Many years ago, out of necessity, I discovered a way to increase new student signups and school retention. In my early years it was just me doing all the different jobs my school needed. I ran from one thing to the next while losing students and having prospects leave before I could get to them. There were just too many things to take care of and too little time.
As most of you know starting a martial arts school on your own is a difficult task. There are more jobs to do than you have time to get to. I am very lucky, I am a good multi-tasker. Even with this skill I couldn’t keep up with everything that needed to get done. I needed to make a new plan and I needed to make fast.
I figured out that I needed the most help with my beginner classes. These are the most critical. You have new students and new parents and they need attention. I have lost many prospective students because I couldn’t find the time to get to them. I would teach good classes but then so many people came up after class asking questions that the prospects would leave before I could get a chance to talk to them or their parents. Plus, I had no time to survey the parents of my new students. You have to make sure the parents feel that their goals for their children are being met. This is a very important step that many instructors fail to do. I lost as many students and prospects as I signed up.
I started using my middle belts to help me. I have them run my beginner class through basics. This frees me up to meet with parents. I find out if they feel their child is on track. This is very important for good retention. I also had time to meet with prospective parents. I ended up closing more new students than ever before. It is very important to understand that I used my middle belts to take over class when I needed the time. I taught as much as possible. Parents and new adult belts wanted me. I understand that teaching beginners is sometimes boring but extremely necessary because I taught the best and most fun classes. Retention-Retention-Retention. You spend so much time and money getting new students you want to do what is necessary to keep them. Too many instructors pawn off the beginner classes to other instructors that don’t do as good a job as they do. Make sure if you give up teaching beginners that the instructor you use is your best retention and closing instructor.
Bonus. By using my middle belts to assist me I noticed that they became much better in their own techniques. Teaching made them think more about your own motions. The increase in their confidence was outstanding. The increased responsibility made them feel so much better about themselves. My retention level for my middle belts increased substantially. Assisting instructor is now in my middle belt requirements. I couldn’t be any happier with the all the positive benefits this had brought to my school program.
Good luck with your school!