I am a late comer to the Facebook
phenomenon so I am still learning how to use it. It's surprising how many students use Facebook and they are not all young people. Several of my students who are in their 80s have Facebook pages!
Linkedin.com:
This is a professional networking site that allows you to “link” up with other professionals in your field of interest. It's also a great way to let other professionals know about what you're doing, especially if you offer teacher trainings and workshops. The same goes for finding resources that you are interested in.
YogaFinder.com:
You can list for free on this website – your name, location, style of teaching and contact information. For $23 a year you can list your events. Another great way to promote your business for free or nearly free.
EverythingYoga.com:
Less comprehensive although similar to YogaFinder.com and listing are free. EverythingYoga.com also sells yoga supplies and accessories. They have an affiliate program that you can use to earn extra income (so long as your students order through your website affiliate link). Check out their annual Labor Day sale.
YogaHub.com:
This is more than a website, it's a virtual conference center, store, library and more. You don't need to be a yoga teacher to list on this site or to take advantage of their resources and services. Last February, YogaHub.com hosted the first virtual yoga conference and I was an attendee – via computer, from my brother's home in Texas. If I had planned to attend a regular conference, I would have missed it because of an unexpected trip. It was great. In fact, I will be presenting at the next conference. Details coming soon.
Memberships:
International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
You don't need to be a yoga therapist to be a member. Benefits to membership include listing your profile, access to digital library, discounts at conferences. See the website for more.
Yoga Alliance (YA).
National registry of yoga teachers. Potential students and employers can find you by searching your state or town.
Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association (KYTA).
Yoga teachers of all traditions are invited to join. There are many benefits to membership. See the website for info.
There are many more online resources that I don't use or even know about.
Postcard marketing:
I do this all the time. Vistaprint has worked for me. And they are always offering great deals. Postcards are cheaper to mail than flyers. You can also use them as handouts and to post on bulletin boards. Give a stack to your health care providers or other referral sources.
Yogi Business Coaching
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