How is the best way to promote my small business of music lessons and tutoring for new clients?

Christina - you ask a great question.

Marketing is all about testing...  everything you do is all about standing out in the marketplace.  You want to reach your ideal customer.

When you know who they are - then you know what they do.  And part of that is where they hang out.  If social media is key to them - then be there for them.

Maybe they read magazines, watch TV, listen to radio or podcasts.

I teach business owners how to make media matter.  When you get known, you can drive traffic. And ultimately you want to generate more sales.

Imagine if people heard you or saw you or read about you... that would be you gaining credibility.  So if you run an ad in print along with the other advertising - then you increase your chances of being seen...  isn't that what you want?

If you want help - check out makemediamatter.ca 

The best way Ofcourse is to advertise your business with me.  We have been a staple in the Lakewood Ranch community for 14 years. 

Paid ad such as FB ad, is the way to go...you can target qualify leads...

Hi Christina.

First I see you are from Simpsonville.  I am from Charleston and know about Simpsonville.  You are in a small town and based on that I believe that Facebook and Google pay per click ads would not work very effectively.  I think your time and effort would be better spent on personal marketing at a local level.  Have you gone to the local schools and talked with the music program leaders, any local music stores, churches, civic groups?  Have you visited organizations like Rotary or other business groups?  If you had a product that you were selling, online marketing would be a consideration but you are selling face to face local services in a very limited population.  Have you reached out to areas like Mauldin or Woodruff?  I would think they would be close enough for you.  Have you listed your services on Craiglist, Yelp, even set up a Google Business page?  These are some things you need to consider.  Please let me know if I can be of any help.

Tell everyone you know and make pass along cards to give them and ask them to share with anyone they know who may be interested. Be vocal and then rely on that to spread the word. I would also get on every local buy, sell, and trade or classified page in your local area on Facebook and post it there weekly until your space is filled.

I'm curious why no-one has mentioned Groupon?   I've seen very successful campaigns fill up a schedule quite quickly.  The offer options allow you to control the exact market, offer and discount.  You turn it off when you're full and turn it on when you could use more students.  One-time offers are great for introducing people to your lessons and then it's up to your business model to retain those customers.  Absolutely worth a look.

You actually can find someone to help build a preliminary website by talking to just about everyone you encounter asking “ If you happen to know anyone who could help me on a limited budget get a basic website up, please let me know.”... talking about something to those you trust who know YOU often leads to something you need. They know you as a personality, customer, or friend and usually don’t want to lead you down the wrong path. Of course what you start with is not necessarily what you’ll stay with but eventually as your business grows so does your budget. In the beginning it’s a lot about intention and goals. If your goal is to build the piano teaching business you set that as your path. Then consider who could pass your name along? Pediatricians? Pediatric Dentists? PTA’s? Houses of worship religious schools? Music stores? Youth groups? ... the ideas grow as you go along. Hairstylists are often privy to what their clients are looking for in life.. they are an under-appreciated group of therapists!

Depending on the size of the market area you want to include Christina, I would suggest first doing some face-to-face marketing in the schools, early child development centers and after-school program centers closest to your location.

If you need to expand your reach, direct mail to households with children present in your target age range could work well.  We could even add "special interest = music" for the household, if you felt it necessary.

I wish you the very best of success with your new business and would be happy to answer any other questions you have.

Kindly,

Patti Pierce

I would begin with social media and a generic website but referral marketing is where you will probably get most of your customers.