Getting more students

[bushido_man96]

I don't charge them. They just have to buy their own equipment (and the school reimburses them).

I didn't see this one. Try some demos. Those get attention.

[lordtariel]

Our dojo is currently doing a membership drive. For each person that a student brings in for a free lesson, they get a ticket. At the end of the drive, there's a raffel for a prize. You might want to see if you could give a little talk at your school board or pta meetings. Good luck.

[StephenOliver]

It's interesting to see the range of responses here.

There are multiple considerations on how to pursue the correct answer(s)

to the questions of how to grow your school.

Generally, an easy introductory offer is good - discounting tuition beyond that will not bring people in and will just dilute revenue unncessarily otherwise.

"Getting your name 'out there' "really does little in and of itself to build enrollment. Clearly you must become recognized in your community - but, most importantly you must give people an easy way to respond and have a deadline for that response.

Your best solutions depend upon time available (ie. for leg-work & "sweat equity") and, financial resources available.

Larger schools may draw a large amount of their traffic (as I do with Mile High Karate - https://www.MileHighKarate.com) through Television, Major Newspapers, and regular direct mail efforts) Smaller schools must concentrate on flyers door to door, "VIP" systems meeting people one on one and asking for appointments, and community outreach programs.

Additionally, the internet is becoming a very viable source of new students where you can either BUY traffic to your site through Google, Yahoo, & now MSN - or, learn SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to be found in the "organic" searches: Example: Search Yahoo for something like "Karate Lessons Lakewood Colorado" (or, any combination of lessons, classes, school in any area where we have a school such as Littleton, Thornton, Westminster, Englewood, Highlands Ranch) and you

will find many of the top 20 to be Mile High Karate - that's an example of

Free (but, labor intensive) marketing efforts.

[Shotokan-kez]

My sensei is having a similar problem at the moment..only with a shortness of adults. He was saying that he's going to go through the books and send out letters so old students, we are also planning a demo at our local park.

Good luck!

[scad]

flyers will help you alot, also if you can, have signs made that you can post on the side of major traffic roads. the signs have been my best investment so far. word of mouth helps too.

[KamasandSais]

how about putting up a sign on a resturaunt that says: the best thing you can give your child...confidence if its an adult youth school. it worked for our school.